In celebration of Earth Day, the Wildlands Conservancy will host and participate in numerous events throughout the Lehigh Valley promoting environmental stewardship.

“Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity for Wildlands Conservancy to talk about the local environment and make people aware of their impact and what they can do to help protect their surroundings,” says Christopher Kocher, Wildlands Conservancy president.

The events include the following:

April 13: Wild in the Parks: Slimy, Squirmy and Wearing a Mask, South Mountain Reservoir, 2:00 p.m. They’re everywhere! These little russet, or chocolate brown, or dusky gray critters wearing black masks hide under leaves, crawl into rock crevices and float on the surface of vernal pools. And, the mask isn’t their only disguise. Wait until you hear their voices! These slimy guys will have you thinking they are ducks! Don’t miss the fun when we investigate the weird life of wood frogs! Advance Registration Required: Adults - $10 (registered adult may bring one child free; additional children $5).

April 15: Salamander Search. Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Creative, recreational and naturally entertaining. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit a salamander breeding site. Take home: PA Amphibian & Reptile charts. Advance Registration Required: For 11+ year olds. Fee: Members - $10; Non-Members-$12.

April 17: You & Me: Tadpole Tales. Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Tadpoles. They wriggle. They squiggle. They have chubby tummies. And may bring you good luck! Craft: Tadpole beanbag game. You & Me programs are designed for 3-4 year olds and their caretakers and focus on simple but engaging activities that encourage exploration of the natural world. Advance Registration Required: M-$10/NM-$12 per child/adult team.

April 18: Friday Night Out: Peeper Hike B. South Mountain Preserve, 7:00 p.m. Our annual visit to view the tiny frogs with powerful voices. We’ll search for spring peepers, salamanders and other signs of spring. Meet at the Alpine St. entrance to S. Mountain Preserve. Fee Adults -$10/ Registered adult may bring one child free; additional children $5 each. Register by 4/16/08.

April 19: Great Pennsylvania Clean-up Day, 10th & Turner Streets, Allentown, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Wildlands Conservancy will conduct activities appropriate for all ages during an event sponsored by the Old Allentown Preservation Association. These activities will include presentations featuring wildlife from our education animal group including all-time favorite, Stinky the Skunk. Wildlands Conservancy naturalists will also engage participants in a “look at litter” using field microscopes suitable for handling by children. To round out the day, the Conservancy will offer a “Your Litter Lives On and On and On…” contest that reinforces the idea that some litter remains recognizable long after it leaves your hand. Prizes will be provided by Wildlands Conservancy.

April 19: Lehigh River Clean-up. Bucky Boyle Park, Allentown, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The city of Allentown, in partnership with Wildlands Conservancy, is hosting their annual clean-up of the Lehigh River and its banks in the area between Tilghman Street and Hamilton Street Bridges (based out of Bucky Boyle Park, Allentown). Clean-up materials and canoes will be provided.

April 19-20: Camp In at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary - Junior Girl Scouts, Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 6:30 pm Saturday to 9:30 am Sunday. We couldn’t wait for the warm weather to set up our tents so…We’re camping in the Education Center. We’ll provide the tents, fun, an evening snack and breakfast. You bring your sleeping bag and anything else that you need to make it to morning. Before we finish, you’ll have earned your Wildlife Badge. Registration by troop. $40 per participant. 2 free chaperones per troop (10 girl minimum) – Wildlife Badge included.

April 22: PPL Earth Day Assemblies. Cleveland Elementary School, 424 N. 9th St., Allentown, McKinley Elementary School, 1124 W. Turner St., Allentown, 8:15 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:25 a.m., 1:30 p.m. at Cleveland Elementary School, 1:15 p.m. at McKinley Elementary School. Wildlands Conservancy naturalists will teach the students of Cleveland Elementary School and McKinley Elementary School about the importance of biodiversity during interactive assemblies that are sponsored by PPL. The programs – Wildlife in the City – will feature live animals. PPL will donate white pine tree seedlings in the students’ names to the Lehigh County Trexler Nature Preserve. These seedlings will be the foundation of a new “Children’s Forest “dedicated to the children of Lehigh County.

April 22: Lehigh County Envirothon at Pool Wildlife Sanctuary. Pool Wildlife Sanctuary 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Students from seven Lehigh County school districts, the Diocese of Allentown and KidsPeace will compete to represent Lehigh County at the Pennsylvania State Envirothon (May 19-20, 2008 at Penn State). Students test in the following areas: Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soil & Land Use, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues.

April 22-25: Bethlehem Earth Days. Illicks Mill Ice Rink, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. daily Children in grades K-12 in the Bethlehem Area School District will learn about human impact on the environment during Wildlands Conservancy’s presentations during Bethlehem Earth Days events at the Illicks Mill Ice Rink.

April 24: Lehigh County Junior Envirothon, Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Students from 11 junior highs and middle schools in eight Lehigh County school districts will participate in the Lehigh County Junior Envirothon. Unlike the competitive Senior High Envirothon, students in this event observe presentations and then take part in noncompetitive testing in the following areas: Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soil & Land Use, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues.

April 29: Trexler Trek: Stalking Salamanders. Trexler Nature Preserve, 2:00 p.m. Frogs aren’t the only amphibians to be found out and about this early in the year. We’re going to track down their often elusive cousins – the salamanders – on this trek to some out-of-the-way locations at the nature preserve. Registration: For adults and families. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Fee Adults -$10 (Registered adult may bring one child free; additional children $5 each). Register by 4/24/08.

For more information on all of Wildlands Conservancy’s Earth Day Activities, please call 610-965-4397, ext. 26.

4/11/2008