Earth Day with PPL: Empowering You to Make a Difference.

Whether it’s installing pollution controls at our coal-fired power plants or helping to re-establish a soaring community of eagles and falcons throughout Pennsylvania, PPL strives to provide energy responsibly while improving our communities and the environment.

We also want to empower you to make a difference.

That’s why PPL Electric Utilities has developed programs to give customers the knowledge and tools they need to use energy wisely. It’s why PPL’s environmental preserves host free programs year-round to raise awareness about habitats, wildlife and how we can help preserve our resources.

We’ve planned a month full of activities
to help you celebrate Earth Day with PPL:

Explore Hummingbirds
2-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center

Learn about the secret life of hummingbirds and find out how to attract them to your own backyard. Richard Hess, a noted nature photographer, will lead this program and showcase his stunning photos. Discover fascinating facts that will shed light on the habits of these tiny winged wonders. For more information and directions to this free program, contact the preserve at 570-437-3131 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Power and the Peregrine
7-8 p.m. Friday, April 18
Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center

What does an energy company have to do with peregrine falcons? Come learn about the peregrine falcons making their homes at PPL facilities. Join us for a look into the life of a peregrine falcon, why they are nesting at PPL facilities and how you can see a local pair of these magnificent birds at their nest site. For more information and directions to this free program, contact the preserve at 570-437-3131 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Earth Day Community Festival at PPL Brunner Island
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19
Conewago Creek Recreation Area, Wago Road, York Haven, PA 17370

Don’t miss this unique festival as local conservation groups and PPL join forces to bring you activities and events for all ages throughout the day. Learn more about the environmental work under way at the power plant, where PPL is investing more than $800 million to improve air quality and reduce the temperature of water that the plant discharges to the Susquehanna River. The free event will feature hybrid and bio-fuel vehicles, geocaching, demonstrations on wise energy use, wildlife exhibits and much more. There also will be a special guest visit from Smokey Bear, a symbol of fire safety for more than 60 years. Food and beverages will be available. For more information, contact Deb Runkle at 717-266-7550 or dlrunkle@pplweb.com.

Pike-Wayne Earth Day Festival
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19
Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center

Don’t miss this unique learning experience as PPL and local conservation groups join forces to bring you activities and events for all ages throughout the day. Learn more about conservation organizations in your backyard and how you can get involved. Activities include a composting demonstration, geocaching, bird walks, butterfly puppet shows and a recycling relay. The festival will feature numerous displays, food and refreshments. This free event will be held rain or shine. Volunteers are needed. For more information, contact PPL at 570-251-6196 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com, or visit www.pikewayneearthday.org.

Earth Day Celebration at Quarryville Library
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19
Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville, PA 17566

Don’t miss the Quarryville Library’s Earth Day celebration featuring a variety of programs. Jack Hubley, naturalist and TV personality, will present “Critters Beyond Your Back Door” at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. The program will look at wildlife found in our backyards and will feature live animals. Tickets are required for this program. For details on how to obtain free tickets, visit www.quarryvillelibrary.org or call 717-786-1336. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Other fun activities include a book sale, tree plantings, demonstrations on wise energy use and crafts made of recycled materials for children. Seedlings will be sent home with kids to plant in your own backyard. Food and beverages will be available.

Earth Day Triple Play
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19
Susquehanna Energy Information Center

Celebrate Earth Day by enjoying a variety of programs and activities at PPL’s Susquehanna Riverlands. Learn how to install a rain garden and choose appropriate plants to deter stormwater runoff during a program at 10 a.m. A demonstration at 11:30 a.m. will explore the many benefits of raising earthworms for composting home garbage. The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will present “Raptors Live!” at 1:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to get an up-close look at various birds of prey including hawks, owls, eagles and falcons.
There also will be children’s activities, door prizes and perimeter tours of the nuclear plant offered throughout the day. For more information and directions to this free program, contact the Susquehanna Riverlands at 1-866-832-3312 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.  

Allentown Park Cleanup
9 a.m. Saturday, April 19 (rain date April 26)
Valania Park, Allentown, Pa.

PPL’s African-American Business Resource Group will clean up Allentown’s Valania Park, picking up trash and helping to spread a new spring coating of mulch. The group promotes the advancement and inclusiveness of minority employees within PPL and local communities. It has supported numerous community organizations in recent years.

Playground Cleanup and Beautification
8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19
Central Elementary School, 829 W. Turner St., Allentown, Pa.

PPL volunteers will work alongside students, parents and educators to spruce up the Central Elementary School Playground. We’ll be clearing litter, planting flowers, adding mulch and installing new wooden frames around the trees in the playground. Volunteers are welcome. For more information, contact Steve McDaniel at 610-774-7887 or sdmcdaniel@pplweb.com.

