June 7-15, 2024

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 8th annual Lancaster Water Week for dozens of events to learn more about their work as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action to protect our streams and rivers for the future!

The 2024 Water Week events will be added to this page soon! See the list of last year’s events here.

Photos by Michelle Johnsen

ALL WEEK LONG

CONESTOGA RIVER PADDLES

Follow the course of history and see a side of Lancaster County that most don’t get to. Join the Conestoga River Club on a kayaking adventure down the Conestoga River. Cost: $25

Rock Hill to Safe Harbor

Saturday, June 3, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Tuesday, June 6, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Thursday, June 8, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM

S. Conestoga Drive to Riegert’s Landing/Lancaster County Central Park

Monday, June 5, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Wednesday, June 7, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Friday, June 9, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Saturday, June 10, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Register

Water Week at the Lancaster Science Factory

Sign up for Water Week-themed workshops led by Science Factory STEM Educators and offered at the reduced price of $5 per student, or participate in a Science Café Activity included with admission to the Science Factory.

Workshop: Healthy Streams and Wildlife (Grades K-3)

Thursday, June 1, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Workshop: Environmental Engineering (Grades 2-8)

Thursday, June 1, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday, June 2, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Workshop: Pennsylvania Biomes (Grades K-3)

Friday, June 2, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Workshop: Weather in a Jar (Grades K-8)

Saturday, June 3, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM and 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Workshop: Dragonflies and Butterflies

Grades K-8: Monday, June 5, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Grades 3-8: Tuesday, June 6, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Workshop: Fairy Gardens (Grades K-3)

Tuesday, June 6, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Science Café Activities

Water Cycle Science: Thursday, June 1, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Weather Pinwheel: Friday, June 2, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Milkweed Seeds: Friday, June 2, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
3-D Printed Macroinvertebrates: Tuesday, June 6, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Register

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

First Friday

5:00 – 8:00 PM
Penn Square

Kick off Water Week at Penn Square in Downtown Lancaster with free native trees, public art, and performances, and learn from the organizations working to protect our waterways.
LEARN MORE

River Connections Exhibit

5:00 – 8:00 PM
Lancaster City Welcome Center

Visit the Lancaster City Welcome Center to view a curated collection of materials from the city’s River Connections project.

STOP BY THE WELCOME CENTER TO CHECK IT OUT!

First Friday at the Lancaster Science Factory

5:00 – 7:00 PM
Lancaster Science Factory

The Science Factory offers free admission for a special Water Week celebration with interactive activities from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and PCA&D.
Register

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

Breakfast on the Farm

9:00 – 11:00 AM
Leon Miller Farm, Paradise

Meet a farm family who is passionate about conservation, get an insider tour of their land, and enjoy a fresh breakfast on a Lancaster Farmland Trust preserved farm! Cost: $25 per adult; $10 per child (ages 3-12); free for 2 and under
Register

Overlook Park Buffer Maintenance

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Meet at 605 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster

Help celebrate Water Week by experiencing the botanical wonders that happen when nature is given a little help in native plant restoration. Join Stroud Water Research Center to explore Overlook Park’s new pollinator garden and streamside forest restoration, and learn some strategies you can use in your backyard. For those wanting to give a little back, we’ll do some simple tasks to help these young plants thrive.
Register

Introduction to Kayak Fishing (SOLD OUT)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Muddy Run Park

Learn from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission about basic paddling skills and kayak fishing equipment. For ages 16+ (minors must be accompanied), all equipment provided
Join Waitlist

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

Northwest River Trail History Hike (SOLD OUT)

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: $20
Join Waitlist

Water Week at Long’s Park Music Series

7:00 – 10:00 PM
Long’s Park

Jam out to some great music by Swingology while you learn about our local waterways and take home a free native tree!
LEARN MORE

Moonlight Float

7:00 – 11:00 PM
Depart from Powerhouse Road, Safe Harbor

Explore Native American petroglyphs on the Susquehanna River under the light of the full moon with the Conestoga River Club. Tickets: $10 per adult (must be 18+) or $50 per adult plus boat rental (limited availability)
Register

