Take a hike with regional group
Hikers can take a nine-mile, moderate to strenuous hike at 8 this morning on the Golden Eagle Trail in Lycoming County. It is organized by the Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society.
The trail is considered one of the best hikes in Pennsylvania, with excellent views. Meet 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.
The hike leader is Roy Fontaine. Participants should bring lunch and water.
Bradford County Youth Field Day planned
TROY - The 18th annual Bradford County Youth Field Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Pisgah State Park.
The event is for children ages 5 to 18. A free lunch, T-shirt and commemorative embroidered patch will be available to all participants.
The event will include activities in tracks, insects, birds, mammals, trapping, .22 shoot, building bird boxes, scavenger hunt, survival, archery, black powder, sporting clays, canoeing, GPS, fishing and camp cooking.
Registration now by calling the park office at 297-2734 or emailing mtpisgahsp@pa.gov.
Celebrate New Berlin's heritage
NEW BERLIN - The 42nd annual New Berlin Day will be celebrated in this Union County borough on Saturday.
One of the state's largest one-day street festivals, the event features purveyors of fine antiques, arts and crafts. Traditional Pennsylvania German and American festival food and drink will be available on the streets and at the adjoining Firemen's Field.
Entertainment is scheduled, as is an open house at the New Berlin Heritage Museum (the original 1815 Union County Courthouse). A Civil War skirmish will give a glimpse of living history.
Parking and admission is free. For more information, visit www.newberlinpa.com.
Ned Smith Center plans trail run
MILLERSBURG - The Ned Smith Center for Nature and the Arts will hold its Trail Run for Conservation and K-9 5K on Sept. 8. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and the run begins at 10.
The 5K course will take runners along the scenic Wiconisco Creek to a portion of the Lykens Valley Rail Trail and across the center's pedestrian bridge.
All of the center's trails will be open for visitors wishing to walk their own course based on length and level of difficulty.
The day also will feature a celebration of the canine visitors who frequently "walk their people" on the trails.
All proceeds directly will benefit the center's mission - to merge the arts and the natural world and foster a celebration of both.
Separate fees are set for ages 13 and up and for ages 7 to 12. Racers can save money by registering before Aug. 31. Children 6 and under are free.
For more information, visit www.nedsmithcenter.org.
Master Gardeners plan Garden Fest
Penn State Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners of Lycoming County will hold a free Garden Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 8 on the lawns of the Lysock View Complex, 542 County Farm Road, Montoursville.
Free workshops will be held, including:
10 a.m. - Carl Bower will discuss the art of bonsai;
11 a.m. - Paul Solomon, also known as the Garlic Guy, is back by popular demand;
Noon - Sharon Bitler will show how to keep birds from harming your garden with bird deflectors you can make from CDs.
1 p.m. - Learn how to press and mount flowers with Janet Sherman.
Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations on how to start new plants from cuttings with Master Gardener Helen Grosso near the Knot Garden.
The Master Gardeners also will have a perennial plant sale, including many bee-pollinator friendly plants from their own gardens, along with some of their garden treasures. New this year are garden gloves and the Cobra Head tool.
Check out the rose, native plant, vegetable and knot gardens. Bring your gardening questions and samples to the "Ask the Experts" stand. There will be door prizes and free refreshments. Educational displays will teach about pollinators, square foot gardening and backyard berries, among other topics.
For more information, call the Extension office at 433-3040, or search for Lycoming County Master Gardeners on Facebook.
Families can learn how to kayak
TIOGA - Looking for a great way to enjoy Pennsylvania waterways with your family? Discover kayaking during a state Fish and Boat Commission program from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 8 at Hammond Lake. It will begin with on-land instruction and end with on-water experience.
The program is designed for people ages 12 and older, but children 11 or younger will be considered on a case-to-case basis.
All equipment is provided.
For more information, call Allan Schreffler at 814-359-5127. Space is limited and registration is required by calling or visiting www.fishandboat.com/calendar.htm. The program will be held rain or shine.
Relief scheduled for hot dogs
LEWISBURG - Spend a special day with your favorite pooch and meet other canine lovers during Doggie Dips scheduled for 4 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 11 at the Lewisburg Community Pool.
Dogs get the chance to play, run free and swim in the pool after it is closed for the season.
