June 6-14, 2025

Water Week Events

Schedule of Events

Since its inception in 2017, Lancaster Water Week has celebrated the many partners, organizations, and volunteers caring for our waterways! Join us during the 9th annual Lancaster Water Week for over 60 events to learn more about their work as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action to protect our streams and rivers for the future!

Lancaster Water Week is made possible by dozens of incredible partners! Learn more about them here.

Photos by Michelle Johnsen

WATER WEEK PADDLES

[CANCELED] Petroglyphs Float

Saturday, June 7 from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

This event has been canceled due to unsafe river levels. Additional information for registered participants will be provided by the Conestoga River Club.

CANCELED

[CANCELED] Pride on the Conestoga

Sunday, June 8 from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

This event has been canceled due to weather. Additional information for registered participants will be provided by the Conestoga River Club.

CANCELED

Conestoga River Tour

Trips leaving at 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM daily June 9-13

Join the Conestoga River Club on a kayaking adventure down the Conestoga River as we explore a different side of Lancaster County. Perfect for beginners. Cost: $25 per person, includes equipment and a shuttle to launch
Register

Birding Float

Tuesday, June 10 at 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM
Wednesday, June 11 at 8:30 AM
Thursday, June 12 at 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM

Join kayakLanCo along with trained ornithologist Mike Hudson of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake as we explore some of the best bird habitats in the area. Cost: $45 with kayak rental, $35 BYO kayak
Register

[SOLD OUT] Riverkeeper Riverlands Paddle Tour

Friday, June 13 from 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Join the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association on a leisurely river paddle with views of Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, Lancaster Conservancy nature preserves, and Chickies Rock. Participants will learn more about the work of the Riverkeeper and current threats to the Susquehanna. This guided tour includes a shuttle for participants, equipment, and lunch at the conclusion. Ages 12+ (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: $85

SOLD OUT

[CANCELED] Conestoga Camp Out Sojourn

Saturday, June 14 at 8:00 AM – Sunday, June 15 at 5:00 PM

This event has been canceled. Additional information for registered participants will be provided by the Conestoga River Club.

CANCELED

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

[SOLD OUT] Safe Harbor Dam Tours

9:00 – 10:00 AM, 10:00 – 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Safe Harbor Dam

Harnessing the power of water into clean renewable energy is just part of what you will learn about on your tour of the Safe Harbor Dam! Join Brookfield Renewable for a one-hour tour to learn about the dam’s history, management, river access, fish lifts, and more. Ages 8 and up (all minors must be accompanied by an adult)
Join Waitlist

First Friday at the Science Factory

5:00 – 7:00 PM
Lancaster Science Factory

The Science Factory offers free admission for a special Water Week celebration with engaging activities and exhibits. (Check the Science Factory website, lancastersciencefactory.org, for additional hands-on drop-in activities June 7-14!)
Register

First Friday in Downtown Lancaster

5:00 – 8:00 PM
Penn Square

Kick off Water Week on First Friday at Penn Square in downtown Lancaster! Get a free native tree, and learn about how rewilding can help protect our waterways.
Register

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Habitat Advocate: Green Mulch – Using Native Plants as Groundcovers

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tec Centro

Join the Lancaster Conservancy and Waxwing EcoWorks Co. as we nurture a new land ethic of cultivating a layered landscape by integrating native groundcovers (“green or living mulch”) in your garden, mimicking natural landscapes. Cost: $60
Register

[SOLD OUT] Creek Stomp

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Climbers Run Nature Center

Explore the cool waters and amazing life in the Climbers Run stream with Lancaster Conservancy! Come ready to get wet. We will flip rocks to see who is living under them and net some fish while learning about stream ecology and the importance of keeping water clean. All ages welcome. Cost: $5
Join Waitlist

Learn & Lunch at Rife Run

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Mummau Park

The Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance invites families and kids of all ages to Mummau and Logan Parks for free hands-on activities and demonstrations about watersheds and healthy streams. Free lunch will be served for hungry explorers. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Learn more

Public Water Independence Day

12:00 – 5:00 PM
Octoraro Reservoir Fishing Headquarters/Boat Launch

Join Chester Water Authority for our 5th Annual Public Water Independence Day! This family-friendly event will feature free kayak lessons, pontoon boat tours, food, and ice cream! Get a tour of the public water treatment plant, and visit the tents of local environmental groups to learn more about our watershed.
Learn more

