Beltzville to hold youth camps
"Summer DiscoverE Day Camps" designed to help children between the ages of 4-13 learn about the natural world with programs designed to allow them to explore the environment with other children of the same age and abilities will be held this summer at Beltzville State Park, Lehighton.
Programs include hands-on activities, stories, special presentations, crafts and games during the four-day sessions. Registration begins Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beltzville's Environmental Interpretive Center at the cost of $35 per child and $17.50 for each additional child in a family for the following sessions:"Hide-N-Seekers," ages 4-5, Tuesday, June 29-Friday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. to noon, theme: "Mammal Mania;." "Outdoor Explorers," ages 6-8, Tuesday, July 20-Friday, July 23, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., theme: "Mammal Mania." "Penn's Adventurers," ages 9-13, Tuesday, Aug. 10-Friday, Aug. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., theme: Raptors: Hunters of the Sky."For information, call the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks at 1-888-PA-PARKS or Beltzville State Park at 717-558-2711.**********Based on a recommendation from Pennsylvania Game Commission staff, the board of game commissioners has eliminated regulations permitting deer hunters to use bait in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, to increase hunter harvest in these largely-developed, high-conflict areas.In 2006, as recommended in the PGC Urban/Suburban Deer Management Plan, the board approved the use of bait. Before giving the regulation final adoption, however, the board included a sunset provision that required a future board to revisit the issue by March 31, 2010."After evaluating the impact of baiting on hunting deer populations in these suburban/urban areas, the staff determined that there has been no positive impact," PGC executive director Carl Roe said. "With no benefit from the option to use bait, the staff recommended that the Board eliminate this regulation by simply allowing the sunset provision to take effect."Baiting has long been illegal for all big game, small game, waterfowl and migratory game birds in other parts of the state. The only legal use of bait is for trapping and hunting of furbearers.*********Author and outdoors writer Don Knaus is today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience the Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM. A rebroadcast will be heard Sunday from 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, 105.5-FM, and is available on the Web at
www.wmgh.com by clicking on the "Experience the Outdoors" link.**********The Nesquehoning Conservation Club is holding its Second Annual Connell McCall Memorial Trout Fishing Derby, Saturday, May 8, beginning with registration at 8 a.m., at the Nesquehoning Creek. This event is open to three age groups, 7 and younger, 8-12 and 13-15, with prizes being awarded in each group, and fishing beginning at 9 a.m.**********A 3-D course is open for public use from dawn to dusk at Bear's Head Sportsmen's Association, Delano, located off Exit 134 of Interstate 81, daily through Saturday, Oct. 23. Donations are accepted and for information call the clubhouse at 570-467-0331 or e-mail
docblazer@verizon.net.**********This year's Empire State Lake Ontario Tournament dates have been announced. Here is the schedule: Spring, underway through Sunday, May 9; Summer, Saturday, June 19-Sunday, July 18; Fall, Friday, Aug. 20-Monday, Sept. 6. For information and registration, access on the Web at
www.loc.org or call (888) 733-5246.*********A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail
jafone@comcast.net.**********Locust Valley Fish and Game "Hunters Night Out" will be held, Saturday, May 8, beginning at 4 p.m. at Ryan Township Fire Company Hall, 945 Barnesville Drive, Barnsville. For information, call Dave Morgan at 570-467-3047.**********First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader arm of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, will hold muzzleloader shoots Sunday, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 6, Sept. 12, Oct. 9 and 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club is located on Gun Club Road, off Route 248, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at 610-377-2812.**********A "Native Plant Sale" will be held, Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16, at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton. For information and required registration, call the visitor center at 610-756-6961.***********This year's Bear Creek Festival will be held, Sunday, May 16, from noon-4 p.m., at Schuylkill County Fairground, Route 895, Summit Station. For information, call Pat McKinney at 570-622-4124, ext. 113, e-mail
porcupinepat@yahoo.com mailto:porcupinepat@yahoo.com or access on the Web at