1. Trail Mix - New Riverfront Park -
First Town Hall
Thursday, April 19, 2007
5:30 PM at the Cork Factory (Strip District)
Come listen and ask questions as Councilmen Dave Fawcett and Jim Burn
discuss the creation of a county-wide riverfront park.
Click here for more information.
RSVP to
TownHall@ventureoutdoors.org
Keep an eye out for more Town Hall meetings to come!
2.
Banff Break-down
 The Banff Mountain Film Festival was more successful than the Venture
Outdoors Staff could have anticipated! Thursday night's attendance
was marked at over 1,000 while Friday night completely sold-out!
Thanks to all our sponsors (check
them out here), Holly from Banff, the folks at the Byham Theatre,
Arlene Blum for speaking on Friday, all of our friends in the media who
helped promote the event and most of all, our dedicated staff and
volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you!
Please help us evaluate the Festival by sending your feedback
at Banff@ventureoutdoors.org.
How was the length and pacing of each night?
What was your favorite film and why? What was your least favorite
film and why? Did you like the venue? We'd appreciate any
constructive comments you may have on Banff so we can make the event
even better next year.
3.
Voice of the Region/Outdoor Recreation
Survey Results
Thanks to all who
participated in the Campos: Voice of the Region Survey. You can
find the initial survey results at the link below:
Survey Results!
4. VO Trip Leader Social
Food, fun, and Trip
Leader Wannabes!
April 13, 2007
Riverview Park (North Shore)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
This is a special night for our dedicated Venture
Outdoors Trip Leaders. This is a great
opportunity to meet VO Staff, Trip Leader Council,
Board Members, and Trip Leaders. If you have any
friends or family members who are interested in
volunteering for VO, bring them along. Join us for
an evening of food and fun. We will provide a BBQ
style dinner with fixing’s, adult beverages, and
water. If you would like to bring one of your
favorite dishes to share with the gang, please feel
free. A night hike is also planned...before the
adult beverages are consumed, of course, so bring
your boots and a head lamp.
RSVP or questions direct to
Rob Walters, Program Manager
rwalters@ventureoutdoors.org
412-255-0564 x28
5.
Job Opportunities with VO
All Job opportunities at
www.ventureoutdoors.org/jobs.asp
Kayak/Canoe Attendants
Spring is here and Kayak Pittsburgh will soon be open for business!
Want to spend some time near the water? This seasonal job is for
you!
Trip Leader Specialist
Lead organized trips for our private programs, including the Youth
Outdoor Adventure Program (YOAP) and community/corporate groups.
Summer is our busy season...we need your help!
6. V.O. in the News
Check
out the latest about Venture Outdoors in the news.
See more press on our website.
Images of adventure (Arlene Blum and Banff)
Pittsburgh Tribune Review (Cover of The Ticket)
-Thursday, April 05, 2007
Mountain Movies (Banff)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Weekend Hotlist)
-Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Short List (Banff)
Pittsburgh City Paper
-Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Banff festival brings the great outdoors inside
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Weekend Mag)
-Thursday, March 29, 2007
Around the Fish and Boat Commission
VO's new fishing trailer (scroll down)
Pittsburgh Tribune Review (Outdoors)
-Sunday, March 25, 2007
7.
Venture Outdoors
Festival
Coming soon!
Saturday, May 19
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
North Shore near Heinz Field
This premiere outdoor festival is for
beginners and experts -
Anyone interested in learning more about outdoor
recreation in the Pittsburgh region.
Format: Day long festival with tons of
exciting activities for the whole family from
kayaking, canoeing, fishing, in-line skating,
biking, climbing and more!
www.ventureoutdoors.org/VOFest.asp
8. Outdoor
Announcements & Events
Get out your planners folks...
Special Events
Spring Gear Swap
Sunday, April 15th Noon - 4:00
Where: Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitter
Store located next to the railroad tracks in Ohiopyle PA. Call us with
any questions: 800-272-4141 or visit
www.wilderness-voyageurs.com for directions.
