WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Gap Nature Center is a resource, Riley Davenport said Tuesday — especially during the Lehigh Valley’s long winter evenings.
“You could make a plan and come here with a friend, and you leave learning something new,” said Davenport, the center’s education and outreach coordinator.
“And you don't have to be a scientist or know a lot about some of this stuff beforehand. You could just go out of sheer curiosity. I always leave learning something new.
"We always encourage people to make this a place that they feel comfortable going to.”Riley Davenport, Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s education and outreach coordinator
“But even outside of [the center's annual speaker series], we always encourage people to make this a place that they feel comfortable going to.”
Officials at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, late last month announced the 2024-25 speaker series line-up.
The series, starting this month and running on select Thursdays through March, focuses on engaging residents about the environment and conservation efforts.
This year’s line-up includes:
- 7 p.m. Nov. 21: “Discovering our Garden Pollinators” with Naturalist and Photographer Karen Campbell
- 6 p.m. Dec. 12: "Cool Stuff I Have Learned about Birds" with Susan Gallagher, Carbon County Environmental Education Center
- 7 p.m. Jan. 9: "Bear Behavior: Understanding our Wildlife Neighbors” with Trevor Faust, Pennsylvania Game Commission
- 7 p.m. Feb. 13: "Discover the History of Palmerton" with Lynn Shupp, Palmerton Area Historical Society
- 7 p.m. March 20: "Investigating the Food Web at Lehigh Gap" with Jeff Stratford & Ned Fetcher, Wilkes University Research Team
'I love the variety'
Attendance is free for center members, but there's a $5 suggested donation for non-members. Registration isn’t required, but is strongly encouraged.
“I love the variety in that it kind of focuses on local people and what’s going on around here.”Riley Davenport, Lehigh Gap Nature Center's education and outreach coordinator
“The one that's coming up in a couple weeks is with a photographer and naturalist,” Davenport said. “She's going to be talking about our local pollinators and giving tips for gardening and taking photos and things like that.
“I love the variety in that it kind of focuses on local people and what’s going on around here.”
Last year marked the center’s 20th anniversary — a milestone for the only Superfund site in the United States to be restored into an environmental education center.
A nonprofit with a mission to enhance habitats and protect wildlife, the center promotes conservation through education, research and outdoor recreation for all.
Last year’s speaker series was well-attended, Davenport said. There were speakers from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Lehigh River Stocking Association, the Anthracite Railroad Historical Society and more.
