As a fitting follow-up to my last column about the importance of a child’s early relationship with nature, some exciting opportunities have been announced at Lacawac Sanctuary, a nature preserve, ecological field research station and public environmental education facility located in Lake Ariel, PA.

Lacawac’s Summer Nature Series targets two age groups. From July 1 to 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, children between the ages of five and 10 years old can participate in programs geared toward budding junior naturalists. The registration fee is $10 per program or all six for $50. Lacawac Sanctuary members receive a discount of $5 per program or all six for $30.

Summer Nature Series for Tots (PreK) is geared toward children ages two to four and an adult. Scheduled for August 12 to 22, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the programs encourage children and adults to explore the natural world together using the senses. The registration fee is $10 per program or all four for $35. Sanctuary members receive a discount of $5 per program or all four for $20.

Children can attend one or all of the sessions, which will be led by environmental educator and naturalist Jenna Wayne Mauder and/or local conservation organizations.

Children from 13 to 15 years of age can apply for the Pike-Wayne Conservation and Leadership Academy, a summer residential program offered for nearly 30 years to youth in Pike and Wayne counties. The program engages students in hands-on environmental and conservation field experience to hone leadership abilities and prepare for a future in environmental science and related fields.

Students with a strong interest in wildlife conservation, environmental science, ecology and the outdoors must apply by May 15. The program is slated for July 12 to 18 and tuition is $250.

Lastly, high school juniors and seniors can apply to the Drexel Environmental Science Leadership Academy’s (DESLA) Summer Program slated for August 2 to 6. Students will explore the forests and lake ecosystems of the Poconos while gaining hands-on experience in a range of research areas, including Pine Barren ecology, botany and paleontology.

Drexel professors and expert scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences will provide a broad understanding of what it means to be an environmental scientist and what it takes to be a leader in the field. The application deadline is April 5 and tuition is $1,500. Students who complete DESLA and enroll at Drexel will receive a $2,000 renewable scholarship. For more information or to register for a program, call 570/689-9494 or email educator@lacawac.org.