Board of Game Commissioners to meet this week
HARRISBURG - The board of the state Game Commission will meet Monday and Tuesday in the auditorium of the agency's headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81.
On June 25, the board will gather public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. Registration for those interested in offering public testimony - limited to five minutes - also will begin at that time.
On June 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Game Commission will take up its prepared agenda, which will be posted on the agency's website prior to the meeting. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m.
For those unable to attend, the commission will webcast the meeting beginning with staff reports on Monday, immediately following the conclusion of public comments. The full board meeting on Tuesday will be webcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. An icon will be posted on the agency's website to access the webcasts.
Minutes from the board's April 24 meeting were posted on www.pgc.state.pa.us. To view them, click on the "Resources" section in the menu bar under the banner, then select "Reports/Minutes," followed by "Commission Board Meeting Minutes," and then choose "April 2012 Minutes."
Teacher workshop offered at area preserve
WASHINGTONVILLE - A Project WILD workshop for teachers will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at PPL's Montour Environmental Preserve.
The program, focused on increasing awareness of wildlife, will be presented by Dan Lynch, of the state Game Commission. The workshop will demonstrate activities to increase the understanding, skill and commitment concerning wildlife and the environment.
It is open to any educator who would like to feel more comfortable in teaching youth about wildlife. Each participant will receive a copy of the "Project WILD Activity Guide." Lunch will be provided, and registration is required.
The program will be held in the PPL Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center. For directions, visit www.pplpreserves.com, click on "Montour," then select "Directions." For more information or to register, contact the preserve at 437-3131 or jdbeam@pplweb.com.
Program to highlight flooding damage, recovery
FORKSVILLE - The Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association will hold a fun and educational public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Worlds End State Park's visitors' center.
Titled "Worlds End State Park: The Flooding, the Aftermath and the Recovery," the program will examine the damage caused last fall by Tropical Storm Lee.
Park Manager William Kocher and Jane Swift, park environmental education specialist, will discuss and show video of the destructive floods of 2011. They also will talk about the recovery effort in progress to restore all of the park's treasured areas.
The watershed organization has partnered with the park for several years in addressing bank erosion occurring near its cabin colony. They have stabilized much of the bank, and work continues to further enhance and stabilize the site.
The meeting also will allow time for the association to highlight activities of the organization and future meetings. Light refreshments will be available.
For more information or driving directions, call the Sullivan County Conservation District at 928-7057.
Historic walking tours planned in Lock Haven
LOCK HAVEN - Ross Library and its new employee, Lou Bernard, will hold historic walking tours of Lock Haven's streets and districts.
The "Walk the Past" program will begin at 9 a.m. Fridays in June and July at the library, 232 W. Main St. Walks are planned through July 27.
Because of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the walks will feature a strong Civil War influence, sharing many of the stories and events of the area's participation in the war. Topics such as Abraham Lincoln, the Underground Railroad and lost military gold will be featured.
Pedometers will be issued to walkers to measure how many miles have been walked. The goal this year is to have the group achieve 318 miles, the distance to Gettysburg and back.
For more information, call the Ross Library at 748-3321.
Annual butterfly count will be held at Riverlands
BERWICK - Help keep track of butterfly populations at PPL's Susquehanna Riverlands starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Dedicated people with a love for butterflies may join the 19th annual butterfly count. Participants should be able to handle moderately hilly terrain. Bring binoculars and a field guide if possible, as well as water and a light lunch.
All information collected will be reported to the North American Butterfly Association. A nominal fee will be collected for the association.
John Fridman, supervisor of PPL's Montour Environmental Preserve, will lead the count. Large scouting groups or other organizations cannot be accommodated because of the way the count is conducted. Registration is appreciated, and previous butterfly identification experience is requested.
For more information or to register, call 1-866-832-3312 or email pplpreserves@pplweb.com. For directions, visit www.pplpreserves.com, click on "Susquehanna Riverlands," then select "Directions."
Celebrate History at PPL's Montour Preserve
WASHINGTONVILLE - Go back in time to celebrate the history of PPL's Montour Preserve from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Join PPL Senior Naturalist Jon Beam and other preserve personnel on a historical look at the preserve. The program will begin indoors with a history of Montour County and its early settlers, as well as the Bitler family who built their first home on what now is the preserve. Then take a short walk outdoors to look at the historical Bitler farmstead.
