The Bi-Weekly e-Newsletter of Venture Outdoors Inc.
304 Forbes Ave, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
For Information and Registration 412-255-0564 (M-F 9-5) or www.ventureoutdoors.org
Welcome to the Outdoors!
What's in this issue? (Left Column)
1. Trail Mix: Feathered Philharmonic
2. Venture Outdoors Membership Corner
3. Call for Volunteers
4. Lectures with a View
5. Outdoor Announcements and Events (Special Events, Environment/Health, Racing/Long Distance Treks, Job/Volunteer Postings, Clean-Up/Trail Maintenance Volunteering)
Even More Fun Stuff: (Right Column)
I. Support VO (Dine & Donate, iGive)
II. Venture Outdoors Activity Spotlight
(Birding, Chocolate Tasting Hike, Nature Hike)
III. Banff Film Festival
IV. V.O. in the News
V. Venture Outdoors Activity Listing
VI. Venture Outdoors Festival
VII. TEAM VO MS150 Biking
VIII. Inspirations (Henry Van Dyke)
IX. What's Goin' On?
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1.
Trail Mix - Feathered Philharmonic
Welcome to Trail Mix, a Zip-lock bagful of VO-related fun facts, links and puzzlers,
served up fresh with every issue of Contours. Look for helpful information on everything outdoors
along with other interesting tidbits that enhance your awareness and well-being (and your funny bone too).
Name that Tune...er, Bird
Size, shape, color, habitat, diet...there are
many ways to identify birds. But possibly
the most distinct trademark of birds is their call or song.
Why do birds sing? Mostly, it is A) to establish/protect territory, and B) to attract a mate, though specific implications are still a mystery.
How do they do it? Birds are capable of producing the most complex sounds over any animal in the world, including humans.
Birds have a "voice box" much like humans called a syrinx, only it is placed lower in the body (as if the human larynx were positioned in the chest).
This syrinx is also double-barreled, like having two instruments and playing each with a separate lung!
Recognizing bird sounds is one way to identify birds. There are archives of bird sounds at
your local library or on the
internet.
Take a listen, and then attend a Birding outing (see Activity Spotlight), where you'll learn more about
singling out local bird species. Also visit the
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania website for more birding opportunities.
Puzzler...(see the answer at the bottom of the email)
Follow the link below to a .mp3 file of a particular bird call,
can you guess what it is? (be sure to turn up your speaker!):
Name that bird!
For folks unable to hear audio files, here's a common mnemonic phrasing of the same bird call:
cheerily, cheer up. Mnemonics can help in remembering which bird goes with which bird call.
2. Venture Outdoors
Membership Corner
Sign up for Membership today and pledge your support to outdoor recreation!
Put yourself in the center of the action! We make it easy for you to become a member with
Venture Outdoors TODAY. Members receive discounts on the hundreds of activities with Venture Outdoors
throughout the year, discounts from local merchants, priority listing on activity waiting lists and
subscriptions to Contours and Adventure Times as well as providing support for the organization that
means so much to you. Read on for some of the great things that come along with Venture Outdoors membership,
and to join, click here!
Become a V.O. Member!
Discover the advantages of a Venture Outdoors membership...call today!
412-255-0564, ext. 26
Or, click here.
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3. Call for Volunteers
We need a little help here!
General Volunteers
Do you have some time to spare during the week?
If so, we would be happy to include you in our ever-growing family of volunteers. Venture Outdoors staff is in need of volunteers for data entry, mailings and premium shipments as well as various office assistance during regular business hours (M-F, 9-5).
Can't commit to the weekdays? We are always looking for volunteers for our exciting events such as the
Banff Film Festival and Venture Outdoors Festival. Please contact Allison Ruppert at 412-255-0564, ext. 26 or aruppert@ventureoutdoors.org today.
Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance
with the Pittsburgh Trail Advocacy Group
Bring: tools, water and lunch, gloves, and appropriate clothes.
