Lehigh Gap Nature Center

Ecology Camp
2026-08-06 08:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-05 08:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-04 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
LGNC’s Ecology Camp is a 4-day summer day camp for youth currently in grades 3-6 who are interested in nature and the outdoors. Campers will investigate a different area of ecology each day as we explore the Kittatinny Ridge and other natural areas.
Fee: $150 for LGNC Members / $175 for LGNC Non-members
The 2026 camp will take place August 4-7th, 8:30am-3:30pm.
Please register online at this link:2026 Ecology Camp

Financial aid is available upon request. Click here to request a summer camp subsidy.

Please contact us at mail@lgnc.org if you have any questions!

Nature at Night
2026-07-28 20:00 - 21:30
Search for moths, caterpillars, bats, and other creatures of the night. Discover critters that glow in the dark with black light flashlights! Flashlights will be provided.
Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $10 per person
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Junior Explorer Nature Walk
2026-07-21 10:00 - 11:30
Young explorers of all ages are invited to discover the cool critters of LGNC this summer! Each family-fun nature walk will meet at LGNC’s Osprey House. Kids will learn to use insect nets to catch and identify insects. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals), sunscreen, and a hat. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Walks will be cancelled if heavy rain or thunderstorms are in the forecast.
Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Evening Hike at Lehigh Gap
2026-07-16 18:00 - 19:30
You are invited to explore the trails at Lehigh Gap Nature Center on an evening guided hike! Join LGNC Staff member for a moderate level guided hike on LGNC trails. The hike will begin on the LNE trail for one mile, and participants will return back to the nature center on the D&L Trail for one mile, for a total distance of 2.2 miles. The beginning of the hike is steep and rocky, but the remainder of the hike is mostly flat or downhill; closed toed hiking shoes are recommended. Learn more about our trails at this link: Trail Map and Guides | Lehigh Gap Nature Center (lgnc.org)
PLEASE NOTE: Please arrive at LGNC’s Osprey House (8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington) ready to hike at 6:00pm. Please wear closed-toe hiking boots and dress for the weather. Participants are also encouraged to pack water and snacks.
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Summer Bird Walk
2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:30
Join Director Chad Schwartz on a summer bird walk around the Lehigh Gap Refuge! 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: Click here to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Nature-minded Senior Sessions
2026-07-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-13 10:00 - 12:00
The Nature-minded Senior Sessions seek to bring together LGNC members for fellowship and conversations about nature, conservation, and other topics. Each session will include coffee/tea, refreshments, and a time for socializing. This will be followed by a brief presentation about a topic of interest and an open forum discussion among the group members.
The sessions will be held in the Great Hall at the Osprey House on the second Monday of each month from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. There is no fee to attend the session as it is benefit of membership with LGNC, and no registration is required to attend.
If you have any questions regarding this new event, please email Dan Kunkle at dkunkle@ptd.net for more information. Thanks, we hope to see you there!

Virtual Reality with Lehigh University
2026-07-11 09:00 - 12:00
Stop into the Osprey House anytime between 9am and 12pm today to experience Virtual Reality. Created in partnership with staff and students at Lehigh University, try this new virtual reality learning game that takes place right here in the Lehigh Gap before exploring our trails!
After playing the game, Lehigh University invites everyone to complete a brief survey at the end of the experience to let them know what you think. Your feedback helps improve the experience and supports ongoing educational research with LGNC and Lehigh University.
This event is free and no registration is required.

3 Ponds Hike with Dan Kunkle
2026-07-11 09:00 - 11:00
Join LGNC Founder and Director Emeritus Dan Kunkle on a summer hike to the 3 Ponds Trail located on the western end of LGNC’s Refuge! This will be a natural history walk where we will look for birds, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, plants and more! We hope to find turtles sunning on the platforms in the ponds and dragonflies hunting mosquitoes. We will bring a net to try to catch some insects for close looks and a dip net to see what we can find in the pond water. Bring your binoculars, but we will have extra to borrow.
People of all ages and experience levels are welcome to attend. This area can be wet and buggy, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet and bring water!
PLEASE NOTE: This event does NOT meet at the Osprey House.
Meet at D&L East Penn Trailhead (Also known as the East Penn/Riverview Boat Launch). Find directions here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1houLEQK58afAPQHA
Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

SOLD OUT - Budding Naturalist Mini-Camp
2026-07-10 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-09 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-07 09:00 - 12:00
LGNC’s Budding Naturalist Mini-Camp is a summer day camp for children in grades K-2 and their parents and guardians! Over a series of 4 days, campers will learn about critters and their habitats as we discover what lives in LGNC’s forest, grassland, river, and pond ecosystems. The camp will meet at the Nature Center from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All children must be accompanied by an adult for this camp. Campers and their adults will discover a variety of critters that call the Lehigh Gap home as we explore the habitats around LGNC’s Osprey House! Each day of camp will include a story time, an outdoor adventure, and a craft.
Fee: $100 for LGNC Members / $125 for LGNC Non-members
The 2025 camp will take place July 7-10, 9 AM-12 PM.
Please register online at this link:
2026 Budding Naturalist Mini-Camp

Financial aid is available upon request. Click here to request a summer camp subsidy.
Please contact us at mail@lgnc.org if you have any questions!

