Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2023 Winter Programming Guide

2023 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Winter Programming Guide

Pairtetsfbunurfgorha’sllp! arks Year-after-year, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Visitor Experience, Education, and Community Outreach teams work hard to create a robust schedule of free programs for people of all ages to enjoy no matter the season. In addition, the teams work endlessly to ensure that all park visitors enjoy a memorable and fun trip to their favorite park! To register for upcoming programs in the parks, visit pittsburghparks.org/events

At the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we’re thrilled to offer an expanded lineup of free events throughout the year in several iconic park spaces. All of our seasonal programs and events are free and open to the public, so all can enjoy and partake in these exciting activities! Catherine Qureshi President and Chief Executive Officer PROGRAM CATEGORY LEGEND Look for the following symbols throughout this guide and explore programs that you’re interested in attending this spring! Family MWeelnltnaelss Cto oNnanteucrteion Fitness Community Cultural

Allegheny Commons & Highland Park Birding Pittsburgh’s Parks Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin on a free birding walk. No prior experience required, and binoculars will be available for those who would like to borrow a pair for the walk. Meeting location changes month to month. ALLEGHENY COMMONS Monday, January 9 > 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Meet at Patricia Rooney Memorial Fountain (Northeast Fountain) in Allegheny Common HIGHLAND PARK Monday, March 13 > 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Meet at Lake Carnegie in Highland Park Check out Allegheny Commons Suggested Walking Routes: pittsburghparks.org 1. Start at Cedar/Lockhart and walk for up-to-date information to Allegheny General Hospital, make on all Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy events! a left at Patricia Rooney Memorial Fountain, and continue to West North/ 4 Brighton equals .85 miles (1.7 miles round trip) 2. The Lake Elizabeth path is approximately 1 mile. See walks.ventureoutdoors.org for details.

Schenley Park Cafe & Visitors Center PROGRAMS The Lending Library The Parks Conservancy has exploration tools visitors can borrow to enhance their park visit. These items can currently be borrowed at The Frick Environmental Center in Frick Park and the Schenley Park Visitor Center. Each park user must register to become a member of our Lending Library to keep a record of who is using our items and to contact participants in the event of lost or broken items. Learn more by scanning the QR code above or visiting pittsburghparks.org/backpack-lending-program. Table Top Tuesday (Board Games) Tuesdays, January 3 – March 28 > 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Ice skate outdoors Playing board games is not only in Schenley Park! entertaining, but it can increase brain For hours and pricing, function, reduce stress, while meeting check out: new people. Check out a game every pittsburghpa.gov/ Tuesday at the Schenley Park Visitor Center. schenley/rink Valentine’s Flower Arrangement Class Monday, February 13> 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Valentine’s Day theme fresh flower arrangement with Horticulturist, Angela Yuele. All materials needed to make the flower arrangement are provided. Cost: $60 per person. Reservations required. Afternoon Tea 5 Saturday, March 11 > 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Enjoy beautiful Schenley Park as you sip on an endless pot of tea (or hot chocolate) and a variety of snacks and pastries. Price: $50 adult, $20 child. Reservations required.

Frick Park PROGRAMS Earth Care Wednesday, January 4 and February 1 > 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Two-hour Earth care, Self-care Session is a time and space where participants are invited to pause, relax, and connect with themselves and the natural world we are a part of. During each session, we will do a short relaxation practice, a nature-based practice, and explore creative expression with colors, forms and materials from nature. Please bundle up — we will be spending part of the time inside and part of the time out in nature. Suggested donation of $20, $10, $5, or pay what you can! This program is best for adults only (ages 14+). Meet inside Frick Environmental Center. Winter Seed Sowing 101 Saturday, January 14 > 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Buying native plants from a nursery can be great for your garden and your local ecosystem, but tough on your wallet. Have you ever considered growing your own plants from seed? Join Frick Environmental Center gardeners and educators for an introduction to the outdoor seed-starting technique known as “winter sowing.” Meet at Frick Environmental Center. Frick Environmental Center Building Tour Saturday, January 21 > 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Learn more about the Frick Environmental Center, one of the greenest buildings in the world! Join us for a walk around the Frick Environmental Center building and grounds to learn more about the construction process, the current use, and how to bring these practices into your homes. This program is best for adults only 6 (ages 14+). Meet in the Frick Environmental Center.

