The Great Outdoors

Please check out the July program page for upcoming online programs or take a look at the Trailheads Rec Room (to the right of your screen) for jigsaw puzzles, videos, and more.

Daniel Boone Homestead on a beautiful summer day (photo via Facebook)

Although our Trails of History sites and museums remain closed, many have grounds that are available for visits during posted hours (and in accordance with guidance from the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health). The Commonwealth also has 121 state parks and 20 state forests that offer a range of outdoor activities (check their websites for details and remember that there are health and safety guidelines to follow). Thank you to my colleagues at Drake Well Museum and Park and the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum for the reminder that today, July 17, is Park and Recreation Professionals Day.

Although the outdoors is a great place to be, it's still not possible to offer our traditional events (or even plan them when COVID-19 causes so much uncertainty). The folks at the Anthracite Heritage Museum, faced with canceling the Arts on Fire event at Scranton Iron Furnaces, worked with their community partners to produce a video version. With interviews, footage of past iron pours at the Furnaces, musical performances, and a demonstration of stained glass art, they've offered a brief history of the Iron Furnaces and a glimpse of the event for folks who had to miss it. The video runs a little over an hour. You can watch it below or go directly to YouTube.



If you're interested in learning more about the comet (Neowise) that is currently visible over North America, the Franklin Institute posted some info. (For some historical perspective, you can read about the Great Comet of 1744 as documented in a book written and printed at Ephrata Cloister.)

And now, some posts about animals. Because who doesn't love photos of animals? I hope your weekend and the week ahead are filled with good things.




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