What: Any gear you have to swap or sell. Kayaks, Bikes, Skis, Gear,
Clothing, etc.....
Why: Clean out your closets! Hang out with us. Enjoy a beverage
or two. Use the excuse to paddle or hike in Ohiopyle.
How: Bring your goods down and sell sell sell...WV has nothing to
do with the sales, we're just a host.
800-272-4141
wilderness-voyageurs.com
Future Events - Save the Date!
September 7th VO Day at PNC Park: Pirates vs. Cubs.
Craft Beer School
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will be holding craft beer schools. These
will be held at the Cabaret at Theater Square. Our friends from
Vecenie Distributing,
who provide the beer at our beer tasting hikes, will be teaching the
classes.
April 17 - 102: American Craft Beers
May 5 - 103: European Specialty Beers
June 19 - 104: Wheat Bier
Find out more about this series from
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. For tickets call 412-456-6666.
If you are attending this series please contact Rob Walters at
412-255-0564, ext. 28 or
rwalters@ventureoutdoors.org.
Environment/Health/Community
Sense of Wonder--Play by Kaiulani Lee
Sunday, April 15th 5:00pm
Richard E. Rauh Theater
in Shadyside Academy's Hillman Center for Performing Arts.
The Garden Club of Allegheny County begins their celebration of the
Rachel Carson Centennial with a special performance of Kaiulani Lee's A
Sense of Wonder. This one-woman play portrays Rachel Carson, her love
for the natural world, and her fight to defend it. A reception with
Kaiulani Lee will follow the performance. For more information contact
Cindy Tilson at (412)741-7114.
Environmental Book Club
First Monday of the month
7:30pm
Borders Book Store on McKnight Road in North Hills
We usually hang out at the comfy chairs near the science section behind
the music. It is not compulsory to have read the book or bought the book
here. The discussion is informal and often fun. Borders also makes these
books available to us at 20% discount.
Our next books are: Monday, March 5: The Death of Nature by Bill
McKibben Monday, April 2: 1491 by Charles C. Mann (through p. 228)
Monday, May 7: 1491 (p. 229 to end)
Preregistration is not required but if you have questions you can
contact
Kim Metheny
kmetheny@hotmail.com.
5,000,000 Steps for a Cure
Mark Shaffer is currently attempting a thru hike of
the Appalachian Trail in memory of his nephew Eric, who lost his battle
to leukemia a year before. His goal is to raise $20 for each mile
walked. If you would like to support Mark's endeavor to raise funds for
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit his website:
www.fivemillionsteps.org. You can also track Mark's progress on the AT
through his blog at
http://fivemillionsteps.org/trailjournal/
Clean-Up/Trails
3rd
Annual PA Greenways & Trails Summit
May 3-5, 2007
Historic Mountain View Inn
Greensburg, PA
Featuring Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive educational and training
program for trails and greenways at a very reasonable cost of $99 for
the full summit registration.
For more information and to register go to
http://www.prps.org/pdf/07-2-26GWTSummit07.pdf or call 814-234-4272.
Great Allegheny Passage
The trail from Pittsburgh to DC is now complete!
Click here for the Pop City article.
9.
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.
To join, contact Mila
Nguyen,
mnguyen@ventureoutdoors.org.
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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I. The Venture Outdoors
Activity Spotlight
Here are some trips that you'll really enjoy.
Sunday, April 15
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Quest
Completing all 70 miles of the Laurel Highlands
Hiking Trail is one of the ultimate outdoor
challenges that Western Pennsylvania has to offer.
Kenn Howard leads you through seven separate
day-hikes to complete the entire LHHT. The pace will
be moderate but since we will average 10 miles per
hike, we require that participants be in good
physical shape. This first hike will be the toughest
so be sure you are ready! You’re welcome to do any
one or more of these hikes, and if you do all seven
of them, you will earn special bonus awards, to be
announced. Sign up for all the hikes at the
beginning and VO will discount all seven.
Location: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
Time: 7:45 AM
Cost: $8.00 member, $12.00 non-member
Saturday, April 21
Beer Tasting Hikes
We'll walk 2-3 miles of scenic trails and learn
about the natural history of one of our local parks.
