Summertime means outdoor adventure
Summertime means outdoor adventure
By Tyler Frantz
Ah, Summer! Isn’t she a beauty? Now that the calendar officially has recognized what everyone already knows, it’s time to make big plans for all the summertime adventures that abound during these preciously mild “middle months” of the year.
For the Frantz family, that means traveling north to Mill Run Camp, where smallmouth bass roam the vast Pine Creek Valley and native brook trout dominate the cold mountain tributaries flowing into the big water.
It’s a great destination for fishing, floating, hiking, and biking along the Pine Creek Rail-Trail. Sometimes, there are run-ins with black bears, porcupines, white-tailed deer and rattlesnakes, but the wild allure of the northern frontier always calls us back each year. It is a blessing to have a hunting camp to call our own, although it isn’t always necessary in order to get away and see some of the state’s most remote areas.
With over 45,000 miles of streams, more than 2,500 lakes and 114 State Parks, it is easy to find a place worth visiting in Pennsylvania. But how does one settle on a location for outdoor fun? The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association can be an excellent resource to help point eager adventurers in the right direction.
“When planning an outdoors getaway, please consider visiting one of Pennsylvania’s many campgrounds,” PCOA Executive Beverly Gruber said.
“Nearly all 230 campgrounds in our network feature tent sites, RV and trailer sites, as well as cabins and other outdoor lodging facilities. Go to www.pacamping.com, click on the region of PA you wish to visit, and a listing of campgrounds will appear. Then you can simply call the park of your choice and make a reservation. It’s that easy.”
If destination travel isn’t an option, there’s still plenty of excitement to be had close to home too. For example, a new event will take place at Sweet Arrow Lake this year on July 4th, which should be loads of fun for the whole family.
“Kayaks, Canoes, and Boats, OH MY!” - a family-friendly water-based event presented by the Sportsmen’s Advisory Board - will feature a number of unique watercraft races, including Canoe and Kayak Sprints, Slaloms & Endurance, Log Tow Races and Cardboard Boat Races, with specific age classes for each category.
The event is free and open to the public for participants and spectators. All activities will begin at the clubhouse, leaving the boat access area open to fishermen. Pre-registration is recommended, and as an incentive, the first 50 to do so will receive a free event t-shirt. Information and registration forms are available at www.sweetarrowlakepark.com, while registration on the day of the event will be available from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m.
“The 4thof July has traditionally been a family picnic kind of day, and we thought there was no better place than Sweet Arrow Lake County Park to get families together for a day of fun on the water,” event co-chair Brad Fessler said.
Fessler, an avid outdoorsman and kayaker, volunteered to put together the events when the Sportsmen Advisory Board suggested there should be an enjoyable, water-based event at the lake in addition to fishing.
“We wanted to get kids and their parents involved, so many of the canoe events are for two people, with the youngest member indicating the age class entered. We also wanted a fun but competitive event, giving bragging rights to the winners, much like the activities and games at a family picnic,” Fessler said.
The duration of the event will be determined by the number of participants but will begin around 9 a.m. with a water safety briefing and plan of action for activities. Also, there will be a demonstration by the Schuylkill Haven Dive, Rescue and Recovery Team, which will also serve as a safety crew for the day.
Spectators are welcome, and with the extensive shoreline and dam breast area, viewing the event should be a blast. Canoe and kayak rentals will be available, but supplies are limited. Event participants should bring their own watercraft and personal floatation devices, while logs will be provided for the log race, during which paddlers will have to ‘tow’ their attached logs around a set course. As a reminder, the Pine Grove Community Band will also perform their patriotic collection beginning at 6 p.m., while hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks will be available throughout the day to benefit the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association.
“We encourage people to come out and enjoy the entire day,” Park Supervisor Drew Kline said.
With all this fun and adventure to be had, aren’t you glad summer has finally arrived?
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