Explore Herpetofauna and More at Wildlands Conservancy Camps

Maureen Ruhe is absolutely in love with her work and with kids. Mo, as she’s known, has been director of environmental education at the for 23 years, and, unlike many people, is never bored with her job.

Right now she’s gearing up for the 2011 season of summer camps at the Conservancy, everything from herpetofauna (reptiles) study to biodiversity with bunnies and bugs. Camping starts the week of June 20, with age groups from 2 years old through grade six-plus covered.

Mo has a contagious enthusiasm about her programs and emphasizes, "kids are getting it! They’re learning about nature and the environment without even being aware that they are learning. It’s absolutely amazing."

She recalls the awe of 4 year olds using a microscope to examine a crayfish they found in a stream, and how they absolutely loved using the microscope.

She says her favorite environmental story is about an 8- or 9-year-old boy who said, while in the water, and after learning the Lehigh River water eventually comes out of Allentown faucets, "I think I’ll give some of my friends a present." He didn’t know yet that the water is filtered and cleaned.

Mo says, "What we do here has shaped so many kids' lives. They start with one year of camp and keep coming back because they love it. Kids can find their niche here."

One of her education department summer interns this year is Kate Ebel, a graduate of Emmaus High School who is now a student in environmental studies at the University of Vermont.

"Kate started out as a camper," says Mo. "What she learned here determined her career choice."

The youngest campers are in the "You and Me" program, which many grandparents attend with their grandkids to learn about appreciating the environment.

While the younger children focus on outdoor enjoyment, the older ones are guided into developing a curiosity about the environment, and how to protect it.

"Go Wild Camp" adventure weeks for pre-K through 5th grade include viewing aquatic animals under water, building camouflage screens to observe wildlife behaviors, learning how to paddle a canoe and taking a blind-fold hike.

For older campers grades six and up, day-trip adventures fill the camping week. They’ll paddle the Lehigh River, hike the Appalachian Trail, play disc golf, rock climb at a climbing gym, mountain bike through Lehigh Gorge State Park and go geo-caching at Trexler Nature Preserve.

The Conservancy sponsors many one-day programs throughout the summer, too.

"Exploring Grassland Wildlife" will be held at the Trexler Nature Preserve Environmental Center with Rick Wiltraut and Bill Sweeney of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on June 19.

On July 10, July 19 and August 7 there will be family tubing on the Little Lehigh Creek while observing heron and duck.

There’s a "Father’s Day/Summer Solstice Bike and Boat Trip" June 19 with cycling from Sand Island in Bethlehem to Canal Park in Allentown, then a canoe trip back to Bethlehem

Another "Bike and Boat Trip" is being held July 10 at the Lehigh Gap, beginning in Walnutport. There will be "Birding and Paddling on the Lehigh River" with Rick Wiltraut on July 16 from Sand Island in Bethlehem to Hugh Moore Park in Easton.

On August 13 the Father’s Day itinerary will be repeated with one small change: you’ll be paddling under the stars guided by the light of the moon

Mo clearly states that all the camp activities and one-day programs support the goals of the Conservancy: to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the land, water, ecological and recreational resources of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh River valley. "The Conservancy fulfills its vision and mission through involvement with many partners in proactive education."

For more information about summer programs, go to www.wildlandspa.org or call 610-965-4397.