Skiing and snowboarding offer a wonderful opportunity for the entire family to have fun outdoors while getting some beneficial physical activity. In the process, you’ll be burning calories, strengthening lower body muscles, improving your flexibility and engaging your core muscles, among other benefits.

Ski resorts like Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie, Spring Mountain Adventures in Schwenksville and Blue Mountain Resort in the Poconos make the sport easily accessible from the Pottstown area.

Comfortable lodges are available if you’re not up for skiing, but the kids are, and you prefer to take a book and cozy up by the fire indoors with some hot chocolate while they hit the slopes. For those of all ages new to skiing, lessons can get you on the slopes in no time. Lessons provide a solid foundation of the basics and help avoid some potential dangers associated with self-taught skiing.

Bear Creek’s “Learn to Ski or Ride” package includes all of the equipment you need, along with a certified instructor who will take you through multiple stations where you’ll learn the basics before graduating to the slopes. Learning the proper techniques will give you the confidence necessary to enable you to have a safe and enjoyable time on the mountain.

Since skiing is a pricey activity, resorts offer some opportunities to get in on the fun more affordably. At Bear Creek, anyone age five and under and those 70 and older can get a free lift ticket any day of the week.

They also offer reduced lift ticket prices to those currently active in the military, police, fire, EMS and 911 professions. In addition, special rate passes are available Monday through Thursday for college students and EPSC/ WPSC ski club members. Youth aged 6 to 18 and seniors, aged 61 to 69 are offered reduced pricing on tickets daily.

Here’s a guide to some local resorts to explore this season within easy reach:

Bear Creek Mountain Resort

Located within an hour of Philadelphia, Bear Creek Mountain Resort suits skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Their beginner area is served by a carpet lift and triple chair while Sasquatch, their most challenging black diamond trail, has a 50% slope for expert skiers. Bear Creek also offers three progressive terrain parks — Cascade Park, Black Bear Park, and Family Park — with a wide variety of freestyle features. Hotel guests, day guests, and season ticket holders are all welcome. Their award-winning Snowsports School and certified instructors offer lessons to suit any age or ability. Private and group sessions are available. Bear Creek Mountain Resort is located at 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie. For more information, call 866-754-2822 or visit www.bcmountainresort.com. Check trail conditions online before you go.

Spring Mountain Adventures

Spring Mountain Adventures is a year-round place for family fun where you can experience skiing, snowboarding and ice skating all in one location. Spring Mountain has 8 trails, two snow tubing runs, four lifts, and a terrain park. If you or any member of your group don’t have the equipment, they offer boots, skis, poles and helmets adjusted to meet your skill level. If you need lessons they offer a variety of programs designed to meet your abilities and help you take your skiing and snowboarding skills to new levels. Spring Mountain Adventures is located at 757 Spring Mount Road, Spring Mount. For more information, call 610-287-7900 or visit www.springmountainadventures.com

Blue Mountain Resort

Thrill seekers and novices are welcome at Blue Mountain. Snow tubing, skiing and snowboarding — whatever your speed, there are plenty of ways to experience the Pocono Mountains. Whether you’ve never seen snow or want to improve your skiing or snowboarding skills — skiing in Pennsylvania has never been easier thanks to the instructors at Blue Mountain Learning Center where you can explore their different lesson types to find the perfect lesson for you. Blue Mountain Resort is located at 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton (Poconos). For more information, call 610-826-7700 or visit www.skibluemt.com. Check trail conditions online before you go.

The race kicked off at the Souderton Community Park, with a giant American flag hanging over the start of the course. Along the route, sweat-soaked runners were greeted by lines of cheering spectators and refreshing sprays of mist from local fire trucks as they raced to the finish line.

Top finisher was 24-year-old Connor McMenamin with a time of 15:13. The fastest female was 33-year-old Jenn Cronin with a time of 18:06. Prizes were awarded to McMenamin and Cronin as well as the top finishers in each age bracket.

