1. Trail Mix - Women of Pittsburgh
 March is Women's History month
and Pittsburgh has a lot of famous females to boast...
Rachel Carson,
who brought environmental ethics to the forefront of the nation's
conscience is one of many wonderful Pittsburgh women of the past.
Find out more about the great women of Pittsburgh!
Sign up for the Women of the Pittsburgh Walk this Saturday.
Also check out more women of Pittsburgh on
Visit Pittsburgh's website.
Click here for more events during Women's history month.
2. Call for Volunteers
We need a little help here!
Home &
Garden Show is on!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Venture Outdoors will have an information
booth at this year's Home and Garden Show, which is set for March 9th
- March 18th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
WE NEED YOUR HELP to volunteer a bit of your time for one of our many
available shifts. You'll be passing out Venture Outdoors information and
chatting with visitors to our booth. What's in it for you?
First of all, you'll get FREE ADMISSION to the Home and Garden Show. As
if that wasn't enough, you’ll also get 1 FREE HOUR of Kayak Pittsburgh
kayaking for each shift that you volunteer! Feeling ambitious? For every
person you refer to volunteer for Venture Outdoors, you will receive
another free hour of kayaking!
Shifts are as follows:
Fri. 3/9: 10-1, 1-4, 4-7, & 7-10
Sat. 3/10: 10-1, 4-7, & 7-10
Sun. 3/11: 10-2 & 2-6
Tues. 3/13: 7-10
Wed. 3/14: 7-10
Thurs. 3/15: 4-7 & 7-10
Fri. 3/16: 1-4, 4-7, & 7-10
Sat. 3/17: 10-1, 4-7, & 7-10
Sun. 3/18: 10-2 & 2-6
Shifts are filling fast!
To sign up, contact Becca Malena by emailing
rmalena@ventureoutdoors.org,
or at 412-255-0564 x29
3. Outdoor
Announcements & Events
Get out your planners folks...
Special Events
 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6
7:00 PM
Byham Theater
For more information visit,
www.ventureoutdoors.org/banfffilmfest.asp
The best in outdoor adventure films is coming to town again!
Venture Outdoors is 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 tickets, please call Venture Outdoors at 412-255-0564
OR contact the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Box Office:
www.pgharts.org
412-456-6666 OR at your next visit to
REI
Also, check out the special pre-event on Friday with renown climber,
author, and speaker Arlene Blum!
Guest Speaker Arlene Blum (www.arleneblum.com)
with Wine and Cheese Reception and Book-signing
Friday, April 6
Location: Byham Theatre
Schedule:
4:30 PM - Arlene Blum's presentation,
with Wine & Cheese reception to follow
6:00 PM - Book-signing
Cost: Included in Friday Night's Ticket Price!!
Brought to you by:
The
Center for Environmental Oncology of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer
Institute
Craft Beer School
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will be holding craft beer schools. There will be a preview on February 20
at the Cabaret at Theater Square. Our friends from
Vecenie Distributing, who provides
the beer at our beer tasting hikes,
will be teaching the classes. The rest of the series will be:
March 20 - 101: Ales vs. Lagers
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.
Fly Tying Nights
by
Wilderness Voyageurs
What?: Join Dale Kotowski for Fly Tying Nights. We have some supplies,
but feel free to bring your own. Share patterns and tips or learn new
ones.
When?: Beginning November 1st, every other Wednesday
night at 6:30 PM
Where?: Falls City Restaurant and Pub
For more information: Contact Wilderness Voyageurs at
724-329-8336.
Environment/Health/Community
REI to receive LEED-CI
Silver Certification
REI Pittsburgh, 412 S. 27th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Thursday, March 1st from 4:30pm – 5pm
REI is excited to announce that on March 1st at 4:30 pm Rebecca Flora,
the Executive Director of the Green Building Alliance, will present to
REI a commemorative plaque in honor of achieving a LEED-CI Silver
Certification for leadership in energy and environmental design.
Contact:
Peter Greninger
(412) 488-9410
pgrenin@rei.com
Outdoor-themed Art classes at PCA
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts spring classes will run
March 26 through May 22.
Adult classes
Writing About Your Senses with Lisa Chewning (creative writing)
Balms, Butter and Lotions with Adriane Pacella (mixed media)
Organism Priting with Brian Goff (photography)
Field Sketching with Robert Huckestein (drawing)
Chinese Lanters with Kelly Young (mixed media)
Copper Sculpture Workshop with Melissa Davenport (sculpture)
Children's classes
Flower Power (ages 4-6)
Spring Into Art (ages 4-6)
Draw, Paint and Sculpt Wildlife (ages 10-14)
Workshops for ages 9 and up (children under 12 must be
accompanied by an adult)
Japanese Fish Printing with Sharon Wilson-Wilcox
Kite Making with Con Engels
For more information and a listing of all of our spring classes,
click:http://www.pittsburgharts.org/school/spring07.html
or call 412-361-0455
Photo by Tricia Chicka
The "VO Dog" Hanna (pictured here at the Member's Day Party at Ohiopyle) was found
by Trip Leader Judd Crosby during a Venture Outdoors trip this past
year. At the Member's Party, this smart doggie recovered a camera
this unfortunate photographer had dropped on her way to catch up with a
group of cross-country skiers.
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
Starting March 17, 2006, Mark Shaffer will be 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
Great Allegheny Passage
The trail from Pittsburgh to DC is now complete!
