Friends of Salt Springs State Park

Education

Salt Springs State Park offers a unique opportunity for people of all ages to learn about our regional natural and historic heritage. The diversity of natural habitats and the historic remnants of early commerce within the park provide a wealth of settings for experiential education programs. Whether in the heart of the gorge surrounded by 300-year-old hemlocks or in wildflower-speckled meadows boasting uninterrupted vistas, studies in geology, biology and ecology, as well as history, the arts and literature, are taken to a new and exciting level.

Six llamas live at Salt Springs.

Interpretive programs for children and adults, as well as customized lessons for teachers, students, scouts and other groups are offered through the Friends of Salt Springs Park. Self- guided trails and wayside exhibits at various points of interest enhance the visitor’s experience and help provide a better understanding of the park’s hallmark features. Interpretive and interactive displays that give visitors more insight into the natural and human history of the park are planned for the Wheaton House. Currently available from the Salt Springs office are a park brochure, public program guide, bird checklist, self-guided trail guide and other natural history information pamphlets.

New! A week-long summer camp program for 4th through 6th graders will be held at Salt Springs this year. Click here for more information and for a printable registration form.

Birdwatchers, check out Bird Watching in Susquehanna County. This is a four-page, full-color quide to the best places to see birds and other wildlife. Sponsored by numerous county agencies, Project Director Nancy Wottrich coordinated the funding and the creation of the brochure. Gerard Dewaghe provided the photographs.

For a more personal view of nature at Salt Springs, read some of Nancy Wottrich's essays. Others will be added periodically.

Gathered during a mushroom foray in September 2005, a public program led by mycologist Julie Dugan and author David Fischer.

Public Programs

A wide selection of programs open to the public are offered throughout the year, including interpretive walks, slide shows and talks, traditional arts demonstrations, guided hikes, workshops, preschool nature classes and llama hikes with the resident llamas. Some programs are limited and require pre- registration. For complete schedule, see Events Calendar. Scheduled tours through the old-growth forest and gorge can also be arranged for larger and special interest groups.

School Programs

Earth, Ecology and the Environment (E3) — 4th Grade Environmental Education Program

The E3 program consists of two classroom sessions and one full day field trip to Salt Springs State Park. The program introduces students to basic principles of ecology through interactive games and thought-provoking activities. It also provides them with a greater appreciation for the complexity of ecosystems through hands-on investigations at the park. A variety of bridging activities provided for the teacher to do between instructional sessions help to reinforce and expand upon what the students have learned.

In the classroom, students learn about photosynthesis, energy flow, food chains, natural resources, nutrient cycles and recycling. They trace their meals to the sun, make new paper from old, investigate where their trash goes, and write an environmental newspaper. At the park, students explore the stream and forest ecosystems, learn about watersheds, farming and soil, and relate cooperative games and sensory activities to environmental problem solving.

E3 is designed to aid teachers in meeting a majority of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology at the 4th grade level. It is a comprehensive environmental education program that offers students a more complete view of ecological processes while complementing the 4th grade curricula. E3 is available to all schools in Susquehanna County and can be conducted in either the spring or fall to best fit into the teacher’s science studies. There is a fee for this program. Inquiries to bring the program to a classroom or to become an instructor should be directed to the Education Coordinator at the park.

Elementary and Secondary School and Home School Programs and Field Trips

Customized outdoor or history education programs are available by special arrangement. Program topics include sensory explorations of nature, stream adaptations, forest communities, wetlands and watersheds, meadow biodiversity and history of Salt Springs through the 1800s. Programs can be adjusted to meet the abilities of specific age groups. There is a fee for these programs. For an additional fee, we can design a program on a topic of your choice.

Teacher Training and In Service Workshops

These workshops are offered periodically on various topics or can be scheduled by special arrangement for your school. Check the website for special announcements or email to arrange for your school.

For more information on education programs, contact the Education Coordinator at info@friendsofsaltspringspark.org.