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

Northwest River Trail History Hike

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Depart from Falmouth Boat Launch

Join Adam Zurn from Uncharted Lancaster for a Water Week adventure as we journey back in time on a guided history hike along the Northwest River Trail. Cost: $25
register

Lititz Run Watershed Bike Tour

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Millport Conservancy

Come enjoy a 13-mile group ride through the Lititz Run watershed, guided by LandStudies. Learn how projects along the route are improving water quality, restoring ecological functions, and providing other benefits to the community. Recommended for intermediate to experienced road riders ages 18 and up. Cost: $10
register

One Water Partnership Lunch & Learn

12:00 – 2:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster

Head to Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster to learn how local congregations are taking action to protect our watershed and steward our natural resources, and discover ways your faith community can get involved! A light lunch will be provided.
Register

Nature Journaling: Water

1:00 – 3:00 PM
Climbers Run

Join Lancaster Conservancy as we explore the world of water through nature journaling! Explore drawing, painting, and writing techniques for capturing your observations of the Climbers Run pond and stream. Cost: $10
Register

River Connections Community Picnic

2:00 – 5:00 PM
Lancaster County Central Park, Pavilion 2

Come, gather at the river! Share songs, poems and stories. Learn to skip a rock. Meditate to the sound of flowing water. Get to know the river and its history, and learn how you can be a caretaker of the “Stoga.” Hosted by City of Lancaster and River Connections Crew.
Register

Long’s Park Summer Music Series

6:00 – 9:00 PM
Long’s Park

Jam out to some great music, part of the Long’s Park Summer Music Series, while you learn about our local waterways and take home a free native tree!
Register

MONDAY, JUNE 9

Morning Joe

7:00 – 8:30 AM
Greenfield Starbucks

Come out to Starbucks in Greenfield for a free cup of coffee, good conversation, and a packet of free native flower seeds!
Learn More

Sacred Habitats Nature Walk at Ascension Lutheran Church

8:30 – 11:00 AM
Ascension Lutheran Church

Join Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to explore how Ascension Lutheran Church is caring for our watershed and creating wildlife habitat in the Pequea Creek drainage.
Register

Summer STEM Camp at Lancaster Science Factory: Environmental Engineering

June 9-13 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Lancaster Science Factory

Campers will explore how environmental engineers tackle local challenges, including stormwater management. They’ll design solutions in Tinkercad, build and test multiple designs, and work in groups to design and build a resilient mini-city. For children entering grades 4-8. Cost: $175 (Check the Science Factory website, lancastersciencefactory.org, for additional hands-on drop-in activities June 7-14!)
Register

[SOLD OUT] Gibbons Park Restoration Tour & Electrofishing Demonstration

6:00 – 7:00 PM
Gibbons Park

Join the Lancaster County Conservation District and East Lampeter Township to learn about Mill Creek and its rich ecology. We will give a brief tour of the stream restoration project, and then we will demonstrate electrofishing, a method for monitoring stream health.
Join Waitlist

[SOLD OUT] Sunnyside Guided Hike

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Sunnyside Peninsula

Join the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Conservancy as we discover the beauty, ecology, and history of the Sunnyside peninsula and floodplain.
Join Waitlist

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

[SOLD OUT] City Tree Tour

12:00 – 2:00 PM
Musser Park

Do you want to learn more about urban trees and how urban forests work? Go for a walk with the City of Lancaster to tour the diversity of city trees, their care, concerns, and how they fit into the “Urban Ecosystem.”
Join Waitlist

[SOLD OUT] Blue Rock Water Resource Recovery Facility Tour

5:00 – 8:00 PM
4160 Blue Rock Road, Washington Boro

Down and away it goes… Ever wonder where exactly the water from your shower, sink, and toilet ends up? Join Lancaster Area Sewer Authority staff for a tour of our Blue Rock Water Resource Recovery Facility and get the answers to all of your questions. Find out firsthand how treatment plants all over the world receive wastewater and return it clean, keeping all of us healthier. (Ages 9+, minors must be accompanied by an adult)

SOLD OUT

[SOLD OUT] Eurofins Campus Green Infrastructure and Native Habitat Tour

5:30 – 7:30 PM
Eurofins

Ever wonder how larger corporations in Lancaster are stewarding their campuses for environmental, employee, and community health? Join Eurofins on this tour of their dedicated corporate greenspace that contains over 1,000 native tree species, serves as a riparian buffer to a stream, and has a walking trail for employees.
Join Waitlist

From the Sky to the Stream – Who benefits from your forested buffer?

