Lehigh Gap Nature Center

connecting people with nature through Conservation, Education, and Research

Upcoming events at LGNC:

Mar
20
Wed
Family Night Out at LGNC
Mar 20 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Family Night Out at LGNC

Description: Come out to Lehigh Gap Nature Center for a night of nature-themed fun for the whole family! Use microscopes in our science lab, meet live critters, and make new memories at LGNC! This program is suitable for all ages. We will meet at LGNC’s Osprey House. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. This event is rain or shine.

Registration: Please register through Zeffy at this link! You do not need to bring your ticket to the event.

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Mar
21
Thu
Cabin Fever Book Club
Mar 21 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cabin Fever Book Club

Join us for a discussion of Shelby Van Pelt’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures”!

About the Cabin Fever Book Club:

The Cabin Fever Book Club meets once a month during the fall and winter months to discuss fascinating books on such topics as ecology, environmental history, and environmentalism. The 2023-24 Cabin Fever Book Club meetings will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the dates listed below! Books will be available at the Palmerton and Slatington libraries, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, and on Amazon.com (at a cost). Please contact us at mail@lgnc.org if you have any questions, or if you would like to lead a discussion!

2023-2024 Cabin Fever Book Club Reading List:
11-10-23  Bootstrap Geologist (2014) by Gene Shinn
12-14-23 The Singing Wilderness (1997) by Sigurd F. Olson
1-18-24 Founding Gardeners (2012) by Andrea Wulf
2-15-24 The Soul of an Octopus (2016) by Sy Montgomery
3-21-24 Remarkably Bright Creatures (2022) by Shelby Van Pelt
Mar
28
Thu
Speaker Series: Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley
Mar 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Speaker Series: Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley

“Volunteer Conservation: How watershed groups and volunteers collaborate to protect water and environmental resources in the Lehigh Valley” — Rebecca Hayden, President of the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley

Description: The Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley brings together all the region’s watershed and conservation groups to partner and collaborate on a wide variety of conservation and citizen science projects. Join us in person for this talk where Rebecca Hayden will discuss past projects, from heavy metal testing in the Lehigh River to the development of a region-wide watershed map project exhibit, which has been displayed publicly. Learn about the Coalition’s publications and the development of the Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program, and a variety of upcoming volunteer projects!

Registration: Please register through Zeffy at this link

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: Suggested donation of $5 per person

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Apr
3
Wed
Ecology Club for Kids
Apr 3 @ 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Ecology Club for Kids

LGNC’s Ecology Club is open to children ages 9 and older. Join us throughout the year for fun, hands-on nature adventures at the Osprey House and the Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge.

Participation is FREE to all LGNC members and their families! Not a member? Click here to find out how to join today!

Email riley.davenport@lgnc.org if you are interested in signing up!

Apr
8
Mon
Solar Eclipse Party
Apr 8 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Solar Eclipse Party

Description: Join us at the Osprey House to celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse! Don’t miss out on this rare event that won’t happen for another 20 years! Learn about what happens during a solar eclipse with activities for all ages. Solar eclipse-safe glasses and refreshments will be provided.

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person

Registration: Please register online through this Zeffy at this link!

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889

 

Apr
20
Sat
Hawk Watching at Bake Oven Knob – Spring 2024
Apr 20 @ 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Hawk Watching at Bake Oven Knob - Spring 2024

Description: Experience the marvel of spring bird migration at the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch! Over the past 64 years, LGNC and its founding members have counted over 800,000 migrating birds of prey at Bake Oven Knob, a rocky outcropping atop the Kittatinny Ridge. From the Bake Oven Knob parking lot, we will hike a short but rocky section of the Appalachian Trail to a lookout where we’ll observe the migration. Along the way, participants will learn about bird identification, the history of hawk watching, and the ecology of the Kittatinny Ridge. Binoculars will be provided.

The hike will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please note that this program will meet at the Bake Oven Knob parking lot. For directions, see this link.

Registration: Please register online at this link!

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: FREE

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Earth Day Cleanup
Apr 20 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Earth Day Cleanup

Join us in getting the gardens and refuge ready for the coming spring and summer! All volunteers are welcome.

Apr
30
Tue
Spring Bird Walk
Apr 30 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Spring Bird Walk

Description: Search for colorful spring migrants as they make their way back north! Binoculars will be provided to those who do not have them. Although these walks will be geared toward beginner birders, people of all ages are welcome to attend.

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person

Registration: Please register online through this Zeffy at this link!

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

May
1
Wed
Ecology Club for Kids
May 1 @ 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Ecology Club for Kids

LGNC’s Ecology Club is open to children ages 9 and older. Join us throughout the year for fun, hands-on nature adventures at the Osprey House and the Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge.

Participation is FREE to all LGNC members and their families! Not a member? Click here to find out how to join today!

Email riley.davenport@lgnc.org if you are interested in signing up!

May
11
Sat
Warbler Walk with Terry Master
May 11 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Warbler Walk with Terry Master

Description: Join Ornithologist and LGNC Board Member Terry Master on a Warbler Walk at LGNC! Although these walks will be geared toward beginner birders, people of all ages and experience levels are welcome to attend. Some portions of the walk may be steep or rocky, please wear closed toe shoes that are fit for hiking. If there is inclement weather, program will be postponed to Sunday May 12th.

Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person

Registration: Please register online through Zeffy at this link!

To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!

Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Donate or Join Today!

Sign up for our email list!

