Lehman Sanctuary

“...Seeing youngsters light up the shaded forest demonstrates a genuinely ancient truth: Efforts of Miller and others who persevere in preservation not only offer our children a better future, they offer a better here and now.”   - Times Leader, Our Opinion: May 5, 2016

The non-profit Lehman Sanctuary builds local stewards for NEPA's precious natural world! 

We deliver vital environmental education on a magical diverse Lehman Township, Luzerne County habitat. (My daughter still finds forest fairies here!)

It all began as a volunteer passion 18 years ago: Our family invited my young son's Montessori School here for a nature field trip. We are now a two-time awardee of the Environmental Partnership Award of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

The result to date is thousands of young minds understanding and championing their roles in preserving and protecting nature’s resources.

(We've given many individuals with economic or developmental challenges the healing educational magic of nature. Many never experienced a forest and marsh, or discovered and held a salamander!)

We feature an old growth forest with 200+ year old Oaks and Eastern Pine. Our forest canopy in this Exceptional Values forested wetlands protects special waters - pristine vernal pools, spring seeps, and streams - home to rare amphibians, like the Four Toed Salamander. 

We adjoin a rare undisturbed marshland with a special Great Blue Heron rookery. (The PA Boat Commission counted 32 Heron Nests!)  Our prairie grass and native wildflower meadow is home to butterflies like the Cabbage White, Clouded Sulfur and the Great Spangled Fritillary. 

The Lehman Sanctuary has blossomed into an important environmental STEAM education resource for regional students of all ages and researchers in all disciplines. Hands-on environmental science research abounds here, in wildlife and water science biology and forestry studies. Our nature arts include through nature writing, open air field drawing and painting and meditation. 

Lehman Sanctuary programs focus on ornithology, entomology, watersheds, storm water solutions, pollination, trees and habitat, mushrooms, amphibians, and general nature discovery.

Our programs are led by an entomologist, amphibian specialist, arborist, wildlife biologists, nature macro-photographer, mushroom experts, and citizen naturalists.

We collaborate eco-research projects with Misericordia University, Penn State Watershed Stewards, the Luzerne Conservation District, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeepers Association and others.

Our Language of Water program will capture the science of a living pristine watershed and stream its science data to regional classrooms.

 Our sanctuary bird species are live monitored (including actual bird calls) with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeepers Assn. collaboration. (We counted 20 species in its first 24 hours of testing!)

What a blessing to bring the Lehman Sanctuary's vital eco-lessons to NEPA!