Great Escapes

Maple Sugaring: A Visit to a Pocono Sugarbush #245

Monday, March 4, 2013
10 am-5 pm $40

Travel to the Meesing Sugarbush outside of Marshall’s Creek PA, and experience maple sugaring from the earliest methods used by Native Americans to present day collection/evaporation techniques.  Our group will also tap a maple tree and take home a sample of sweet maple syrup.  This tour of an actual working/producing maple syrup operation will be led by staff from the Monroe County Conservation District.  On our way up, we’ll stop at the halfway mark in Allentown to give you the opportunity to buy a pancake brunch at a local eatery.  The final leg of the trip will take us through the gateway to the Delaware Water Gap.

March 11-13, 2013Single Occupancy: $462Double Occupancy: $350

Three days of exploring the culture and natural history of this rich area of Maryland. We’ll visit historic Chestertown;  Chesapeake Farms, a 3,000-acre wildlife and agricultural research devoted to studying advanced agricultural research practices and wildlife management techniques complete with nesting bald eagles and indigo buntings; Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,285-acre island refuge which is a major feeding and resting place for migrating and wintering waterfowl. More than 100,000 ducks, geese and swans seek sanctuary here each year, as do migrating and breeding songbirds and shorebirds, and bald eagles that thrive here year-round. Ruth Pfeffer, expert birder leads us on a magical natural and historical odyssey that also includes a few great restaurants. Continental breakfast each day is included in the trip price.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
9am-1pm
$25

Join Philadelphia Water Department Guide Dottie Baumgarten for a morning field trip to one of Philadelphia’s drinking water treatment facilities, with stops along the way to see where our water flows on its way to the Schuylkill River!  We’ll begin with an orientation to the Wissahickon watershed at Briar Bush, hop in the van for the trip to the treatment plant, with stops along the way at several water related parks around Lincoln Drive/Fairmount Park.  Bring lunch and we'll stop to discuss our new appreciation for the water in our glass!

Friday, April 5, 2013
9am-3pm
$42
Founded in 1887, the Penn Museum has conducted more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions around the world. Three gallery floors feature materials from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Canaan and Israel, Mesoamerica, Asia and the ancient Mediterranean World, as well as artifacts from native peoples of the Americas and Africa.  Bring a sack lunch or purchase one at the Museum Pepper Mill café.

Saturday, April 27, 2013
11:30am – 3:30pm
$25.00
Fox Chase Farm is a working educational farm located in Northeast Philadelphia. The farm is open to the public only during events held at specific times throughout the year. On Sheep Shearing Day we will have an opportuniy to visit and explore the farm. We’ll watch as sheep are sheared, help card wool, and enjoy hayrides, games, crafts, and live music.

Friday, May 3, 2013
9am-4pm
$35
Shenk's Ferry Wildlife Preserve is one of the most impressive wildflower areas in the eastern United States. The site is owned by PPL, which takes pride in preserving the glen as a sanctuary. At least 75 species bloom there sometime during the spring. We'll see how many we can identify. Some of the more common flowers include Dutchman's breeches, wild geranium, wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, and trillium. Wildflower guides will be provided by Briar Bush. Bring your camera and a lunch.

Saturday, May 18, 2013
9am-4pm
$55
This family-friendly tour will begin just outside Bethlehem. We'll take an easy paddle down the Lehigh River around several wooded islands and finish at Hugh Moore Park. Our river path will follow the Delaware Canal Bike Trail and pass through a forest canopy filled with songbirds. This will be an excellent opportunity to see migrating spring warblers among many other birds. The trip will be led by Wildlands Conservancy and the cost includes all canoes, safety vests and paddling instruction. Kids and grandkids welcome. Bring a lunch.

Saturday, June 1, 2013
9am-4:30pm
$40

Well Sweep is located in the picturesque mountains of Warren County and is home to one of the largest collections of herbs and perennials in the country. The property features butterfly, herb, medicinal, perennial and rock gardens. A series of lectures will be offered throughout the day. Bring your garden plant list and a lunch.

Friday, June 7, 2013
8am-12:30pm
$25

Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve is a 279-acre oasis of meadows, woodlands and wetlands nestled among the highly developed suburbs of Blue Bell and North Wales. After more than a century in agriculture, the preserve's fields are being carefully restored. A walk among the trails reveals a re-emerging ecosystem of native flora including warm-season grasses and native wildflowers. We will be joined by one of the preserve's experienced birders to help us find and identify the many unique birds nesting in the area. Grassland birds found onsite include Eastern Meadowlark, Northern Harrier, Eastern Bluebirds and Woodcock. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013
9am-1pm
$25

Make the land/water connection by exploring the Tookany Tacony Frandkford watershed, then find out where your water goes when you flush it down the toilet. This tour will be led by Philadelphia Water Department Guide Dottie Baumgarten. Bring lunch.