TUESDAY
Kick ‘n Gliders Nordic Ski Club meets, 7 p.m., Rookies Sports Bar, 2238 Derry St., Harrisburg. Cindy and Tom Hoehn talk about their 30-day trip to Turkey this past fall.
Indoor pistol shoot, Manheim Sportsmen’s Association, 7-9 p.m. Lead bullets only; no magnums. Nonmembers, $5. Call 291-6815 or 665-7093. Club is at 552 Oak Tree Road.
Trap shoot, Mt. Joy Sportsmen. 6-8 p.m. weather permitting. $3.25 during daylight or $3.75 under the lights. Take Rt. 283 west, left on Rt. 772, right on old Market St.
WEDNESDAY
Sporting clays shoot. Atglen Sportsmen. Begins at 5 p.m.; $5.50. The club is on Creek Road, Sadsbury Township.
Trap shoot under the lights, Adamstown Rod & Gun Club. Begins at 5 p.m.; $3. The club is at 563 Willow St., Reinholds.
Sporting clays shoot, Elstonville Sportsmen. Register from 4-7 p.m. Take Route 72 north from Manheim; left on Pinch Road.
Practice trap shoot, Manheim Sportsmen’s Association. 5-8 p.m. The club is at 552 Oak Tree Road.
THURSDAY
27th Annual Millersville University Science Lectureship, with guest speaker Dr. Edith Widder, a biologist and deep-sea explorer, 7 p.m. in the Marauder Court of the Student Memorial Center. The lectureship is sponsored by the Mr. and Mrs. William F. Brossman Charitable Foundation. of the Student Memorial Center. Widder’s talk is “Exploring and Protecting Planet Ocean.” Dr. Widder combines her expertise in research and technological innovation with a commitment to reversing the worldwide trend of degradation in our marine environment. She specializes in bioluminescence and is a leader in designing and inventing new submersible instrumentation and equipment to enable unobtrusive deep-sea observations. Her research involving submersibles has been featured in BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic television productions. Dr. Widder co-founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and the species they sustain through development of innovative technologies and science-based conservation action. Admission to the evening lecture is free. No tickets are required. Please call 872-3407 for additional information or visit: millersville.edu/scienceandmath/files/WidderFlier.pdf
Practice trap shoot, Paradise Sportsmen’s Association. Begins at 5 p.m. $4. Club is located at 36 Belmont Road. Call 687-7885 for more information.
FRIDAY
5th annual November Nocturne at Gov. Dick Park, beginning at 7 p.m. at the tower. The program includes a sing-along with Patsy Kline around the bonfire, interpretive talk “Moon: Fact or Fiction,” climb the candle-lit tower, socializing and refreshments. Start walking to the tower at 6:30 p.m. A shuttle is available for those unable to walk the distance. This is a fair weather event only, no rain date. A fee applies; please register by calling 964-3808.
SATURDAY
Positive Influences of Native Americans program, 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m., Environmental Center, Central Park. For ages 8 and up. Through discussion and activities hosted by naturalist Clyde McMillan-Gamber, participants will learn how Native Americans grew the foods they domesticated and cultivated, how some of their words are today used as place names and what highways today began as Indian paths. Preregistration required by calling 295-2055.
Scout Orienteering program, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Pavilion 1 in Central Park. For ages 6-18. The Susquehanna Valley Orienteering Club and the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation host the event. New white (beginner), yellow (advance beginner), and orange (intermediate) courses will be available. Course design, course setting, and maps will be provided by the Susquehanna Valley Orienteering Club and instruction will be available. Cost for the event is $5 per map and $2 per scout with no charge for accompanying adults. Start any time between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 295-2055 by Tuesday, November 1, to preregister with your preferred start time. For more information, contact Mary Ann Schlegel at 299-8230 or . Central Park is located off of Chesapeake Street. Pavilion 1 is immediately to the right across the Chesapeake Street bridge. White and orange signs will direct you.
Public trapshooting practice, Conewago Rod & Gun Club, Elizabethtown. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 426-2016 or see conewagogunclub.com.
Trapshooting practice, Manheim Sportsmen. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The club is at 552 Oak Tree Road, Manheim.