Hike with a Naturalist: Winter Tree Identification Saturday, January 21 > 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Come learn the basics of winter tree ID or brush up on your skills! Take a walk through the woodlands with Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin to practice your observation skills as we take an in-depth look at bark and buds. This hike is geared towards teens and adults. Dogs are not permitted. This hike is rain or shine. Weather-appropriate clothes and footwear with good tread are encouraged. Meet at the Frick Environmental Center. Cost: $5. Discovery Time: Nature Art Sunday, January 22 > 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Artists use nature as inspiration and for materials. Stop by the Frick Environmental Center classroom between 1:00-3:00 to experiment with nature art! Paint with mud, make designs with loose nature materials, or make a nature envelope! We provide the materials; you provide the creativity. This program is best for families with children ages 4-9. Hike with a Naturalist: Lichen Exploration Saturday, February 4 > 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin on a walk to learn about lichens. These incredible symbiotic organisms (part fungus, part algae, put simply) are an often overlooked and important part of our ecosystem. This two-hour guided walk will give you hands-on experience observing lichens in their habitat, learning about their growth forms, structures and ecology. Hand lenses are recommended for appreciating the minute details of lichens, and will be available for borrowing. This hike is geared towards teens and adults. Dogs are not permitted. This hike is rain or shine. Weather- appropriate clothes and footwear with good tread are encouraged. Meet at the Frick Environmental Center. 7

Forest Bathing with 10.27 Healing Partnership February 6 > 1-3 p.m. — Tu BiShvat Forest Bathing Walk with 10.27 Healing Partnership March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 > 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m. — Forest Bathing Walk with 10.27 Healing Partnership We will take 90-minute gentle walks throughout Frick Park while nurturing our connection to the natural world through meditative practices. Birding Pittsburgh’s Parks Monday, February 13 > 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin on a birding walk. No prior experience required, and binoculars will be available for those who would like to borrow a pair for the walk. This month’s walk will meet in the Duck Hollow parking lot in Frick Park. Meeting location changes month to month. Jr. Garden Buds: The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver Monday, February 13 > 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. While the From Slavery to Freedom Garden is less active in the winter, the rich history it represents is present all year long. Join naturalist educators for black history month in a reading of The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver followed by an art project involving garden materials. Meet in the Frick Environmental Center classroom. Discovery Time: (P)ARCHITECTS Sunday, February 26 > 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Stop by the Frick Environmental Center classroom between 1:00- 3:00 to try your hand at being an architect! Design your own park, use loose nature materials to build a home for an animal puppet, and more! This program is best for families with children ages 3-9. 8

Full Moon Hike Monday, March 6 > 8 p.m. – 9 p.m. Enjoy a moonlit stroll through Frick Park led by Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin. This relaxing 60-minute hike is designed to connect participants to the cycles in nature and the seasonal phenomena each month brings. This hike is geared towards teens and adults. Dogs are not permitted. This hike is rain or shine. Weather- appropriate clothes and footwear with good tread are encouraged. Meet at the Frick Environmental Center. We’ll be relying on moonlight for this hike, so please leave your flashlights at home (or in your pocket). Cost: $5 Story Hike: Wonder Walkers Saturday, March 11 > 10:30 a.m. – 11:30a.m. What do you wonder about the nature you see around you in the park? During this story hike, we will be reading Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer and take a wonder walk in the woodland. This program is best for families with children ages 3-8. Meet in the Frick Environmental Center living room. Discovery Time: Animals Sunday, March 19 > 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Stop by the Frick Environmental Center classroom between 1:00- 3:00 to learn about different animals that live in Frick Park. View a collection of hands-on animal related specimens including feathers, bones, and antlers. Compare your wingspan to a hawk, dissect an owl pellet, or embark on a scavenger hunt to find animal signs around the park. This program is best for families with children ages 4-9. Suggested Walking Route: Frick Park - Environmental Center Woodland Trail is proximately .4 miles. See walks.ventureoutdoors.org for details. 9

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PITTSBURGH’S PARKS AND GREENSPACES? Explore our Park Overviews and Map Scan this QR code or visit pittsburghparks.org/explore-your- parks/park-overview-and-map to read about a particular park or plan a trip to a greenspace you have yet to visit! 10

Exclusive Stories From Your Local Parks! For the Love of Parks is an original 12-episode podcast series created by the Parks Conservancy. The series highlights compelling stories from everyday park users, civic leaders, and Conservancy staff about their experiences and connections to Pittsburgh's beloved parks. To listen, visit pittsburghparks.org/podcast or scan the QR code.

317 East Carson Street West Tower, Suite 230 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 It’s possible dates/times may change due to unforseen reasons. For program additions, new details/information, and to see how you can get out in nature, visit: pittsburghparks.org/events