Next Date and Location: Sunday, April 2 - Hazelwood
For general information, email trail@bike-pgh.org
4. Lectures with a View
at the Schenley Park Visitor Center
Mother Nature finds a voice this spring in the
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy's
free lecture series,
Schenley Park Lunchtime Series: Lectures with a View.
The 6-week series features speakers on local history, environment, outdoor adventure and art, and is co-sponsored by Venture Outdoors.
Thursdays at Noon (30 min.) at Schenley Park Visitor Center
The Schenley Park Café will be serving gourmet sandwiches, salads, desserts and coffees.
For more information, call 412-682-7275.
March 23 - A Green Vision for East Liberty
Eric Jester, associate project manager,
and Nathan Wildfire, development assistant,
East Liberty Development Inc.
March 30 - Fierce Friends: How artists have used animals to represent humans' connection with nature
Debbie Starling-Pollard, community liaison,
Carnegie Museum of Art
April 6 - The Return of the Natives:
Local folks restoring urban landscapes
Mary Beth Steisslinger, restoration coordinator,
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
April 13 - The Geology of Pittsburgh's City Parks
(Guided Walk to follow)
Albert Kollar, geologist, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
5. Outdoor Announcements & Events
Get out your planners folks...
Special Events
"Water: An Endangered Resource"
Documentary to air on PBS...with an appearance from V.O.'s own Sean Brady!
Scheduled to air: Sunday, April 23rd at 5:00 PM
WQED, channel 13, in Pittsburgh
Opening celebration of Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County
Opening Saturday, May 27th!
Visit the ATA website for more information.
10th Annual Outdoor Extravaganza
Memorial Day Weekend May 26-29, 2006
Base camp at Breakneck Campground
(Near McConnell's Mill & Moraine State Park)
Sponsored by Butler Outdoor Club
We have a weekend full of various outdoor activities:
road bike trips, bike trail trips, mountain biking, canoeing or kayaking on lakes or
streams, caving, sailing on Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park, rock climbing and rappelling
at McConnell's Mill State Park, horseback riding and various kinds of hikes.
For more information:
contact Joyce Appel at 724-526-5407 or joyceappel@arm-tek.net
Environment/Health
Explorer's Club and White Rocks
The purchase price of White Rocks is nearly $725,000 dollars, and we have secured all but $85,000! We must show the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy that we can raise that money in the very near future or we will lose this once-in-a-lifetime chance! When the purchase of White Rocks is complete:
· Over 800 acres will be put into public trust
· Mining and drilling will be prohibited
· Critical environmental habitat will be protected
· Rock climbing, hiking, hunting, fishing are just a few of the recreational opportunities that will be available to the public
All contributions are being collected through the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and are tax-deductible. Please make the most generous donation you can. And thank you!
Health and the Environment in the Valley
When: Saturday, April 8, 2006, 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Where: Penn State New Kensington Campus, 3550 Seventh Street Road, New Kensington, PA 15068
Taking Precautions: Understanding the Connections Between Environment and Health
-Ellen Dorsey Ph.D., The Heinz Endowments
For more information and to register, please call the
Rachel Carson Homestead Association at (724) 274-5459
or e-mail us.
This event is co-sponsored with the
Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation.
Racing/Long Distance Treks
Grass Roots Racing
The Lonestar
Saddle up partners! It's time to find out who is the most fit in the field.
This is an adventure race with a twist. Compete as a team, but score as an individual. Just like cross country. Unlimited teams can compete with only their first two finishers counting toward the team total—1st place receives 1 point, 2nd place 2 points, etc. Low score wins. Racers are not required to travel together and—in fact—are encouraged to race individually to "push the pace". This is a great opportunity for larger teams to determine their "A" team for the Sprint Series.
Location: Riverview Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: April 1st, 2006
For more information on this race and others, check out
www.rootsrace.com
Fineview 'Step Up to the Challenge' 5K
May 7, 2006
This year marks the exciting Eleventh Anniversary of the challenging Fineview 5K Race.
