download the full guide - Lehigh Gap Nature Center

1carbon countyenvIRONMENTALeduCATION centerCarbon41Location: The center is located on East White Bear Drive,about 5 miles west of Jim Thorpe.Owner & Contacts: Carbon County EnvironmentalEducation Center (70 acres – 2,500 acres in adjacent MauchChunk Lake Park)570-645-8597151 East White Bear Drive, Summit Hill, PA 18250www.carboneec.orgDirections, Access & Parking: From theNortheast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476),take the Mahoning Valley Exit and follow the signs for JimThorpe/U.S. 209 South. Follow U.S. 209 South into Lehighton.After crossing the Lehigh River, turn right (still U.S. 209 South)toward Jim Thorpe. Turn left at the first traffic light in JimThorpe (Broadway). Broadway becomes Lentz Trail then EastWhite Bear Drive. Continue past the main entrance to MauchChunk Lake Park on your left. Continue 2.2 miles. The centerwill be on your left. The center building is open Monday throughFriday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The trails, pavilion and raptormews (cages) are open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.Parking and restrooms are available at the center.Site Description: The Carbon County EnvironmentalEducation Center is housed in a converted 1920 dairy barn thatis on 70 acres of woodland, wetland and meadow habitat withassociated transition areas within Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Over20 years of Christmas tree recycling have created 50+ yardsof continuous hedgerows. This has become a special area forfinding small mammals, birds and reptiles. The building andgrounds underwent considerable changes. The center offers avariety of environmental education opportunities to youth, civicorganizations and the general public.Through the Seasons:Winter: Look for Pileated and Red-bellied woodpeckersand winter sparrows.Spring: Mauch Chunk Lake (330 acres) can be good forwaterfowl in early spring. The songbird migration can be goodat times.Summer: Nesting birds include several species of warblers,bluebirds, swallows and orioles.Fall: Look for migrating hawks, waterfowl on the lake,and songbirds.Other Comments: If visiting the center, besure to leave enough time to see historic Jim Thorpe.• Be sure to wear orange if birding the area during anyhunting season. Orange vests are available on loanthroughout the hunting season. • Visit the PA GameCommission website, www.pgc.state.pa.us, for dates ofhunting seasons and blaze orange clothing requirements.Please follow State Game Land or hunting regulations postedin parking areas. There is no hunting on Sundays.Wood Duck, Frank Leung/iStockphoto.com