The event also featured a Kids’ 1K Run, with volunteers distributing medals to the children as they crossed the finish line.

Following the races, runners and spectators cooled off in the park with live music and refreshments, including water ice from Lindy’s Italian Ice, pizza from Lisa’s Pizza & Restaurant and craft beer from the Branch Creek Tap House.

Proceeds benefit Souderton Area High School Cross Country Track scholarships and the Keystone Opportunity Center.

What to do about a shortage of chairs at the town’s two pools?

“I’ve been going to both pools all my life, and last year I was one of the first ones there, at noon. It’s like a running joke, how you can never get a chair,” said councilwoman Carrie Hawkins Charlton. “And it would be a miracle if you got a table.”

In mid-June borough parks and recreation staff opened the town’s two pools, at Fourth Street and Whites Road Parks, and since then both pools have been open seven days a week, weather permitting. During the July 5 parks and recreation committee meeting, parks director Courtney Meehan reported on large crowds that turned out for July 4, and Hawkins Charlton and councilman BJ Breish said they were part of those crowds, and noticed a familiar problem.

“I was one of those folks standing in line, ten minutes before it opened, because I knew it would be busy. And the gentleman in front of us had a stack of a week’s worth of towels that he brought with him, just one person,” Breish said.

“He went in and put one towel on each chair, and took six chairs, plus a bench — I guess he was having a family gathering, but the family didn’t come until later? Literally, the first maybe ten people at the pool had all of the chairs,” he said, and Hawkins Charlton added, “That’s how it’s always been.”

Meehan said she and parks staff have been removing chairs from circulation as they fail or are damaged, but have not replaced any recently, and have found quoted prices of roughly $400 each for replacement chairs, and roughly $1,000 for a new table.

“To order 15 to 20 chairs for each pool is a huge expense, especially when we already have so many other things we have to take care of,” she said.

Other pool-related projects on the department’s to-do list include converting lights inside the pool restrooms to LEDs, repainting and overhauling the changing rooms at Fourth Street, and a major replastering of the Whites Road pools tentatively planned for 2024, the last of which has an estimated price tag of roughly $250,000 to $300,000, Meehan told the committee.

“There’s a lot of facility improvements that need to happen at the pools first, I think. I can’t justify spending $15,000 to $20,000 on chairs now,” she said.

Hawkins Charlton said she brought a friend from out of town to the borough’s pool on July 4, who was surprised to learn of the town’s policy to let swimmers bring their own chairs.

“They were like, ‘What do you mean, we have to bring our own chairs?’ It was beyond their comprehension,'” she said.

The councilwoman then asked if staff could look into ways to better publicize that attendees should bring their own chairs, including when they register or pay for their memberships, and suggested staff look at shifting chairs from a relatively underused baby pool to the main pool area. Breish asked if any pool rules could be changed too, to discourage reserving chairs early.

“I just thought it was silly, and unfair. If we’re not replacing them — it just seems like a quality of life thing, a customer service thing,” he said.

Hawkins Charlton added that she’d rather add more tables to the pools than chairs, since more people could sit at a table at once. Meehan answered that she’s been trying to balance several increasing expenses, including higher costs for chemicals such as chlorine, and wage increases for lifeguards to watch those who swim, not those who sit.

“We can hope people aren’t rude, and going and reserving chairs for their family who aren’t there — but there really isn’t a way to police that,” she said.

Breish added that he thought pool staff were “phenomenal” in keeping the pools safe, especially over the holiday weekend, and Meehan said the pools will likely close earlier on the July 4 holiday in 2024 so lifeguards can spend time with their families. Hawkins Charlton said she thought the total cost for a pool membership, which ranges from $55 for a senior age 60+ to $325 for a household of eight or more persons, was still a bargain.

“For the amount of money you’re spending, for a family membership, for all summer, you can’t beat it. You can’t even go to the ballpark three times for that kind of money. I think it’s one of the best deals going,” she said.

