Get outdoors this winter with Berks County Parks & Recreation

Winter has shorter days; but we offer several ways for you to make the most of these days with some fantastic outdoor recreation programs. Our 2018 programming begins on New Year’s Day with a First Day Hike at Antietam Lake Park with your pet! Then through the month we offer opportunities to learn about snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, which are great ways to enjoy the snow. We’ll also show you how to dress for the weather and outdoor recreation, since these activities can warm you up aerobically.

Since we don’t know when and how much snow we may get in our area, we are creating an email group of people interested in going snowshoeing or cross-country skiing if we get enough snow (6 inches or more). Sign-up for our Winter Recreation group by emailing parks@countyofberks.com with your email address OR call 610374-2944 ext. 2611 to leave a message.

We thank Nolde Forest EEC for use of their snowshoes, and Buchman’s Ski Shop for their continued support of our winter programs. Berks County Parks and Recreation offers a variety of programs for all ages and interests! Here is a list of our January 2018 programs, which may be rescheduled or canceled due to extreme weather conditions.

Sunday, January 14 — Snowshoeing for Beginners (North) 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Cabela’s and Kernsville Dam Recreation Area Looking for an activity that will take you outdoors to enjoy a snowy winter? Well look no further! Come to Cabela’s in Hamburg for an introduction to snowshoeing. We will discuss and take a look at types of snowshoes, as well as trekking poles, footwear, and clothing that will keep you comfortable when participating in this funfilled activity. After our indoor session, we will relocate to the Kernsville Dam Recreation Area to put our newly learned skills to use. If there is no snow we will go for a short hike. Please pre-register by January 10th by calling 610-3742944 ext. 2611. Co-sponsored with Cabela’s and Blue Mountain Wildlife

Sunday, January 21 — Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners PARKS » PAGE 8