Program Schedule for 2024
Please note the location of individual events as they vary.
All programs are conducted by, or in cooperation with, the Schuylkill County Department of Parks and Recreation.
****49th Annual Seedling Sale
Oder deadline- March 23rd
Pick up date- Saturday, May 4th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Waterfall Pavilion
Please pick up the seedlings you ordered. Pick up will be located at the Waterfall Pavilion (48 Waterfall Road, Pine Grove). The Schuylkill County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all questions.
****Schuylkill County Sketchers
Every 3rd Saturday @ 10am except May 18th. - Meet Audrey Wells outdoors in the UPPER parking lot at the Sweet Arrow Lake Clubhouse Participants will sketch various nature scenes. Free and open to the public. No art experience is necessary. Please bring something to draw on and something to draw with. For more info e-mail skooksketchers@hotmail.com
****Betty Dietz and Bruce Schneck Memorial Year-Round Fishing Event
Kick-off Date- April 13th
Registration Deadline- By mail until April 12th and in person at Fish and Boat Parking Lot April 13th.
Major Sponsor: Pioneer Pole Buildings
Coordinated by the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation (501c3) and Sportsmen’s Advisory Board with assistance from the Sweet Arrow Lake Park Board, Swatara Co-op Trout Nursery, Trout Unlimited and the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation. In cooperation with Werner Lumber Ace Hardware and Stony Gun and Archery.
****Invasive Plants, the Perfect Place for Mosquitoes and Ticks
Wednesday April 24th at 6pm in the Clubhouse
The introduction of certain invasive plants can help to create a perfect environment for some mosquito and tick species. Invasive plant species such as Japanese Knotweed and Japanese Barberry can create perfect places for mosquitoes and ticks to hide and thrive. This short presentation will give background on these invasive plants, why they are perfect for mosquitoes and ticks, and best management practices for controlling Knotweed, Barberry, Mosquitoes and Ticks.
****Whisper Walk – Five Senses Walk
Sat, Apr 27th at 10am at Frog Hollow Nature Area
Use the five senses to hear, smell, observe and touch nature. Even the smallest critter makes sound if one is quiet. Spring time and wetness explodes with smells. No pets permitted on this walk.
****Bird Watching
Saturday May 4th at 8:00am at Frog Hollow Nature Area
In a forest, sounds become the distinguishing point for location of birds. Walk with experienced birders to locate Aves in Frog Hollow. No pets on this walk.
****Simple Gifts Folk and World Music
Sunday, May 5th at 3:00pm in the Clubhouse
Two women plus twelve instruments equals one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage at the Sweet Arrow Lake Clubhouse, 108 Clubhouse rd., Pine grove. This award-winning band performs on an impressive array of instruments, including two violins, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, recorders, banjo, and guitar plus some more unusual instruments like the bowed psaltery, baritone fiddle, shruti box, banjolin, guitjo, and doumbek.
Simple Gifts members, Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon, present a wide variety of ethnic folk music, including everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer freilachs, haunting Gypsy melodies, and exotic Balkan dance tunes. Throughout their performances, they put their own distinctive stamp on traditional tunes, blending styles from diverse cultures with their American roots. They perform their music with contagious enthusiasm that will captivate the audience. This is a performance not to be missed. The group has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including appearances at the Smithsonian, Brooklyn Museum of Art, National Governors' Convention, Longwood Gardens, National Theater, Whitaker Center, Hershey Theatre, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ontario Center for Performing Arts.
This program is part of the Sweet Arrow Arts in the Park Program, is made possible with the help of a grant from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation and the Reidler Family Charitable Fund and is free and open to the public. For info or directions call 570-345-8952 or visit www.sweetarrowlakepark.com
****Wildflower Walk
Saturay May 11th at 10:00am at Frog Hollow Nature Area
Small flowers burst early to catch the sunlight. Frog Hollow is known for many ephemeral flowers which bloom and recharge their root system before tree leaves appear. Observe the May Flower, May Apple, bundles of violets and Cranes Bill.
****Ways of Wildlife Nature Walk
Saturday, May 11th at 1:00PM at the Waterfall Pavilion
We'll check out the different plants and animals that we see along our trek that starts at the Waterfall Road Pavilion. For more information contact porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570-391-3326.
****Spring Bird Walk
Sunday, May 12th, at 8am at Waterfall Pavilion at Sweet Arrow Lake
Join local naturalist Barb Ritzheimer. Take a beautiful morning walk along the lake to locate and identify resident and migratory species that inhabit the Park from sight, song, and cell phone. Maybe even see a Bald Eagle. Meet in the Waterfall parking lot, 48 Waterfall Rd., Pine Grove. This program that is free and open to beginning and experienced birdwatchers. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and bring binoculars. Walk will be cancelled in the event of rain. Call 570-345-8952 for information.