Meet at the PPL Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center. For directions, visit www.pplpreserves.com, click on "Montour," then select "Directions." For more information, contact the preserve at 437-3131 or jdbeam@pplweb.com.
Take a hike with regional group
The Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society will hold a number of hikes throughout the region this summer.
They are open to the public, but hikers should contact the hike leader prior to the event. Participants are advised to bring lunch and water on every hike.
Hikes will be held:
July 1 - Bear Meadows, Centre County, 6.8 miles, easy to moderate. Hike a figure eight combining the Bear Meadows Trail and Jean Aron/Tuxedo/Lonberger paths. Bear Meadows is an unusual remnant boreal bog with vegetation usually only found much further north. It can get quite soggy, so bring extra socks or waterproof boots. Meet at the parking lot behind Lewisburg Post Office at 8 a.m. or the Bear Meadows parking area at 9:30. To get to Bear Meadows, turn onto Bear Meadows Road from Route 322 at the entrance to Tussey Mountain Ski Resort and follow the road for three miles to a stone monument with ample parking. Leader: Tony Robbins, tony.robbins@excellservices.com.
July 15 - R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the park at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.
July 22: R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the park at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.
July 29: Conestoga Trail, Lancaster County, 11.8 miles, very strenuous. Hike from the east side of the Norman Wood Bridge to Pequea Creek Campground through the River Hills on the east side of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. Outstanding vistas overlooking the Susquehanna River. This is a fast-paced preview hike offered to participants in the Susquehanna Super Hike on Sept. 8, but all are welcome. Meet at Kmart parking lot on Route 15 in Shamokin Dam at 6:30 a.m. or Clarks Ferry Truck Stop along Route 322 in Duncannon at 7:15 a.m. Leader: Paul Shaw, 717-215-8339, pshaw@ptd.net.
Aug. 4 - Cherry Run Gamelands Loop, Clinton County, 10 miles, moderate. A circuit hike in state game lands 295 south of Lamar will lead into the heart of the syncline. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Lewisburg Big Lots off Route 15 or at the I-80 Lamar exit McDonalds at 10. Leaders: Catherine McLaughlin and Ed Lawrence, 925-5285, cathyed@nationi.net.
Aug. 11 - Loyalsock Trail, Sullivan County, 6.5 miles, easy to moderate. Hike from Sones Pond to the trail end on Route 220 via the Haystacks. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the McDonald's in Hughesville. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
Aug. 19 - Golden Eagle Trail, Lycoming County, 9 miles, moderate to strenuous. One of the best hikes in Pennsylvania with excellent views. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Sovereign Bank parking lot, Southern Avenue between Market and Hastings streets (Route 15) in South Williamsport or at the trail parking lot along Route 414 at 8:50 a.m. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
Open house planned at lakes
TIOGA - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque lakes will hold an open house from 6 to 7 p.m. July 10 at the Ives Run Visitor Information Center.
Officials will introduce the Friends of Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes group, discuss water safety initiatives and what the rest of the year holds for the lakes and answer questions.
For more information, call the Corps at 835-5281.
Bass tournament benefits health society
SUNBURY - The Bass Classic, sponsored by Capital City Bassmaster, will be held July 14 at Shikellamy State Park. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The boundaries of the fishing tournament are, to the south, the Fiber Dam; to the north, Berwick; and to the west, Williamsport.
Cash and prizes will be awarded, including a first-place prize of $3,000.
For more information, or to register, download the pdf file at www.tiptopwebsite.com/custommusic2/fisherman.pdf or call Mike Brown at 717-448-0350 or Bob Herman at 717-938-8752.
Canoe, kayak races planned
HOWARD - The seventh annual Bricktown Challenge will be held July 14 at the Bald Eagle State Park beach, 149 Main Park Road.
The event offers canoe and kayak races for the serious paddler, youth and junior paddler races, and recreational races.
For more information, call 660-0382 or visit www.beechcreekwatershed.org.
Wildlife for Everyone 5-mile run scheduled
ALLENWOOD - The Wildlife for Everyone 5 Miler off-road run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. July 14 on State Game Lands 252.
