Trips

 Social Committee: Debbie Bell, Rich Thornhill, Margaret De Luca and Kathy Flood - committee chair: Join us for a Holiday Celebration to close out the 2025 fall semester! We will order from the menu and pay individually. As always, attendees are invited to bring a sample of a favorite dessert. Venue: Georgetown Eats in Vollant. Accessibility: uneven, rocky terrain, parking lot is not paved.  

Visit this family-run Mercer County treasure to explore the orchard, visit the barn animals, sit on the back porch, buy gifts at the gift shop, sample fresh cider, and check out the bakery for turnovers, pies, cookies, muffins, and mini cheesecakes. The apple orchard features Ginger Gold, Gala, Honey Crisp, Macintosh, Crimson Crisp, Cortland and more. The shop is closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Usually, open 9:00 - 5:00.  

  Visit the Butler Museum of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.! This premier museum offers all types and ages of American art in a beautiful setting. (Check out online) Tour date is Friday, September 19, 2025. Depart Parking lot at the Fowler Building 8:45am to arrive 9:45am for docent led tour 10am to 11:30am. Lunch in Museum Cafe, followed by free time to explore the museum. Depart 3:30pm to arrive at Fowler 4:40pm. Museum and parking free. You pay lunch; you may donate. Carpooling travel is up to participants, easy drive, less than one hour, no city traffic. Museum open to public  

 A beautiful winding trail runs along the lake. We will pass the beach and sailboat marina and turn around at Davis Marina. We will meet at the bikes rental booth, at the beginning of the bike trail.  

This 90-minute boat tour on Lake Arthur is perfect for those who want to see the park from the water and learn about the wildlife, history and current park amenities. Starting at McDanel's Launch and turning back at the 528 bridge, we include narration for the first 45 minutes and then let you enjoy the views on the way back! Our boat and restrooms are handicapping accessible Emily Sizer is the representative of the boat tour company. The tour cost is $400.00 per group. The individual cost depends on the number of participants. The deadline for registration and payment is September 22.

Meeting point: Owlet Gift Shop at McDanel's Launch on Lake Arthur North Shore, Moraine State Park  

 This class will meet at local restaurants, coffee shops, etc. Locations will include nearby towns like Slippery Rock, Butler and Grove City. Participants will engage in conversations to get to know each other. Participants will pay for their own munchies. Carpooling is arranged by participants if needed. Join us to make new friends.   

 When darkness envelops the landscape and human vision fails, the others four senses suddenly become alert. As imaginations run wild, night sounds often can send chills up the spine and start a hearth pounding. Listen to these nocturnal noises and look at what makes them. Apprehension will turn to appreciation as the amazing stories behind various nocturnal sounds unfold. This indoor program will be held at Jennings Environmental Educational Center; be in your seat by 10am to begin. 

Trip Leader: Martha Manzato   

 We are going to visit the workshop and storage area used by the local Antique Auto Club. They have several old vehicles on display including at least one example of the five vehicles that were designed and built in Butler PA. This includes the legendary Jeep of World War II fame. The tour guides will tell us the history of the cars and describe how they are restored and maintained. We’ll meet at the site. Donation $10.00 at the gate. 

  Steele's Ceramic Studio has hundreds of ceramic figurines (Gnomes, dinosaurs, Christmas Trees, Halloween stuff, etc.), plate, trivets, cups and bowls. Pick one and paint to your heart's content 2 hours is enough time but you can stay longer or go back on your own. The cost of ceramic objects is between $15.00 and $100.00, and you buy them at the studio along with a glass of wine for inspiration. The Studio is handicap accessible. We’ll meet at the studio.  

 Let’s go crazy with chocolate. This class will meet for 3 sessions. Session 1: We will visit a couple local chocolate/coffee shops with a laptop power point about chocolate. Session 2: We will visit Daffin’s chocolate/candy shop and Kraynack’s Christmas display. Session 3: We will have the opportunity to try chocolate beer/alcohol. Children are invited to attend the Daffins and Kraynack session. All sessions will have opportunity to purchase munchies/lunch. We’ll meet at the locations.  

The Clemente Museum mainly offers docent led tours through our collection of memorabilia, photography, documents and ephemeral. The guide will help to tell the story of one of the sports’ greatest legends in addition to the history of Engine House 25 and the creation of the museum. The tour will be guided by Zoe Fishter, the Clemente Museum's Community Outreach Director. We’ll meet there. 

Access fee: $21.00/person, payable at ILR - Deadline for fee payment: October 5 

  Want to improve your pickleball game? Begin by improving your fitness level. Building strength in key muscle groups can enhance your power and stability on the court. Focus on exercises that target the legs, core, shoulders and arms. This class will introduce participants to exercises that will improve their fitness level for success on the pickleball court. 

Trip Leader: Greg Sferra

 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. Be aware of uneven, rocky terrain, steps without ramps, elevators, narrow sidewalks, doorways. We’ll meet at Munnell Run Farm Pig Barn. There is a $5.00 fee payable at the site.Trip Leader: Martha Manzato  

 Come visit Mercer County’s connection to the Underground Railroad at the Gibson House in Jamestown, Pa. The Underground Railroad was so secretive and put so many lives in danger, the fugitive slaves, freed slaves and stationmasters who helped them, that virtually nothing was documented for fear records could be traced to a slave or their family still in the South. However, Jamestown families have been able to help form The Friends of the Manor Charitable Fund and Trust to preserve the history and verify the tunnels, chains and the house’s hiding places. The proximity of the Gibson house provided a perfect escape route for slaves to use the rivers and rails to Meadville, New York and eventually Canada, which was outside the boundaries of the laws in the US where they could be safe. Be aware of steps without ramps, elevators. We’ll meet at the venue. 

Access fee: $27.00/person payable at ILR.  Deadline for fee payment: October 8.  

 Sunday afternoon, grab your flashlight and bring your appetite to The Beacon Hotel's Corn Maze and Haunted House. Eat and drink first then walk through the (no haunt on Family Sundays), Haunted House then hit the Corn Maze with your trusty flashlight and ILR Buddies. Meet at the restaurant at 4:30 then around 5:30 or 6, we go crazy for the Haunted House and Corn Maze. The Halloween excitement will be offered a few Sundays in a row. Our trip date is subject to change, but the trip is nailed. Admission fees are $12 - $15 for the Haunted House and Corn Maze combined. Food and beverage cost is separate from the admission fee. Bring your flashlight!!!