ALLENWOOD — This isn’t an exclusive outdoor activity, but there’s just something about making a cigar box guitar that reminds me of being self reliant and in the great out-of-doors. The Pennsylvania Cigar Box Festival opens this morning at 10:30. This is the final day of this 3-day festival that’s at the York Emporium located at 343 West Market Street in York. Not all of the instruments your will see, hear and possibly play will be made of cigar boxes. However, all of the instruments are made from “found objects” such as old hubcaps and even toilet seats.  More information on the festival can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/Pennsylvania-Cigar-Box-Guitar or by calling 717-846-2866.

You and your family can learn “Boulder Field Basics” at an in-field seminar that will be held 1:30 p.m. at the boulder field in the Hickory Run State Park. This park is located along I-80 over in the Poconos. It’s an easy drive from the Susquehanna Valley over to Hickory Run. During this session you will learn about the history and significance of this geological feature and about life during Earth’s last ice age. For more information, please call 570-443-0400.

There are many patterns in nature and you can learn about these patterns and other so-called phenomena during a 1:30  session at the Ricketts Glen State Park.  Make sure to give yourself enough time at the park to take in one of the park’s always-spectacular hikes.  The Patterns in Nature program is a new offering that is a visual journey and nature walk combined where you and your family will stop and discuss the unique and beautiful designs in nature with the park’s naturalist. Please call 570-477-7780 for directions or more information.

“Geology along the Appalachian Trail” is the name of the session that’s part of then 75th anniversary celebration of the Appalachian Trail. The 2 p.m. session is at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park down in Cumberland County. To learn more about this session and the Appalachian Trail Museum, please visit www.atmuseum.org.

Later this afternoon, you may want to head up the Poe Valley State Park that is just inside of Centre County west of Laurelton on Route 45 for a program called “Biodiversity Bliss.” You’ll learn what the term biodiversity means and why it’s so important. You’ll likely hear about the last time that glaciers visited our valley and how their halt just north of us created the wonderful diversity of flora and fauna that we enjoy every day.  This session starts at 5 p.m. at the park beach.

Today is the last day to get your Elk Application into the Pennsylvania Automated License System. You can do this at www.pgc.state.pa.us or at any license issuing agent.



TUESDAY: This would be a great display for scout troops who are completing the Gettysburg National Military Park patch program. Starting on Tuesday and running through September 29, there will be a display titled, “Vizualizing War” at the Gettysburg College’s Schmucker Art Gallery. This artistic display helps the viewer examine the perspectives of the Civil War from both the Northern and Southern viewpoints.  The patch program, that is modeled on the events of Battle of Gettysburg as portrayed in the book “The Killer Angels” and the movie Gettysburg, try’s to accomplish this same goal. By the way, the Gettysburg Patch Program, that is a service provided by the New Birth of Freedom Boy Scout Council and is part of the National Historic Trails Program, is a phenomenal way to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.



FRIDAY: “Once in a Blue Moon.” You’ve heard the expression a thousand times and now you can live it.  This evening will be the second full moon of this month, which is referred to by some as a Blue Moon.  The Cherry Springs State Park, purported to be the darkest spot in our state, is hosting a late-night session at 8:30 p.m. called Full Moon Rising. This park is located up in Penfield near the New York state line.  If you can make it, the session will be held at the beach house.