This race is a challenging 5K, perhaps the most challenging around, and we are hoping you
are up for it!
Entry Details:
Participation is open to anyone and includes entry by peoples of all ages.
Prizes are offered according to age groups. Teams are also encouraged to register for
the race. You and/or your team can download the online application form and race map at
our website www.onefineview.org/stepathon.htm.
Registration is only $15 before April 22nd and is $20 any time after.
The entry fee includes a certificate and T-shirt for every participant.
2006 Yockatomac Trek
*The final itinerary and registration forms are now available!*
http://yockatomac.org/yocktrek06/2006brochure.htm
The 2006 Y-Trek dates have been set for June 17 to June 25.
We will be leaving Washington, DC early Saturday afternoon on June 17th and arriving in
McKeesport, PA a little before noon for a closing picnic celebration of the trek on
Sunday June 25th. It has alway been an enjoyable and interesting ride, and this year
there's only about eight miles of Great Allegheny Passage trail left to be completed from
Cumberland through McKeesport.
For more information, check out the ATA website or join the Yoktrek mailing list:
Send an email to join-yoktrek@listserver.atatrail.org. The system will send an e-mail asking for confirmation. To actually join the list one must reply to this confirmation request.
Cycling Events
The
Mercer County Trails Association, Inc. are sponsoring the following events in Greenville, PA:
Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 - Tour of Mercer County
Saturday, September 16th, 2006 - Pedal the Lakes
For more information, visit www.mctrails.org
Job/Volunteer Postings
Environmental Scholarship
PA CleanWays is accepting applications for the Sue Wiseman Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship that honors a youth who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to the environment.
The deadline for applications is May 1.
For more information, visit the
PA CleanWays website
or call 724-836-4121.
Environmental Program Specialist
The Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc. is seeking a highly motivated, energetic, outgoing,
self-starter capable of working independently for a 40 hour/week program specialist position
in its Pittsburgh regional office. The position would involve the design and implementation
of a commercial recycling campaign targeting Downtown businesses.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to:
David Mazza, Regional Director
Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc.
64 S. 14th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Or davem@ccicenter.org
No phone calls please!
SCA - Outdoor Leaders Wanted!!
Spend the summer living and working outdoors leading a Student Conservation Association conservation crew.
Send resume and cover letter by fax or email or call for more details.
(412) 325-1851 phone
(412) 325-1856 fax
threerivers@thesca.org
Clean-up/Trail Maintenance Volunteering
Get Mudluscious!
Mildreds' Daughters Urban Farm's
first Weed 'n Feed of the year!
Saturday, April 1st, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Celebrating the start of our 7th year on the land
Our first day of ownership was April 1, 1999
Bless the opening of our straw bale building
Bring gloves and tools for weeding
We'll have a country meal for the feeding
More info: 412-799-0833 or 412-999-4209
Mount Washington Cleanup
On Saturday, April 1st the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh (ECP) will be working with
the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation (CDC) to hold their annual Mount
Washington Cleanup.
Experienced rock climbers and mountaineers from the club will be using their climbing skills
and equipment to safely remove garbage from the steep slopes of Mount Washington along Grandview
Avenue.
Additional volunteers are being sought to help climb over the mountainside and remove garbage
from 9 am until noon. Free food will be provided, plus a post-cleanup party to be held for
volunteers. Those interested in volunteering with the cleanup should contact the ECP's Matt Tolbert
at (412) 687-4354 or drt42@aol.com.
Earth Day Trail Clean-up...
...for the Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County
on April 22th.
Everyone is welcome to help. Crews will be meeting at Rockwood and Meyersdale at 8:00 AM that day to organize and be assigned specific sections of the Passage.
Help remove 3 illegal dumpsites
This cleanup is registered as part of the
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great Pennsylvania Cleanup! and organized by
PA CleanWays in cooperation with
The Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program.
Contact: Michelle Dunn, PA CleanWays 1-877-772-3673 or
mdunn@pacleanways.org with any questions and to participate. Please call to register.
