Friends,

During this time of social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please know that ClearWater is here to help our community find innovative ways to stay connected with each other and with the world around us.

Safely spending time outside can alleviate some of the issues associated with social isolation — including staying active for physical benefit, along with helping alleviate depression and anxiety.  We are SO fortunate to have places nearby where you can enjoy nature's splendor as Spring unfolds.

We're here to (virtually) take a journey with you! To guide you to nearby places that are the right fit for you and your family. We encourage you to explore and venture outside! 

Each week, ClearWater will deliver your personal guide to explore the outdoors, along with fun things you can do at home to bring the outdoors, inside! Use the link below to sign up and receive a weekly exploration guide to the outdoors!!
The Do's and Don'ts of Social Distancing in the Outdoors
*adapted from Rock and Ice Magazine
Let the Adventure Begin!!
Spring is a wonderful time to explore the world around us. Over the next few weeks we’ll help you rediscover these local treasures. By signing up to receive our weekly emails, we'll send you a guide to safely explore! Here are just a few of our upcoming features.
A great place to witness amphibians on their perilous journeys from their homes to the spring mating pools is in the northeast corner of the Scotia Barrens. Please don’t drive along Scotia Range Road after dark, as their migrations often take them over the road and it is very easy to squish these sensitive species.
The American woodcock is a strange bird with a equally strange mating ritual. The real show takes place either in the early morning or late evening when the males perform a truly impressive aerial acrobatics display, soaring to over 200 feet. Any brush-filled open space is likely to contain a couple of these birds, but the eponymous woodcock trail is often very consistent.
Mid-spring often brings the greatest variety of birds to our region. The best time to find the greatest variety is in the morning with early evening being the next best time. Many of the forest and edge-habitat dwelling species can be found along the Musser Gap Greenway as it winds from open farm fields into the deciduous forests of Rothrock.
Spring time is synonymous with flowers. From rue anemone to trillium and columbine to jack-in-the-pulpit, a wide variety is present along the Spring Creek Canyon Trail. It is often worth revisiting the trail every week to see what new blooms have opened and what others have started to go to seed.
Centrally located in the Rothrock State Forest, and home to some of the oldest trees in our area, is the Alan Seeger Natural Area. Faster-growing trees, like birches and aspen, tend to leaf out in the early spring. The oaks and maples, which dominate many of our forests, begin to green a little later. The last trees to produce leaves are often the warmer climate species that include catalpas and hickories.
With the spring awakening often comes the many varieties of insects that rapidly progress through their life stages in an effort to produce their progeny. A good number of these bugs can be found in and around the stream at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. The hatches are often heavily coordinated among the same species resulting in fantastic displays of the millions of insects all vying to find a mate in swarms often near the water.
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We understand the challenging times facing our community. With COVID-19 in our news feed every minute, it’s easy to lose sight of the wonderful things around us —  the air, land, water and natural resources which heal and replenish our soul. 

Now, more than ever, we need to value the peace our beautiful surroundings provide. And we need to help people feel connected with the outdoors. Whether appreciating our forested ridge lines from your front window, venturing outside for a small family adventure, or wetting a fishing line in a gurgling trout stream, ClearWater is here to help. 

Despite the disruption to our lives in this historic time, our community understands and supports the conservation of this beautiful place we call home. Please help us if you can to continue this legacy of community conservation. 
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ClearWater Conservancy | 814-237-0400 | [email protected] | www.clearwaterconservancy.org