Lower Macungie Township offers many programs and camps for adults and children.

A crayfish catch for ages six to 12 years will be offered 9-11 a.m. July 24 at Camp Olympic. For more information, visit http://www.lowermac.com/recreation/activities-programs.

The Lower Macungie Community Center is open to the public while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The center will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no free open gym at this time. Public restrooms are not available. Staff will be available by phone 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 610-966-6924. Updates will also be posted on Facebook and www.lowermac.com.

The Lower Macungie Township building is open for business. Masks and social distancing are required. Staff is available by phone at 610-966-4343 or email info@lowermac.com for information.

The Lower Macungie pool will be open daily 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Aug. 29. The pool is currently only open to season pass holders and walk-ins are restricted to Lower Macungie Township residents. The pool will close 4:45 p.m. July 23 for a swim meet. The pool will be closed July 24 for the regional swim team championships (rain date July 25). DJ Joseph Freemont Enterprises will host music, fun and games 1-4 p.m. Aug. 7. An adult lap swim will be available 6-7 a.m. and 7-8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings. Preregistration is required. Swim lessons are also available.

Summer concerts are back. The Large Flowerheads perform 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 23. The Macungie Band performs 7-8 p.m. Aug. 12. All concerts take place at the Hills at Lockridge Park, 7125 Scenic View Drive, Macungie.

The Lower Lehigh Lions will hold its fall flea market 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at Macungie Memorial Park. For more information, go to facebook.com/Lower-Lehigh-Lions-Club or email Lionsfleamarket@gmail.com.

Curbside collection of grass clippings continues weekly on the day after your regular trash collection. There will be curbside collection ofyard waste on the weeks of July 26 and Aug. 9 and 23.

The summer yard waste center hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Yard waste permits are required for drop-off.

Lower Macungie Library is now open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Repairs from the flooding continue. Items due since April 26 are due by Aug. 3.

The adult summer reading program will run through Aug. 7. For each review written on a book, magazine, audiobook, music, TV or movie, the participant will receive a raffle entry for gift cards to local businesses.

A Voice for All, a new program series, focuses on discussion of equity, diversity and inclusion in the community and beyond. It meets 7-8:30 p.m. July 22 via Zoom.

Introduction to Invasive Species, Your Local Watershed and Why It Matters meets 7-8:30 p.m. July 26. The program includes a short walk through Lock Ridge Park.

Chit Chat and Craft at the Park will offer a bottle cap flower craft 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 28.

Sunny Day Storytime will be held 10-10:30 a.m. July 22 outside the library building, weather permitting.

The Lower Macungie Library Book Club book for 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 4 is “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett. The book for Sept. 1 is “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins. The book club meets virtually.

For more information on library events, go to their website www.lowermaclib.org or call 610-966-6864.

The Church of the Good Shepherd UCC in Alburtis will celebrate its 50th anniversary of their establishment of their current church building on Quarry Road Sept. 12. The celebration will include a special service with music and speakers. Activities following the service include a cornerstone ceremony, a luncheon and a presentation on the church’s architecture and symbolism. The community is invited to attend this special event by sending an RSVP to the church at gsucc71@ptd.net or calling 610-966-2991 by Aug. 15.

Our lives have been consumed over the last few months by Matt’s and Ben’s preparation for their trip to Philmont Scout Ranch. For those not familiar with Philmont, it is one of the Boy Scout High Adventure trips – a 12-day backpacking trek in the mountains of northeast New Mexico. Preparation has included training hikes, organizing equipment to minimize weight, packing and repacking. We quickly discovered there is an inverse proportion to weight versus the cost of camping equipment. Due to dietary and health issues, we also had to substitute a number of food items, adding yet another challenge to packing. Their crew headed out in the wee hours of July 5. I am proud of their hard work and dedication in preparing for this challenging trip and can’t wait to hear all the stories when they return.

The next township column will be published Aug. 18; copy deadline is Aug. 12.