Environmental Education, Art & Music Festival draws hundreds to Montour Preserve on Sept. 14

​Eleven-year-old Richard Miller, of Williamsport, didn’t know what to expect as he gripped his paddle for kayak lessons from the Riverside Adventure Company during the Environmental Education, Arts and Music Festival on Sept. 14, 2024, at the Montour Preserve.

“Afterward, he couldn’t stop talking about the new moves that he learned and how excited he was about the wildlife he got to see while kayaking, like turtles at the water’s edge,” said his mother, Agatha Aleniak. “We really don't have that many opportunities to kayak, so it was great to see that you can rent them out and Richie is excited to come back and explore more via kayak.”

They were among hundreds of people who attended the event from as far away as Ohio, Wilkes-Barre, Carlisle and York, drawn in by nearly 20 interactive educational booths, guided hikes, local wildlife artists, live musicians and programming all day at the preserve’s fossil pit by Central PA Rock and Mineral Club President Andrew Rockhound, and his wife, Cori Rockhound.

"It was a wonderful event in the fossil pit with every kid and those adults young at heart, decorating their own Vernal School plaster trilobites," said Andrew Rockhound, who handmade hundreds of plaster trilobites (our state fossil) ahead of time for kids to paint. "With the real fossils just feet away for them to collect while their creation dried, it was an amazing educational blend of art, earth history and the environment! Such a fun event for all ages!"

Aleniak admitted it was definitely a popular experience for her family.

“The kids and I really enjoyed the fossil dig, where we could borrow tools, see actual local fossils and ask Andrew questions on our findings,” she said. “I actually had to drag Richie out of there. He insisted we have to come back soon.”

At the preserve’s education center, wildlife artists Ken Hunter and Bob Crain both offer displays of their work and Hunter shared some tips on nature drawing. Mike Lundy, Don Shappelle and Don Sennett provided live music outside of the preserve’s historic Bitler Homestead. 

“The festival was a perfect occasion for families who were looking for a fun and educational activity,” said Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership Program Supervisor Marissa Crames. “It was a perfect way for us to showcase our partners and put a spotlight on all the activities the Montour Preserve offers.”

"We had a great time teaching all the attendees about the different layers of soil and how soil health is important," commented John Blasius of Northumberland County Conservation District.  "The youth that attended this event are the future of conservation and it is important that events like this one take place to educate the public so they can play a role in protecting our resources and the environment around us." 

Among the groups that offered a wide variety of interactive booths both inside and out the educational center included the Montour Area Recreation Commission, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, the Vernal School, Columbia-Montour Visitor Bureau, Northcentral PA Conservancy, Northumberland County Conservation District Columbia County Conservation District, PA Association of Environmental Educators, Susquehanna University Center for Environmental Education and Research, Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, PA Master Naturalists, Lewisburg Children’s Museum, Friends of RB Winter State Park, Montour County Master Gardeners, Women Reconnecting and Engaging with Nature (WREN) and Seven Mountains Audubon. 

“My daughter really enjoyed reading about the displays at the environmental center and the various activities like the pumpkin piano. We actually ran out of time at the main festival and didn't get to do all the activities,” said Aleniak. “It really is important to get the kids out and active in nature. Hands on learning about the wildlife and waterways at events like this, and not just on their electronics, really makes a difference.”

Much more environmental education programming is on tap at the Montour Preserve in the coming months, including a photography workshop with Michael Kinney and a special fossil pit experience with Andrew Rockhound both in October. Learn more about these and other opportunities at www.vernalschool.org/the-programs.html