Canines must have a current rabies tag and license and must wear a collar, with a leash on hand.
Aggressive dogs are not allowed.
Dog handlers must be at least 16 years old and are allowed to have only one dog each.
An admission fee will be charged. Those who participated on Sept. 8 will receive a half-off coupon for re-entry on Sept. 11.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit SUN P.E.T.S.
For more information, visit www.golara.org.
Hunter education classes set in Troy
TROY - A hunter-trapper education program for youth ages 11 and older will be held 6-9 p.m. Sept. 10-12 at the Troy Intermediate School.
Students must attend all three classes. Upon successful completion of the course, a card will be issued to allow the student to purchase a hunting license when he or she is 12.
To enroll, register online at www.pgc.state.pa.us and click on "Education" and then "Hunter Trapper Education." Registration also may be done onsite at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10.
For more information, call Bill Bower at 297-2943.
Mother Earth News Fair planned at Pa. resort
SEVEN SPRINGS - Seven Springs Mountain Resort will host the third annual Mother Earth News Fair on Sept. 21-23.
Dozens of hands-on workshops will cover organic gardening, real food, renewable energy, small-scale livestock, green building and remodeling, do-it-yourself projects, natural health, green transportation and related topics. Sustainable and rural lifestyle experts from across the country will lead the sessions.
Nationally known keynote speakers will offer attendees a broader perspective on today's environmental issues, including:
Animal welfare activist Dr. Temple Grandin will teach attendees how animals think and feel to create strategies for improving their overall welfare.
Organic farmer and author Joel Salatin will discuss ways to use technology to regain a relationship with our food, energy, water, air, soil, fabric and shelter.
Barbara Pleasant, a Mother Earth News contributing editor, will share how to become more self-sufficient and save money by growing crops that store well.
Self-taught fermentation expert and author Sandor Katz will show attendees the scope of fermentation beyond food and beverages.
Food historian Dr. William Woys Weaver will cover the history and nutritional ramifications of heirloom food plants. Weaver owns the Roughwood Seed Collection in Devon and is a Mother Earth News contributing editor.
In addition to workshops, the fair will host an heirloom seed display, children's activities, vendor and livestock demonstrations, a green shopping pavilion, and local and organic food options.
Adult tickets cost $30 for the weekend or $15 for a one-day pass in advance, or $35 and $20, respectively, at the gate. Children 17 and under get in free.
To purchase advance tickets, go to www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com or call toll-free 800-234-3368.
Gates will open at noon Sept. 21 and close at 7 p.m. The fair hours will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 22 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23.
Fly fishing program planned for women
BELLEFONTE - A women's fly fishing program will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the state Fish and Boat Commission's Stackhouse Facility along Fly Fisherman's Paradise, 1150 Spring Creek Road.
Registration is required by visiting fishandboat.com/fish-fundamentals.htm.
For more information, contact Amidea Daniel at adaniel@pa.gov or 814-359-5127.
Game Commission to conduct game farm tours
The state Game Commission will offer public tours of its four pheasant game farms in Armstrong, Crawford and Lycoming counties from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 30, rain or shine.
Tour stops will include hatcheries, brooder houses, and rearing, "grow-out" and over-wintering pens. Workshop discussions will focus on objectives in propagation management, including sportsmen's organizations participating in raising day-old chicks provided by the farms to increase local hunting opportunities and surplus day-old hen chicks that are sold to the public. Also, after registration and before taking the tour, visitors may view a brief DVD highlighting farm operations throughout the year.
When visitors arrive, they will register before game farm personnel take them on a guided tour. In order to maintain biosecurity and minimize human contact with the birds, visitors must remain with tour groups.
For directions to the game farms, visit www.pgc.state.pa.us or call the particular regional office.
Ned Smith Center plans art auction
MILLERSBURG - The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art touts its annual Wildlife Art Auction as one of the largest of its kind, featuring the most Ned Smith prints and originals of any auction in the country. The auction will be held Oct. 6 at the center.
More than 140 works of art are in line to be auctioned off. A variety of artists are represented, including Dan Christ, Mark Perry, Gerald W. Putt and Laura Mark-Finberg.
For a complete PDF list and more information, check out the "upcoming events" section at www.nedsmithcenter.org.
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.
All 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.
