First Posted: 8/6/2014

THIS WEEK: Aug. 13 to 19, 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 Sept. 24. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Y Walk Wednesdays: What’s New at Wilkes U? A guided early evening tour of the campus of Wilkes University. Meet at the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, 40 W. Northampton St. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13. Free. 570-970-5040.

Women’s Weekend. Get away from it all in a relaxing weekend of nature hikes, canoeing, yoga, campfires, astronomy and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Friday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug. 17. $199 includes lodging in a yurt and six meals. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Nature Walk, on the trails of the 166-acre Wildlife Sanctuary at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. $5. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Dragonfly Walk through the fields and ponds of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. $5. 570-828-2319.

Ricketts Glen Hike, seven difficult miles on the Bulldozer Trail. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. Bring water and a snack. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-388-6553.

Y Cycle Sunday, a 10-mile bike ride on the Greater Hazleton Rail Trail. Meet at the trailhead on Route 93, Hazleton. 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. Helmets required. 570-714-1953.

Ecozone Discovery Room. Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave and dig in a fossil pit in this indoor discovery room with hands-on exhibits. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. 570-828-2319.

Bike the Border, a ride along the park roads followed by an optional dip in Upper Fall Brook. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. 570-945-3239.

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. 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17; and 10 a.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 24. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Keystone Active Zone Passport, a free program that encourages people to get outside and active at more than 50 outdoor recreation sites and events within a 10- to 60-mile drive of anywhere in Luzerne County from family bike rides to trail hikes to river festivals to quiet nature preserves. Earn awards and win prizes by logging your discoveries on line through Sept. 30. Join anytime by registering at KAZpassport.com or call 570-970-5040.

FUTURE

Family Fishing Day, a free program for families with children age 8 and older who are new to fishing. All equipment and bait provided; fishing license not required. Bring chairs, water and snacks. River Common Fishing Pier, Wilkes-Barre. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Registration: 570-477-2206.

Y Walk Wednesdays: River Common Summer Nature Walk along the Susquehanna River with Diane Madl of Nescopeck State Park. Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, 40 W. Northampton St. 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Free. 570-970-5040.

Morning Kayak Paddle, for age 14 and older. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22. Registration: 570-696-9105.

Miles for Michael, the Pittston Tomato Festival 5K Run through Pittston, the Fort Jenkins Bridge, West Pittston and the Water Street Bridge. Begins at Main and William streets, Pittston. Race-day registration at the Greater Pittston YMCA, 10 N. Main St. Saturday, Aug. 23 with registration at 8:30 a.m. and race at 10 a.m. $25. 570-574-0463.

Mushrooms and Mycelia, learning about fungi with indoor and outdoor programs. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. 570-945-3239.

Frog Frenzy. Learn about frogs while gently catching and releasing these hopping amphibians in the ponds and streams of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. $5. 570-828-2319.

Ecozone Discovery Room. Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave and dig in a fossil pit in this indoor discovery room with hands-on exhibits. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. 570-828-2319.

Go Green Bike Tour, the fifth annual event sponsored by Countryside Conservancy with beginner, intermediate and advanced routes covering portions of Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties in the Endless Mountains. Leaves from the Fleetville Volunteer Fire Company, North Route 407. Sunday, Aug. 24 with check-in 7 to 10 a.m. and rides leaving at 8:30, 9:30 and 10 a.m. $30 through Aug 15; $40 afterwards. Register at countrysideconservancy.org.

Mountain Springs Hike, eight moderate miles in a section of Ricketts Glen State Park. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-346-8010.

Butterfly Walk, a trek through the fields and around the ponds with naturalist David Trently. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. 570-828-2319.

Migrate to the Poconos, a Family Nature Getaway Weekend with interpretive hikes, animal presentations, swimming, canoeing, tie-dye, campfires and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Friday, Aug. 29 to Monday, Sept. 1. $210 includes three nights lodging and meals from Friday dinner to Monday lunch. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Field, Forest and Falls Trail Race, 5.5- and 2.5-mile races through the meadows and along the gorge above the waterfalls. Salt Springs State Park, 2305 Salt Springs Road, Franklin Forks. 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. 570-945-3239 or friendsofsaltspringspark.org.

A Stomp to the Swamp, to seek out turtles, ducks and other critters. Meet at the Green Road gate outside the park. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. 570-696-9105.

Cherry Run Hike, 10 difficult miles in a section of Ricketts Glen State Park. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 8:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-346-8010.

Fall Warblers, a brief talk on identifying confusing fall warblers followed by a birding walk at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. $5. 570-629-3061.

Full Moon Bog Walk, an evening walk into the bog environment. Bring a flashlight. Tannersville Cranberry Bog, 166 Cherry Lane Road. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Walk for Life, the fourth annual event with live music, and games for kids including face painting, balloon animals, sidewalk chalk and a bounce house. Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, North Washington Avenue and Linden Street, Scranton. Sept. 13 with registration at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m. and activities until noon. $25. Register at carenetofscranton.com or 570-207-1907.

Not Your 60s Tie Dye Program, using natural and man-made materials to create a tie-dye piece. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13. Age 12 and older. $8 covers materials. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Live Eagles, a close-up look at different types of eagles with naturalists from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Wild Birds Unlimited, Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Free. 570-675-9900.