Breish then asked about a way to offset that cost for those who can’t afford it: could the borough offer pool memberships or passes at the Lansdale Public Library, similar to museum passes for local attractions?

“This would be for a family that would like to go to the pool, but maybe can’t afford to do so? Maybe there’s a pass or two they can check out, to use to go the pool. Or maybe somebody from our senior community, maybe they don’t have air conditioning, and it’s 94 degrees outside,” he said.

Meehan said she’d look into the logistics and legalities of doing so, and said local businesses could help sponsor the costs of those passes. Hawkins Charlton asked if those could take the form of QR codes usable on phones, instead of a tangible pass that would need to be returned to the library, and Meehan said she’d look into details. Resident Dominic Vasturia said he enjoyed having new shade covers installed at Fourth Street to keep swimmers out of the direct sun, and suggested staff look into adding benches at the pools instead of chairs or tables.

“I was a lifeguard forever, and that was all we had,” he said.

Councilman Mark Ladley asked for an update on the pool’s snack stands, which the borough announced in early June will be operated by North Wales-based Little’s Ice Cream and Water Ice, but have yet to open. Meehan answered that the stands and company are ready to go, but awaiting final approvals from Montgomery County’s health department before they can open, and an alternative could appear soon.

“Littles will be setting up a trailer in the pool area, hopefully in the next couple of days, so you should be able to purchase food through the trailer,” Meehan said.

And one new addition is now on the calendar for the Fourth Street pool: the town’s first-ever ‘Puppy Plunge’ has been scheduled for August 23rd, with dogs under 30 pounds able to take a swim starting at 5 p.m. and larger dogs at 6:15 p.m. — “and we’ll be accepting pet food donations during that event for Manna on Main Street,” Meehan said.

Lansdale’s parks and recreation committee next meets at 7:30 p.m. on August 2 and full council next meets at 7 p.m. on July 19, both at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine Street. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.

Hosted by Moyer Indoor-Outdoor, the fundraising event will be held on a Tuesday night for the first time. Proceeds benefit Souderton Area High School Cross Country Scholarships and the Keystone Opportunity Center. This year’s scholarship recipients, Nathan Fickert and Nora Richardson, are Souderton Area High School 2023 graduates.

“We are thrilled to add Keystone Opportunity Center as a beneficiary while continuing to support student scholarships,” said David Moyer, president of Moyer. “We are proud to have created a means to show how our community comes together to help each other. It’s an investment in our hometown, and it’s also a great time.”

Five-year age group awards will be given out to the top runners. All participants will receive a custom-designed commemorative t-shirt.

“It has been amazing to watch this event grow,” said Jen Burynski, race director and marketing and advertising director for Moyer. “You don’t see this level of festive atmosphere anywhere else. Souderton shows up – from misting stations provided by the Souderton Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company to neighbors along the route cheering people on. And then at the finish line we have everything from pizza to popsicles. It really is a 5K meets block party.”

The event begins at 6 p.m. at Souderton Community Park. The Kids’ Fun Run will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by the 5K race and Fitness Walk at 7 p.m.

Pre-registration is open at emoyer.com/5k. Participants can also register the day of the event from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at Souderton Community Park. Current Moyer customers who pre-register online are eligible to receive a $5.00 discount off of all registration fees by selecting the customer discount options.

Founded in 1869, Moyer is a leading resource for home and business owners, providing plumbing, heating & air conditioning, water quality, heating fuels, propane, pest control, lawn care, tree & shrub care and pool & spa care. For more information, visit emoyer.com or call 215-799-2000.

Tuesday, June 20:  Gibraltar to Pottstown, 13.7 miles

Sojourn Mentor Program: At 8 a.m., scholarship recipients from Philadelphia and New Jersey will be paired with a Sojourn mentor. (Use 1130 Old River Road Birdsboro, PA 19508 for GPS)

Allegheny Aqueduct Park Launch: 9 a.m.

Lunch: Morlatton Village Arrival, 11:50 a.m. (Use 31 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville 19518 for GPS).