SUNDAY
The Story of the Pennsylvania Barn: It’s Origin, Evolution and Location program, 2-3:30 p.m., Environmental Center. For all ages. This search of the evolution and distribution of the Pennsylvania Barn will be conducted by barn expert Robert Ensminger. This author, geographer and researcher has written extensively about this subject. The program will take place at the Lancaster County Environmental Center, which is a restored bank barn built in 1811.
Last day to sign up for Sierra Club-Lancaster Group’s book club discussion of “Water Matters: Why We Need to Act Now to Save Our Most Critical Resource,” a book edited by Tara Lohan, to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in Aaron’s Books, 43 S. Broad St., Lititz. Anyone who has read at least part of the book is welcome to join in the discussion. RSVP to . For people planning to participate, Aaron’s is offering the book at a 15% discount if it is purchased in the store or over the phone. “Water Matters” is a collection of essays, art, and practical steps which individuals can take to protect their water. Its topics range from those of worldwide issues to those of regional matters, although many of the latter tie in with global problems. This will mark the first effort for the club, which from time-to-time discusses or recommends books that relate to the environment and sustainability. For more details or to RSVP, contact the Sierra Club’s Brinton Culp at (717) 725-0743 or .
Hikes for public, led by Lancaster Hiking Club. At 8 a.m., hike 11 strenuous miles on the Conestoga Trail from Pequea to the Norman Wood Bridge with John Hamilton (898-0595). A carpool meets at Buchanan Park near 405 Race Ave. Or, at 1:15 p.m., Jeff Brethauer (397-3039) leads 5 moderately strenuous miles in the Peach Bottom area. Or, impromptu hikes. Both these hikes carpool from the north end of North West End Ave.
Block shoot, Elstonville Sportsmen, 9 a.m. 12 gauge only. Take Rt. 72 north from Manheim, then left on Pinch Road.
Indoor handgun shoot, each Sunday at Mill Creek Sportsmen’s Association. Noon-2:30 p.m. Nonmembers, $15. Call 393-6416. Handgun safety course available.
Sporting clays shoot, Elstonville Sportsmen. Register from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Take Route 72 north from Manheim; left on Pinch Road.
MONDAY
Practice trap shoot, Paradise Sportsmen’s Association. Begins at 5 p.m. $4. Club is located at 36 Belmont Road. Call 687-7885 for more information.
ONGOING
Report red-tailed hawk sightings at Buchanan Park. In an effort to determine the distribution and behavior of F&M’s red-tailed hawk population, students and faculty are initiating a survey. With your help, we can start to understand the habits of these charismatic campus residents. To learn more about identifying red-tailed hawks, check out AllAboutBirds.org. To hear a red-tailed hawk vocalization, check out AllAboutBirds.org. Have you seen a red-tailed hawk? To report one, go to fandm.edu/beyondgreen/initiatives/academic/field-research/red-tailed-hawk-sightings.
Mentored youth doe tags transfer clarified. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, “As long as the adult mentor has an antlerless deer license to transfer to the mentored youth, the youth can participate in any season in which antlerless deer are legal. The mentored youth may only receive by transfer one antlerless deer license per year. The tag should not be transferred until the mentored youth harvests an antlerless deer. Once it is transferred, the mentored youth tags the carcass completing it with their information, but the adult mentor has the responsibility to report the harvest and reports it as if they (the adult) harvested the animal.”
2012 Pennsylvania Game Commission calendar on sale. With the holiday gift-giving season coming up, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is pleased to announce that its 2012 wildlife calendar now is available. To purchase a calendar, priced at $8.95 (plus tax and shipping), call the Game Commission at 1-888-888-3459 (toll-free) or visit the agency’s website (pgc.state.pa.us). To order online, put your cursor over “General Store” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, then click on “Visit the Outdoor Shop” in the drop-down menu listing, then click on “Pennsylvania Game Commission Outdoor Shop” in the lower-left, click on “Merchandise” and then choose “Misc. Items” in the left-hand column. The 2012 calendar features a year’s worth of dramatic wildlife photos taken by current and retired agency employees, including: Jacob Dingel, radio dispatcher in the Northwest Region Office; Timothy C. Flanigan, retired Bedford County Wildlife Conservation Officer; Coy D. Hill, retired Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer from Fulton County; and Willard C. Hill, a retired Game Lands Maintenance Supervisor from the Southcentral Region. Each month features a full-color photo of a different wildlife species. This calendar’s subjects are: a short-eared owl; a sunrise scene at the Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon/Lancaster counties, with flocks of snow geese silhouetted against the morning sky; a hooded merganser; a wild turkey; a group of wood duck chicks; a red fox pup; a Henslow’s sparrow; a muskrat; a bull elk silhouetted against a red sky; a flushing male ring-necked pheasant; a white-tailed buck; and a ruffed grouse. The 2012 calendar includes tentative hunting and trapping seasons, a reminder about National Hunting and Fishing Day in September and many other interesting bits of information about wildlife and the outdoors. Each month also provides photo inserts of Game Commission employees conducting many wildlife management tasks. As in past years, there is plenty of room for writing in appointments and other personal important dates and scheduling information. The calendar also provides a brief overview of the Game Commission and a list of contact information for the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters and six region offices.
