Things to do in Pocono Mountains Region, Pocono Mountains Region: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

Since its inception in 1976 our Center has offered a wide range of programs and has always strived to improve and expand its offerings. We continually seek to: • Provide areas in our County for outdoor laboratories where plants, animals and entire ecosystems can be studied; • Sponsor and participate in educational programs, ecological research, and classroom teaching; • Cooperate with other agencies and organizations concerned with environmental education and; • Provide leadership training programs in the field of conservation, environmental education and natural history. The Education Center is located at the County-owned Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary near Bartonsville. This 13,000 sq. foot facility contains the Administrative and Technical offices of the Conservation District. It also houses the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center on its second floor. Over 7,200 sq. ft. of space is devoted to educational programs including two large classroom/meeting areas, offices, kitchen, public restrooms and numerous displays and exhibits on the Pocono's natural environment. The Center also contains a gift shop with many different educational and environmentally oriented items for sale including a large selection of birdfeeders, quality birdseed, field guides and more. On the outside of the building is a large observation deck and additional classroom area. Many different educational programs are offered year-round. The building is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm and most Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. The Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary itself is a 166 acre preserve. The initial 120 acres was donated for the preservation of wildlife by Clayton Swink. And an additional 46 acres was purchased in 2004. It is now managed by the Conservation District and provides an interesting arena for outdoor programs. It has old field, mature deciduous forest, evergreen stands, and two ponds. Over 2 1/2 miles of maintained and well-marked trails are open for public use year-round, 7 days a week. The Education Center also utilizes “satellite sites” in Monroe County. The Meesing site is a 100 acre tract located on the Delaware State Forest north of Marshalls Creek. Owned by the PA Bureau of Forestry and maintained by the Conservation District the area encompasses a variety of diverse habitats. There is a large clear-cut where a young forest is emerging, a stand of pines, a small swamp, a stream, a pond, and a maple forest complete with a Sugar Shack that is used to produce sweet maple syrup each March. Two miles of trails are open to the public year-round, dawn to dusk, for passive recreation and nature study. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center educators also provide interpretive tours of The Nature Conservancy’s Tannersville Cranberry Bog. Access to the fragile area is limited. The floating boardwalk provides a unique opportunity to see the interior of the bog. Tours are held throughout the year for the general public as well as private and school groups.

Temporarily Closed

The most notable feature of Lacawac Sanctuary is Lake Lacawac - a 52 acre glacial lake preserved in almost pristine condition (totally free from development or encroachment). The Lake was declared a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1966. Lacawac features a natural boreal bog, the Wallenpaupack Ledges Natural Area, Partner Ridge, a native plants garden, demonstration forest/deer exclosure plots, and six public hiking trails. At the heart of the Sanctuary is the National Historic Registered “Adirondack Great Camp” complex constructed in 1903 as summer residence and hunting lodge. Lacawac Sanctuary’s mission is Research, Education and Preservation. ​Located in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania and founded in 1966, the aspirations of Lacawac Sanctuary has been to preserve Lake Lacawac, its watershed, the surrounding forest and historic structures; provide a venue for ecological research, scholarly interaction and the training of scientists; provide PreK-12 and collegiate education on environmental and conservation issues; educate all ages and promote healthy living patterns and wellbeing through nature; and preserve historic Lacawac and it's infrastructure.

Here in the Poconos, nature fills our lives. Traveling through this landscape means crossing bridges over sparkling trout streams, world-class views from Mt. Pocono, Camelback, Delaware Water Gap, and other special natural places that enrich our days and our lives. Pocono Heritage Land Trust offers a connection to the power of nature through educational programs that embrace ecotherapy.