Dinner: Pottstown Riverfront Park arrival, 3 p.m. (Use 140 College Drive, Pottstown 19464 for GPS).

Wednesday, June 21: Pottstown to Mont Clare Lock 60, 17.8 miles

Sojourn Mentor Program: At 8 a.m., youth from the Pottstown YWCA will be paired with a Sojourn mentor. (Use 140 College Drive, Pottstown 19464 for GPS)

Pottstown Riverfront Park Launch: 9 a.m.

Lunch: Royersford Victory Park Arrival, 12:25 p.m. (Use Victory Park, Royersford, PA 19468 for GPS).

Dinner: Mont Clare Arrival, 3:15 p.m. (Use Lock 60 Recreation Area, Mont Clare 19453 for GPS).

Thursday, June 22:  Mont Clare to West Conshohocken, 14 miles

Mont Clare Launch: 9 a.m. (Use Lock 60 Recreation Area, Mont Clare 19453 for GPS).

Lunch: Valley Forge National Historical Park (Betzwood Picnic Area) Arrival, 11:30 a.m. (Use Betzwood Park, Norristown 19403 for GPS)

Dinner: West Conshohocken Arrival, 4:15 p.m. (Use Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken 19428 for GPS).

Friday, June 23: West Conshohocken to Philadelphia, 16 miles

West Conshohocken Launch 9 a.m. (Use Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken 19428 for GPS).

Lunch: Philadelphia Canoe Club Arrival, noon (Use 4900 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia 19127 for GPS).

Final take-out at Philadelphia around 3 p.m. (1 Boathouse Row Philadelphia, PA)

The new 1.3 mile trail connects Upper Salford Park with the Perkiomen Trail, running along the edge of Schirk-Hutt farm, through the Schirk-Hutt preserved woodlands and across the bottom of Spring Mountain.

The ceremony was attended by the Upper Salford Township Supervisors and Montgomery County Commissioners along with representatives from the project’s funding agencies and planning team.

Upper Salford Township Supervisor Ted Poatsy kicked off the event by detailing the project’s history.

While working with local farmers Bill Schirk and Kathleen Hutt to preserve 40 acres of woodlands, the township required 50 feet of right-of-way from Upper Salford Park down to the woodlands, generating the idea of a trail connector to the Perkiomen Trail. The township successfully received the permission of Schirk and Hutt as well as the owners of the bottom of Spring Mountain to construct the trail.

“So, all of a sudden, there was a vision,” said Poatsy. “Now we needed the funding.”

The township wound up receiving over $1 million in grant funding, including a $175,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Authority and a $10,000 grant from PECO. Other grants came from the Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources, the state of Pennsylvania and Montgomery County. Poatsy said that the township itself spent approximately $50,000.

“So it’s wonderful to go from imagination to vision to plans,” said Poatsy. “Somehow we got it done. And we’re so happy that we have an asset, the Park to Perkiomen, which will outlive all of us.”

Shawn Megill Legendre of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission described trails as “community assets” that provide healthy alternatives to car travel, conversational spaces and connections to homes, businesses and recreational outlets.

“That’s why the creation of an interconnected network of trails is part of the region’s long-range plan,” said Megill Legendre. “We at DVRPC are excited to play a role in implementing this plan.”

Drew Gilchrist of the DCNR similarly cited the numerous benefits of trails, including health and wellness, economic development and environmental services. He noted that the trail has permanently preserved woodlands and will increase the property values of nearby homes. He concluded by praising the County for its trail systems.

“Montgomery County is known statewide for its trails. You are the envy of many counties across the state,” said Gilcrest. “So we are pleased to be part of this, to invest in the community.”

Manna’s Race to End Hunger includes professionally chip timed 10K and 5K races, as well as a Fun Run that is approximately one mile. The 10K and 5K start together at 8:15 a.m., with the Fun Run beginning immediately afterward, all at Knapp Elementary School in Lansdale.

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate, as are persons with strollers and dogs on leashes.