The course encompasses dirt roads and grassy land. The roads will be closed to vehicles. Prizes and refreshments will be provided.
T-shirts will be given to all participants who register by June 25. A registration fee applies. Shirts will be limited on race day.
All proceeds will benefit the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation,
For more information, email Steven Schmit at wfe5M@windstream.net or natasharider@windstream.net.
Sullivan County hunter-trapper education set
MUNCY VALLEY - A hunter-trapper education program for youth ages 11 and older will be held this summer. Participants must attend all three sessions of the class to complete course. Classes will be held:
July 19-21 (6-9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday);
Aug. 17-19 (6-9:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday)
Classes will be held at the North Mountain Sportsman's Club on Shipman Hill Road in Sullivan County. Registration is limited to 45 per class. Upon successful course completion, an HTE card will be issued.
To enroll, register online at www.pgc.state.pa.us (click on Education & Hunter Trapper Education). If there are problems, call Rick Smith at 928-8941. For a map to the club, visit www.northmt.com.
Sproul forest welcomes hikers
RENOVO - The ninth annual Prowl the Sproul hiking weekend will be held July 20-22 in Clinton County.
Sponsored by the Keystone Trails Association, the weekend offers a variety of hikes each day, followed by meals in the evening.
Hikers must register for the guided hikes by visiting www.kta-hike.org or calling Shanna Filizzi, KTA program administrator, at 717-238-7017.
See next week's Sun-Gazette Outdoors section for a list of hikes.
Get ready to 'Prowl the Sproul' through race
HYNER - The eighth annual "Prowl the Sproul" race will be held July 21 at the Western Clinton Sportsmen's Association.
At 10 a.m., participants will take a 10K run through the mountains of Sproul State Forest, including three miles of uphill to the top of McCloskey Mountain and then a blistering 3.7 miles down to the finish.
Registration will be held 8:30-9:45 a.m. A fee applies.
For more information, call 814-321-8281 or see www.hikerun.com/56912.html.
Local Audubon chapter plans annual picnic
WARRENSVILLE - Lycoming Audubon's annual summer picnic will be held at 6 p.m. July 25 at Rider Park's pavilion.
Attendees should bring a covered dish to share and their own tableware. The chapter will provide soft drinks and cold water. A plastic tablecloth, lawn chairs, walking shoes and binoculars also are recommended.
Rider Park is just north of Warrensville at the eastern end of Caleb's Creek Road. Watch for balloons about 0.9 mile from downtown Warrensville.
Learn how to safely use an ATV
An all-terrain vehicle safety class will be held at 8:30 a.m. July 28 at Wheels of Williamsport Inc., 99 Grey Fox Drive, Montoursville.
Class size is limited and advance registration is required. The class will be taught by state-certified safety instructors Bill and Nancy Stugart.
Students must provide their own ATV and parents must accompany their children so required forms can be completed.
The law requires that youths ages 8 through 15 take and pass a state-sanctioned safety training course before operating an ATV off their parents' or legal guardians' property.
To register, call Bill or Nancy at 435-0923.
Outdoor events sought
Do you have a meeting or outdoor event you'd like to publicize in the Sun-Gazette?
Announcements must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the date of the event, preferably earlier.
Information and news releases may be:
Mailed to Outdoor editor, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport PA 17701
Emailed to outdoors@sungazette.com
Dropped off at the Sun-Gazette office, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport
Submitted through the Outdoor section of the Virtual Newsroom on the paper's website, www.sungazette.com.
Submissions must contain the name, telephone number and, if available, email address of a contact person.
Photographs by area residents of trophy fish or game animals or other interesting outdoor occurrences also will be considered. Digital photos may be sent by email.
Hard-copy glossy prints, negatives or slides may be dropped off or mailed. Polaroid prints typically cannot be reprinted in the newspaper.
Only photos sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope will be returned.
Announcements published in the "Outdoor Briefs" section will print in chronological order as space permits.
The Outdoors section is published weekly on Sundays, but it goes to print early on Wednesday mornings.
Therefore, all information for publication on any given Sunday must be submitted by noon on the Monday prior.
For more help, call 326-1551, ext. 3116.
