Plan to observe Earth Day by attending PPL’s Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center open house on Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fun-filled day of educational activities and events for children and adults begins with a "Birds of Prey" program featuring live birds from the Delaware Valley Raptor Center. At noon and again at 3 p.m., Rich Pawling and Not Forgotten will perform "A Salute to John Denver."

"Lenape Lifeways," a presentation and slide show on the Lenape Indians by John Kraft, is scheduled at 1 p.m. Then, live animals from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will be featured in a program at 2 p.m.

Other activities going on at the center throughout the day include:

• Groundwater flow model demonstration by the Pike County Conservation District.

• Enviroscape watershed model demonstration by the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service.

• Readings from the Christopher Otter series by John Crerand.

• "Best Management Practices" slide show by the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District.

• Eagles of the Delaware River slide show by the Eagle Institute.

• Water quality testing and microscope viewing led by Wallenpaupack Area High School students.

• Animal tracks and fish prints by members of the Wallenpaupack Area High School Environmental Club.

"We’re pleased to offer this opportunity for the community to particpate in a wide range of educational activities at our new facility," said AnnaLisa Black, Wallenpaupack Environmental Preserve superintendent. "With all the energy options facing us today, it is essential that students and teachers are accurately informed about energy requirements, energy conservation and the need to carefully balance energy production with environmental realities. This facility will make it possible for them to get the information they need."

Students can receive a "certificate of achievement" by attending several of the open house presentations.

There also will be an opportunity to tour the two-story, 12,000-square-foot facility, which incorporates many environmentally friendly design techniques. It includes a science lab where students can analyze water samples from Lake Wallenpaupack under microscopes, and a library equipped with books, field guides and videos with environmental themes. The building’s 160-seat auditorium and small-group conference room are ideally suited for teacher workshops and seminars.

The center is located off Route 6, next to Wallenpaupack Area High School near Hawley, Pa. The day’s events are free of charge.

The planning committee for the Earth Day events includes the Dorflinger-Suydam Sanctuary, Lacawac Sanctuary, the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District, the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society, the Pike County Conservation District, Pocono Greens, the Wallenpaupack Historical Society and the Wallenpaupack Area School District.

Visit PPL’s Web site at www.pplprojectearth.com and click on "Environmental Preserves" for more details on the day’s events and program schedule.

The event is part of PPL Project Earth, an initiative through which PPL educates the public about energy resources and the environment.