The Wildlands Conservancy will be hosting a weeklong celebration of Earth Day from April 19 through April 25, sponsored by First Niagara Bank.  

April 19- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: The History of Conservation, 7:00 p.m.: “The History of Conservation” will present a brief timeline of land conservation efforts which helped create our current environmental movement. Icons such as Teddy Roosevelt and Rachel Carson will be discussed as they continue to inspire generations of conservationists, environmental scientists and volunteers concerned for the health and sustainability of our natural world. To be presented by Kent Baird, Director of Land Conservation and Planning, Wildlands Conservancy at the Environmental Education Center at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus.

April 20- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: Spring Peeper Hike, 7:00 p.m.:  Spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) are small (1”-1.5”) but very vocal frogs with a high-pitched call that is similar to that of young chickens, thus the name peeper. Abundant in our region they only emerge at night to feed and sing. Join us for a nighttime educational hike on Wildlands Conservancy’s South Mountain Preserve and witness one of nature’s most spectacular choruses. This program meets at the Alpine Street entrance to South Mountain Preserve.  Wear waterproof shoes and bring a flashlight. Registration is limited so please pre-register by 4/14/10.

April 21 – 40 Years of Earth Day Event:  Restoring Lehigh Valley’s Waterways: Dam Removal, 3:00 p.m.: Dams are a major source of impairment to the Lehigh Valley’s streams. The overwhelming majority of these dams no longer serve any purpose. They do however exacerbate upstream flooding, restrict fish passage, and seriously degrade water quality and wildlife habitat. They can also be a significant liability to their owner. Removing dams is a critical step to the restoration of the Lehigh Valley’s waterways. Wildlands Conservancy will host a discussion about the impacts of dams and opportunities and strategies for their removal. This event will be oriented to those who own, or represent an entity who owns, a dam.  To be presented by Abigail Pattishall, Director of Rivers Conservation for Wildlands Conservancy, at the Environmental Education Center at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus. 

April 22- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: The Legacy of the Lehigh River, 7:00 p.m.: By going back in time and learning how important the Lehigh River was to our forefathers and what it was used for, to learning about the results of today’s protection efforts, participants will learn the in-depth life history and ecology of the beautiful Lehigh River and why it is so valuable.  To be presented by Wildlands Conservancy’s Director of Special Projects, Tom Gettings at the Environmental Education Center at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus.

April 23- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: Walking with Charlie, 7:00 p.m.: Everyone loves to go walking with Charlie. A fun family hike around Wildlands Conservancy’s Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, Charlie whistles and sings his way through a variety of habitats while offering education and inspiration for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy nature in the company of a Wildlands Conservancy education program legend. Meet at the Environmental Education Center at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus.

April 24- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: The Great Lehigh Valley Clean-up, 9:00 a.m.: Everyone wants to live, work and play in a clean and green community… and it's up to everyone to make it possible and improve the overall quality of life for us all. 

April 24- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: Trexler Trek: Herp Walk, 2:00 p.m.: The Trexler Nature Preserve is home to an abundant array of amphibians and reptiles. Spring is perfect for spying out amphibians. We will explore the Jordan Creek and adjacent wetlands in search of wood frogs and other spring breeding herps.

April 25- 40 Years of Earth Day Event: Outdoor Equipment with L. L. Bean, 1:00-4:00 p.m.: Have you always wanted to try outdoor recreation activities like backpacking and geo-caching but weren’t quite sure how to begin? This program is the answer to your dilemma. Outdoor adventure experts from L. L. Bean will be on hand to show you products and techniques. Meet at Boroline Park in Emmaus.

            For more information and to register, visit the Wildlands Conservancy website or contact Elizabeth McKinney, development manager, at 610-965-4397, ext. 126 or send email to: emckinney@wildlandspa.org.

4/12/2010