Months on end of remote work and learning can produce a bit of cabin fever. See how changing your view can change your attitude. Get a fresh perspective in the Pocono Mountains. Unspoiled vistas, uncrowded places and unlimited possibilities await. Plus, there are so many chances to enrich your child’s education. Here are 8 ideas to enhance remote learning from the Poconos. After everyone’s work is finished, get a little extra credit with adventures that combine history, ecology, science and culture.
Get Away From It All
Upgrade your home office situation with a working vacation or schoolcation at Ledges Hotel. Book a two-bedroom suite or deluxe full-service suite for all the conveniences of home combined with the luxuries of hotel life. Suites feature a full kitchen plus a comfortable living space. Outside views of the Paupack High Falls are sure to invigorate and inspire. The House at High Falls offers seclusion and sophistication. Located just upstream from Ledges Hotel, the views from the screened-in three-season room and outdoor deck are breathtaking. Relaxing by the fire pit or soaking in the hot tub are the perfect reward for a day’s work. The bright and airy home boasts three bedrooms, each with a private bath plus a spacious living room and chef’s kitchen.
1. Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center
At 5,700 acres with 52-miles of shoreline, Lake Wallenpaupack is a vast outdoor classroom. Water from the lake powers a hydroelectric plant providing clean, renewable energy. Visit the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center for displays about hydroelectric generation, history of the area and creation of the lake. There’s also an auditorium, science laboratory, resource library, glass museum and Native American artifacts.
2. Dorflinger Factory Museum
In the mid-1800s, the village of White Mills was an industrial hub creating the finest cut glass in the world. The coveted pieces graced the most prestigious tables of the time and were even part of the collections at the White House through several administrations. Dorflinger Factory Museum is a regional industrial heritage museum that preserves the history and craftsmanship of a bygone time. Tour the restored cutting shop and factory office building. Exhibits detail the glass-making process and history of the company. A short distance away, the Dorflinger Glass Museum displays the largest collection of Dorflinger Glass in the world inside the former home of company founder Christian Dorflinger. The 600-acres surrounding his home are preserved as a wildlife sanctuary with miles of walking trails.
3. The Stourbridge Line
Relive the era of locomotion with a train excursion through the Northern Poconos on the Stourbridge Line. Ride in vintage coaches along a route that dates back over 100 years. Trains depart from Honesdale, PA the sight of the first commercial railroad in America. A steam-powered engine known as the Stourbridge Lion took its inaugural trip here in 1829.
4. Lacawac Sanctuary
Public education on environmental and conservation issues is the founding principle of Lacawac Sanctuary. The nature preserve that surrounds a 52-acre glacial lake is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lake Lacawac is the southernmost glacial lake in the hemisphere and a declared National Natural Landmark. There are two different habitats around the lake worth exploring. The Natural Boreal Bog is an undisturbed, pristine wetland. The regions to the east and north consist of sand and rock. There are eight hiking trails on the grounds as well as a venue for ecological research, scholarly interaction and scientific training.
5. Delaware Highlands Conservancy
Enjoy the rare opportunity to see Bald Eagles in the wild. The Upper Delaware River Region is one of the largest bald eagle wintering areas in the Northeastern United States. The Delaware Highlands Conservancy operates a winter office in nearby Lackawaxen, PA. Visitors may learn more about eagles and their habitats, get information on eagle sightings and take a bus tour for guided eagle watching opportunities. The institute is open weekends in January and February.
6. Pocono Environmental Education Center
A great resource for learning, the mission of Pocono Environmental Education Center is to advance environmental education, sustainable living and appreciation for nature through hands-on experiences in a national park. Located within the boundaries of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area visitors will find 12 miles of hiking trails, the educational building that features displays and a bookstore, teaching yurts and family-oriented activities and workshops.
7. D & H Canal Park
See the remnants of a marvel of civil engineering. The Delaware & Hudson Canal consisted of 108-miles of locks built mostly by hand. The system operated from 1828 to 1908 and carried anthracite coal from the mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania to Kingston, NY. D & H Canal Park boasts 16 acres that includes the remnants of Canal Lock 31. Visitors can walk the former canal towpath and read the interpretive signs along the way that detail the area’s history. Go inside Daniels Farmhouse, also on the property. The structure dates to 1820 and contains numerous displays and historical artifacts.
8. The Great Outdoors
Nature is a great teacher. Explore what’s right outside your door. Acquire a new skill such as fishing or boating right here on Lake Wallenpaupack. Set off on one of the countless trails in the area to see native flora and fauna. Promised Land State Park, Shuman Point Nature Trail and Prompton State Park are all nearby and offer endless opportunities for hiking, biking and wildlife watching. Learn how to make a fire, then roast marshmallows with the family while you stargaze. Spend some time in the saddle on a horseback ride through the countryside. Fall in love with
winter sports. Ski Big Bear in nearby Lackawaxen is the ideal mountain to learn to ski or snowboard or brush up on your skills.
Work it Out
Bring balance back into your life with a location that lets you mix business and pleasure. Seize the opportunity to pick up and go, to explore someplace new. In the Pocono Mountains you can unplug from the noise but remain connected to what matters. Check out our specials and packages to find the best fit.