In The Valley

Wildlands Conservancy Community & Educational Calendar of Events for October 2026



For October, Wildlands Conservancy is offering 8 Community & Education Adventures, all of which are free to the public: 

  • Walk in Penn’s Woods: Stewardship in Action
  • A second Right-of-Way Stewardship Tour at Franko Park, with Carl Martin, Director of Property Stewardship;
  • A Forest Walk & Morning Yoga experience for all ages with Melanie Smith of Miss Melanie Yoga;
  • Our Autumn Hoot Hike at Black River Sanctuary;
  • A Pre-K Pathfinders Autumn Explorers adventure at Wayne A. Grube Park;
  • Our Get Out! For Wellness hike at Lehigh Gap Nature Center;
  • Two Leaf Peeping & Tree ID opportunities at Minsi Lake Wilderness area and at Leaser Lake.

Registration for October events opens Monday, September 21:

October 3

Wildlands Conservancy – Walk in Penn’s Woods: Stewardship in Action – 10:00AM – 12:00PM EDT at Dent-Gundry Easement, 56–72 Carls Hill Road, Mertztown, PA 19539. Join Berks Nature, Wildlands Conservancy, and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry for a special Walk in Penn’s Woods experience at Berks Nature’s Dent-Gundry Property. We’ll explore this part of the Commonwealth’s forests while learning more about their ecological, cultural, and recreational value. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; online registration is requested at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/510.

October 4

Wildlands Conservancy – Future of the Right-of-Way Stewardship Tour – 10:00AM – 11:30AM EDT at Franko Park, 1339 Black River Rd, Allentown, PA 18103. Join Carl Martin, Wildlands Conservancy’s Director of Property Stewardship, for a guided exploration of Black River Sanctuary’s Right-of-Way Stewardship Project.  This is a unique opportunity to see stewardship in action and learn how thoughtful restoration practices are creating healthier landscapes for both wildlife and people. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; space is limited and online registration is required at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/509.

October 10

Wildlands Conservancy – Forest Walk & Morning Yoga – 10:00AM – 12:00PM EDT at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, PA 18049. Join Wildlands Conservancy as we hike through the forest, taking time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season before arriving at our outdoor yoga location. Once there, Melanie Smith of Miss Melanie Yoga will lead participants through a relaxing yoga practice surrounded by nature. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; space is limited and online registration is required at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/508.

October 16

Wildlands Conservancy – Hoot Hike – 6:30PM – 8:00PM EDT at Black River Sanctuary, Church Rd. Entrance, 3390 Church Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18015. Join Wildlands Conservancy for a moonlit Hoot Hike, where we’ll step into the woods in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures. Along the way, we’ll listen for calls, learn about the owls’ nighttime adaptations, and even try out a few “hoots” of our own to see who might answer back. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; online registration is required at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/499.

October 17

Wildlands Conservancy – Get Out! For Wellness: L & NE Trail – 10:00AM – 12:00PM EDT at Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, PA 18080. Join Wildlands Conservancy for a guided hike through Lehigh Gap Nature Center, where environmental restoration stories continues to unfold. Decades of zinc smelting left this area severely contaminated, but extensive restoration efforts beginning in the 1980s transformed barren rock slopes into thriving habitats filled with native plants and wildlife. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; please register online at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/502.

October 21

Wildlands Conservancy – Leaf Peeping & Tree ID Hike – 5:00PM – 6:30PM EDT at Minsi Lake Wilderness Area- West Shore Access, 49 Blue Mountain Dr., Bangor, PA 18013. Join us for a Leaf Peeping & Tree ID Hike and experience the brilliant colors of fall while learning to identify native trees. Discover why leaves change color, explore seasonal changes in the forest, and enjoy one of autumn’s most cherished outdoor traditions. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; please register online at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/366.

October 22

Wildlands Conservancy – PreK Pathfinders: Autumn Explorers – 10:00AM – 11:00AM EDT at Wayne A. Grube Park, 1200 Willowbrook Rd., Northampton, PA 18067. For children aged 3-5 and their grown-ups: Join Wildlands Conservancy for a colorful autumn adventure! We will search for leaves of different shapes and colors, enjoy a nature-themed story, and create a fun fall craft. Perfect for curious young learners who love the outdoors. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; space is limited and online registration is required at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/500.

October 31

Wildlands Conservancy – Leaf Peeping & Tree Id Hike – 1:00PM – 3:00PM EDT at Leaser Lake- South Entrance, 8502 Pleasure Ct., Kempton, PA 19529. Join Wildlands Conservancy for a Leaf Peeping & Tree ID Hike and experience the brilliant colors of fall while learning to identify native trees. Discover why leaves change color, explore seasonal changes in the forest, and enjoy one of autumn’s most cherished outdoor traditions. Questions? Contact: Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. Event is free; please register online at: https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/501.