Discover what lives in and around local waterways and why it matters at "Creek Discovery Day: Exploring a Creek and Riparian Restoration." Hosted by the Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance (CCWA) as part of Lancaster Conservancy Water Week 2026, the event will take place Friday, June 12, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at a private property just southwest of Manheim. The exact address will be shared upon registration.

At the event, explorers of all ages can discover the trees, shrubs and pollinator plants streamside, while also exploring the creek and the critters that live there. People will learn about the stream's restoration, and younger children will be invited to assemble bluebird houses to take home. A few houses will also be installed on-site.

The activity came about after CCWA president Paul Duncan had a conversation with Kristen Koch of the Penn State Extension, who had worked on grant projects at the site.

"I contacted the owner, who was graciously willing to have an educational event at the site," Duncan said, adding that the event is meant to be hands-on. "Our guides will guide but not lecture on their topics. The point is not for the guides to show what they know but to challenge the participants to discover and learn how to learn. So, I hope participants will exercise their powers of observation."

He encourages participants to consider topics including what elements make up the environment, why types of trees and plants are present and where the drainage lines are in the landscape and what role they play.

"Getting to know the trees and plants and landscapes around you is like making new friends - no longer strangers!" Duncan said. "And the powers of observation will stay with you and serve you for a lifetime."

Mark Heller, who owns the property where the event will be held, said he wanted to participate because he liked the idea of helping others better understand a stream improvement/cleanup water project.

"My property is on a busy road between Manheim and Mount Joy and gets a lot of traffic," Heller said. "People see it all the time, and I often get unsolicited comments/feedback from people about the improvements made along the stream. Also, the stream floods the road during severe rain events, and that is quite often a topic of conversation that can then lead into the topic of improvements."

He noted that the restoration is a work in process that requires weekly care to keep it progressing.

"Some trees and shrubs will expire, and new ones need to be planted in their place," he shared. "High water will knock over tree tubes that need to be straightened, and mowing needs to occur to discourage rodents from nesting around and feeding on the planted material."

Students from the Manheim Central High School FFA Club will help with the event, serving as guides for activities, and representatives from the Penn State Extension will lead the plant discovery stations.

The Manheim FFA chapter has a long-standing history of partnering with CCWA, said Allyson Heckman, agricultural educator and club adviser.

"Manheim FFA members will be helping to park cars, lead participants as they rotate throughout the various stations, help attendees safely build their bluebird box and join the group on the walk of the creek and riparian restoration," she explained.

Participating in the event helps the club meet its mission of strengthening agriculture in the community, she said, adding, "Any opportunity where we can partner with community organizations to educate the public and advocate for agriculture, we are always excited to help. Providing these learning opportunities to youth is the path to informed adults and consumers."

Interns from Penn State's Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) will also be on hand for the discovery day, said Matt Royer, center director, who noted that the event provides a good opportunity for the students who spend the summer helping AEC staff in its watershed partnership work in the Lower Susquehanna.

"Among the activities planned for the Creek Discovery Day is exploring the site to identify the trees and other plants they discover in the restored area along the stream," he remarked. "Some may be native species, some may be invasive, and the interns will help discoverers identify the species and learn about their role in the streamside ecosystem."

Duncan noted that the Discovery Day also provides an opportunity for people to learn more about CCWA.

"A watershed organization is interested in protecting, improving and preserving the local natural resources for present and future generations," he said. "So we're all about the water above and below ground, but also the land the water flows over and how we can live sustainably within this natural and developed environment."

To register for Creek Discovery Day, visit http://www.chiquescreekwatershedalliance.org and click on the "Upcoming" tab.

Participants should wear long pants and shoes that can get wet. Supplies are limited for the birdhouses, so early registration is encouraged.