June 2 (Sunday)

Rain Harvesting - Audubon Center for Native Plants (2pm-4pm): Cost per family or group of 4 or less: $40 member, $45 non-member

Learn about the environmental benefits, financial savings, and water conservation rain gardens and rain barrels offer. Each family/group will make 1 rain barrel OR 1 rain chain. Pre-registration required.

 

June 5 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

June 6 (Thursday)

Babes in the Woods (10am-11am): $2 member, $4 non-member (Price per person)

Parents and toddlers (2 and under) will delight in using sight, sound, touch and smell to discover the natural world. These naturalist led programs incorporate seasonally appropriate topics. Parent or caregiver must be present. Strollers/Baby Backpacks welcome.

 

June 7 (Friday)

Firefly Watch Training (8pm-10pm): Cost: Free, thanks to a grant from the Dominion Foundation

Watching fireflies is an annual rite of summer enjoyed by people of all ages. Now learn how you can participate in this Citizen Science Corps project that helps scientists to track fireflies around the world.  You’ll learn to report on our favorite nighttime insect from your own backyard. Appropriate for adults and families.

 

 

June 11-14

Workshop:  Natural History for Educators and Naturalists (9am-3pm) : $300 per person

Want to be a more knowledgeable—and more engaging—in teaching environment and ecology? Then join us for 4 days of exploring the natural habitats of western PA, discovering our region’s plants and animals along the way. Identify species in the field, employing the resources and strategies that naturalists use. Learn about important adaptations, and the roles that plants and animals play in a natural community. Each participant will receive ASWP’s Naturalist Backpack (a $225 value!).  Great for teachers, volunteers, amateur naturalists, and anyone interested in learning more about local habitats. ACT 48 credit available. Participants should dress to be outdoors in forests, fields and aquatic habitats, and bring a bag lunch each day.  Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve T,W,Th;  Friday at Todd Nature Reserve

June 12 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

 

June 13 (Thursday)

Fledglings (10am-11am): $2 member, $4 non-member

Give your 3-5 year old a head start on a lifetime of loving the outdoors. These naturalist-led programs incorporate stories, activities and a trail walk on seasonally appropriate topics. Parent or caregiver must be present.

 

June 19 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

June 22 (Saturday)

A Night in the Woods Outdoor Cocktail Party (7 – 10 pm): Special Event $125 per person

Spend a Night in the Woods under the stars at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. The elegant evening includes a signature cocktail, wonderful food, live music, and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and Shannon’s Camp Fund, which enriches the lives of area children by providing Audubon camp scholarships that spark a lifelong love of the natural world.

June 26 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

June 29 (Saturday)

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (10am-12pm)  Cost: Free, thanks to a grant from the Dominion Foundation

The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project is a long term study of the distribution, breeding and mortality rates of monarch butterflies.  Learn how this Citizen Science project engages people in observing and studying the milkweed habitat, and learn to identify all life stages of the Monarch butterfly in the field.  Appropriate for adults and interested older children.

 

July 3 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

July 6 (Saturday)

Discovery Hike and Scavenger Hunt (10am-12pm) Cost $6 member, $10non-member

There are hidden areas in our woods and places that most people never see. Join us for a unique scavenger hunt that will take us off the trodden path and into remote natural areas in search of tracks, bones, fungi, buck rubs, unique plants, flowers, rocks, and other quirky parts of nature. We will end with a fun craft to take home. Appropriate for families and children of all ages; parent or caregiver must be present.

 

 

July 7 (Sunday)

Native Plants to Attract Pollinators and Butterflies - Audubon Center for Native Plants (2-4pm) Cost: $6 member, $10 non-member

Learn how to increase butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects using native plants. Presentation will focus on landscape concepts that will help provide essential elements insects need to thrive. Each participant will pot up various native perennials to support their own insect garden.  

 

July 10 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

July 11 (Thursday)

Fledglings (10am-11am): $2 member, $4 non-member

Give your 3-5 year old a head start on a lifetime of loving the outdoors. These naturalist-led programs incorporate stories, activities and a trail walk on seasonally appropriate topics. Parent or caregiver must be present.

 

July 14 (Sunday)

Lost Ladybug Project (10am-12pm)  Cost: Free, thanks to a grant from the Dominion Foundation

Over the past twenty years, several native ladybugs have become extremely rare. Ladybugs from other places have greatly increased both their numbers and range, and some ladybugs are found in new places. We're asking you to join this Citizen Science Project aimed at finding out where all the ladybugs have gone so we can try to prevent more native species from becoming so rare. This session will teach participants how to identify different species of ladybugs and submit what they find to scientists.  Appropriate for all ages.

 

July 17 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

July 20 (Saturday)

Member Picnic (11 am - 2 pm)

 

July 24 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

July 31 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

August 1 (Thursday)

Babes in the Woods (10am-11am): $2 member, $4 non-member (Price per person)

Parents and toddlers (2 and under) will delight in using sight, sound, touch and smell to discover the natural world. These naturalist led programs incorporate seasonally appropriate topics. Parent or caregiver must be present. Strollers/Baby Backpacks welcome.

 

August 2 (Friday)

Night Hike  (9-10:30pm) Cost $6 member, $10 non-member

Delight in the activity of the night! After dark nocturnal animals will be out and familiar surroundings take on a new appeal. Join us as we explore Beechwood while it is lit only by the stars. Beechwood is normally closed at night so this is a rare opportunity. Appropriate for adults and interested older children.

 

August 3 (Saturday)

Naturalist Led Family Walkabout and Craft (10-12pm) Cost $6 member, $10 non-member

Take a walk on the trails to experience the easily found – and sometimes hidden- treasures, like wildflowers, joe -pye -weed, monarch larva, and caterpillars. During the walk we’ll collect plant materials and end with a fun craft using what we collected to create bookmarks. Appropriate for families and children of all ages; parent or caregiver must be present.

 

August 7 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

August 8 (Thursday)

Fledglings (10am-11am): $2 member, $4 non-member

Give your 3-5 year old a head start on a lifetime of loving the outdoors. These naturalist-led programs incorporate stories, activities and a trail walk on seasonally appropriate topics. Parent or caregiver must be present.

 

August 10 (Saturday)

Outdoor Adventure (10-12pm)  Cost: $6 member, $10 non-member

Do you have your outdoor gear!? Come for a hike that outfits you as you go. We’ll make a walking stick (out of sustainable birch wood) to help us along our path as we hike to a clearing. Then we’ll turn the end of our walking sticks into a whistle, attach a lanyard, and inlay a small compass. At the end of our hike you will take home a multiuse, field made, staff to use on your next adventure in the outdoors! Appropriate for all ages.

 

August 14 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

August 21 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)

 

August 28 (Wednesday)

Free Naturalist Led Hike (9am)