The hike will be followed by an exotic sampling of
hand picked beers. Cheese and crackers and other
light snacks will accompany the hearty selection of
hops & barley beverages. Minimum age 21.
Location: North Park
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 member. $30.00 non-member
Saturday, April 21
Star Party Hike
Join us for an evening hike at Deer Lakes Park
followed by stargazing in a large open meadow at the
top of a gentle hill with excellent views to all
horizons. The Amateur Astronomers Association of
Pittsburgh will be along with their telescope
equipment to offer their expertise and guidance.
Whether you bring your significant other or a
telescope, this will surely be an unforgettable
night.
Location: Deer Lakes Park
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Cost: $10.00 member/$15.00 non-member
Sunday, April 22
Pop -n- Virginia Bluebells
Come and enjoy an old fashioned walk in spectacular
Harrison Hills Park. This 500+ acre park offers
beautiful vista's, trees, wildlife, streams,
waterfalls, and…wildflowers. This time of year the
park displays a field of Virginia Bluebells. After
the hike, we will enjoy snacks and samples of
Natrona Bottling Company's locally micro-crafted
soft drinks. Does Plantation Style Root Beer or
Pennsylvania Punch Soda sound tasty? Then join us
for this one-of-a-kind day.
Location: Harrison Hills Park
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $12.00 member/$18.00 non-member
II. Words of Inspiration
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm..."
"April
hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
~William Shakespeare
III. Venture
Outdoors Activities
For more information
on any of our activities visit our website
www.ventureoutdoors.org.
Wednesday, April 11
Doggie First Aid Clinic
Location: Venture Outdoors Office
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $20.00 member/$35.00 non-member
Thursday, April 12
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Location: Fall Run
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member/$14.00 non-member
Saturday, April 14 Activities
Day Treks
Location: McConnell's Mill State Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Doggie First Aid Hike
Location: Linn Run State Park
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $20.00 member/$35.00 non-member
Intro to Kayaking: Get in, Get wet, Get
comfortable! *Cancelled*
Location: Sarah Heinz House, Northside
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $12.00 member/$15.00 non-member
Sunday, April 15 Activities
Wilderness Survival *Sold Out*
Location: South Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $35.00 member/$45.00 non-member
Birding
Location: Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Quest
*Spotlight Activity!*
Saturday, April 21 Activities
Star Party Hike
*Spotlight Activity!*
Beer Tasting Hikes
*Spotlight Activity!*
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
Sunday, April 22 Activities
Leave No Trace - Trainer Course
Location: Raccoon Creek State Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Cost: $10.00 member/$15.00 non-member
Organization: Venture Outdoors
Pop -n- Virginia Bluebells
*Spotlight Activity!*
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. |
IV. What's Goin' On?
More action-packed activities from groups all
around the region. If you or your organization wants
to contribute an event to this section of Contours,
email
tchicka@ventureoutdoors.org for more
information.
EARTH DAY Weekend Activities!
Friday, April 20
Rachel Carson Legacy Challenge: green steps to a
sustainable future
Location: Senator John Heinz History Center
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $50.00
Rachel Carson Homestead
Association
Saturday, April 21 Activities
Stream Sweep
RSVP by emailing
jessy@ninemilerun.org.
Location: Lower parking lot of Frick Park off
Lancaster Ave entrance
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nine Mile Run Watershed
Association
Beechwood Birding Series
Location: Beechwood Farms Nature reserve
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Audubon Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Todd Sanctuary Program on Flowers
Location: Todd Nature Reserve
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon
Cost: $3
Audubon Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Earth Day Birding Outing
Location: Frick Park
Time: 7:30 AM
Audubon Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Scout Badge Day and Planet Party
Location: Beechwood Farms Nature reserve
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon
Cost: $5
Audubon Society of Western
Pennsylvania
Sunday, April 22
Birding Outing
Location: Boyce-Mayview Park
Time: 7:30 AM
Audubon Society of Western
Pennsylvania
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