Read and Explore Program looking forward to Spring with March Topics.

Families with young children are invited to participate in the Read and Explore program, an engaging early literacy and STEM education series hosted by the Vernal School at Montour Preserve. This free program meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Montour Preserve Visitor Center, providing a unique blend of storytelling, hands-on activities, and outdoor exploration designed to spark curiosity and foster a love for learning in preschool-aged children.

Each week we focus on a different theme, inspired by carefully selected children's books that introduce young learners to nature, science, and seasonal changes. Alongside story time, children and their caregivers engage in interactive crafts and activities that bring each book to life, encouraging exploration and discovery in a supportive, nature-rich setting.

For the month of March 2025, the Read and Explore program will feature the following books and themes:

March 4 – Tall Tall Tree by Anthony D. Fredericks 
Explore the towering wonders of trees and the creatures that call them home. Through reading and hands-on activities, children will learn about the importance of forests and the animals that live high in the canopy.

March 11 – No Read and Explore (PAEE Conference)
The program will pause for the week as Vernal School educators attend the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) Conference, bringing back fresh ideas and inspiration for future programming.

March 18 – An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long 
Discover the incredible diversity of eggs found in nature! This session will introduce young learners to the shapes, colors, and patterns of eggs and the animals that lay them. Children will participate in fun activities exploring bird nests, reptile eggs, and even insect eggs.

March 25 – Outside In by Deborah Underwood 
As winter transitions into spring, this session will focus on the connection between the indoors and the natural world outside. Through storytelling and activities, children will explore how nature influences our daily lives and the ways we bring elements of the outdoors into our homes and hearts.

No registration is required, but if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to program supervisor Marissa Crames via email at [email protected] or call/text (570)850-1166.