20-Second Spring Breaks
(And Longer Ones for the Weekend)
by Jane Kirkland
Plenty of good can come from a break as brief as 20 seconds, particularly if you make it a 20-Second Nature Break. Twenty seconds is all it takes to notice a change in the weather or the daffodils blooming, to hear the birds singing, see a hawk soaring overhead, and notice the groundhog sitting up along the side of the road.
When I became aware of how much we can experience in 20 seconds, I designed an education program around the concept of 20-Second Nature Breaks.
You can take these breaks between buckling up the kids in the van and turning the ignition key. You can take them sitting down, standing up at the kitchen window, on the way to the mailbox, alone or with your children or your spouse, even at the beginning of your daily power walk.
Spring is here and nature is busy shooting up from the ground, exploding in our trees, ripping across our skies and landing in your neighborhood. Don’t miss it! Take a 20-Second Nature Break with your children and you’ll create great memories as together you notice the incredible wealth of nature in your own backyard.
When you want a longer break, choose one of these adventures in and around the Delaware Valley. From now until school lets out, you and the kids can have a nature adventure every weekend.
Go Wild for Flowers!
April and May are a great time to view our native wildflowers. Two of the best places in this part of the country are easy day trips for most of us: Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Let your kids take photos of the wildflowers you see.
Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve is in the Holtwood Environmental Preserve just north of the Pequa Campgrounds. Managed by Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL), it’s about a 90-minute drive from Philadelphia to this scenic spot along the Susquehanna River south and west of Harrisburg.
Admission is free but donations are accepted. The trails are an easy trek. At least 73 species of wildflowers bloom there from mid-March to May. Pack a picnic and enjoy your lunch at one of the nearby state parks such as Susquehannock State Park, where with a little luck, you might see bald eagles soaring over the river. 800-354-8383, www.pplweb.com (look in the Environmental Preserves Section).
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is in New Hope, PA, about 40 miles northeast of Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Nearly 1,000 species of native wildflowers, trees, shrubs, vines, and ferns dot the landscape. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 4-14, and $3 for seniors. Admission includes a guided tour daily at 2pm. 215-862-2924, www.bhwp.org
Fish for Free
You might already know that a license is required to fish in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, waterways. But what if you’d like to try before you buy? Now is your opportunity! Both states have designated two Fish For Free days in which you can legally fish their waterways without a license (and that includes state parks).
The Pennsylvania Fish For Free days are Sat., May 27 and Sun.,June 4. The New Jersey free fishing days are Sat., June 10 and Sun., June 11. www.fish.state.pa.us and www.fish.state.nj.us
ZooSnooze
Take your family camping at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA. (Children must be age 4 or older.) You’ll discover nocturnal animals, play games, and roast s’mores.
Campers must bring their own tents, sleeping bags and flashlights. The Zoo will provide dinner, a snack and breakfast. Space is limited, so register early. ZooSnooze dates include Fri., May 26 into Sat., May 27; Sat., June 17 into Sun., June 18; and Fri., June 23 into Sat., June 24th. $38 per person for non-members. For info, call 610-277-3825, ext. 225. www.elmwoodparkzoo.org
Celebrate the Earth
April 22 is Earth Day. Several Delaware Valley events celebrate the occasion. You’ll find me at the
Temple Ambler Earth Day Festivities on Friday, April 21. www.temple.edu/ambler.
For more Earth Day activities, see the Never a Dull Moment calendar. To look for other events, visit www.earthday.net or go to www.google.com and search “Earth Day 2006 MY TOWN” where “MY TOWN” is your location.
Jane Kirkland is a Downingtown, PA speaker, naturalist, photographer and author of the Take A Walk nature books for kids. Learn more at www.takeawalk.com