Trips

Join the ILR annual membership assembly! Get updated on the ILR activities and challenges, vote for new officers and give input for our future. Hamburgers and "fixins" will be provided after the meeting. Those whose names begin with A-M are invited to contribute an appetizer or "picnic" side dish, N-Z to bring a dessert. The event will be held at Slippery Rocks Parks and Recreation (320 North Main Street, Slippery Rock), Veteran’s Pavilion (same as last year).

 Josh enjoys working with groups of all ages and sharing his passion and curiosity of the natural world with others. One topic that is of particular interest to Josh is one that is easily overlooked! Ants! These tiny and industrious insects have so many secrets to share with those who care to look! During this presentation, he will talk about ant’s origins, behavior, and their role in the ecosystem! Be prepared to fall down the ant hole and discover a newfound appreciation for these small creatures.

Venue: Jennings Environmental Education Center - Classroom 

We are going to Bicycle Heaven! They have the most vintage bikes in one place including 10 bikes that were in the movies and yes, Pee Wee Herman's bike, too. The bikes start from the beginning of time. They have bikes with wooden wheels. After looking at the bikes, we'll go to the Johnny Angel Museum, a short walk from Bicycle Heaven. Parking is free at Bicycle Heaven. After the museum visits, anyone that brings a bike can bike with Rich along the north shore and cross the river to Point State Park and get pictures in front of the water fountain.

Admission: Ticket office: $10.00 paid at door. 

We will do about 10 miles on the Armstrong Bike Trail. We will go through a new tunnel with lights in it with timers that turn on the lights. The lights are powered by a solar panel. 

We’ll meet at East Brady Maintenance Building, 502 Ferry St, East Brady PA - 16028. Bike trail is crushed stone. 

If you have any question, email me at rich1946.rt@gmail.com.  

Blackwood Arts is a beautiful 40 acre estate which contains lawn sculpture, a Water House, a Clock Tower, extensive gardens, rare antique musical instruments, a rare theater organ, and a large collection of fine art including Rembrandt pieces and Japanese wood block prints. The colorful history of the estate will be told during the tour by its owners. Light refreshments will be served near the end of the tour.

We’ll meet at Blackwood Arts - 118 Blackwood Lane Harrisville, PA, or at the ILR parking lot (9:20 AM) for carpooling. Be aware of steps without ramps, elevators, mild hills and wear appropriate shoes. 

Fee: $30.00/person to be paid by check to ILR. 

The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden features 65 acres of diverse outdoor gardens, woodlands, and trails, with attractions like the Dogwood Meadow, Garden of the Five Senses, and geographically themed woodland areas. On exhibit will be author and illustrator Rosalie Haizlett's traveling exhibit featuring watercolor paintings from her manuscript, "Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains: An Artist's Journey". The illustrations feature a combination of vibrant landscapes, hand-drawn maps, and close-up views of the tiny plants, animals, and fungi that Haizlett observed during a six-month trip through the entire Appalachian Mountain range (from Alabama to Newfoundland) in 2022. The exhibit replicates stepping into a whimsical field guide.

Ticket Office: $25.00/person and with $50.00 deposit; it includes motorized cart for up to 4 of our members. 

Fees: $25.00 payable to ILR at the time of registration  

Deadline for refund: May 1st 

Participants will join park volunteers as they monitor nest boxes for bluebird, chickadee, and swallow nesting success. Participants will learn to identify nesting materials used by the box nesting species, as well as identify species by the eggs laid.

Meeting point: Moraine State Park, Butterfly Trail trail head; uneven, rocky terrain – wear appropriate shoes. 

Max: 10 

This stroll is great for those with limited mobility and those who want a casual walking opportunity. If you need assistance, bring someone to help you and or use a mobility device like a cane, wheel-chair or power scooter. We will meet 3 times, once in Foxburg, one time at Jennings Nature Preserve and one other place to be determined. Each location will be handicapped accessible and will have a nearby shelter area in case some participants want to engage in a shorter stroll. We will then meet nearby at a restaurant or shelter area for a brown bag lunch. Dress according to the weather. We may need to be flexible on dates due to weather conditions. They should all be handicapped accessible and nearby restrooms; purchase their own meal. 

Do you want to become a birder? Learning ducks is a great way to get your feet wet. The first part of the program will be in a classroom setting (Moraine State Park, State Park Region 2, Conference Room) with Michael Schaffer going over the basic tools to identify all 21 ducks you could see in Pennsylvania. Then we will hit the shores using binoculars and spotting scopes to test your skills. Depending on what the Spring Migration blows in, we might have to have a little driving tour in order to try to see as many different species as possible. Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we will have binoculars on hand for you to use. Dress appropriately for the weather and the great outdoors.