Pinchot Lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park began a drawdown on Oct. 10. The drawdown is being done to install a boat dock at boat launch 1, construct new anchor points for the buoy lines at the campground beach, to repair the campground boat ramp, to manage the lake’s fishery and to contribute to the control of aquatic vegetation. The drawdown is expected to last until March 15.Recent flooding affects programs and recreation at PPL’s environmental preserves. PPL environmental preserves along the Susquehanna River are cleaning up and making repairs to the damage left by the recent flooding, affecting public programs and recreational facilities. As part of PPL’s community outreach efforts, the company works to preserve the natural areas on environmental preserves surrounding a number of its generating facilities in Pennsylvania. The preserves provide recreational and educational opportunities for the public year-round. At the Holtwood Environmental Preserve, on both shores of the lower Susquehanna River in Lancaster and York counties: Park areas and trails are open with portable toilets, but there is no water available and boat launches are closed. Pinnacle Overlook and Lock 12 Historic Area off Route 372 are open. Call 1-800-692-6328 for further information about river conditions. At Brunner Island, in York County, offers a wetlands, fishing in the channel between the Brunner Island power plant and the Susquehanna River, a hiking trail and a boat launch area. Wago Road, the main road to access Brunner Island, is washed out and trees are down. This road is closed from the south end, near Mount Wolf. Call 1-800-692-6328 for further information about river conditions. For more information about PPL’s environmental preserves visit pplpreserves.com or send an e-mail to . Please join us on Twitter @pplpreserves for other updates or visit the Preserves blog at pplpreserves.wordpress.com.
The Elk Country Visitor Center near Benezette, Elk County, is open for a second season with new exhibits. The Elk Country Visitor Center, first opened in September 2010, is nestled on 245 acres owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Benezette. It includes a 4D story theater; interactive interpretive exhibits; wildlife trails and viewing areas; wagon rides; year-round restrooms; and parking for cars, RVs and buses. Fall is the peak season for viewing elk in the Pennsylvania Wilds because the mating season, or ‘rut,’ occurs, and bugling bulls can be heard throughout elk country. New exhibits for the season include: “Bugle Like an Elk.” This exhibit allows visitors to see how close they can come to replicating the sound of an elk during the mating season. “Discovery Room.” Located just adjacent to the Great Room, this room now offers more hands-on activities about elk and other wildlife in the Pennsylvania Wilds, as well as a close look at the work of wildlife biologists and conservationists in the field, laboratory and community. Web cameras provide a glimpse of fields and wildlife beyond the viewing range of the center, and wildlife watching trails and viewing areas provide closer encounters for more-adventurous visitors. For September and October, the grounds at the center are open dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Early morning and twilight are the best times to spot elk. The center itself is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The commonwealth invested $6 million to build the center with another $6 million from private donations. For more information about the Elk Country Visitor Center, visit ElkCountryVisitorCenter.com or call 814-787-5167. Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport introduced by Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation. Learn about the history of our state parks and forests and their most memorable features through catchy descriptions, full-color maps, and photographs. Our goal is to promote healthy activity and awareness of our amazing state park and forest system. Whether you love trail hiking, paddling, driving tours, dramatic vistas, rock climbing, solitude, campgrounds, birding, or hang gliding – our state parks and forests have points of interest second to none. Enjoy your Passport, and keep in touch with us about your exciting adventures on our blog, “The Outdoor Muses Muse” and on our Facebook page. We challenge you to complete interest areas, track your visits in your Passport, let us know, and receive a Champion’s Tag for your efforts! The Passports are available for $10 plus tax on the foundation’s website, paparksandforests.org.
