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An offering of Penn State

Seasonal Walks and Other Programs Open to the Public

Shaver's Creek is committed to fulfilling its Penn State Outreach mission of helping people and communities to achieve a harmony with the natural systems around them. To fulfill this mission, Shaver's Creek offers a variety of seasonal nature walks and other programs that are open to the public and that help people learn more about the natural world.

For more information about these programs, call 814-863-2000 or e-mail us at ShaversCreek@outreach.psu.edu.

 

Upcoming programs include:

Meet the Birds of Prey Shows
Every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. from April through mid-November.


Migration Morning Bird Walks with Doug Wentzel at Shaver's Creek
* Free courtesy of
Wiscoy for Animals 
Migration Morning Bird Walks for 2008 will be scheduled this winter.


Goldenseal and Mushrooms from Penn's Woods
Thursday, May 8
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Penn State Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Office in Carlisle, PA
Program director Eric Burkhart hosts this workshop on several "Non-Forest Timber Products" that can be grown on Pennsylvania forest lands for income, recreation, food or medicine. This introductory presentation is for those interested in learning how to establish, manage, and/or steward goldenseal and several other popular edible/medicinal mushrooms (e.g., morels, chanterelles, shiitake) on private forestlands.


Wildflower Education Walk
Saturday, July 12
7:00 p.m.
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Program director Eric Burkhart hosts an exploration of early summer wildflowers occurring in Greenwood Furnace State Park. Identification, ecology, history, and uses of plants will be discussed. No previous knowledge or experience is required.

Guidelines for Establishing and Growing Ginseng and other Native Forest Medicinal Plants
Saturday, October 11
8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
In this workshop, hosted by program director Eric Burkhart, participants will be introduced to one of Pennsylvania’s most valuable and challenging crops, American ginseng. The biology, ecology, markets, growing options, propagation techniques, and management issues (pests, theft, regulations) will all be covered. Other commercial medicinal forest plants, such as goldenseal and black cohosh, will be discussed. 


Kids Corner
a facilitated activity for preschoolers/toddlers and their parent(s)
* Free courtesy of Growing Tree Toys in downtown State College
Wednesdays, November 5, 12 and 19 and December 3 and 10, 2008
10:00 a.m.–noon in the Discovery Room
(Note: The self-guided Kids Corner is available all week.)


PA Farm Show 
January 5–12, 2008
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Live Bird of Prey/animal shows every hour

Fall Foliage Family Walks with Forest Steward John Buzzell
None scheduled
Learn about trees and leaves and why they turn such bright colors. The walk will end with a campfire and s'mores.
Nonmembers, $5; Members, $4 Kids 4 and under are free.
* registration required


Mushroom Identification Walks with Bill Russell
None scheduled
Bill Russell has been leading mushroom workshops and walks for more than forty years. He is the author of Field Guide to the Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, available in our bookstore. On this mushroom walk we will have a brief introduction to mushroom hunting. Then we will take to the woods and learn about the wild mushrooms that we find. We will discuss their identifying features, edibility, and personalities. Bring a notebook, comfortable walking shoes, and any mushroom books that you use.
* registration required


Wildflower Identification Walk with Denise Wagner
None scheduled
Participants will enjoy a two-hour walk, led by master gardener Denise Wagner, during which they will have the opportunity to learn wildflower identification and natural history of local wildflower species. Wagner also will give camera tips on flower photography for those who would like to bring a camera. Guests are advised to wear sturdy shoes and to bring water, any wildflower identification books they might want to use, and a camera if desired.


 

Bee Keeping with Andy Jones
None scheduled
Andy will describe the process of keeping bees — starting from snow melt to snow fall. The emphasis will be on managing the hives for the hobbyist. He is able to bring a complete hive (weather permitting), an observation hive, package bee containers, queen cages, pollen traps, queen rearing supplies, integrated pest management tools for mites and some of the tools used in extracting and making comb honey. Participants should avoid wearing and/or using perfumes, heavily scented shampoo, and dark clothing — especially black.
* registration required

Many of the photographs included throughout the site are © Sven Zellner. For a listing, please contact us.
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The Pennsylvania State University | This page was last modified on Wednesday, March 19, 2008