We’ll meet at Moraine State Park: 225 Pleasant Valley Road, Portersville, PA 16051-2031. The Building (State Park Region 2 Conference Room ), located at 195 Park Road, Prospect PA 16052-2013 is easily accessible; travel is by car; lake edge may be uneven

Join us at Munnell Run Farm in Mercer, PA, for the opportunity to slow down and connect with nature through “forest bathing.” Forest bathing, modeled after the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, is immersing in nature to build deeper relationships and enhance health and well-being. Using the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s model, we will gather in the farm’s pristine forest and use the newly renovated trail to dive into your forest bathing experience.

We'll meet at Munnell Run Farm Pig Barn; uneven, rocky terrain, narrow sidewalks, doorways. 

Class Fees:. $5.00 paid at door. 

Master gardener, Dennis James (DJ), will teach you about Gardening Best Practices for both flowering plants as well as vegetable gardening, and give attendees the opportunity to understand and learn how to succeed in growing great flowers and vegetables. There is an admission fee, which includes lunch. DJ's Greenhouse 1004 E Lake Rd, Transfer, PA 16154. 

Max: 24

Fees: $16.00, payable at the ILR at the time of registration

We will eat at various restaurants, Pay for your own lunch. Contact will be made via Email. We can also carpool.

Take a walk along Wolf Creek to learn to identify the wildflowers of mid-May. The early spring wildflower blossoms are long gone but leave behind their telltale foliage. New flowers take their place including may apples, Solomon's plume and the "mysterious" squawroot. We may even see a few lingering trillium blooming. I will share what I know of edible and medicinal uses of plants as well as traditional folklore. This tract of land is known for its flora diversity. The entire loop trail is about 1.5 miles, but the moderately steep climb to the plateau and back down is optional.

We’ll meet at parking lot on the west side of Wolf Creek; Uneven, rocky terrain. Carpooling encouraged because parking is limited. Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area, 195 Miller Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057

Max: 14 

Engage in a guided tour with focus on special exhibitions at the Andy Warhol Museum, about 1 hour, lunch and as an option the Museum of Illusions, about 1 hour; it's just a ten-minute walk between the two museums. So, join us in an activity that reduces stress and anxiety, enhances brain function, promotes social connection, improves creativity and focus and may end up with a good lunch. Participants may choose to depart the program following the Warhol guided tour.

Address: Andy Warhol Museum is located at 117 Sandusky Street. The Museum of Illusions is located at 267 N Shore Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Parking is available at the Warhol Museum for $8.00. Carpooling can be arranged and would be based on interest in doing just the Warhol and lunch or the full program. 

Admission : Andy Warhol Museum - $21.00 for people aged 65 or older, pay to ILR. Museum of Illusions - $23.00 + tax - pay at door.

Fees: $21.00 payable to ILR at the time of registration

Deadline for registration and refund: March 23rd.

Enjoy a guided tour of some of the 31 University of Pittsburgh classrooms that commemorate the cultural heritages of the communities who supported and planned their construction. The tour is scheduled during the summer break and all rooms are open to visitors. The Nationality Rooms are located in the 42-story gothic-style Cathedral of Learning. An important principle in the plan for each room is that the design pre-date the signing of the American Constitution and the founding of the University of Pittsburgh in 1787. The Nationality Rooms are intended to promote the depiction of deeply-rooted and lasting elements, so political and religious symbols do not appear in the rooms nor do portraits of or reference to any living person.

We’ll meet at 1209 Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. The venue is highly accessible. Carpools can be arranged from Fowler and the Target store in Cranberry.

Admission: $10.00/person. Fees will be collected when we meet, at the tour office. 

Deadline to sign up: April 24.

Experience the beauty of McConnells Mill State Park with a walk in the lovely Hell’s Hollow valley. Despite the name, it is one of the most charming places to experience the wildflowers in the park. We will identify and discuss the unique natural history of some of the spring wildflowers along Hell Run. We may spot trillium, violets, wild ginger, wild phlox, squirrel corn, and others. An easy, mostly level, stroll with an optional staircase to view the waterfall at the end. Dress for the weather, bring your own water, snack. Resident biologist at the park, Natalie Simon will be able to answer most of your questions about flora and fauna there.

We’ll meet at Hell's Hollow parking lot or at Fowler Building for carpooling. Be aware of uneven, rocky terrain, no restroom.