The Memorial Lake State Park Complex has announced its lineup of events for August at the complex, which includes Memorial Lake and Swatara state parks, and Boyd Big Tree and Joseph Ibberson conservation areas.

All programs are subject to change due to weather or staffing shortages. Please check the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Calendar of Events or Facebook page for cancellations or changes to programs.

Activities are free unless otherwise noted. If you have concerns or require special accommodations, please reach out to DCNR at least 72 hours prior to the event at 717-865-6470 or qheist@pa.gov.

Here is this month’s lineup:

  • Friday, Aug. 2, 10-11:30 a.m. – Insect Exploration at Memorial Lake State Park. Meet at the Middle Road parking lot to observe insect life.
  • Sunday, Aug. 4, 3-4:30 p.m. – Stream Study at Memorial Lake State Park. Meet at the Lower Road parking lot to examine the stream and its respective wildlife. Bring shoes to wade in the stream.
  • Sunday, Aug. 4, 7:30-9 p.m. – Owl Prowl and Pellet Perusal at Memorial Lake State Park. Learn about the nocturnal birds on International Owl Awareness Day by dissecting an owl pellet, listening to owl calls, and attempting to spot them while on a walk along the grassland and woodland trails in the park. Meet near the Middle Road pavilion, and bring a flashlight.
  • Friday, Aug. 9, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – Mammal Tracks and Traces Table at Swatara State Park. Stop by the table at Swopes Valley Trailhead anytime to learn about wildlife tracking by observing mammal skulls and furs and identifying tracks.
  • Friday and Saturday, Aug. 9-10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Bear-Hole Trail Drive-Thru at Swatara State Park. The 5-mile trail starts at Swopes Valley Trailhead, travels through the center of the park, and ends at the Waterville Bridge near Lickdale. There are designated parking areas at the fossil pit, Daubert School, charcoal pit, and near Bordner Cabin. Traffic is one-way, and the speed limit is 10 mph. The last entrance is at 2:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 13, 9-10:30 a.m. – Birding Walk at Memorial Lake State Park. The morning bird walk around the park will start at the Middle Road parking lot. The park will provide field guides and binoculars, or you can bring your own.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2-3:30 p.m. – Mammal Tracks and Traces at Memorial Lake State Park. Meet at the Middle Road parking lot to learn about wildlife tracking by observing mammal skulls and furs and identifying tracks.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. – Intro to Kayaking at Memorial Lake State Park. Learn the basics of kayaking with this course. Spaces are limited, and preregistration is required. Participants must be 12 years or older and able to manage an adult kayak; participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. The cost is $5, with a kayak, paddle, and lifejacket being provided. Meet at the Lower Road boat launch.
  • Friday, Aug. 16, 10-11:30 a.m. – Branching Out: Intro to Tree ID at Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area. Learn how to identify tree species using bark, leaves, and seeds. Meet at the education pavilion.
  • Friday, Aug. 16, 12-2 p.m. – All About Birds Table at Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area. Stop by the table at the education pavilion anytime to test your knowledge about birds.
  • Saturday, Aug. 17, 10-11:30 a.m. – Fossil Frenzy: Digging Into PA’s Past at Swatara State Park. Meet at the Swopes Valley Trailhead to learn about the types of fossils at the park before walking about half a mile to the fossil hill to dig for them. The park will provide plastic digging trowels, or you can bring your own.
  • Saturday, Aug. 17, 2-3:30 p.m. – Branching Out: Intro to Tree ID at Memorial Lake State Park. Learn how to identify tree species using bark, leaves, and seeds. Meet at the Middle Road parking lot.
  • Sunday, Aug. 18, 6:30-8 p.m. – Hook, Line, and Simple: Intro to Fishing at Memorial Lake State Park. Practice rigging a fishing line, baiting a hook, and casting a rod. The park will provide fishing rods, tackle, and bait. Pennsylvania fishing licenses are required for participants who are 16 or older. Meet at the Lower Road boat launch.
  • Monday, Aug. 19, 8:30 p.m. launch – Full Moon Kayak at Memorial Lake State Park. A night paddle and float while observing the night and nocturnal wildlife. No registration is required, but participants must sign in and out. Participants must be over the age of 16; participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. This is not an introduction course to kayaking. Participants must bring their own kayak with a valid Pennsylvania launch permit, a lifejacket, a white light, such as a headlamp or a glow stick, and a whistle. Meet before the 8:30 p.m. launch at the Middle Lot boat launch.
  • Thursday, Aug. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. – Salamander Safari at Swatara State Park. Learn about salamanders before a half-mile hike to the creek to find the amphibians under rocks and on the ground. The park will provide a limited number of containers and nets, or bring your own. Bring shoes that can get wet. Meet at Trout Run Trailhead.
  • Saturday, Aug. 24, 9-10:30 a.m. – Birding Walk at Swatara State Park. The morning bird walk around the park will start at Trout Run Trailhead. The park will provide field guides and binoculars, or you can bring your own.
  • Saturday, Aug. 24, 2-3:30 p.m. – Art in the Park: Leaf Art at Memorial Lake State Park. Collect natural materials on a short walk along the woodland trail, which will be enhanced by materials provided by the park to create leaf art. Meet at the Middle Road parking lot.
  • Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m.-noon – AT Hike to Canal Locks at Swatara State Park. Meet at Trout Run Trailhead for about a four-mile hike over intermediate terrain on the Appalachian Trail. While on the hike, observe the Union Canal that ran along the Swatara Creek in the park. Bring appropriate shoes and water.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6-7:30 p.m. – Intro to Archery at Memorial Lake State Park. Learn the basics of archery with this course. Space is limited, and preregistration is required. Participants must be at least 10 years old; participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. The park will provide the equipment. Meet near the Middle Road pavilion.
  • Friday, Aug. 30, 8:30-9:30 p.m. – Going Batty: PA Bats at Memorial Lake State Park. Learn about bats, why you don’t need to worry about protecting yourself from them, and why we should protect them. Bring a flashlight if you’d like. Meet at the Middle Road pavilion.
  • Saturday, Aug. 31, 10-11:30 a.m. – Fossil Frenzy: Digging Into PA’s Past at Swatara State Park. Meet at the Swopes Valley Trailhead to learn about the types of fossils at the park before walking about half a mile to the fossil hill to dig for them. The park will provide plastic digging trowels, or you can bring your own.
  • Saturday, Aug. 31, 1-3 p.m. – Bordner Cabin Hike at Swatara State Park. Meet at the Sand Siding Road parking lot for a three-mile hike following the Sand Siding Trail onto Bear Hole Trail. Make a stop at Bordner Cabin for a brief history, and then backtrack the same route to return to the parking lot. Bring appropriate shoes and water.

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