At the Parks Conservancy, we’re always looking for opportunities to highlight the great educational potential of the parks. We’re thrilled to be collaborating on a number of tours for next week’s Ecological Society of America annual meeting here in Pittsburgh, and hope to bring you some recaps of ESA attendees’ impressions of the parks. But there are also lots of upcoming learning opportunities that are open to the public, so we wanted to share some of those with you.
BioBlitz at the Larimer Garden
Saturday, July 31, 9:00am – 4:30pm, Larimer Garden at the corner of Larimer Avenue and Mayflower Street
This field trip is associated with the ESA conference, but anyone can attend! A BioBlitz is a kind of scavenger hunt, where attendees try to find all the critters and plant species that are living in the area. Usually conducted in parks and forests, this session sponsored by GTECH asks the question, “What lives on vacant lots, or lots that have been recently greened?” Help the scientists at ESA discover as many butterflies, earthworms, and other creatures as possible.
Drop by anytime on Saturday and stay as long as you like. Please bring close-toed shoes, a reuseable water bottle, sun hat, and a few bucks to offset the costs of grilled veggies and burgers. All extra donations will go to the Larimer Green Team. Contact Mo Copeland at m.copeland@gtechstrategies.org or 412-241-1013, ext. 3 with questions and RSVPs.
Butterfly Walk in Frick Park
Sunday, August 1, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd.
We’re hosting a special Walk in the Woods this Sunday with local butterfly expert Walt Shaffer. We’ll meet up at the Frick Environmental Center and take a hike through the park to spot and identify butterflies. August is the perfect time to go butterfly-watching because many, like the monarch, are migrating south. No RSVP is required; just bring a camera and join the fun!
Oak Wilt in Pittsburgh: A Special Education Session
Saturday, August 7, 9:00 – 11:00am, Pool Grove Shelter, Highland Park
Oak wilt is a fast-spreading fungus that is affecting oak trees in the Pittsburgh region. Once the fungus is discovered in a population of trees, they must be removed. A 2-acre stand of trees were removed from Frick Park this spring, and another large area of trees that are infected will be removed in Highland Park in late July/early August. What is Oak wilt and what are treatment options? Will it affect trees in your neighborhood?
Come out to the Pool Grove Shelter in Highland Park for a special session with the Department of Forestry, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, and Steve Miller from Bartlett Tree Experts. See the area where trees were recently removed, and learn more about this aggressive fungus, how to prevent it, and how it is treated. A question and answer session is included.
RSVP to caitlin@Pittsburghforest.org or call 412-362-6360. Please wear close-toed shoes and dress appropriately for walking outside. This session is for adults only–please do not bring children under the age of 15.
(Want to refresh your memory on the oak wilt removal project in Frick Park? See our previous blog posts here and here.)
2010 Biodiversity Symposium
Monday, August 9, 3:00pm
The Sprout Fund is sponsoring this brainstorming session that explores current topics and trends, promotes a better understanding of local biodiversity, and plants the seeds for potential collaboration among regional stakeholders. Through the Sprout Fund’s Spring Program, you can also apply for up to $20,000 in funding to catalyze community-based projects addressing the ecological challenges of the region. Learn more and register here.
