By Fawn Contreras, NEPA Group Outings Leader, Head of Youth Services at the Valley Community Library, Lackawanna County Library System
This summer, the Northeast Pennsylvania Sierra Club group (NEPA) invites you to explore our local public lands with the Lackawanna County Library System and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) with All Together Through the Woods. This hike combines the online virtual series Get to Know Your State Forest the Sierra Club has offered with an in-person hike and education for all ages. There will be two special hikes in this short series.
On Sunday, June 25th, we will learn about Pinchot State Forest with special guest Julian Maza from DCNR, then hike the Roaring Brook and Creekside trails and discover plants and wildlife in the woods. There is often an abundance of birds to see. Fawn Contreras from the Valley Community Library will bring a book for all ages to enjoy as we have a picnic lunch on the bank of the brook. All ages are welcome at this event, the trail is easy with natural paths and some uneven surfaces. The trails are not stroller friendly. Participants should bring their own lunch to enjoy. Registration is required.
Explore and learn about one of PA's many State Parks on Sunday, July 9th. We will learn all about Lackawanna State Park with special guest Tony DeSantis from DCNR, then will take a short hike along the Pine Trail and finish our outing with a book by the lake.
All Together Through the Woods will promote health literacy and aims to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and inspire curiosity for all.
Small Town Pride Stroll
The Northeast PA Group has worked a lot over the past couple of years with QueerNEPA to promote and provide inclusive safe spaces outdoors. In 2022, this partnership did the Upper Delaware Take a Hike Challenge which had a variety of trails from easy to difficult. They have also partnered with the Sierra Club and the Valley Community Library on four Community Cleanups over the last two years. This year we are focusing on small towns in the Northeast Pennsylvania area that have walking trails around them with our Small Town Pride Strolls. Our first stroll will be around Nay Aug Park in Scranton where participants will be able to get a coffee, tea or treat from the onsite cafe before walking an easy trail around the park. This first event will be on Saturday, June 10th at 11:00 A.M. We will have another Small Town Pride Stroll around the town of Hawley in July.
Queer NEPA is a small non-profit organization aimed to promote inclusive spaces and queer positive events. They have a book club, youth council, a coffee klatch, crafternoons, and many other events including an upcoming 5K.
This blog was included as part of the June 2023 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!