TODAY marks one year of Black River Sanctuary!

Here's what the Lehigh Valley is saying about its newest nature preserve, a retreat for schoolkids, hikers, runners, photographers, birders, and nature enthusiasts alike.

Read on to see how you can explore Black River Sanctuary with Wildlands as your guide!

Campfire Conversations

Tue., Nov. 4 & 18, Dec. 2 & 9, 2 - 4 P.M. | FREE

Black River Sanctuary

Join us for 1, 2, 3, or all 4 in the upcoming series: Campfire Conversations!

Enjoy a guided hike at Black River Sanctuary, gather for s'mores around a campfire, and talk to Wildlands Conservancy's experts.

*Drought conditions are being monitored; campfires are pending safe conditions

More details and register TODAY!



Campfire Conversations:

Land Preservation

Tue., Nov. 4

2 – 4 P.M.

with Director of Land Preservation Dawn Gorham and Conservation Outreach Coordinator Dennis DeMara.

REGISTER

Campfire Conversations:

Ecological Restoration

Tue., Nov. 18

2 – 4 P.M.



with Director of Ecological Restoration Kristie Fach and Senior Restoration Ecologist Kate Ebel.

REGISTER

The Newest Trail Out Here

At just 0.4 miles, the Perseverance Trail may seem short, but with steep terrain that scales straight uphill, it earns its name.

It began with Eagle Scouts teaming up with Preserve Manager Michael Hock to map the trail, carefully considering slope to prevent erosion and avoiding sensitive habitats. They logged 120 hours in that process. From there, corporate volunteer groups cleared the path, removed invasive species, and laid the groundwork for what would become the Perseverance Trail.

Thank You, Black River Sanctuary Volunteers!

In the last year, our volunteers have dedicated their time & talent planting trees, building trails, and maintaining Black River Sanctuary.

177

volunteers

856

hours volunteered

Find Black River Sanctuary on AllTrails

The Perseverance Trail, along with other loops at Black River Sanctuary, is now available on AllTrails.

Real-time GPS navigation and directions in the app support hikers, trail runners, and birders like YOU.

Emmie Itterly is Back on the Trail

Emmie Itterly’s first hike since her injury three years ago was the September ’25 Peak Seekers hike guided by Wildlands, up to the top of the Horizon Trail.

“My friend signed up for the hike and invited me along. I thought, if Rebecca can do this, so can I! What are friends for, if not to tackle a mountain hike together for the first time in years?” Itterly says.



Patricia Sonne’s First Visit Becomes Many More

On a recommendation from a friend, Patricia Sonne traveled the short distance from Bethlehem to visit Black River Sanctuary for the first time, not really knowing what to expect.

“My first visit, I went with a friend and spent about an hour,” says Sonne. “Most memorable is the wildflower meadow that was bursting with life. Butterflies, grasshoppers, crickets, and all kinds of bees were dancing and jumping, some bounded so quickly, I wasn’t even sure what crossed my vision.”

She quickly made plans to visit again (and again) with friends and family. 

Trailblazer Aimee Kohler Introduces Folks to a New Favorite

Aimee Kohler with The Running Kind, a local, environmentally sustainable running company, organized Hike with PRIDE at Black River Sanctuary.

“Those that joined us for the PRIDE hike had not been to Black River before and everyone loved it and was excited to return,” says Kohler. “Everyone found it accessible and enjoyable with a wide array of terrain, which always makes a hike or run more fun!”

Through the Lens of Nature Photographer Nick Keck

Nick Keck is clearly one to FALL in love with nature. Just look at his work!

“I believe that if you show people the beauty that the world has to offer, they will forge a personal connection with it. This personal connection can inspire us to protect our natural wonders and the living things that inhabit them,” says Keck.

An OUTDOOR CLASSROOM for Seven Generations Charter School

Elizabeth Hardy was introduced to Black River Sanctuary by visiting with her child, who’s a sixth grader at Seven Generations Charter School. The school uses the preserve weekly as an outdoor classroom. Now, Hardy is a regular, too.

“After the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary bridge broke, we were speaking to a colleague, and we decided to check it out,” says Hardy. “It’s a great place for family hikes. It’s not too hard, but it’s a good challenge for the children.”

Hardy’s sixth grader is one of 130 students studying science with Megan Ramirez, ELA & science teacher at Seven Generations Charter School. Out here at Black River, science can look like pulling weeds, clearing invasives, planting natives, and tying it all back to biodiversity through ARU studies.

Teachers like Ramirez, it turns out, have lives outside of school, too. She spends her free time at Wildlands’ nature preserves, trading whiteboards for switchbacks and worksheets for winding trails.

“Despite the number of times I have visited the preserve, there is always something new to see,” she says. “Wildlands properties such as Black River Sanctuary and South Mountain have been my home away from home since I began teaching at Seven Generations in 2015. Both have a special place in my heart.”



A Community of Support

Wildlands Conservancy acknowledges the giving community, visionary supporters, and volunteers for making Black River Sanctuary a public nature preserve.



Emmaus Rotary Club • John A. and Margaret Post Foundation • Rotary Club of Allentown • Private Donations

Make your gift to Wildlands Conservancy Today.