Landscaping for Communities & Wildlife

Click here to visit the Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory and see our downloadable conservation landscaping resources below!

News and Current Events:

Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch

We send a special thanks to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for installing a beautiful new sign to welcome visitors to the hawk watch this season! Interested in volunteering at the hawk watch? Email us at mail@lgnc.org to learn more!

 

The Neffs National Bank EITC

We are extremely grateful for a generous $15,000 donation from The Neffs National Bank in support of LGNC’s educational outreach to area schools! Donations such as these, made through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, allow LGNC to make nature and science accessible to students who might otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from environmental education. Thank you!​

Remembering Elissa Garofalo

At LGNC, we mourn the passing of one of our most important, long-time partners, Elissa Garofalo. When we began planning the Lehigh Gap Restoration Project in 2002, Elissa directed the Carbon County office of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and became an early supporter, advisor, and friend. It was Elissa who nominated LGNC and the D&L Corridor for the Community Conservation Partnership Award from the U.S. Department of Interior, which we received in 2006. She also led the Lehigh Valley Greenways partnership in its early years, and we served on its steering committee. Later, she became Executive Director at the D&L Corridor when Allen Sachse retired. She always remained an important partner, a great colleague, and a friend. Perhaps Peter Kern said it best:

“Elissa was a unique Carbon County asset and a presence that will be missed. I can’t say enough about her contributions. She was pragmatic and firm in her convictions. I know I am not alone in recognizing her importance. May she rest in peace knowing that she made a difference.”

LGNC Receives Solar Award!

Lehigh Valley organizations receive Lodestar Award for solar energy leadership 

On October 27, 2022, the Pennsylvania Solar Center presented regional companies and organizations with the prestigious Lodestar Award, a distinction given to Pennsylvania entities who are leading the way investing in clean and renewable solar energy. Awardees were proud to accept the award at a virtual awards ceremony, and they included:

  • Lehigh Gap Nature Center
  • Bethlehem Area School District
  • Black River Farms
  • Crayola
  • Evoke Solar
  • Gas & Air Systems
  • TIW Technology Inc.

LGNC is honored to receive the Lodestar Award recognizing our organization’s green building, the Osprey House. Since it was installed in 2018, LGNC’s 65-panel solar system has not only reduced our carbon footprint, but it has also showcased the benefits of solar energy to thousands of students and others who have visited our wildlife refuge. We are grateful for the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s support and for its commitment to a sustainable energy future in Pennsylvania.

Call for Volunteers

Lehigh Gap Nature Center is looking for volunteers to help with our information desk, our education programming, and the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count!

• Are you interested in meeting new people and helping visitors who are looking to make the most out of their visit to LGNC? Our Information Specialist volunteers play an important role in keeping our building open daily year-round!
Commitment: 3 to 3.5-hour shifts available year round during business hours
Responsibilities: Staffing the Osprey House front desk; greeting and helping visitors; selling merchandise

• Would you love to teach and engage young people in environmental science? Our Education Team volunteers assist the staff during field trips when nearby schools visit the Nature Center in the fall and spring. Their help allows us to continue inspiring students with our story and connecting them to the outdoors.
Commitment: 2-4 hours per field trip September-November and March-June
Responsibilities: Leading field trip stations for students in grades pre-k through high school

• Have you ever wanted to count migrating birds of prey while enjoying beautiful views? For over 60 years, our Hawk Count volunteers have counted migrating birds that fly past Bake Oven Knob in the late summer and fall. The data collected during these counts are entered into an international research database.
Commitment: 4 to 8-hour shifts available Fridays and Saturdays August-November
Responsibilities: Counting migrating birds and recording data

For all volunteer positions, LGNC will provide training, supplies, and a great experience! There is no obligation to volunteer on a regular basis. Only help out if it fits your schedule.

Our volunteers play a vital role in helping LGNC fulfill its mission. We are so grateful for their dedication, and we would love to welcome more volunteers into our organization!

Please email us at volunteering@lgnc.org or call us at 610-760-8889 if you are interested in learning more.

 

Exploring the Gap in Virtual Reality

Lehigh University, in partnership with the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, is pleased to announce the launch of The Lehigh Gap Story.
Click Here to launch the virtual tour!

Take a virtual hike with avatar bird Brownie to learn about the environmental changes that occurred in the Lehigh River Watershed in Pennsylvania during the past two centuries as a result of the zinc smelting plant operation at the Lehigh Gap.

The Story Mode takes about 15 minutes to complete. We would be grateful if you complete the Story Mode and in the last photosphere, click on the green arrow to take our brief survey to help us learn about your experience.

View the New Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory
Introducing the Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory! The Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory is a project of the Master Gardeners in Lehigh and Northampton counties to promote the Homegrown National Park®. You can find the link to the directory under the “Resources” menu in the LGNC.org main menu or by Clicking Here!
LGNC Online Learning Series
Our education team has been busy creating virtual education resources for all to use and enjoy! New videos are now being posted regularly to our YouTube page. In addition to species spotlights, we are putting together a variety of science lessons and virtual tours of the Refuge!

Here is the link to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/LGNC_YouTube

Be sure to like our videos and subscribe to our channel!!!

LGNC Restoration Mini Documentary
Michal Kubik Memorial Education Fund

Michal’s family established the Michal Kubik Memorial Education Fund to directly support LGNC’s educational outreach. Donations to this fund will allow LGNC to carry on Michal’s legacy and carry out his commitment to education for years to come. Please consider making a donation at this link: