1. Trail Mix - Banff Mt. Film
Festival
Banff Tickets are
selling fast! Don't miss out on your chance for the greatest films on
mountain themes.
 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 with local title sponsor
Mountain Dreams 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
 Special pre-event on Friday with renowned 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
2.
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!
3. Outdoor
Announcements & Events
Get out your planners folks...
Special Events
Future Events - Save the Date!
April 19th Venture Outdoors Town Hall Meeting
about County-wide Riverfront Park
6:00 PM
Cork Factory in the Strip
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 provides 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
Farm to Table:
Nourishing a Sustainable Pittsburgh
A Local Food Educational Conference
March 31, 2007
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Bidwell Training Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
*Exhibit area with local farms, food purveyors and wellness
professionals
*Presentations by national & local farm and food experts
*A healthy local lunch provided
*Green House Tours
Pre-register here:
http://www.pathwayswellnessprogram.com/Farm_Registration.html
Moraine
Preservation Fund Annual Dinner
Thursday March 29, 2007
6:00 Chinese Auction
6:30 Buffet Dinner
7:00 PA Game Commission Barn Owl Update
Garden Gate Restaurant (Route 422 Prospect)
Price: $12.50/members $15.00/non-members
Join us for a relaxing night while you learn about the
PA Game Commission’s Barn Owl Research.
We will also follow up on our Barn Owl program.
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.
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 Printing 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,
visit:
http://www.pittsburgharts.org/school/spring07.html
or call 412-361-0455
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
Great Allegheny Passage
The trail from Pittsburgh to DC is now complete!
Click here for the Pop City article.
4.
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.
|
|
I. 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
II. The Venture Outdoors
Activity Spotlight
Here are some trips that you'll really enjoy.
Saturday, April 7
Match the Hatch: Prime Time
Blue Winged Olives, Quill Gordons, Hendricksons,
Blue Quills and so much more. The time all dry fly
fishermen live for! With opening day only one week
away…But what fly do I use? This class will answer
that often-asked question. The "whats" and "whens" of the major spring
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.
Location: Ohiopyle State Park
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $60.00 member, $75.00 non-member
Doggie First Aid Clinic and Hike
When hiking with your canine companion, be prepared for unexpected accidents and problems
and determine a plan of treatment. This class, taught by veterinarian Hank Croft, will
discuss common problems one could experience along the hike, such as heat stroke, hypothermia
, bee stings, cuts, eye injuries, fractured bones, as well as animal body condition, endurance
levels, and breed limitations. Recommendations will also be made for supplies to be carried
for treating your pet, and of course how to use them.
Wednesday, April 11
Classroom Session
Location: Venture Outdoors Office
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday, April 14
Day Hike
Location: Linn Run State Park
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $20.00 member, $35.00 non-member
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 shortest hike will be 7 miles
and the longest will be 13 miles. You will traverse state parks, forests, game lands, and
other public and private lands. 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. Dates for the seven hikes are
Sunday, April 15 Saturday, April 28 Saturday, May 12 Sunday, June 03 Saturday, June 16 Sunday,
July 15 Sunday, July 29
Location: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
Time:
8:00 AM
Cost: $8.00 member, $12.00 non-member
III. Words of Inspiration
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm..."
"A
rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the
woods."
~Rachel Carson
Poetry by Sharon McDermott
http://venture-outdoors.blogspot.com
IV. Venture
Outdoors Activities
For more information
on any of our activities visit our website
www.ventureoutdoors.org.
Thursday, March 29
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Location: North Shore / Southside
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member, $14.00 non-member
Saturday, March 31
Wine and Cheese Hikes *SOLD OUT*
Location: Hartwood Acres
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cost: $20.00 member, $30.00 non-member
Saturday, April 7
Match the Hatch: Prime Time
*Spotlight Activity*
Wednesday, April 11
Doggie First Aid Clinic and Hike
*Spotlight Activity*
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
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 Clinic and Hike
*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 15
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Quest
*Spotlight Activity*
V. V.O. in the News
Check
out the latest about Venture Outdoors in the news. See more press on our website.
Spring forward, for energy's sake
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
-Saturday, March 10, 2007
Venturing Outdoors
My Generation
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Magazine
-Wednesday, January 24, 2007
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. |
|
