First Posted: 9/26/2014

THIS WEEK: Oct. 1 to 7, 2014

Cranberry Bog Walk, a 2.5-hour exploration of the northern boreal bog with novel plant and animal life. Meet at the Bog parking lot, 166 Cherry Lane Road, Tannersville. 10 a.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 12. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Wild Edible Plant Walk, with herbalist and forager Nathaniel Whitmore. Lackawanna Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. $5. Registration: 570-842-1506.

Raccoon Ridge Field Trip, to a spectacular mountaintop lookout along the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey guided by environmental educator Brian Hardiman. Includes a strenuous uphill 1.5-mile hike. Meet at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. $24. Registration: 570-629-3060.

Fall Astronomy Sessions, an illustrated lecture followed by weather-permitted telescope observation of the moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Thomas G. Cupillari Astronomical Observatory, Keystone College, La Plume. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays through Nov. 14. Free. 570-945-8402.

Fall Photography Weekend, learning about visual design, composition, exposure and more while exploring and capturing the beauty of the fall season. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Begins Friday, Oct. 3 and runs through midday Sunday, Oct. 5. $260 includes lodging and meals. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Fishes of NEPA. Splash around with biologist Jerry Skinner and use seines, dip nets and electrofishing to view identify and learn about common, overlooked and endangered fish and their habitats. Keystone College Environmental Education Institute, One College Green, La Plume. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. $40; $20 students includes lunch. Registration: 570-945-8555 or kceei.keystone.edu.

Wildlife Detective Training, learning methods of recognizing tracks, scrapes, chew marks and scat left behind by animals at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 4. $5. Registration: 570-629-3061.

All About Apples, displays, stories and artifacts highlighting the importance of apples through time. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. $5. 570-967-7275.

Golden Eagle Trail Hike, nine difficult miles with a stream crossing. Meet at the parking lot of the former bank building, Routes 118 and 29, Pikes Creek. 8:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Pictures in the Park. Learn some photo basics, then take a hike to view the park through a camera’s lens. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. $5. 570-967-7275.

Math in Nature: Fractal Hike. Discover the mathematical patterns in nature while hiking on the trails of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. 570-828-2319.

FUTURE

Black Diamond Trail Hike, an easy eight-mile trek while learning about the area’s history. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Free. Registration: 570-403-2006.

Hawk Mountain Field Trip to the oldest hawk-migration monitoring site in the world. Meet at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. $24. Reservations: 570-629-3061.

Falling Leaves Family Nature Getaway Weekend, with interpretive hikes, animal presentations, square dancing, canoeing, campfires and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Begins Friday, Oct. 10 and runs through midday Monday, Oct. 13. $210 includes lodging and meals. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Autumn Splendor Walk, a 1.5-hour trek to enjoy the fall foliage at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. $5. Registration: 570-629-3060.

Worlds End State Park Hike, eight difficult miles. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. Bring lunch and water. 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-388-6553.

Fall Photography Weekend. Learn about exposure, composition and more. Geared toward DSLR-type cameras; tripod recommended. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Begins Friday, Oct. 17 and runs through midday Sunday, Oct. 19. $290 includes lodging and meals. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Radical Raptors, a presentation about broad-winged species, followed by a hike to a high point to catch them in flight. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. $5. 570-967-7275.

Evolution of the Grey Towers Landscape: Autumn in Cornelia’s Gardens, an autumn landscape tour including native shrubs, Japanese maples and European copper beeches planted by former Gov. Gifford Pinchot at Grey Towers National Historic Site, 122 Old Owego Turnpike, Milford. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Registration: 570-296-9630.

Saw-Whet Owl Banding, a field trip to the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art to observe researchers catching and banding migrating owls. Meet at the Weis Market parking lot, Route 415, Dallas at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 or at 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. Free but a donation is requested. Registration: 570-639-5785.

Lake to Lake Trail Run and Woods Walk, an 8K event with participants covering trails winding through 500 acres of rich biodiversity and natural resources. Lacawac Sanctuary, 94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel. Sunday, Oct. 19 with registration at 9 a.m. and event at 11 a.m. $25 for the 8K; $15 for the woods walk. 570-689-9494 or lacawac.org.

Fall Foliage and Nature Photography Bus Tour of the most scenic places in Northeastern Pennsylvania for photo opportunities and photo composition tips. Keystone College Environmental Education Institute, One College Green, La Plume. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. $50; $35 students includes lunch. Registration: 570-945-8555 or kceei.keystone.edu.

Bog Day 2014, with bog exploration programs throughout the day including Boardwalk Walks at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; “Effects of Human and Weather Disturbances on Bog Plant Diversity” at 10 a.m.; information from the Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups. Tannersville Cranberry Bog, 166 Cherry Lane Road. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Free. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Woodbourne Forest Hike, five moderate miles. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-655-4979.

Octoberfest, exploring the hop plant from vine to vat with a presentation in the Wheaton House and a beer-making demonstration at Endless Brewing. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. $10. Registration: 570-967-7275.