Nature in Art Club - Drop-in Studio
2026-07-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-13 10:00 - 12:00
Nature in Art Club members are invited to join us the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a Drop-In Studio. Bring a personal art project to work on (all mediums are welcome!) and enjoy conversation with fellow local artists. During the warmer months, we have portable easels available to borrow for plein-air painting outside the Osprey House!
The Nature in Art Club is a free benefit of a Lehigh Gap Nature Center membership. Click the link below to join the Art Club email list- get early access to art related events, and get updates about our annual art show, club meetings, and more! https://forms.gle/QwqvP7AdBtGTchNp6
The Drop-in Studio is free to attend and registration is not required. To join the Art Club and attend a Drop-in Studio, click here to become an LGNC Member first!
Questions? Contact us at artclub@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

What's in the Water? Freshwater Snorkeling in the Lehigh River
2026-07-01 18:00 - 20:00
Discover the fascinating ecosystem that lies below the Lehigh River! During this special program with LGNC and Berks Nature, participants will have the opportunity to wade and snorkel in the shallows of the river. As we observe a host of aquatic life, we will discuss what many of these critters can teach us about the health and quality of the water. Participants must be at least 10 years old to enter the river. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Be sure to wear a swimsuit, closed-toe water shoes or old sneakers, and sunscreen. Wet suits and other snorkeling gear will be provided.
Fee: LGNC members: $30 | Non-members: $35 per person
Registration: Click the link to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Lehigh Gap Bike and Raft
2026-06-23 15:00 - 19:00
Explore the Lehigh River and D&L Trail on a biking and rafting adventure between Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Osprey House (8844 Paint Mill Rd., Slatington) and Bowmanstown. The trip includes professional safety guides and beginner level instruction. We will make stops along the way to learn about local history and ecology with a river study led by LGNC staff. All equipment, including bikes, helmets, PFDs, and rafts will be provided. All participants should know how to ride a bicycle.
This activity is family-friendly. However, the recommended minimum age to participate is 10. This event is sponsored by Jim Thorpe River Adventures and will serve as a fundraiser for Lehigh Gap Nature Center; your participation in this event will directly support Lehigh Gap Nature Center. Registration is required and spots are limited.
Fee: LGNC members: $50 per person | Non-members: $75 per person
Registration: Click here to register now for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Pollinator Day & Native Plant Sale
2026-06-20 10:00 - 15:00
See you on Saturday, June 20th for Pollinator Day from 10am-3pm!This year’s theme is all about butterflies! Don’t miss out on our Native Plant Sale, guided walks, displays, local artists, activities for all ages, and the Buns on the Go food truck! See you there! 🦋
Calling all artists! Submit your artwork now for the Pollinator Day 2026 art exhibition! Artwork must highlight butterflies in celebration of this month’s theme. Spread the word and click the link for more details and to submit your work: https://forms.gle/4qXo4cQ945U61K8x6 🦋 Submissions close on June 12th.

Junior Explorer Nature Walk
2026-06-10 10:00 - 11:30
Young explorers of all ages are invited to discover the cool critters of LGNC this summer! Each family-fun nature walk will meet at LGNC’s Osprey House. Kids will learn to use insect nets to catch and identify insects. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals), sunscreen, and a hat. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Walks will be cancelled if heavy rain or thunderstorms are in the forecast.
Fee: LGNC members: FREE | Non-members: $5 per person
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Ecology Club for Kids
2026-06-03 16:15 - 17:15, 2026-05-06 16:15 - 17:15
LGNC’s Ecology Club is open to children ages 9 and older. Join us after school on the first Wednesday of every month 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: https://lgnc.org/join-renew-give/
Email riley.davenport@lgnc.org if you are interested in attending and have questions!
4:15-5:15pm
2025-2026 Dates:
September 3
October 1
November 5
December 3
January 7
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3

Lehigh Gap Bike Tour
2026-05-28 17:00 - 20:00
Pack up your bike and explore the D&L Trail with LGNC Board Member Brandon Fogal! The Lehigh Gap Bike Tour will begin at Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Osprey House (8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington) and go up to Weissport and back, totaling about 15 miles round trip. We will make stops along the way to learn about local history and ecology. (If there is heavy rain or thunderstorms in the forecast, this event will be postponed to June 4)
The trip includes a professional guide, and participants must bring their own bikes and helmets as these items will not be provided. Please bring a backpack with water and a snack, and be sure to pack some cash to stop for ice cream on the way back! This activity is family-friendly. However, the recommended minimum age to participate is 10. Registration is required and spots are limited.
Fee: LGNC members: $15 per person | Non-members: $20 per person
Registration: Click here to register for this event!
To become a member, please visit our Square store at this link!
Questions? Contact us at mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

Warbler Walk with Terry Master
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00
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 10th.
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.

Spring Bird Walk
2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:30
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.

Earth Day Cleanup
2026-04-18 09:00 - 12:00
Get ready to kick off the season with us as we prepare the gardens and refuge for spring and summer! We’ll be trimming back plants in the gardens and giving the River Trail a fresh cleanup. All volunteers are welcome to join the fun! We’ll have gloves and pruners available, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. Email mail@lgnc.org for more information.