PPL Holtwood has expanded the restricted area for boaters to areas within the Susquehanna River in the vicinity of the Holtwood Dam and around the Route 372 Norman Wood Bridge as workers perform blasting in the river below the bridge as part of the expansion project at the Holtwood hydroelectric plant. The tailrace, the area where river water leaves the power plant, remains closed to shoreline fishing until construction is completed in 2013. Boating in the area from the Norman Wood Bridge into the tailrace has been restricted because of construction. Signs will be posted at boat ramps and trailheads to advise boaters of the restricted areas. Shoreline fishing is available nearby at Safe Harbor and Muddy Run. The $440 million Holtwood expansion project, which will add 125 megawatts of clean, renewable electric generating capacity at the plant, will result in improvements to recreational facilities. Those improvements will include better access for fishing, parking closer to the river, a new shoreline fishing pier and areas that can be accessed by people with physical limitations.
The North Museum of Natural History & Science and the Lancaster Science Factory have launched Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Dogs are now allowed to stay with their owners at select state park cabins and camping cottages under a pilot program, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said today. “Every year a number of visitors ask us whether their dogs can stay with them at a state park cabin,” said Bureau of State Parks Director John Norbeck. “To better serve our customers, we’ve created this pilot program and will evaluate the success of the program for possible expansion.” Norbeck said pets are currently allowed to spend the night at designated sites in 47 state park campgrounds. The pilot program will apply only to dogs and will involve select cabins and camping cottages at seven state parks: Chapman, Warren County; Cowans Gap, Fulton County; Kooser, Somerset County; Poe Valley, Centre County; Prince Gallitzin, Cambria County; Promised Land, Pike County; and Pymatuning, Crawford County. Dogs will not be allowed to be left alone in cabins and cottages. They also must be kept on a leash when in the park, and must stay in the areas designated for pets. there will be a $5 fee added each night for the modern and rustic cabins and deluxe camping cottages, and a $2 nightly fee for a standard camping cottage. No more than two dogs will be permitted per cabin and other rules will apply. Reservations for all state park overnight accommodations can be made online at visitPAParks.com or by calling toll-free at 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757).
State Game Lands shooting ranges now need either a new $30 range-use permit or be in possession of a current general hunting or furtaker license, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission officials. Exceptions to this permit requirement are those 15 years of age and younger properly accompanied by a licensed or permitted person 18 years of age or older, and each licensed hunter or range permit holder could have one guest. Range permits are available to purchase through the agency’s website (pgc.state.pa.us), by clicking on the “Shooting Range Permit” icon in the center of the homepage, or clicking on “Public Shooting Ranges” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage. Unlike online hunting and furtaker license purchases, range use permits can be printed at the time of purchase. For the first year, range permits will be valid from the date of purchase until June 30, 2012. After that, permits will be valid on a license year basis (from July 1 through June 30). Range permits also can be purchased at the agency’s Harrisburg Headquarters and all six region offices, and require either a credit or debit card. Range permits and hunting or furtaker licenses do not need to be displayed while using a State Game Lands public shooting range, but must be in possession, as well as a secondary form of identification, such as a driver’s license. On Feb. 1, the Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to a regulatory change to implement the range permit requirement. In doing so, the agency is taking a step toward accomplishing the twin goals of having unlicensed persons contribute toward the cost of maintaining the ranges, and better quantifying and controlling the use of the shooting ranges. The regulation also prohibits all other target shooting from taking place on State Game Lands, except at designated ranges. The regulatory change will not result in any increased cost or change in privileges for licensed hunters and furtakers.
Volunteer opportunities at North Museum of Natural History and Science. Community members can share their passion for natural history and science. Needed are docents and tour guides to lead activities and guide visitors throughout the museum. Docents are needed to lead group tours during the week. Tour guides are needed on weekends. Also needed are live animal room associates to introduce visitors to the residents of the museum’s live animal room by allowing them to touch the animals and learn more about their distinct characteristics. Candidates should have a willingness to learn about the exhibits and collections at the museum and a passion for sharing that knowledge and engaging young minds. Applicants should be flexible in their availability to volunteer during the museum’s normal business hours and willing to attend volunteer training. If interested, contact Towanda Williams, volunteer coordinator, at or 291-3943.
