Don't let the winter weather discourage you from getting outside and getting active, said Allison Scholz, program and education manager with Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The organization will host a series of campfire hikes, leaving from the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville. The hikes will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Feb. 11 and 25 and March 11.

"Campfire hikes consist of a guided hike with a Susquehanna National Heritage Area staff member followed by a campfire with marshmallows for roasting and hot chocolate to warm up with," Scholz stated. "During the hike, themes will vary depending on the guide, group interests and weather, but we will observe winter wildlife and practice species identification along the way."

She noted that the program began last year when staff members were looking for a way to get people to visit the Zimmerman Center in the winter and get outdoors to explore the area. "We do a lot of programs in the summer due to the weather, but wintertime is also a great time to take a hike," Scholz explained. "Last year, we completed our outdoor nature space at the Zimmerman Center, complete with a fire circle, and we wanted to incorporate it into our programs and share it with our weekend visitors. So, we thought that a guided hike followed by a warm campfire would be a great use of that space."

Scholz emphasized that the hikes are rated easy to moderate, noting that winter weather can create some challenges such as wet or slippery paths. The hikes are open to people of all ages. There is no charge for participants age 16 and under, and there is a small fee for those age 16 and up. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather.

Scholz said the organization recently acquired a set of snowshoes and she hopes people will get a chance to try them this winter. "In the past, we have had people call both of our visitor centers - Columbia Crossing River Trails Center and the Zimmerman Center - asking where they can snowshoe in our heritage area," she commented. "None of the nearby state parks had any snowshoes to loan, so we pursued a grant to purchase a set of various sizes for children and adults." She added that if there is a significant snowfall before one of the campfire hikes, participants will be welcome to try the snowshoes on their hike.

For more information on the campfire hikes or to register, visit https://susqnha.org/events.