6:00 – 7:30 PM
Ressler Mill

Join staff from Stroud Water Research Center and Hawk Mountain to hear about a local initiative to pair raptor conservation with watershed restoration. Learn about local farmers who are planting riparian forested buffers for stream health and are also creating critical habitat for wildlife in the water, on land, and in the air.
Register

[SOLD OUT] Stream Exploration at Greenfield

6:00 – 7:30 PM
Greenfield

Learn how to determine and improve the quality of a stream as you take a guided walk along Stauffer Run at Greenfield, examining the creatures that live below the water’s surface.

SOLD OUT

Wednesday, June 11

River Cleanup with Sickman’s Mill

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sickman’s Mill

Want to help the world? Want to tube for free? Head to Sickman’s Mill for a free float and river cleanup. Ages 12 and up (minors must be accompanied by and adult)
Register

Understanding Your Street Tree Webinar

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Virtual

Trees are critically important to our livelihoods and the health of our city, not just in parks and yards, but also along the streets and alleys. Through this virtual presentation you will be introduced to the benefits of street trees. Learn how the City of Lancaster addresses common urban tree challenges such as pests/diseases, development, and the importance of community involvement in tree preservation.
Register

[SOLD OUT] The Wonderous World of Water: Exploring Water and Art with Children

1:00 – 3:00 PM
Franklin & Marshall College

Join the team at The Center for the Sustainable Environment at Franklin & Marshall College to explore how water can be a powerful tool in exploring art. Using water as both a medium and an inspiration, we will dive into the wondrous opportunities to deepen our connection with water and the natural world through a variety of art projects. This event is open to kids of all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult).

SOLD OUT

[SOLD OUT] Blue Green Connector Preview Hike #1

3:30 – 5:00 PM
1604 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster

Join The Little Conestoga Creek Foundation and their partners ELA Group, LandStudies, and F&M’s Chesapeake Watershed Initiative for a preview hike of the future Blue Green Connector! Learn more about how we are restoring the Little Conestoga Creek and building more than 3 miles of ADA-accessible trails. This collaborative effort initiated by The Steinman Foundation creates many exciting opportunities for our environment and community!
Join Waitlist

[SOLD OUT] Blue Green Connector Preview Hike #2

5:30 – 7:00 PM
1604 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster

Join The Little Conestoga Creek Foundation and their partners ELA Group, LandStudies, and F&M’s Chesapeake Watershed Initiative for a preview hike of the future Blue Green Connector! Learn more about how we are restoring the Little Conestoga Creek and building more than 3 miles of ADA-accessible trails. This collaborative effort initiated by The Steinman Foundation creates many exciting opportunities for our environment and community!
Join Waitlist

Adaptive Paddle Meet-and-Greet

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location TBA

The Conestoga River Club and the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of Team River Runner present an information session on adaptive paddling.
Register

Clean Water Meadows

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Clark Nature Preserve

Native meadow and grassland plants have deep root zones that soak up rainwater like a sponge. Join the Lancaster Conservancy as we explore the restored meadows at Clark Nature Preserve and use these ecosystems as examples of what can be done in our backyards. Cost: $10
Register

Green Infrastructure Bike Tour

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Leave from Ewell Plaza

Take a bike tour of the City of Lancaster’s rain gardens, bike lanes, and urban tree canopy to learn about the opportunities and challenges of creating safer, greener streets for all users to enjoy.
Register

Shall We Gather at the River: A Night of Singing in Community

7:00 – 8:30 PM
Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster

Immerse yourself in a night of hymns, songs, and spirituals that celebrate the life-giving power of water through beautiful imagery of rivers, streams, and renewal. Whether you’re moved by the music or the imagery, it’s a night of reflection, community, and uplifting melodies open to all hosted by Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, Stroud Water Research Center, and Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake.
Register