UPCOMING
Basic pistol class, 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Mill Creek Sportsmen’s Association, 1877 Windy Hill Road. Teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a pistol safely. The course includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students will receive the “NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting” handbook. Attendees must furnish their own handfun and ammunition. The course is taught by certified and experienced instructors. $85 for non club members and $60 for members. To sign up or for more information, call the club at 393-6416 or NRA certified instructor Art Kalbach at 314-0870.
Young hunters from across the country have the opportunity to have their own video-recorded hunt chosen to be a part of a new DVD by the Kids Gone Hunting Foundation. Twenty hunts will be selected from video submissions submitted by the public. Entries may include big and small game legally harvested with guns, bows or crossbows in North America or abroad. The DVD will be kids-only hunting, hosted by kids and distributed free to kids. The first two that were launched featured several hunts by kids and was hosted by a team of youngsters who will be returning to host the new Friends Edition that Hunter Safety System will help to sponsor. A variety of prize packages will be awarded. The grand prize for “Favorite Hunt” is sponsored by Mack’s Prairie Wings and the winner will receive a $500 gift card for merchandise at Mack’s. The award for Best Treestand Hunt using a Hunter Safety System product is sponsored by HSS. The winner and each member of his/her immediate family (mother, father and siblings) will receive a Hunter Safety System vest and Life Line. Entries must be received by noon Tuesday, May 1, 2012. For more information on the prizes and how to submit a video hunt for consideration in the Kids Gone Hunting DVD-Friends Edition, visit kidsgonehunting.com.
Two limited archery/muzzleloader hunts for antlerless deer have been scheduled for the controlled access areas of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the Lebanon/Lancaster county line. The hunts have been scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 and Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. These hunts will be held outside of any regular statewide deer season; the only hunting occurring within the management area on these days will be those hunters with special permits. In order to participate, hunters must be properly licensed and be eligible to take an antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit 5B on the day they would be hunting. Hunting will be by special permit only, and 100 permits will be issued by random drawing for each hunting day. Hunters wishing to participate in the drawing should apply as follows: Applications must be on a standard postcard, obtained at a U.S. Post Office, and contain the following information: hunter name; complete mailing address; general license back tag number; muzzleloader and/ or archery stamp number; and antlerless deer license number for Wildlife Management Unit 5B (if applicable). Only one application per hunter may be submitted. Applications will be accepted, by mail only, until Nov. 7, and must be mailed to: Pennsylvania Game Commission MCWMA; P.O. Box 110; Kleinfeltersville, PA 17039. A public drawing will be held at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9. There will be only one drawing to fill both hunting days. The first 100 applications drawn will be assigned to the hunt on Dec 21, the second 100 to the hunt on Jan. 18. Successful applicants will be notified by mail. There will be no provisions or drawings held to fill vacancies created by permit holders who do not participate on the day of the hunt. In addition to the antlerless deer hunts, which are being conducted for the purposes of herd reduction at Middle Creek, there will be 10 permits issued for each hunt enabling selected hunters to take an antlered deer as well. To be eligible for this antlered deer permit drawing, which will be held the morning of each hunt, hunters must still possess an antlered deer tag in addition to having been drawn for the hunt and be able to take part in the antlerless deer hunt.
North Museum trip to the Galapagos Islands, March 8-18, 2012. Snorkel with sea lions, sit with blue-footed boobies and crawl with giant tortoises as the North Museum of Natural History & Science returns to the Galapagos Islands for another once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Ramblers will discover this amazing land that time forgot and experience close encounters with some of the most unusual animals on the planet — exotic reptiles, blue-footed boobies, penguins, flightless cormorants and sea lions — to provide a new appreciation for the natural world. Travelers will participate in a series of education and conservation activities and lectures while sailing from island to island aboard the luxurious Galapagos Explorer II, one of the finest expedition ships in the Galapagos archipelago today. Throughout the course of the trip, guests will make wet or dry landings on numerous islands to enjoy volcano hiking, swimming and snorkeling with sea turtles, and photographing the amazing panoramic views of the untouched landscape. For more information, call Jody Harnish at 291-4149 or .
The Outdoors Calendar welcomes information on hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoors events. E-mail details to ; or send to Ad Crable, PO Box 1328, Lancaster, Pa. 17608-1328; or call 481-6029.
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