As families lined up in the parking lot of Montour Preserve's Environmental Education Building to sign in, a dozen Scouts BSA youth from Venturing Crew 2307 and Sea Scout Ship 2323 (Sunbury), along with BSA Troop 419 (Selinsgrove), were busy gathering last-minute supplies and finalizing the activities for the more than 110 children registered for the event.

The Vernal School of Environmental Education and Rider Park have teamed up to bring an evening of family fun, music and education to the Hiawatha River Boat on Friday, October 25, 2024.  This fundraiser is the first collaboration between the Vernal School and Rider Park and promises to be an evening family fun.  All proceeds will be split evenly between the two organizations.   

The Vernal School's Women Reconnecting and Engaging with Nature (WREN Program) will be kayaking Montour Preserve's Lake Chillisquaque at 2 p.m. on August 25th for their monthly outing.

The Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership will be offering a full day of programming showcasing a wide variety of its partners at the Montour Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during a special Environmental Education, Arts and Music Festival.

The event, modeled after a highly successful Environmental Education Expo at the Montour Preserve in February, expands the scope by adding nature-related art and music opportunities as well as showcasing some of the preserve's unique areas beyond the Nature and Environmental Center.

One of the new additions for September's program will be renowned local wildlife artist Ken Hunter.

"We are excited to have Ken at the show, especially because he has such a longstanding rich history of supporting the Montour Preserve. His incredible artwork can be seen in the murals that form the backbone of the most popular displays in the preserve's Nature Center," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "Ken plans to have some of his prints on display, plus set up an easel to engage with kids who want to learn how to get started in wildlife art with sketching trees."

At 10 a.m. on July 30th, Read and Explore, the Vernal School's early STEM and literacy program will be reading "Some Smug Slug" written by Duncan Edwards.  Designed for preschool age children and their families, Read and Explore provides hands on educational experiences that bring books to life. 

Following a successful initial hike on Dale's Ridge Trail in Lewisburg, the group Women Reconnecting and Engaging with Nature (WREN) is set to tackle Chad's Trail, a 2-mile loop at Glacier Pools Preserve in Hughesville, this coming Sunday, July 28th, at 2 p.m.

On Tuesday, July 16th, Vernal School's early literacy and STEM program, Read and Explore, will feature the story "Hiding in the Woods," a Nature Trail Story. After reading together, the group will explore Montour Preserve to discover the hidden inhabitants of the woods.

On August 24th, 2024, Montour Preserve is set to host a free event for all youth who love being outside.  "Outdoor STEM and Skills Day" will introduce children and teens to wilderness survival, local plant and animal species, basic map and compass work along with a variety of other outdoor STEM activities.