ECOLOGY CLUB: Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Ecology Club is back for the 2026-2027 school year! Children ages 9 and older are invited to meet at the Osprey House, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, for fun and hands-on nature adventures. During our first meeting of the school year on Sept. 2, we will be embarking on an insect safari in search of monarch butterflies! Ecology Club meetings take place the first Wednesday of each month throughout the school year from 4:15-5:15 p.m. but dates are subject to change. Check out our 2026-2027 schedule: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, 2027, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, May 5 and June 2, Participation is free to all LGNC members and their families. No registration is required and you may join in at any time. Not a member, go to https://lgnc-101687.square.site/ to become a member. Email riley.davenport@lgnc.org if you have any questions.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS: Thank you for your interest in Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s 2026 Migration Fest art exhibition! In celebration of all migratory animals, we invite you to submit artwork highlighting an animal that migrates (not just birds, there are migratory butterflies, fish, and more!). The exhibition will be limited to 30 entries. Each person may submit up to four pieces. Please submit a separate form for multiple works. The deadline to submit your artwork is Sept. 13. Two-dimensional artwork must not exceed 3 feet in either direction and must be securely wired for hanging (no sawtooth hangers!) and clearly labeled on the back with the title and artist contact information. There is no cost to register your pieces and pieces will not be listed for sale. Artwork may be dropped off at LGNC from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 17. If you are not available at this time, please contact LGNC to arrange an alternate drop off time.

TRAIL RUN: The 15th running of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center “More or Less 10K Trail Run and 2-Mile Scamper” will take place on Oct. 24. The 2-mile scamper starts at 9 a.m. and the 10K trail run will be held at 9:30 a.m. All proceeds from the event help to support LGNC! This project was completed in partnership with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc. Funding was provided in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and administered by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc. This year’s course is a Point to Point race. Starting at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Slatington. The finish is 1,000 vertical feet up the West side of the Lehigh Gap. The course touches all of the significant trails on the Nature Center’s property starting with a short steep pitch up the LNE trail. At the top you will continue on the LNE trail then descend down the steep Eagles Trail to the flat and fast D&L. Once on the 3 Ponds trail you will begin some of the most beautiful sections of single track on the course. The single track continues and becomes more technical on the Double G and Chestnut Oak trails. The rolling hills of the Prairie Grass trail will test your climbing legs before the last mile of the course ascending 1,000 vertical feet to the finish. To register or for more information, go to https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=139659.

BASKET RAFFLE: Weisenberg Lutheran Church, 7645 Weisenberg Church, New Tripoli, is holding their “Community Basket Raffle, Bake Sale, Pulled Pork and More Event” 4-7 p.m. Sept. 12 to raise money for Disaster Relief. They will be making pulled pork, hot dogs, mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans and other food items for sale in the church basement. They will accept cash or check for purchases. There are many items in the basket raffle and will hold a special raffle for a one week stay in Corolla, N.C. Many tasty baked goods will be offered for sale! All basket prizes will be selected at 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 13.

FITNESS TOGETHER: Penn State Extension is offering Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together, or LIFT, classes for adults 40 and older who want to improve strength, flexibility and overall fitness. The eight-or 12-week programs meet twice weekly for one-hour sessions and include strength exercises, warm-ups, cool-downs and basic nutrition information. Classes are offered at various locations through mid-December. The cost is $60 for eight weeks and $90 for 12 weeks. Some insurance plans may provide reimbursement for participants with at least 80% attendance. Registration dates vary by location. For information and registration, visit the Penn State Extension website and search for LIFT.

HOAGIE SALE: Morgenland Church, 3120 Weidasville Road, Orefield, (Leather Corner Post), will be accepting orders until Aug. 30 for its hoagie sale. Options available are regular Italian with everything or no peppers, no onions with peppers, no onions or peppers, ham and cheese; no onions or peppers, turkey; no onions or peppers, roast beef; no onions or peppers, tuna and veggie. Ingredients supplied by Thomson’s Meat Market, Walnutport. Hoagie pickup will take place 4-6 p.m. Sept. 8. To order, call Marilyn at 610-395-6885.

