As one of numerous opportunities at the second annual Pack the Preserve event at the Montour Preserve (374 Preserve Road, Danville) on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, we are looking to add artists of all types to showcase the wildlife-related pieces they have created in all mediums ... from watercolor to pencil drawings and chalk, photography, etc. 

"The Wildlife Art Show is an annual event in the fall at the Montour Preserve, and pairing it with Pack the Preserve adds additional foot traffic by people of all ages," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "It is a great way to celebrate the creative efforts of so many talented artists, to purchase some of their handiwork in support and to start collecting some cool holiday gift options for those on your list."

The Wildlife Art Show is coordinated by Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Board President Michael Kinney. You can contact him with interest in securing a free vendor booth to display your work by sending him an email.

Additionally, we are adding a Student Poster Contest with the theme of "Voice for the Vulnerable" that is open to any student in grades Kindergarten through 12th. The contest offers an outlet for creativity, awareness and an opportunity to really make a difference for species that are struggling in our state. 

Each poster should be done on an 8.5 by 11-inch sheet of paper or poster board. They can be dropped off in person or scanned and emailed in with a deadline for all entries by Friday, Sept. 25. All entries received will be displayed at the Montour Preserve during the Pack the Preserve event and our resident artists will help judge the entries. Cash prizes will be given out for different age categories. If you as an individual or your business would like to sponsor the prizes, please let us know via email. 

Options can be pulled from the state's list of endangered or threatened species or be another species that may need assistance. Posters should include some sort of image of the creature as well as info on why it is struggling and how people can help. 

Let us know if you have any questions or want to submit an entry by sending an email to Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky here.

Thirteen students ages 7-12 participated in the July 13 Camp Chillisquaque day camp program at the Montour Preserve. 

Participants got to learn about endangered and threatened species and how to advocate for those that are more vulnerable and lack a voice. They also got to assess the Chillisquaque Creek using tools from MWEE kits connected to the DegenSTEAM initiative across the region. 

Students also got to enjoy a special presentation from Kevin Witt on the Northern Flying Squirrel. The program included an overview on their declining numbers and some of the reasons behind that, especially habitat loss of hemlock trees due to deforestation and the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid. 

They got to look up close at the adelgid, study the species and its needs and even play a game where they tried to fly paper airplanes as far as a flying squirrel can glide. 

Students worked in the afternoon on advocacy projects, including posters, songs and a movie/video. Some of the songs included:

Photos from the day's experiences included:

Thirteen additional young people, ages 7-12, participated in the July 10 Camp Chillisquaque day camp at the Montour Preserve and learned about endangered and threatened species in Pennsylvania, how to assess habitat and received a special presentation on beavers by Susquehanna University's Ann Czeponis before working on advocacy projects for species they felt moved to protect.

The day began with a fun game for everyone to get to know each other before participants learned from intern Maggie Yonkin all about each of the state's endangered and threatened species. 

Next, participants were divided into two teams and rotated between a guided hike of the forest habitat and invasive species concerns found along the Goose Woods Trail and a stream study using various pieces of MWEE equipment from a partnership with DegenSTEAM's lending lab. 

After that, participants enjoyed an interactive presentation, hike and study of beavers and their impacts on the environment. This was led by Susquehanna University's Ann Czeponis and one of her interns. 

Students then returned to the preserve's Nature Center to work on advocacy projects, including posters and their own presentations. 

Check out some photos from the program day:

Photos from the experience, including a few of the posters created by participants, include:

The day's special speakers included Jen Hunsinger and Bert Coulter of the PA Master Naturalists with a program on fireflies and why their populations are dwindling. Participants played a game using flashlights to mimic the different species of firefly and the difficulty of finding a match as well as a suncatcher craft. 

Participants worked on posters, songs and other elements of advocacy at the end of the day, focusing on a wide variety of species including the Piping plover, Black-and-white warbler, hellbender, Northern flying squirrel, Loggerhead shrike, Common tern and others.  

Some of the advocacy posters included:

One participant created a song about flying squirrels:

Some photos from the experience:

Master Naturalist Jen Hunsinger will offer a special Firefly Walk program the evenings of July 2 and 3, 2026, to a limited audience. 

Participants are encouraged to meet at 8 p.m. at the preserve's Visitor Center parking lot, and then, after a brief discussion, will take a short hike along a portion of the Wildlife Management Trail to observe fireflies and talk more about these fascinating creatures. 

Participants are reminded to dress appropriately for being outdoors in early July, being mindful of ticks, mosquitoes and other concerns. If you have a red flashlight, please bring it along.

The event is designed to minimize any negative impact on the species or its ecosystem and will include an overview on the firefly's status and some of the negative impacts the species faces. The program is expected to last until 9 p.m. (one hour) 

To register, please fill out the form below. 

NOTE: Registration for Habitat Helpers 2026 sessions is now full. If we get any last-minute changes and something opens up, we will share that here.

Habitat Helpers, an annual preschool-focused day camp program for children ages 4-6, is scheduled for June 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2026, at the Montour Preserve (374 Preserve Road, Danville, PA). Each program day will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is open, but spaces are limited. 

Each program date is focused on a different habitat, and all activities, hands-on programming, take-home projects and even snack tie in with the themed habitat of the day. 

The program is free, but donations are encouraged to help offset cost of materials and to help future programs. Spaces for each day are limited and are expected to max-out and will be filled on a first-registered, first-filled basis with an overflow list used for any cancelations. 

Parents/guardians will be contacted via email prior to the program day with details about the program day and what to bring, etc. Questions about the program can be sent directly by clicking this link

Any additional registrations in the form below will be added to a wait list and only contacted if a spot opens for the program this summer ...

NOTE: Registration for Camp Chillisquaque 2026 sessions is now full. If we get any last-minute changes and something opens up, we will share that here.

The annual Camp Chillisquaque day camp experience for children ages 7-12 returns to the Montour Preserve via the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership with a new theme of giving a "Voice to the Vulnerable" during the summer of 2026. 

Participants for this free program, scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of five days in early July, will be learning about various sensitive wildlife species that are endangered, threatened or otherwise dwindling in numbers and what factors are impacting their numbers. 

Students will be looking at trends behind those changes and what things can be done to possibly turn things around. The camp experience will include opportunities for hands-on experiments, research and conservation as well as learning to advocate for others. 

This is a one-day camp, with each of the five day programs bringing in a different group of students with a limited number of openings each day. Dates are set for July 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15. Students should pack a lunch, an extra set of clothing and be prepared to get wet as some of the in-field work will involve engaging with waterways on the property. Each participant should also bring his/her own sunscreen and reuseable water bottle. 

The program will be held entirely at the Montour Preserve, 374 Preserve Road, Danville, PA. 

Registration is full for this event. Any new applicants in the form below will be added to a waitlist and only contacted if a spot opens up.

If you have any questions, please send us an email or call/text 570-768-6300.

Our popular weekly preschooler/family program Read & Explore will be moving to 1 p.m. Wednesdays for the remainder of the school year (through the end of May). 

This will start March 4 as the group reads the book "Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson. Hands-on exploration will focus on how animals sleep and the differences between sleep and hibernation. 

While registration is not required, it can be helpful for planning purposes.

Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, at the Montour Preserve’s Education Center for a special movie presentation of Michael Kinney’s award-winning documentary, “Old River”

The film was recorded during Kinney’s 24-day, 228-mile paddling trip across the entire West Branch of the Susquehanna River. It includes the fascinating story behind the trip, many key sights and sounds along the way and covers a wide variety of river issues. ​

​The event is free to the public and popcorn is included. Registration is required and can be completed at the form below.