PENFIELD – Staff members have announced a full slate of programs for July 3-7 at the Parker Dam State Park.
Wednesday, July 3
Night Sky:
8:30 p.m. – bench near CCC Museum
Before there were man-made fireworks, nature provided her own night sky display. Come and learn about the stars, planets, and constellations.
Thursday, July 4 – Independence Day
Red, White, and Blue Hike:
11 a.m. – outside Park Office
Enjoy a short hike looking for things that are red, white or blue—in name or color. There is more out there than you think.
Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence:
2 p.m. – Beach
Join us as we read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. If you have never really thought about what is written there, how can you appreciate your freedom? Come and lend an ear. Broadcast over the public address system.
Friday, July 5
DiscoverE: Hide-N-Seekers:
2 p.m. – Environmental Education Classroom
Age Requirement: 4-5 years-old
Join us as we discover our senses and learn about wildlife and how they use their senses to survive in nature. Games, crafts, and other activities are a part of this summer-long program series. Check at the Park Office for more info.
Nature Nut—Salamanders:
9 p.m. – Campground Amphitheater
Learn about salamanders with John Acorn, Nature Nut (video). What kinds of salamanders live in Pennsylvania? Where can you find them? Come and find out.
Saturday, July 6
Sojourn the Solar System:
10 a.m. – outside CCC Museum
Come take a journey through the vast expanse of space—scaled down of course. Along the way, we’ll discuss the sun and all the planets of our solar system, their sizes, and their relative distances from one another.
Pennsylvania Forest History:
1 p.m. – Environmental Education Classroom
Come cool off in the classroom to watch and learn how PA’s forests have changed. The forest you see is not the forest the first Europeans saw, and it’s also not the one your grandchildren will know.
Bear at the Beach!:
3 p.m. – Beach House steps
There is no need to fear this bear. But you may just learn a few things about Pennsylvania’s black bears that you didn’t know. Black bears are well-adapted for survival—come discover how.
American Eagle:
8:30 p.m. – Campground Amphitheater
Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent’s most recognizable predator. Photographed by three-time Emmy-winning Neil Rettig, this video is an intimate portrait of these majestic raptors’ lives in the wild.
Sunday, July 7
Tea and Talk:
7 p.m. – Beach House steps
Bring your own cup to sample some sweet fern/mountain mint tea grown right here in the park. Talk is whatever interests you about the environment. The Sunday evening tea and talk has been going on for many years—come be a part of the tradition.