Community Outreach

Volunteers connect the places where America was built. Hundreds of natural and historic sites that played key roles in America's birth can be accessed by a trail system that is open to hikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers and equestrian riders. Maintenance of the trails is assumed by the D&L Trail Tenders, an association of volunteer groups who work from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. They provide litter cleanups, repair drainage problems; patch trails, clean and replace signs, control invasive plants and seed native species, and undertake trail enhancement projects. Their work allows the public to visit historic canals, railroads and scenic natural areas

This cooperative pilot project blends conservation and economic development strategies, to help revitalize small towns through focused heritage development. Historically, White Haven, Lansford, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton and Slatington served as distribution points where raw goods (lumber, coal and slate) were loaded and transported to larger markets like Philadelphia and New York City via the Corridor's transportation system, and where goods from the larger market (flour, coffee and hardware) arrived for distribution to residents.

Landmark Towns is a regional revitalization initiative of boroughs along the Delaware Canal with traditional downtown business districts.

This collaborative state and local partnership with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources strives to conserve and connect people to valued natural resources. A model for combining conservation, education, and recreation, LVGI is a two-county conservation landscape initiative that includes the Two Rivers Area (Bushkill Creek Watershed), Williams Township, the Blue Mountain (Kittatiny Ridge), Martins-Jacoby Watershed, Lehigh Valley PA Highlands and Jordan Creek Watershed/Greenway. The Two Rivers Area - the first pilot area of concern - is a 109-square-mile area of Northampton County with a projected population growth of 38% by 2030. As farm fields and woodlands give way to new housing and roads, the D&L is assisting residents and municipal officials in preserving their natural, historical, and agricultural resources.

Through interpretive wayside signs and brochures, as well as in-class and event participation, the D&L supports local educators and historians in creating individually tailored programs. Some matching grants are available through "Visually & Graphically Speaking" for interpretive signs, brochure and Web sites. Staff members are available to work with educators to develop programming appropriate to the classroom. A "Traveling Trunk" is being designed to introduce children to their 19th-century counterparts.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor designs, acquires permits and funding, and constructs new sections of the D&L Trail and trail improvements that are part of it. Learn what we are doing for the Carbon County section of the D&L Trail.

A multitude of Eagle Scout service opportunities exists along the trail, all of which are described here.

The City of Easton has an annual "Heritage Day", which this year will be July 12th. We are looking for re-enactors to portray the various Indian tribe representatives, Colonial politicians, British troops, townspeople and frontier settlers who attended the original event. We would be grateful if interested re-enactors get in touch with Richard F. Hope at RHope@compuserve.com