HARP EVENT: HARP (Heidelberg Area Retired Persons) will meet 11 a.m. July 7. Join them for Christmas in July in their Fellowship Hall at Heidelberg Union Church. They will play fun games and have a covered dish luncheon. New members welcome!

YARD SALE: Heidelberg Union Church, 5187 Irvin Road, Slatington, will hold a yard sale 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. July 11 and noon to 3 p.m. July 12. Household goods will be for sale. There will be something for everyone. Contact the church office at 610-767-4740 if you have any questions.

HEIDELBERG VBS: Heidelberg Union Church, 5187 Irvin Road, Slatington, will hold its ‘Snowball Mountain Challenge’ Vacation Bible School 5:45 - 8 p.m. July 20 - 24. Save the dates and join them for an awesome week of “Snowball Mountain Challenge” VBS! Registration information can be found at https://heidelbergunionchurch.mycokesburyvbs.com.

LEHIGH GAP

NATURE HIKE: Join LGNC Founder and Director Emeritus Dan Kunkle on a summer hike to the 3 Ponds Trail located on the western end of LGNC’s Refuge 9-11 a.m. July 11. This will be a natural history walk where participants will look for birds, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, plants and more. LGNC staff hope to find turtles sunning on the platforms in the ponds and dragonflies hunting mosquitoes. LGNC staff will bring a net to try to catch some insects for close looks and a dip net to see what they can find in the pond water. Bring your binoculars, but LGNC staff will have extra to borrow.

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE: Stop by the LGNC’s Osprey House anytime 9 a.m. to noon July 11 for a Virtual Reality Experience. Created in partnership with staff and students at Lehigh University, try this new virtual reality learning game which will take place at the Lehigh Gap before exploring the trails. For questions, contact the LGNC at mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

WEISENBERG VBS: “Superheroes of the Bible” is coming to 7645 Weisenberg Church Road, New Tripoli, 6-8 p.m. for four Wednesdays, July 15 to Aug. 5. Kids ages 4 to fifth grade will discover Bible stories of faith, courage, and trust, while enjoying games, music, snacks, crafts, and learn how God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways! An adult VBS is offered on the same days from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to learn about the same stories. To register or for more information, email WeisenbergLutheranChurch@gmail.com.

FIRE RELIEF: Following the June 24 six-alarm fire at the former American Atelier furniture factory on North Front Street, the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has launched an emergency relief fund to assist seven households displaced by the blaze.

Working with the City of Allentown, Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown and the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, United Way said 100% of donations will provide direct assistance to affected residents as they recover.

Donations may be made online or by mail, with gift cards also accepted. For more information, contact Erin Connelly at 610-807-5723.

LOWHILL VBS: Christ’s Church at Lowhill, 4695 Lowhill Church Road, New Tripoli, will hold its Armor of God Vacation Bible School 6-8 p.m. July 20-24. All ages are welcome. Each day kids will discover what it means to “put on the full armor of God” and stand strong in faith through engaging Bible lessons, energetic music, hands-on activities, fun games and tasty snacks. For more information or questions, contact Sarah at 610-298-2527.

JORDAN VBS: Jordan Lutheran Church, 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield, will hold its Vacation Bible School 9 a.m.- noon July 13-17. Theme is Rain Forest Falls. Register at vbspro.events/p/f1884a.

PEACE CAMP: Elementary School-aged children can enjoy a low-cost day camp designed to encourage cooperation, understanding of other cultures, reverence for our planet and much more at the 37th annual LEPOCO Young People Making Peace Summer Day Camp, July 27 — 31 at the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown. Enrollment costs on a sliding scale from $10 to $50/week. Children who have completed Kindergarten through seventh grade are welcome. To register or volunteer, go to LEPOCO.org or call 610-691-8730.

TRACTOR SHOW: Ziegels Church Tractor and Car show, a free community event, will take place noon to 6 p.m. July 11. Entertainment will be by The Hannah Violet Trio and The Majestics. There will be food, games, raffles, bake sale, tractor pulls and fun for all ages. Interested in showing your tractor or classic car, email ziegelsfellowship@gmail.com. For more information on this event, call the church office at 610-285-6157.

HAWK MOUNTAIN

SUMMER CAMP: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary invites families to plan ahead for an unforgettable summer of outdoor exploration with its 2026 Summer Nature Camps. Designed for youth in grades one through five, these week long day camps will immerse children in the natural world through hands-on, educational, and fun-filled experiences on the Mountain. All camps run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Aug. 7. For camp details visit hawkmountain.org/summercamps. Contact Jessica Gary at gary@hawkmountain.org for more information.

HELPERS WANTED: The Sanctuary is also seeking 14- to 17-year-olds who need internship or volunteer hours to assist with camp by participating in the Counselors-In-Training program, which provides leadership training and hands-on experience working with youth in the outdoors. For more information, go to https://www.hawkmountain.org/education/programs/counselors-in-training.

LEHIGH GAP

SENIORS GROUP: Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, has formed a new group for nature-minded seniors. The sessions will be held in the Great Hall at the Osprey House on the second Monday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m.

NATURE ART: Members are invited to join LGNC the second Wednesday of each month 10 a.m. to noon for a Drop-In Studio. Bring a personal art project to work on (all mediums are welcome) and enjoy conversation with fellow local artists. The Nature in Art Club is a free benefit of a Lehigh Gap Nature Center membership. The Drop-in Studio is free to attend and registration is not required.

VIA FEATURED: Via of the Lehigh Valley will be featured in an upcoming segment of All Access with Andy Garcia, a public television series highlighting organizations making a positive impact in their communities. Air dates have not been announced. Filmed in April, the segment showcases Via’s employment programs for individuals with disabilities and features Matt, a Via participant recognized for his outstanding job performance and lifesaving actions at work. Via has served individuals with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley since 1952.

FOSTER CARE: The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania Children’s Services announces the launch of a new Short-Term Foster Care Program that provides safe, loving homes for children who require temporary care. No prior experience is required, just a willingness to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for children in need for days or weeks. For more information, contact Emily at 610-821-7706 or emily.anthony@use.salvationarmy.org.

NEWS WELCOME: The Northwestern Press welcomes student news, business accomplishments and details about your organization’s events and accomplishments. To have your news published, send information about the event and photos to gtaylor@tnonline.com. Photos should be sent high resolution with captions that list everyone in the photo from left to right, front to back. You can also send news about upcoming events. Please send two weeks ahead of time if possible, though we make every attempt to get last minute information published. Be sure to include a contact phone number in case we have any questions.