Feb. 10 Environmental Education Expo to feature growing number of local organizations offering hands-on learning and a preview of programs

A growing number of local partnering organizations, agencies and groups are planning to participate in an Environmental Education Expo on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Montour Preserve's Educational Center located at 700 Preserve Road, Danville, PA 17821.

​"On Super Bowl weekend, this will be the Super Bowl of local events to take your whole family to. We have more than 20 groups planned with so many cool hands-on activities and things to explore, from fossils to STEM-related MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience) kits and drones, reptiles and a community weaving experience, among other things," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "This is the first major event for the Vernal School partnership at the Montour Preserve and a chance to show people what we've been up to so far and  preview of programs to come in 2024 and beyond."

Among those joining the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Montour Area Recreation Commission with a hands-on booth experience for families and others of all ages will be the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), featuring the MWEE kits.

"MWEE is a comprehensive set of educational materials designed to engage students in hands-on, experiential learning about watersheds and environmental stewardship. These kits typically include a variety of resources to facilitate a meaningful exploration of local water systems," said Colleen Epler-Ruths. "They are designed to empower educators to facilitate meaningful and memorable learning experiences that foster a sense of environmental responsibility. By combining classroom instruction with hands-on field activities, these kits aim to deepen students' understanding of watershed systems and inspire a commitment to environmental conservation."

​The CSIU will also be offering Act 48 credit hours for teachers who attend the expo. 

The current list of groups that will be represented at the expo and some of the activities being planned include the following. Check back for updates on this list:

• The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership will each have an interactive display. 
• Montour Area Recreation Commission with a display previewing their maple sugar shack program coming on Feb. 24.
• Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) with a booth to interact with MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience) kits that focus on chemistry, biology, weather and soils. The CSIU is also offering Act 48 credits for any teachers who attend the expo.
• Susquehanna University’s Freshwater Research Institute will have a display exploring waterway bugs and macroinvertebrates. 
• Susquehanna University’s environmental education students will have our new computer lab open with interactive program.
• The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will have a booth on invasive vs. native species with a few live specimens, including an Eastern box turtle.
• Get Lost Photography will have a booth on GoPro underwater photography, hands-on camera usage, photo album display and photo editing tips.
• Wild Trout Man Dr. Joseph Simons III will offer a special fly-tying and knot-tying experience throughout the expo at his table, with info about his Wild Trout Man educational series on YouTube.
• Montour County 4-H will have an interactive booth including a wildlife craft. 
• Seven Mountains Audubon will have a display featuring different bird species of our area with handouts and an opportunity to build a bird call and discuss its use as well as review the breeding bird atlas activity. 
• Central PA Rock and Mineral Club will provide a hands-on exploration of fossils connected to the preserve. 
• Lycoming College’s Clean Water Institute will do a display on eastern hellbender ecology and conservation with hands-on activities related to these topics.
• Susquehanna STEM to the Skies will have a display throughout the expo with an interactive drone experience.
• The PA Master Naturalists will offer an interactive birding experience at the nature center's bird feeder observation window.
• The PA Fish and Boat Commission will have a booth throughout the day with a hands-on experience related to our aquatic ecosystem.
• The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce will have a table at the expo and be running a special scavenger hunt.
• The Susquehanna Council BSA will have a booth with a seed-planting experience and nature activities.
• The Columbia-Montour Visitor Bureau will have a display with interactive activity.
• The Columbia County Conservation District will be represented with a table about the upcoming Envirothon program and other educational events they help run.
• Clyde Peeling Reptiland will have a display at the expo with a few live reptiles to engage with. 
• The United States Geological Society (USGS) will be represented by biologist Vicki Blazer with interactive booth on her research on fish in the Susquehanna River, including fish necropsy, aging using otoliths (special structures in the inner ear), parasites, etc. 
• PaperPie books will have a table of nature and environmental learning books and STEM kits available to check out and for sale (cash, check or credit card) with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Vernal School programs/Montour Preserve. 
• The Northcentral PA Conservancy will have a table set up with interactive activity and information to hand out.
• The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will have a booth with Virtual Reality experiences of the Askam Abandoned Mine Drainage treatment system for the youth to try out. They will also have their educational trout puppets available for photos. 
• PA Master Gardeners will have a booth with information and interactive activity.
• Montour County 4-H will have a table with hands-on programming.
• The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators will have a display showcasing the Project WET curriculum.
• The PA Game Commission will offer a hands-on fur demonstration looking at fur-bearing mammals of the state specifically from 1-2 p.m. This program is geared mostly toward elementary aged students.

"Booths will be spread out throughout the large auditorium, classroom and displays of the nature center and will be set up in a way where people of all ages can explore it at their own pace, learning as they go," said Zaktansky. "There will be plenty of free handouts, door prizes and other cool opportunities. This is definitely one event you won't want to miss."

The event is free to attend and all are welcome. Please note that all regular Montour Preserve rules apply, including no pets/dogs except those that are registered service animals. For a listing of general Montour Preserve rules, click here.

​Donations toward the event, toward the growing list of future environmental education programs or toward numerous upgrades planned at the Montour Preserve to help facilitate programming and helping people of all walks of life better connect with our natural resources, can be made via the following DonorBox platform, via check made out to Vernal School, 112 Market Street, Sunbury PA 17801 or in person during the event on Feb. 10.

While pre-registration is NOT needed to attend the Environmental Education Expo on Feb. 10 at the Montour Preserve, those that do pre-register and show up at the event will be entered into a drawing for a few special door prizes.