****BioBlitz
Saturday May 18th at 12:30pm at Frog Hollow Nature Area
After a morning of counting, learn the results of professions counting mammals, insects, moss, perennials, trees, fish and macro-invertebrates. A 1:00 tree identification walk, 1:30 bird walk, 2:00 history presentation and 3:00 inventory tallies.
****Memorial Day Concert
Monday May 27th, 6-8pm, Large Pavilion by the Clubhouse
M & J Big Band will perform at the Large Pavilion on the grounds of the Sweet Arrow Lake Clubhouse on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 from 6:00 – 8:00pm. Everyone enjoys the annual performance of the “Big Band” at Sweet Arrow. This outdoor concert is FREE and open to the public and is part of the Sweet Arrow Arts in the Park Program sponsored by the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association. “Please bring lawn chairs.” For info call 570-345-8952 (leave a message)
****Fish for free at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park
Sunday, May 26th and July 4th
Some things in life are free. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission allows anyone, resident or non-resident to fish without a fishing license. It is the perfect way to reacquaint yourself to the sport or introduce someone young or old to a lifetime of the sport of fishing. Fish-for-free days are held twice a year and apply to all waters of the Commonwealth. All other fishing regulations still apply
****Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary
Friday, June 14th at 7:00pm at the Waterfall Pavilion, 48 Waterfall Rd., Pine Grove.
Arriving in his Super Green Turtle Machine, Jesse Rothacker, founder of Forgotten Friend performs animal shows for audiences of all ages. The sanctuary is a non-profit reptile rescue and educational organization. Their mission is to give reptiles a chance by rescuing animals that need their help. Jesse provides fun outreach programs to spread the reptile love. Located in Lancaster County, the sanctuary also offers reptile adoptions.
This program is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, the event is made possible with the help of a grant from the Benevolent Association of Pottsville. For info or directions call 570-345-8952 or visit www.sweetarrowlakepark.com
****Geology of Sweet Arrow Lake Park
June 25th @ 7 p.m. Meet at the Waterfall Pavilion.
Join Jeri Jones of Jones Geological Services in Spring Grove, PA for a casual walk on some of the trails of the park to understand the rocks that lie beneath your feet. You will be amazed to discover that a vast ocean once made up this area. Later continental collisions pushed up and broke the crust. Ever think why the lake is so straight? Participants will learn that answer. We will also examine the stream below the dam and find older channels where the stream once flowed.
****WILDLIFE DAY CAMPS
(Camps to be held at Waterfall Pavilion)
•Wildlife Day Camp-1 (children from ages 4-6) from Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
•Wildlife Day Camp-2 (children from ages 7-9) from Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
All campers must be pre-registered and you can do so by contacting “Porcupine Pat” at the conservation district at 570-391-3326 or via email porcupinepat@yahoo.com
****Annual 4th of July Concert in the Park
Thursday, July 4th. Concert begins at 6:00 PM.
Enjoy the Patriotic Sounds of the Pine Grove Community Band. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the concert at beautiful Sweet Arrow Lake County Park.
Come early and take a walk on the boardwalk and trails. Enjoy the view of the falls, do some fishing, boating or spend some time simply relaxing in the Park. The concert begins at 6:00 PM and is free to the public.
****Geology and Landscapes of Frog Hollow Nature Area
July 16th @ 6:30 pm at Frog Hollow Nature Area
Join Jeri Jones of Jones Geological Services in Spring Grove, PA for a casual walk through this new area talking about the rocks beneath your feet, the evolution of wetlands and by using LIDAR we are able to see surface features not usually visible.
****PA Dutch Pow-Wow
Wednesday, July 17th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Waterfall Pavilion.
Learn about this interesting folk medicine tradition that was practiced in our region. For more information contact porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570-391-3326
****Common Pennsylvania Tree identification and Cultural History.
Saturday, July 27th form 11am-1pm. Meet at large Pavilion near the Clubhouse.
During this presentation we will take a walk-through Sweet Arrow Lake County Park and learn about identification of common trees of Pennsylvania. We will observe how branch arrangement leaf shape and configuration are used to identify trees, along with their bark and other clues. We will also cover the historical significance of many common Pennsylvania trees. This program will be taught by William Thomas- Service Forester for Carbon and Schuylkill Counties.
****Wee Ones Walk
Wednesday, October 2 from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the Waterfall Pavilion
Meet "Porcupine Pat" at the Waterfall Road Pavilion. We'll trek to use our senses to explore nature and the new season. For more information contact porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570-391-3326.