Nearly 400 local residents have already registered, and last year’s race drew a total of 416 runners, in the first in-person run since 2019, raising over $100,000 to help serve those in need in the community.

Residents can register for the 10K, 5K and Fun Run by visiting mannaonmain.org/rteh. Onsite registration will be available at 7 a.m. on race day, April 29. For more information visit www.MannaonMain.org.

This weekend, there will be a more competitive opportunity for middle school and high school children to play beyond the backyard. The Badminton Championship, taking place at Pottstown Middle School, will be co-hosted by Smashville USA, the badminton club in Pottstown, and the Pennsylvania Badminton Association.

Entry to play is free and registration is open to middle school and high school children from any school, as well as homeschooled children.

“We are hoping to get school kids that have an interest or liking and give them a taste of competition and get further into the sport and more training to move into the next level,” said Eric Miller, founder and director of Smashville USA.

Smashville USA in Pottstown has been introducing children to the sport for years thanks to a grant from the US Badminton Education Foundation. Up to 1,000 children have already had the opportunity to play through their instruction and Smashville is continuing to expand its program by getting into more schools, which will expand the racquet sport to even more children.

“For the last four or five years we have been coming into Pottstown High School to teach badminton in the physical education classes,” Miller said. “We also go to Pine Forge Academy in Pottstown and Haverford Middle School on the Main Line.”

At the upcoming tournament, Miller is hoping for a large attendance of players given the wide net they cast through inviting schools beyond Pottstown including those in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Spectators are welcome to attend and watch the matches from the bleachers.

Winners of the singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches will receive prizes.

“We’ll have trophies, mugs and we might have some racquets for the singles winners and we may have some various small prizes like key chains and badminton books,” he said.

Justin Baker, director of co-curricular activities at Pottstown High School, has also been helping to spread the word about the tournament where spectators are welcome to attend and watch the matches from the bleachers.

“We are trying to generate more buzz for the sport and their program,” Baker said. “It’s a tournament to culminate the school year and incorporate all of the schools that were involved in their program.”

Baker said that Smashville’s instruction within their PE curriculum has been well-received.

“It seems the kids enjoyed it and I got good feedback from the teachers,” he said.

Baker said the sport has offered something new to many kids who might not have already been exposed to badminton.

“Anytime you can provide more of a variety to your students, I think that’s very beneficial,” he said. “Something new can also be intriguing for a student and they might not even know if they like it if they never tried it out in the first place.”

Badminton Championship

A chance to compete for fun and prizes!

Co-hosted by Smashville USA and the Pennsylvania Badminton Association

Saturday, May 21, 10 am to 3 pm (approximate end time)

Pottstown Middle School, 600 N. Franklin Street, Pottstown

Free entry for players (anyone in middle school or high school) and spectators

For more information: TD@smashville.us

About Smashville USA

Smashville USA in Pottstown is a member-run badminton facility. They offer free instruction to children on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Advance reservation required.

To learn more visit: www.smashville.us or email: coaching@smashville.us

As parents, a full summer of entertaining children can be challenging, particularly when it comes to getting the kids active outdoors in the heat. Booking a camp in advance not only guarantees you a spot but will also add some structure to your summer. In addition, your kids will have something to look forward to, as well as a place to make some new friendships and lasting memories.

Whether they prefer tennis or horseback riding, soccer or hockey, there are many camp options in and around Pottstown area being offered this summer that cater to a variety of ways to get children physically active. The camps aim to suit a wide range of ages and abilities to make them welcoming to all. Here are some convenient day camps to consider that cover a wide range of interests.

TENNIS CAMP

Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning

GPTL is a nationally recognized tennis and learning non-profit organization. Their camps are held at Maple Street Park in Pottstown for ages 5 to 12. One week is offered in June and one in August. Their coaches mentor tennis instruction for all ages and levels.