Thursday, June 12

[SOLD OUT] Sunnyside Guided Hike

9:00 – 11:00 AM
Sunnyside Peninsula

Join the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Conservancy as we discover the beauty, ecology, and history of the Sunnyside peninsula and floodplain.
Join Waitlist

[SOLD OUT] Creek Stomp

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Climbers Run

Explore the cool waters and amazing life in the Climbers Run stream with Lancaster Conservancy! Come ready to get wet. We will flip rocks to see who is living under them and net some fish while learning about stream ecology and the importance of keeping water clean. All ages welcome. Cost: $5
Join Waitlist

[SOLD OUT] Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour

6:00 – 8:00 PM
1220 New Danville Pike, Lancaster

Join the City of Lancaster on this educational tour to find out what happens once our water goes down the drain.
Join Waitlist

Waterways on Wheels

5:30 – 8:00 PM
Leave from East Donegal Township River Park

Join a Penn State Master Watershed Steward on this 15-mile bike ride along the Northwest River Trail highlighting the history and ecology of the area. Ages 14 and up (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: $10
Register

Greenfield Summer Concert

7:00 – 8:30 PM
Greenfield

Enjoy live music, get a snack from a food truck, grab a free native tree or shrub, and relax with friends and family at this free concert. Food truck service begins at 5:00 PM, concert begins at 7:00 PM.
Register

Friday, June 13

Sacred Habitats Nature Walk at Hope Episcopal

8:30 – 11:00 AM
Hope Episcopal Church

Join Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to explore how Hope Episcopal Church is caring for our watershed and creating wildlife habitat along Shearers Creek.
Register

[SOLD OUT] Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
1220 New Danville Pike, Lancaster

Join the City of Lancaster on this educational tour to find out what happens once our water goes down the drain.
Join Waitlist

Bee Our Guest

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
261 Beattys Tollgate Road, Marietta

Join Chesapeake Bay Foundation as we complete maintenance in a forested riparian buffer and discuss important native herbaceous plants in the buffer. We will also make pollinator houses for everyone to take home along with free native pollinator plugs to start rewilding your property.
Register

Water Week Trivia Night

6:00 – 8:30 PM
Sickman’s Mill

Go head-to-head with fellow crick lovin’ Lancastrians to test your knowledge of Lancaster and its streams and rivers. Prizes (as well as bragging rights) will be up for grabs at Sickman’s Mill! Cost: $20 per team of 2-8 people, ages 21+ only
Register

Paddling Film Festival

7:00 – 9:00 PM
Zoetropolis

Take a cinematic tour of the paddling world through the Paddling Film Festival hosted by Zoetropolis! Be inspired to explore, push extremes, appreciate wild places, and fully embrace the paddling lifestyle. Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Register

Saturday, June 14

Project Clean Communities

Time Varies by Location
Multiple Locations

Volunteer with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and partners at multiple locations to help Lancaster County work towards cleaner and healthier streams, rivers, and communities!
REGISTER

Sacred Habitats Nature Walk at Church of the Apostles UCC

8:30 – 11:00 AM
Church of the Apostles UCC

Join Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to explore Rader Park at Church of the Apostles UCC and see how this community of faith is caring for our watershed and creating habitat along Brubaker Run.
REGISTER

Cows, Creeks, & Conservation: A Dairy Farm Tour & Tasting

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The Ebersol Farm, Strasburg

Join Lancaster Farmland Trust staff for a unique field day at a small family-owned farm to learn about water quality initiatives, Best Management Practices, and conservation efforts implemented on this traditional dairy operation. Sample products from the cooperative will be available for tasting, offering a true farm-to-table experience and showcasing the direct connection between conservation practices and the food we enjoy.
REGISTER

One Water Partnership Lunch & Learn

1:00 – 4:00 PM
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

Head to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd to learn how local congregations are taking action to protect our watershed and steward our natural resources, and discover ways your faith community can get involved! A light lunch will be provided.
REGISTER

Photos by Michelle Johnsen

Thank You, Water Week Sponsors!

Lancaster Water Week is additionally made possible thanks to a subaward of a Lancaster Clean Water Partners grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under 95338501 to the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.