Environmental Education, Arts and Music Festival set for Sept. 14 at Montour Preserve with numerous opportunities for people of all ages and abilities

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."

Live music will also be added this year, with musicians Mike Lundy, of Williamsport, and the duo of Don Shappelle and Don Sennett, planning to share during the day with some more musicians to be added soon.

"All three of the musicians we already have lined up are huge supporters of both good local music and the environment, promoting our Songs of the Susquehanna project on Mike's Williamsport-based radio station and through numerous gigs and connections they all provide," said Zaktansky. "Don and Don have a long list of cool songs about nature and the river to pull from and are great at engaging families and really people of all ages."

The festival will include numerous agencies and groups offering booths throughout the Environmental Center auditorium and Nature Center with nature-related activities and STEM-inspired experiments for families to try. Among the groups already committed to the event (more will be added as they confirm):

• Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership (Microscope exploration)
• Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (Virtual Reality river, hellbender interaction)
• Montour Area Recreation Commission
• Columbia-Montour Visitor Bureau
• Northcentral PA Conservancy 
• Northumberland County Conservation District (DIY edible dirt layer cups) 
• Columbia County Conservation District (Wildlife kit with pelts, skulls & tracks)
• PA Association of Environmental Educators (Project WET)
• Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (Robotics)
• Susquehanna University Center for Environmental Education and Research (Community art and nature learning project)
• Bloomsburg Children's Museum (environmental STEM education)
• Central PA Rock and Mineral Club (fossil pit with dig and trilobite painting craft)
• PA Master Naturalists (bird watching at window, guided bird hikes with ID apps, pop-up craft center)
• Wildlife artist Ken Hunter
• Wildlife artist Bob Crain
• Musician Mike Lundy
• Musical duo Don Shappelle and Don Sennett
• Friends of RB Winter State Park (live amphibians and reptiles)
• Montour County Master Gardners (Pinko game with prizes)
• Lewisburg Children's Museum (fall food piano and bongo drums)
• Riverside Adventure Company Kayak Kiosk
• Women Reconnecting and Engaging with Nature (WREN)
• Seven Mountains Audubon (pinecone bird feeders)

The Central PA Rock and Mineral Club, with Andrew Rockhound, will be set up at the preserve's Fossil Pit (weather permitting) with hands-on activities for families all day at that location. 

"Andrew offered a fossil pit experience earlier this year and we had to cut off the registration because it filled so quickly with people from not only the local area, but those coming in from several hours away," said Zaktansky. "This is a great way to check out the fossil pit and connect with Andrew's expertise while also getting to see so much more of the preserve while in the area."

Kayaking opportunities will be offered at the Montour Preserve's new adaptive kayak launch/boat dock throughout the day. This includes a limited number of structured free lessons at set times that require registration beforehand. More info on those:

Free kayak lessons

A number of free kayaking lessons will be offered by Riverside Adventure Company at the Montour Preserve's Lake Chillisquaque during the Sept. 14 event. Kayaks, paddles and life jackets will be provided for those who don't already have them EXCEPT for the expert level lessons where you need to provide your own kayak and gear. The lessons are limited in openings per hour session and will be offered in the following schedule:

• 10 a.m. Beginner lessons
• 11 a.m. Senior lessons (beginner paddling for first-time kayakers ages 50 and over)
• Noon Intermediate lessons
• 1 p.m. Expert lessons
• 2 p.m. Beginner lessons

Skills to be learned at each level include:

Beginner
1. Safety Procedures: Learning about proper safety gear, emergency procedures, and paddling etiquette.
2. Kayak Parts and Equipment: Familiarization with kayak components, paddles, and accessories.
3. Launching and Landing: Techniques for safely getting in and out of the kayak.
4. Paddling Strokes: Introduction to basic paddling strokes, such as the forward stroke, reverse stroke, and turning strokes.
5. Balance and Stability: Tips for maintaining balance and stability in the kayak.
6. Maneuvering: Learning to turn, stop, and control the kayak's direction.
7. Paddling Efficiency: Techniques for paddling efficiently and conserving energy.
8. Self-Rescue: Basic self-rescue techniques, such as wet exits and getting back into the kayak.
9. Navigation: Understanding basic navigation concepts, such as reading the environment and using a compass.
10. On-Water Practice: Guided practice time to apply new skills and gain experience on the water.
Remember, a beginner kayak lesson will focus on building a strong foundation in these skills to ensure a safe and enjoyable kayaking experience.