For more information and to register visit: www.greaterpottstowntennis.org

HORSEBACK RIDING CAMP

Innova Riding Stables Summer Camp

Innova’s camp, catering to ages 4 to 15, offers horseback riding, swimming, barn activities, arts & crafts, horsemanship and more at their farm in Gilbertsville. Their professional team of instructors provides riding instruction in the hunter/jumper discipline to all levels of riders. Week-long day camps are offered from mid-June through mid-August.

For more information and to register visit: www.innovastables.com

MULT-SPORT CAMP

422 SportsPlex Multi-Sport Camp

At The 422 SportsPlex in Pottstown, they offer a multi-sport camp to kids aged 5 to 14 years old. The children are rotated around six different surfaces where they play different sports and games each day. From hockey and handball, to capture the flag and soccer, the variety is sure to be entertaining to your child. Other activities include sidewalk chalk and yard games at their outdoor station.

For more information and to register visit: www.the422sportsplex.com/camps

TRADITIONAL CAMP

Pottstown YMCA Traditional Camp

The Pottstown YMCA offers camps for children aged 6 to 11 who like a wide range of activities from swimming and sports to nature and art. Children are grouped by age and grade. Themes, special activities and events make each week a different adventure for their weekly day camps that run from mid-June through mid-August.

For more information and to register visit: www.philaymca.org/camp/pottstown-area

The act of generosity has been shown to have several health benefits, but it’s also important to be generous to yourself. This is especially true during the holiday season when anxiety, tension and added pressure are common.

Self-gifting is exactly what it sounds like. It means to literally give yourself a gift and can be an important form of self-care. It can be extremely difficult to give to others when you have neglected your own needs and health.

“Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others,” states the National Institute of Mental Health website.

This is the time of year when it seems like the to-do list is incredibly long and the hours in a day are just not enough. In addition to holiday activities, people often have a busy work schedule as it becomes necessary to complete certain tasks before the New Year. According to the World Health Organization, exhaustion is one of the signs of occupational burnout.

Self-care can help people avoid burnout and help them make their own health a priority.

“Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy,” states the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Below are three ideas on how you can gift yourself this holiday with self-care and health in mind.

Gift yourself with a pet

Pets are wonderful companions and are known to lift the moods of their owners. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dogs are four-legged friends who can help people relieve stress and anxiety.

“They influence social, emotional, and cognitive development in children, promote an active lifestyle, provide companionship, and have even been able to detect oncoming epileptic seizures or the presence of certain cancers,” states the CDC website.

There is also research about how cats can provide emotional support and increase the confidence of their owners.

“Cats are also credited with promoting socialization among older individuals and physically or mentally disabled people,” states the CDC website.

According to the CDC, bonding with a pet can help decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness. For more information about the health benefits of pet ownership and tips on how to select the right pet for you, visit www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/how.html.

Gift yourself with fitness

It’s no secret that regular physical activity and fitness is needed for a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help with weight management and lower your risk for serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. There are even immediate benefits of physical activity, meaning you can see positive results right away.

“Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better,” states the CDC website.

There’s no need to wait for New Year resolutions to start a fitness regimen. Make taking care of yourself a priority by purchasing a gym membership or buying fitness equipment to use at home. If you don’t have the funds for a membership or equipment, then simply make a plan and commit to start moving more. You can increase your physical activity by walking around the neighborhood, choosing to take the steps whenever possible, or finding a free online fitness class.

For more information about physical activity and its benefits, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health.

Gift yourself with time

Making time for yourself is a very important aspect of self-care. According to the Mental Health America website, self-care has proven health and social benefits but most people “only spend 15 minutes a day on health-related self-care.”

Me-time is very important when it comes to being the best version of yourself. Taking time for yourself can happen in a variety of ways. It can simply mean that you’re getting enough sleep each night or practicing mindfulness each day so you’re able to sort emotions.

Your me-time can be doing an activity that brings you joy such as dancing or learning a new skill such as cooking. There is no exact science on how to take time for yourself, but it is important to figure out what works for you and then make it happen. For more tips and information about taking time for yourself, visit mhanational.org/taking-time-yourself.