ASWP
Events Calendar
September, October, November and December 2008
Special Events
Events take place at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve.
Applejamm
Saturday, September 27; 10:00 am-4:00 pm
ASWP’s annual family festival helps you to get to the core of family fun! Make a scarecrow, find a needle in a haystack, listen to live music, enjoy apple foods, and participate in other crafts, demonstrations and educational activities throughout the grounds.
Free for all ages.
Creatures of the Night
Friday, October 24 or Saturday, October 25; 6:30 pm or 7:30 pm
Delight in this non-scary Halloween experience and trick-or-treat with the animals. Fireflies guide you on a trailside hike to encounter larger-than-life nocturnal creatures. Hear the hoot of Great Horned Owl, observe the acrobatics of Fying Squirrel, prickle your imagination with Porcupine, play 'possum with Opossum, and create a stink with Skunk! Snacks, drinks, crafts and story-telling are provided. Come in costume for twice the fun! $5 per member; $8 per nonmember. To register: 412-963-6100.
On the trails at Beechwood
Reserve your space: 412-963-6100
Wednesday Walks
Wednesdays, September 3, 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 9:00 am
Stroll our footpaths with ASWP naturalists. Free to the public.
Family WalkAbout: Seed Spectacular Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, September 14; 2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Parachutes, helicopters, and hitchhikers.; discover seeds and the local plants that produce them! All ages; $2 for members; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Family WalkAbout: Fall Foliage Hike
Sunday, October 12; 2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Immerse yourself in the colors of autumn while learning to identify trees through their foliage.
All ages; $2 for members; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Family WalkAbout: Winter Birds
Sunday, November 9; 2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Start practicing for the 2008 Christmas Bird Count! Explore the reserve in search of Beechwood’s avian residents and winter migrants. All ages; $2 for members; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Family WalkAbout: Winter Tree ID
Sunday, December 7; 2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Learn how to identify common trees without the need to see their leaves! All ages; $2 for members; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Adults/Educators
Programs take place at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. Reserve your space: 412-963-6100
Adult Eco-Series: Seeds, Nuts and Berries
Saturday, September 13; 10:00 am--12:00 pm
Learn to identify a variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants by their preferred seed packaging and seed dispersal adaptations. Adults; $2 for members; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Mushroom Trivia with Frank Lotrich
Tuesday, September 16; 7:00 pm
What role do mushrooms play in the social conflicts between Tibet and China? Which organism is far larger than the largest Redwood? Find out the answers to these questions and more as you explore all things fungi. Free to the public.
Perspectives on Penn’s Woods: A Thoughtful Approach to Teaching Land Use
Saturdays, October 4 and 11; 8:30 am—4:30 pm
Participants will build understanding of the natural communities of western PA and learn to connect this understanding to environmental issues of our region. Participants will receive The Leopold Education Project—Lessons in a Land Ethic curriculum guide, a copy of Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, and supplemental LEP resources. Participants should bring a bag lunch each day. Class time will be both indoors and outdoors; participants should dress appropriately. K—12 teachers and interested adults should visit aiu3.net to register.
Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Election of Officers & Open Forum
Tuesday, October 21; 7:00 pm
Club officers will be elected and club members will share mushroom stories, experiences, and slides. Results of the club’s photography contest will be announced. Free to the public.
Adult Eco-Series: Project Feeder Watch
Saturday, November 8; 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Project FeederWatch, operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with the National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada, and Canadian Nature Federation, is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. ASWP will prepare you to be a FeederWatcher, supporting our efforts in this important citizen science project. Adults: $2 per member; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Mushrooms and Art
Tuesday, November 18; 7:00 pm
Club Historian & Workshop Chair, Joyce Gross, has collected a wide variety of mushroom-inspired art created by amateurs and famous artists from all over the world. Be inspired by unique presentations of mushrooms from the eyes of artists. Free to the public.
Adult Eco-Series: Evergreen Ecology
Saturday, December 6; 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Why do some plants possess viable leaves during the winter, and how do they combat the elements to survive the seasons? Investigate the structure and function of evergreens and discover them above—and below—the snow! Adults; $2 per member; $5 per nonmember. Reservations requested.
Children and Scouts
Programs take place at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. Reserve your space: 412-963-6100
Fledglings: Cricket Cachophony
Thursday, September 18; 10:00 am-11:15 am
Discover crickets, those evening music-makers that add to the many night sounds of western PA. Participants must be 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present. $8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair; registration required.
Fledglings: Snoozing and Snorings
Thursday, October 9; 10:00 am-11:15 am
It’s time to settle in for a long winter’s nap . . . but which animals actually do that? Discover hibernation and other adaptations to colder seasons. Participants must be 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present. $8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair; registration required.
Scout Badge Day
Saturday, October 18; 10:00 am—12:00 pm or 1:00 pm—3:00 pm
Troops can fulfill requirements towards nature-related badges, arrows, try-its or other awards for most levels of scouting. Naturalist-led sessions are scheduled on a first-registered, first-choice basis. Visit www.aswp.org for a list of badge offerings. Scouts with Troop Leaders: $5.00 per scout. Full payment required to hold reservation. Registration opens September 1. Space is limited and fills quickly.
Fledglings: Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 13; 10:00 am-11:15 am
Your little polts will delight in learning fun facts about wild turkeys, and tracking them through the Reserve. Participants must be 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present. $8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair; registration required.
Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop for Boy Scouts
All
About Birds Interest Project Workshop for Girl Scouts
Saturday, December 13; 9:00 am—4:00 pm
Interested in the fastest-growing outdoor activity in America? Winter is one of the best times of the year to bird watch! Bird Study Merit Badge and All About Birds Interest Projects are fun, easy, and can be earned in one day. Fee includes instruction, materials, supplies, and lunch. Eagle Scout candidates and Cadette/Senior Girl Scouts: $20 per scout. Registration required.