MONDAY, JUNE 5

Landis Homes Wetland Tour

4:00 – 7:00 PM
Landis Homes

Join experts from Land Studies and resident group Friends of the Woods and Wetlands for a walking tour of the wetlands and streams restoration at the campus of Landis Homes.
Register

Bright Side Rain Garden Tour

6:30 – 7:30 PM
Bright Side Baptist Church

Join Bright Side Baptist Church for a tour of their new rain garden and learn about different native plants that can help absorb runoff and provide wildlife habitat.
Register

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

Green Infrastructure and Trees Brown Bag Lunch and Walking Tour (SOLD OUT)

12:00 – 2:00 PM
Depart from Musser Park

Join staff from the City of Lancaster’s Sustainability and Environment division for a walking tour and brown bag lunch. We’ll visit rain gardens, permeable pavements, parks, and urban trees as we walk around downtown Lancaster.
Learn More

Water Film Night: “Hidden Rivers”

6:00 – 8:00 PM
The New Main Theatre

Come out to The New Main Theatre in Ephrata for a showing of “Hidden Rivers,” a film that documents the beauty and abundance of life in our southeastern rivers and streams. A panel discussion will follow. Cost: $5
Register

Wednesday, June 7

River Cleanup

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sickman’s Mill

Want to help the world? Want to tube for free? Every Wednesday at Sickman’s Mill, you can do just that! There will be a free float departing at 10:00 AM for anyone who wants to help clean the creek.
Learn More

Greenfield Stream Exploration

5:00 – 6:30 PM
Greenfield

What makes a creek healthy? Learn how to determine and improve the quality of a stream as you take a guided walk along Stauffer Run at Greenfield to explore and examine the creatures, like macroinvertebrates, living beneath the water’s surface.
Register

Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance 2023 Expo

5:30 – 8:00 PM
Manheim Farm Show Complex

Bring the whole family for an educational evening filled with fun exhibits, activities, tours, and ice cream hosted by the Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance.
Free and Open to All

Bike Tour: Green Infrastructure, Trees, and Bikes (SOLD OUT – POSTPONED DUE TO SMOKE)

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Depart from The Fridge

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.
Learn More

Thursday, June 8

“River, Amen”: Poetry Reading with Michael Garrigan

6:00 – 8:30 PM
Climbers Run Nature Center

Join Michael Garrigan at Climbers Run Nature Center as he reads poems from his newest published collection, “River, Amen” (2023), and guides participants through an immersive creative writing experience in nature. Cost: $10
Register

CANCELED: Our Ancient Relationship with Water

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Trout Run Nature Preserve

This outdoor event has been canceled due to hazardous air quality.
Register

Building Better Buffers

6:30 – 8:00 PM
S. Dale High Leadership Center

Join Stroud Water Research Center’s Dave Wise at the S. Dale High Leadership Center for tips and tricks on buffer installation and maintenance practices. A panel Q&A will follow the lecture.
Register

Friday, June 9

Safe Harbor Dam Tours (SOLD OUT)

9:00 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 to learn about the dam’s history, grounds management, river access, fish lifts, and more.
Join Waitlist

Rockin’ on the River Paddle Tour

6:00 – 7:00 PM (Check-in at 5:30)
Shank’s Mare Outfitters

Join the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper for a guided educational paddle, then head to Shank’s Mare Outfitters for “Rockin’ on the River” — an evening of live music. Children 5-10 years old must have a parent/guardian in a double kayak with them. Minors 11-15 years old may rent their own kayak/board but must have a parent/guardian on the water with them. Teens 16-17 years old may rent their own kayak/board and be on the water alone, but a parent/guardian must sign a waiver for them. Cost: $29 with kayak rental, $19 without rental
Register

Water Week Trivia

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 your pride) will be up for grabs at Sickman’s Mill! Cost: $20 per team of 2-8 people, ages 21+ only
Register

Saturday, June 10

Water Week Community Cleanup

9:00 – 11:00 AM
Various 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

Photos by Michelle Johnsen

Thank You, 2023 Water Week Sponsors!

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