Click here for the Pop City article.
4.
Job Opportunities with VO
All Job opportunities at
www.ventureoutdoors.org/jobs.asp
MSA/Venture Outdoors Technology Intern
MSA and Venture Outdoors are looking for a computer-savvy intern to help them update
this Southwestern PA non-profit's technology. Online registration
anyone? For information systems majors, this is the dream job!
For more information click on the following link:
http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/docs/MSAintern.pdf
Please send applications to Erik Lingren, Executive Director:
elingren@ventureoutdoors.org
Whose UR MoJo? Logo Art Contest
Help VO create some snazzy new t-shirts! See how many variations
of "Jo Outdoors" you can invent!
5.
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!
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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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6. Support VO
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.
Thanks for supporting Venture Outdoors!
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An Announcement about
Risk Waivers
Due to a change in our
insurance policy, ALL trip participants must fill
out a risk waiver on EACH trip they attend.
The past policy has been that once a person has
filled out a risk waiver, they were covered for the
year. This is not the case anymore, so we
appreciate your help in adjusting to the change.
Your safety is of utmost importance to us at Venture
Outdoors!
Photos provided by Pauline Taylor-Raiffe
The Scotch-tasting Hike was a huge success! Above:
Bagpiper Ryan Stephenson wowed the participants with his
musical talents Below: The hikers walk under a snowy
canopy in Bird Park.
I. The Venture Outdoors
Activity Spotlight
Here are some trips that you'll really enjoy.
Saturday, March 3
Women of Pittsburgh Walk
March is Women's History Month and Pittsburgh makes
up one of the most historically rich regions of
women's history in the country. Join us for a guided
walk as we visit historical places and their
relation these famous women.
Location: East End Area
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member, $12.00 non-member
Sunday, March 4
Chocolate Tasting Hike
Imagine the subtle flavors of milk chocolate as it
melts over your tongue then the intense flavor of
dark chocolate. If you can identify with this vision
you need to join us on our Chocolate Hike in
Riverview Park. We will walk for 2 miles then meet
at a leader's house for taste testing chocolate
delicacies.
Location: Riverview Park
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $15.00 member, $25.00 non-member
Saturday, March 10 Activities
Match the Hatch: Fishing the Midge
Why would a trout that big eat a fly that small? The
midge is oftentimes the only answer in late winter
and early spring. But what fly do I use? This class
will answer that often-asked question. The "what's "
and "when's" of the late winter hatches on the
streams. Of course, a fly-fishing experience
wouldn't be complete without time on the stream, so
bring your waders! Taught by Cyndi and Dale Kotowski,
of Chestnut Ridge Trout Unlimited.
**GET $10 OFF your next purchase at International
Angler! Bring in the ad on page 17 of the
Adventure Times**
Location: Ohiopyle State Park
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $60.00 member, $75.00 non-member
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: Boyce Park
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 member, $30.00 non-member
II. Words of Inspiration
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm..."
"It is
a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in
the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility."
~Rachel Carson
Poetry by Sharon McDermott
http://venture-outdoors.blogspot.com
III. Venture
Outdoors Activities
For more information
on any of our activities visit our website
www.ventureoutdoors.org.
Thursday, March 1
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Location: Highland Park
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member, $14.00 non-member
Saturday, March 3 Activities
Women of Pittsburgh Walk
*Spotlight Activity*
Wilderness First Aid
Location: Crooked Creek
Environmental Learning Center
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $150.00 member, $170.00 non-member
Sunday, March 4
Chocolate Tasting Hike
*Spotlight Activity*
Saturday, March 10 Activities
Day Trek
Location: Raccoon Creek State Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member, $10.00 non-member
Beer Tasting Hike
*Spotlight Activity!*
Match the Hatch: Fishing the Midge
*Spotlight Activity!*
**GET $10 OFF your next purchase at International
Angler! Bring in the ad on page 17 of the
Adventure Times**
Sunday, March 11
Doggie Day Treks
Location: South Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost: $8.00 member, $12.00 non-member
Thursday, March 15
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Location: Riverview Park
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member, $14.00 non-member
Saturday, March 17
Geology of City Parks
Location: Frick Park
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $15.00 member, $22.00 non-member
Sunday, March 18 Activities
Day Trek: Lite
Location: Charles F. Lewis Natural Area
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $3.00 member, $10.00 non-member
Animal Tracking Workshop
Location: South Park
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $20.00 member, $30.00 non-member
IV. V.O. in the News
Check
out the latest about Venture Outdoors in the news. See more press on our website.
Venturing Outdoors
My Generation
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Magazine
-Wednesday, January 24, 2007
SCA and Venture Outdoors
Commemorate Dr. King's Legacy
with Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Park
Venture Outdoors
-Monday, January 15, 2007
V. 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.
Saturday, March 3
Public Star Party - Lunar Eclipse
Locations: Wagman Observatory and
Mingo Creek Park Observatory
Time: Sunset
Organization:
Amateur
Astronomers
Association of Pittsburgh
Sunday, March 18
Restoration Tour
Join the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association for
this hike along Nine Mile Run. See first hand the
largest urban stream restoration in the US. We go in
all but extreme weather conditions. Come with
questions and wear sturdy shoes. RSVP by calling
412-371-8779 or emailing
jessy@ninemilerun.org.
Location: Lower parking lot of Frick Park off
Lancaster Ave entrance
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Cost: Free
Organization:
Nine Mile Run
Watershed Association
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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