Intermediate
1. Refining Strokes: Fine-tuning paddling strokes for increased efficiency and power.
2. Advanced Maneuvering: Learning to edge, carve, and pivot the kayak for tighter turns and better control.
3. Rescue Techniques: Mastering assisted and self-rescues, including wet exits, re-entries, and paddler rescues.
4. Navigation and Route-Planning: Developing skills to read the environment, use charts and maps, and plan routes.
5. Tidal and Current Awareness: Understanding how to paddle in tidal and current environments.
6. Kayak Handling in Wind and Waves: Learning to manage the kayak in windy and wavy conditions.
7. Stern and Bow Draws: Mastering strokes to move the kayak sideways and backwards.
8. Ferrying and Tracking: Learning to ferry across currents and maintain direction.
9. Kayak Safety and Leadership: Developing skills to lead groups, assess risks, and make safety decisions.
10. On-Water Practice and Scenarios: Guided practice time to apply new skills in various scenarios and conditions.
Remember, an intermediate kayak lesson builds upon the foundational skills learned in a beginner lesson, focusing on refining techniques and developing more advanced skills to tackle challenging paddling environments.

Expert
1. Advanced Navigation and Route-Planning: Mastering complex route-planning, using advanced navigation tools, and reading dynamic water environments.
2. Dynamic Water Management: Learning to paddle and maneuver in extreme conditions, such as strong currents, large waves, and tidal races…rolling.
3. Kayak Surfing and Wave Riding: Developing skills to surf and ride waves, using the kayak's speed and agility.
4. Expert Rescue Techniques: Mastering complex rescue scenarios, such as multi-person rescues and rescues in dynamic water.
5. Leadership and Group Management: Developing skills to lead large groups, manage risks, and make strategic decisions in challenging environments.
6. Advanced Kayak Handling: Refining skills to handle the kayak in extreme conditions, such as steep landings, rocky shores, and tight spaces.
7. Tactical Paddling: Learning to use the environment to your advantage, using tactics like edging, ferrying, and tacking to optimize your route.
8. Safety and Risk Management: Developing expertise in assessing and managing risks, creating safety plans, and making strategic decisions.
9. Mental Preparation and Performance: Building mental toughness, focus, and resilience to perform at a high level in challenging conditions.
10. Customized Coaching and Feedback: Receiving personalized coaching and feedback to refine techniques and address specific challenges.
Remember, an expert kayak lesson is designed for experienced paddlers looking to refine their skills, push their limits, and develop expertise in specialized areas of kayaking.

Guided hikes on some of the preserve's most popular trails will be offered during the day. More info on timing and locations will be added to this page soon. 

A silent auction will be set up and available throughout the day with items donated by various groups and businesses throughout the area. Money raised during the event through the silent auction will go into covering important deferred projects and other immediate expenses at the Montour Preserve. Just some of the items already promised to be donated include:

• Original Ken Hunter wildlife print
• Inflatable stand up paddleboard set (with paddleboard, paddle, pump, backpack, leash, etc.)
• Original framed hellbender photo by Michael Kinney
• Coleman four-person tent with Instant Setup and WeatherTec Weatherproof Technology.
• Discovery 17-piece Ultimate Science Kit
• One family pass to the Oct. 25 2-hour Fall Float program aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat
• PA Association of Environmental Educators prize pack including one-year membership
• Birdhouse
• Bloomsburg Children's Museum gift basket
• Gardening basket
• Family Day Pass to the Lewisburg Children's Museum
• Much more!

"The Vernal School is excited to be a part of this festival and share some highlights from our programming and Montour Preserve," said the environmental education partnership's Program Supervisor, Marissa Crames. "With such a great lineup of participants and variety of activities, it is sure to be an exciting day for all who attend."

Food will be available for purchase during the day out of the preserve's Educational Center kitchen area, provided by Goodwil's Restaurant, with a portion of the proceeds going back to helping needs at the preserve.

An updated schedule of events and location/map will be added to this page in the near future. If you have any questions, click here to send us an email. 

If you'd like to donate an item to the silent auction or money to the event or the preserve's efforts in general, please send us an email. ​