Berks County Parks & Recreation has announced a new Backpack Lending Program aimed at helping children and families explore local parks while learning about nature, wildlife, and history.
The program was made possible through 2025 funding from the Gilmore-Henne Grant, administered by the Berks County Community Foundation. It expands the county’s existing lending inventory, which already includes items such as snowshoes, fishing gear, and bear canisters.
The new initiative introduces four themed activity backpacks designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Each backpack includes supplies, lesson materials, books, and space for personal items, making them suitable for families and homeschool groups.
The Art Backpack encourages children to create artwork using natural materials found in the parks. The Insect Backpack allows users to collect and observe insects, while the Birding Backpack includes field guides and a bingo-style activity to help identify birds. The Wagon Works Backpack focuses on local history, offering activities related to bridge design and exploration inspired by the Gruber Wagon Works.
Each backpack also includes pencils, field guides for recording observations, and a bilingual picture book tied to the theme.
The backpacks are free to borrow and are intended for use within the county park system. Participating parks include Angora Fruit Farm, Antietam Lake Park, Beidler House and Allegheny Aqueduct, Berks Leisure Area, Gring’s Mill, Berks County Heritage Center, and Stonecliffe Recreation Area.
Those interested in reserving a backpack can do so by emailing LGauker@berkspa.gov.