BUS TRIP: Northwestern Elementary Scholarship Committee is running its fall trip on Dec. 5. Leaving NWE parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and returning from NYC at 7:30 p.m. The bus will be $55 per seat. Group rate tickets to “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” are available for purchase, orchestra seating. This show will be leaving Broadway the first week of January, so don’t miss your chance! Show and bus will run $190 per person. Show ticket money will be due by Sept. 1. If you are interested email Tracy Smoyer at smoyert@nwlehighsd.org as soon as possible.

SONG BIRDING: The Wildlands Conservancy will host a “pop-up” song birding event on Aug. 28. The Song Bird Research and Habitat Walk at Thomas Darling Preserve will be held 9 to 11 a.m. at the Thomas Darling Preserve, 606 Route 940, Pocono Lake. Led in partnership with Brandon Swayser from the Da Vinci Science Center, this immersive program offers a rare opportunity to observe how researchers study and care for wild birds, providing insights into monitoring bird populations, tracking migration, and supporting conservation efforts. For questions, contact Nicole Landis at Nlandis@wildlandspa.org. The event is free. Online registration is required at https://engage.wildlandspa.org/calendar/event/498.

BALLOON FEST: The Lehigh Valley Balloon Fest will be held Aug. 28 and 29 at Slatington Airport. Festival highlights include sunrise balloon launches, laser-lit balloon glow nightly, live music, family activities, food trucks and vendors, beer and wine garden, helicopter rides, balloon photo opportunities and fireworks each night. Gates open 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Balloon morning launch around 7 a.m., evening launch around 6 p.m.

Tethered balloon rides, passenger balloon flights, and helicopter rides may be available during launch windows for an additional cost. For more information, go to https://balloonfestpa.com/.

EGYPT REUNION: The I Grew Up in Egypt PA Facebook group announced a reunion for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Egypt Memorial Park, 4548 Main St. Registration for the event is available on the group’s Facebook page.

Registration is required. For information, call Suzanne at 609-675-6302 or email egyptpareunion26@gmail.com.

FIBER FESTIVAL: The ninth annual Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Allentown Agri-Plex. The festival will feature more than artists and makers offering hand-dyed yarns, raw fleece, finished fiber work, tools, jewelry and other handcrafted goods. Artists and vendors are coming from throughout the region and as far away as Wisconsin. The event also will include a Fleece Sale, Stash Bash and Make a Square project benefiting the Allentown Rescue Mission and Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley. Admission is $5 per day or $8 for a weekend pass, with advance group rates available. The first 30 customers each day will receive early-bird gift bags featuring mini-skeins hand-dyed by Cape May Fiber. For more information, visit lvfiberfest.org.

FALL BAZAAR: Ebenezer’s Women of the Church are hosting their annual Fall Church Bazaar, Flea Market and Basket Raffle 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10. This event features crafts, quilts and handmade items for sale. Enter the basket raffle to win one of the 100 plus baskets and gift cards. Homemade soups and baked goods will also be available for purchase. Browse the inventory of new and gently-used items in the flea market. Ebenezer kitchen opens at 8 a.m. to serve food and refreshments throughout the event. For more information, contact the Ebenezer Church office at 610-298-8000.

HAWK MOUNTAIN

MIGRATION SEASON: Visitors can experience Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s annual Autumn Migration Hawkwatch until Dec. 15. Staff and volunteers will monitor the southbound raptor migration from the North Lookout, where visitors can see hawks, vultures, ospreys, bald eagles and other birds of prey. An average of 16,000 raptors pass over the Sanctuary each fall. The season also features free lectures, weekend programs, guided walks and workshops. The Autumn Lecture Series includes programs Aug. 27, Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Nov. 14 covering local hawkwatch history, wildlife, bird conservation and the benefits of connecting with nature. Trail fees for nonmembers are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger and Hawk Mountain members are admitted free. For information and the full event schedule, visit hawkmountain.org.

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.

If you have any questions about any of these events, email the LGNC at mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

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.