Dress for safety: Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, long pants, and work gloves.
For volunteers age 12-17, call PA CleanWays for participation requirements.
Lunch and drinks will be provided.
Route 221 and Route 18
in Prosperity, Morris Twp., Washington County
When: Saturday, April 22, 2006 at 9:00 AM.
Where: Meet at the large gravel pull off on Route 221 and Route 18
across from Morris Twp. Park.
Warrior Ridge
Road South of Petersburg, Huntingdon County
When: Sunday, April 23, 2006 at 12:00 noon.
Rain date: Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 12:00 noon.
Where: Meet at Warrior Ridge Dam off of Warrior Ridge Road.
Reiber & Frogtown Roads
When: Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 9:00am.
Rain date: Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 9:00am.
Where: Meet at Reiber & Frogtown Roads
Route 318 to Reiber Rd. to Frogtown Rd.
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I. Support VO
Two easy ways to Help!
Dine & Donate with VO & Eat'n Park
To download the flyer, click here.
From March 16 to April 30, present
this flyer to any
Eat'n Park location
and they will donate 10% of your check to Venture Outdoors.
One flyer per check...there is no limit to how many times you can participate.
Do your online shopping through iGive and support Venture Outdoors!
That's right, go head and buy something for yourself or a friend – a new CD, the latest
bestseller, essentials like toothpaste or vitamins, even a computer. But first join at
www.iGive.com/VentureOutdoors.
Every time you shop at one of the over 600 name-brand stores
in the Mall at iGive.com, we'll receive a donation of up to 26% of each purchase you make,
at no cost to you. Membership is free and your privacy is guaranteed.
Contact Allison with any questions about these great programs: aruppert@ventureoutdoors.org
Thanks for supporting Venture Outdoors!
Boldly Go!
Adventure Reigns at the Omnimax
Looking for adventure? Breathtaking landscapes? Life and death drama? Visit the
Rangos Omnimax Theater at
Carnegie Science Center to boldly go where few have gone before.
Everest returns to the Omnimax on April 7. It's the dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy...
Read more...
Also playing:
Mystery of the Nile - On Christmas day 2003, a team of explorers set out on an epic quest to become the first to complete a full descent of the world's greatest river...
Read more...
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon - ...only 12 men have experienced the feeling of walking on extra-terrestrial ground. Feel what they felt and see what they saw...
Read more...
For specific playing times, visit
www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org. Carnegie Science Center is located on Pittsburgh's North Shore next to Heinz Field. Free parking.
Special deal for Venture Outdoors members:
Show your membership card and receive $1 off of
these exciting Omnimax films. Please call 412-255-0564, ext. 26
or e-mail
aruppert@ventureoutdoors.org
if you need a new card or to renew your membership today.
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II. The Venture Outdoors
Activity Spotlight
Check it out!
Dates and Locations:
Sunday, April 2 - Boyce-Mayview Park
Sunday, April 9 - Harrison Hills
Birding
Join us for an outing of bird watching around the Pittsburgh area. Michelle Dunn will teach the basics of bird watching as you enjoy a leisurely hike to observe local birds and, if we are lucky, migrating birds too. Various habitats such as grasslands, woodlands and marshes will be hiked.
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Cost: $8.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Saturday, April 8 Activities
Chocolate Tasting Hike
Imagine the subtle flavor of milk chocolate and then the intense flavor of dark chocolate as they melt over your tongue. If you can identify with this vision you need to join us on our Chocolate Hike in Riverview Park. We will walk for 2-3 miles then meet at a leader's house for taste testing delicacies brought to us by The Chocolate Moose.
Location: Riverview Park
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $12 member/$15 non-member/$8 kids
Nature Walk: Salamanders,
Frog Singing and Vernal Ponds
An excursion into and around springtime habitats of amphibians, which are a specialty of naturalist Terry Laux. Focus species will be wood frogs, spotted salamanders, spring peepers and their eggs. Specimens will be on hand for guaranteed viewing!
