ASWP Events Calendar
September thru December 2010

SEPTEMBER

Fledglings: Cricket Cacophony
Thursday, September 9
Discover crickets, those evening music-makers that add to the music of a summer’s night.
Ages: 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present
$8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am-11:15 am
Registration required

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Family WalkAbout: Seed Spectacular Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, September 12
Parachutes, helicopters, hitchhikers. . . can you find examples of these seed types and more before time runs out‌ Prizes awarded to families who complete their mission!
Ages: All
$2 for members; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Adult Eco-Series: Seeds, Nuts and Berries
Saturday, September 18
Discover the many seed packages found in nature and learn to identify the trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that produce them.
Ages: Adults
$2 for members; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am--12:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Agaricus in Pennsylvania and Everywhere Else
Tuesday, September 21
Agaricus, genus of the common button mushroom, is notorious for its diversity and tricky identification. Rick Kerrigan, Director of Research for Sylvan Mushrooms, and expert in the study of Agaricus will provide an update on the genus and explain how new DNA sequencing is making identification easier by providing commonality between current species, European species, and old American names.
Ages: All
Free
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
7:00 pm

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Applejamm
Saturday, September 25
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.
Ages: All
Free
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am-4:00 pm

OCTOBER

Perspectives on Penn’s Woods
Saturday, October 9
Conservationist Aldo Leopold made it his goal to “teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands.” Using activities from The Leopold Education Project—Lessons in a Land Ethic, we 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 curriculum guide, a copy of Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, and supplemental resources. Participants should bring a bag lunch, and dress for indoor and outdoor activity. Act 48 hours apply.
Audience: Educators and Interested Adults
$50 (6 Act 48 hours)
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
9:00 am--3:00 pm
Reservations required

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Scout Badge Day
Saturday, October 9
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. Audience: Scouts with Troop Leaders
$6.00 per scout. Full payment required to hold reservation.
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am—12:00 pm or 1:00 pm—3:00 pm
Registration opens September 1; Space is limited and fills quickly

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Family WalkAbout: Fall Foliage Hike
Sunday, October 10
Immerse yourself in the colors of autumn while learning to identify trees through their foliage.
Ages: All
$2 for members; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Fledglings: Snoozing and Snoring
Thursday, October 14
It’s time to settle in for a long winter’s nap . . . but which animals actually do that‌ Learn about hibernation and other winter adaptations.
Ages: 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present
$8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am-11:15 am
Registration required

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Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Election of Officers & Open Forum
Tuesday, October 19
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.
Ages: All
Free
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
7:00 pm

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Creatures of the Night
Friday, October 22 or Saturday, October 23
Delight in our annual non-scary Halloween experience and trick-or-treat with the animals. Fireflies guide you on our trails to encounter larger-than-life nocturnal creatures. Hear the hoot of Great Horned Owl, observe the acrobatics of Flying Squirrel, go batty with Little Brown Bat, play 'possum with Opossum, and create a stink with Skunk*! The Grim Keeper may also make an appearance! Crafts and refreshments provided. Come in costume for twice the fun! *creatures vary.
Ages: All
$6 per member; $10 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
6:30 pm or 7:30 pm
Registration required

NOVEMBER

Adult Eco-Series: Project Feeder Watch
Saturday, November 6
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.
Ages: Adults
$2 per member; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Fledglings: Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 11
Your little polts will learn about wild turkeys, and track them through the Reserve.
Ages: 3-5 years of age, with an adult or caregiver present
$8 per member pair; $10 per non-member pair
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am-11:15 am
Registration required

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Celebrate Birds!
Saturday, November 13
Need a topic of study that will grab your students and provide you with connections across the curriculum‌ Take wing! Our feathered friends are just outside the window, and they are a great way to bring outdoor learning into the classroom in fun and engaging ways. We will focus on activities from Flying Wild: An Educator’s Guide to Celebrating Birds, as well as additional activities and resources from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and other sites. You will receive the Flying Wild guide as part of the workshop. Please bring a bag lunch, and dress for indoor and outdoor activity. Act 48 hours apply.
Audience: Educators (Upper Elementary—Middle School) and Interested Adults
$50 (6 Act 48 Hours)
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
9:00 am—3:00 pm
Registration required

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Family WalkAbout: Winter Bird Hike
Sunday, November 14
Discover Beechwood’s avian residents and winter migrants, and practice for the 2010 Christmas Bird Count!
Ages: All
$2 for members; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club: Cooking with Mushrooms
Tuesday, November 16
Learn simple techniques for cooking wild mushrooms.
Ages: All
Free
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
7:00 pm

DECEMBER

Adult Eco-Series: Evergreen Ecology
Saturday, December 4
Why do some plants possess functioning leaves during the winter, and how do they combat the elements to survive the season‌ Investigate the structure and function of evergreens and discover them above—and below—the snow!
Ages: Adults
$2 per member; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Family WalkAbout: Winter Tree ID
Sunday, December 5
Learn how to identify common trees without the need to see their leaves!
Ages: All
$2 for members; $5 per nonmember
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel
2:00 pm--4:00 pm
Reservations requested

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Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop for Boy Scouts
All About Birds Interest Project Workshop for Girl Scouts
Saturday, December 11
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.
Audience: Eagle Scout candidates and Cadette/Senior Girl Scouts
$20 per scout
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Fox Chapel, 9:00 am—4:00 pm
Registration required