Wilderness First Aid
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 19 and April 26
Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center

This two-day American Red Cross course offers training for people in settings where emergency care is not immediately available. Topics will include checking and monitoring vital signs, protecting the patient from the environment, caring for the patient’s physical and mental needs, and transporting the patient. The program will include indoor lecture and outdoor activities. The minimum age for the course is 15. Participants should bring a bag lunch. A $50 program fee includes a book and other materials. Registration is required, and course fee must be paid a minimum of one week in advance. Checks or MasterCard or Visa are accepted. To register, contact Susan Kesler Simpson, suesimp@ptd.net or 570-275-1441, at the Danville Area Red Cross, 346 Mill St., Danville PA 17821. 

Success and Concern: Earth Day Birds
1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20
Cedars Pavilion, Foul Rift Road, Lower Mount Bethel, Pa.

This Earth Day program will help change take flight. We’ll celebrate the success some bird species have experienced thanks to the dedicated efforts of conservationists. We’ll also discuss bird species struggling to find viable habitat and learn what concerned residents can do to help. Kathy Uhler from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will be on hand with live birds to talk about their natural history and rehabilitation. Paul Karner, a federally licensed bird bander, will explain the habitats and nesting requirements of birds that hold special concern. For more information, contact PPL at 570-251-6196 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Wildflower Walk
10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22
Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve, Holtwood, Pa.

Join PPL for a guided walk through Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve, one of the best known wildflower areas in the East. Jim Smith, PPL consulting naturalist, will lead the walks through this local gem while exploring the incredible diversity, fragility and color the flowers have to offer. At least 73 species of flowers bloom from mid-March until the end of May in this unique botanical area. Dress for outdoor weather. For directions to Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve, click here. 

Young Explorers: Earth Day, Hooray
2-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 22
Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center

Children ages 3-5 are encouraged to join PPL as we celebrate Earth Day. Through some fun activities, we will explore life on Earth in water, on land and in the air. For more information and directions to this free program, contact the preserve at 570-437-3131 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Wildlife in the City
April 22
Cleveland and McKinley elementary schools, Allentown, Pa.

The Wildlands Conservancy is partnering with PPL on demonstrations for about 400 students at the inner-city elementary schools. The program will feature live animals, and PPL will donate white pine tree seedlings in the students’ names to the Lehigh County Trexler Nature Preserve.

Energy and the Environment
April 22
The Caring Place, Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pa.

PPL volunteers plan a fun-filled day of energy awareness activities for children to teach them about electrical safety, how a power plant works and how to save energy. PPL also will donate grade-level-specific environmental education books to The Caring Place’s permanent library. Volunteers are needed for this event. Contact Larry Sparta at 610-774-3694 or lcsparta@pplweb.com.  

Go Green Schuylkill
April 22 through June 22
Schuylkill County

PPL is partnering with Schuylkill County’s Vision and the Republican & Herald Newspaper in Pottsville to improve environmental awareness in Schuylkill County. For more information, contact Schuylkill County’s VISION at 570-622-6097.

Lower Mount Bethel Cleanup
8 a.m. Saturday, April 26
Cedars Pavilion, Foul Rift Road, Lower Mount Bethel Township

PPL employees will team up with local Boy Scouts to participate in an Adopt-a-Highway cleanup of a two-mile stretch of Route 611 in Lower Mount Bethel Township. The cleanup will begin at 8 a.m. and finish by 11 a.m. Work gloves and bags will be provided. The cleanup will be held rain or shine. Community volunteers are welcome. The group is invited to meet at the Cedars Pavilion on Foul Rift/DePues Ferry Road for complimentary lunch at noon. For more information, contact Norma Gruber at 610-774-6886.

Martins Creek Cleanup
8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26
Lower Mount Bethel Township Recreation Fields

PPL employees will team up with the Martins Jacoby Watershed Association, Lower Mount Bethel Township and local Boy Scouts to clear litter from the Lower Mount Bethel Township Recreation Fields, the visitor center site and the river bank. The group will meet at the Cedars Pavilion on Foul Rift/DePues Ferry Road for complimentary lunch. The cleanup will begin at 8:30 a.m. and finish by noon. Bring work gloves and wear footgear appropriate for the weather. The cleanup will be held rain or shine. Community volunteers are welcome. To register or get directions, contact John Mauser at 610-498-2126 or jmmauser@epix.net.

Community Cleanup Along the Penobscot
Saturday, May 17
Penobscot River communities, Maine

Work alongside community volunteers May 17 as they clean up the Penobscot River in communities from Bangor to Milford, Maine. PPL Maine is providing support to volunteers in Milford, Old Town, Orono and Veazie. For more information, including meeting times and locations, contact any of the town offices:

• Milford, 207-827-2072
• Old Town, 207-827-3974
• Orono, 207-866-5051
• Veazie, 207-947-2781