Location: Beaver Run, Apollo area
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: $12 member/$15 non-member/$8 kids
Have you ever "spotted" a Spotted Salamander?
For a complete listing
of activities,
check out our website: www.ventureoutdoors.org.
III. Banff Film Festival
600 tickets sold already!
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Thursday, April 13
AND
Friday, April 14
7:00 PM, Byham Theatre
Pre-party at Bossa Nova
The best in outdoor adventure films
is coming to town again…now for TWO nights, with different
films showing each night! Venture Outdoors and title sponsor
Mountain Dreams
are pleased to present this year's festival, which
includes stunning international film productions on mountain themes ranging from mountaineering
to ice and rock climbing to snowboarding to wildlife environmental issues and unique cultural
encounters.
For the last 3 years, we have SOLD OUT.
Order tickets today! Call 412-255-0564.
Click here for more details on this great event.
IV. V.O.
in the News
Check out the latest about Venture Outdoors in the news media:
3-02-06 Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Brew Crew...)
2-27-06 Pittsburgh LIVE (...warm-up after hike)
1-17-06
Pittsburgh LIVE (Why Walk?)
12-21-05
Cranberry Journal (Snowshoeing)
12-06-05 Pittsburgh LIVE (Snow days)
Posing with the Plants
V.
The Venture Outdoors
Activity Listing
So much to do, so little time...
Saturday, April 1 Activities
Day Trek
Location: Ohiopyle State Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $8.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Map & Compass
Location: Riverview Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 member/$35.00 non-member
Sunday, April 2 Activities
Birding
*Activity Spotlight!*
Intro to Kayaking:
Get in, Get wet, Get comfortable!
Location: Sarah Heinz House, Northside
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $12.00 member/$15.00 non-member
Thursday, April 6
All Terrain Evening Hikes - Spring Series
Location: City of Pittsburgh;
North Side, Point, Mt. Washington
***bring $1.75 correct change for incline***
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member/$12.00 non-member
Friday, April 7
ACA Sea Kayak Strokes and Rescue Class
Location: Kingsley Association and Loyalhanna Lake
Time: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Cost: $120.00 member/$120.00 non-member
Saturday, April 8 Activities
Chocolate Tasting Hike
*Activity Spotlight!*
Fly-Fishing: Intro 1
Location: Ohiopyle
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $50.00 member/$60.00 non-member
Nature Walk: Salamanders,
Frog Singing and Vernal Ponds
*Activity Spotlight!*
Sunday, April 9 Activities
Birding
*Activity Spotlight!*
Day Trek
Location: Bear Run Nature Reserve
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $8.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Thursday, April 13 - Friday, April 14
Banff Film Festival
*See Details Above*
VI. Venture Outdoors Festival
Save the Date!
V.O. Festival
Saturday, May 20, 2006
FREE Activities including: Biking, Kayaking, Dragon Boats, River Tours, Kids' Activities and much more!
North Shore - Downtown Pittsburgh
VII. TEAM VO MS150 Biking
There is still time to join!
For more details, click here.
Email Team Captain Jeanette Tuttle-Hamer at tutham@earthlink.net to discuss the details and training for TEAM VO!
VIII. Words of Inspiration
Things that make you go: hmmm...
"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
- Henry Van Dyke
IX. What's Goin' On?
More action-packed activities from groups all around the region.
Wednesday, March 29
Adventure Racing 101
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: Free
Organization: REI
Saturday, April 22
The 2006 Indiana Open Disc Golf Tournament
PDGA Sanctioned C-Tier Event
Location: IUP College Lodge Disc Golf Course
Cost: Free
Organization: Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society
Sunday, April 23
The 2006 Ironwood Disc Golf Tournament
PDGA Sanctioned B-Tier Event
Location: Moraine State Park Golf Course
Cost: Free
Organization: Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society
Complete Listings at www.ventureoutdoors.org
Questions?
Call us 412-255-0564
Contours is an e-newsletter of
Venture Outdoors and is published every two
weeks.
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