By Fawn Contreras, Outings Chair, Northeastern Pennsylvania Group
The drenching rains of Tropical Storm Debby may have caused some flooding and a power outage, but it didn't dampen our end-of-summer camping trip to Hickory Run State Park. This was the first year we had a large group camping event since the COVID pandemic, and it was amazing to gather with friends, old and new, from across the state.
This annual summer camping trip had been a tradition for the Pennsylvania Chapter for several years before the pandemic. "This Annual Outing isn’t just a free opportunity for people to get outside and enjoy one of our amazing state parks, it’s a chance to meet new friends, learn more about what the Chapter and Groups are working on and speak with staff and volunteer leaders from across the Chapter," said Deputy Director Sarah Corcoran. Sarah worked with a committee of volunteers from across the state to plan this camping trip and make sure that attendees could participate fully during the weekend. Camp this year ran from August 9th to the 11th with about 110 people participating in the fun.
Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rain on Friday; the Northeast area was under flash flood warning. Our camp wasn't immune to the effects of the storm. We arrived at camp to find we had no power and that several of the cabins were not accessible due to flooding. Thankfully, those who joined all arrived safely on Friday, or heeded the travel warning and were able to join us on Saturday.
While Friday night's scheduled events were rained out, there was still plenty to do on Saturday. Many folks woke early to hike the one-mile trail to Hawk Falls to see it roaring after the heavy rains, or go on a strolling story time or plant ID hike to learn about native species. Others stayed at camp to learn about pollinator gardens and remove invasive plant species onsite. The afternoon brought outings such as a 20-mile bike ride along the Lehigh River, and exploring the famous Boulder Field. There were also plenty of activities onsite such as Merengue dance lessons, field games (including a reusable water balloon fight), paper bead making and postcard writing.
Saturday evening the power came back on just in time to prepare for the large potluck. After the meal, there was even more fun to be had with an all-age Drag and Talent Show followed by a Barn Dance, campfire, and star gazing. The Drag and Talent Show was in partnership with QueerNEPA and featured a wide range of talented people. We had a powerful rendition of "Don't Rain on my Parade" by Donna, a young and talented pianist, a drag performance by Indie Stars, and a brief lesson on bagpipes and how to do a Highland dance. The Barn Dance allowed everyone to put to use their newly learned Merengue moves, along with dancing to some classics. The campfire gave folks a chance to wind down, relax, look for shooting stars and reflect on their day before calling it a night and heading to bed.
Sunday morning came too fast. It was time to pack and clean up camp and say goodbye to the friends we made. We are already looking forward to planning next year's Chapter Outing and hope you will be able to join us. If you'd like to be part of planning this large event, please email Sarah at sarah.corcoran@sierraclub.org.
Please check out our slideshow here!
This blog was included as part of the September 2024 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!