We encourage taking Public Transportation to GOW Events! Click here to view Port Authority routes.
Adventure Journals available for kids at REI beginning May 12
Designed for kids age 5 to 12, our Kids’ Passport to Adventure program is a fun way to connect them to the natural world and start them on a lifetime of outdoor recreation and stewardship. Beginning May 12, stop by the Customer Service desk in any REI store to pick up an Adventure Journal, which kids can use to document their outdoor adventures. Go to REI.com for a list of kid-friendly hikes and bike rides in your local area, or to download and print the Adventure Journal. After at least one outdoor activity, send in the tear-off postcard from the journal to get a certificate of completion and a special prize - multifunction whistle that includes a thermometer, magnifier and compass.
REI
Passport to Adventure Kick-off Party
May
26th from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Families join us at REI Pittsburgh on Memorial Day as we kick off the Passport to Adventure Program with an afternoon of fun games, activities, free climbing and prizes.
2008
Great Outdoors Week events
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kick-Off
Great Outdoors Week
Taking place in downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square, the event will run from 11:00am until 1:00pm and feature music from 91.3 WYEP-FM. Individuals are invited to test their skills on the climbing wall, try out a kayak (safely on land!), and meet local outdoors groups. Stop by for giveaways and enter to win some great raffle prizes!
Raffle
Prizes include:
-General
admission tickets to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
-Gift
certificates for 2-hour bike rentals courtesy of Golden Triangle
Bike N Blade
-Group Climbing Party certificate courtesy of REI
-Family
Camping Weekend Rental Package certificate courtesy of REI
-Local trail maps, courtesy of Friends of the Riverfront
-T-shirts
and hats
Friday, May 16, 2008
Pa.
Society for Ornithology's 2008 Annual Meeting in the Pittsburgh
Area
3 Rivers
Birding Club and the Audubon Society of Western
Friday Nights City Light's Skate
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Eliza
Furnace Trail, Greenfield End
Level: Intermediate
Skate through some of the most amazing views of the city!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Venture Outdoors Festival 11:00am-6:00pm
Herr's Island The region's premier outdoor recreation event will be held rain or shine on Washington's Landing. This free event features canoeing, kayaking, biking, dragon boats, rock climbing, fishing and much more. Get details here!
ISA Penn-Del Western Tree Climbing
Championship (TCC)
8:00 am – 4:00
pm
Flagstaff Hill,
Arborists compete against one another in five preliminary events to qualify to move on to the next level of events. Those who move on will compete at the Pen-Del TCC and the potential to move onto the national and international TCC. For details visit www.penndelisa.org or contact Scott Sjolaonder 814- 333-7460, sas305@psu.edu.
Sunday, May
18, 2008
Wildflower Walk at Raccoon Creek Wildflower
Reserve
1:00pm
Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve, Beaver
County
All are welcome, young and old, to join us for a wildflower walk
through one of southwestern Pennsylvania's natural landmarks
with naturalist Esther Allen. Observe trillium, columbine,
larkspur and rare ferns. Our pace is slow to moderate, so
that we can observe all that nature has to offer. Hosted by
Botanical Society of Western
Pennsylvania.
Directions: From
For details contact Loree Speedy, 724-872-5232, mousemapper@verizon.net.
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Hike 1:00pm - 4:00pm Boyce Park Fee: $20; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $12 Do you remember the taste of your grandma’s strawberry rhubarb pie, the smell that wafted through the house when she took it out of the oven and the taste of warm sweet strawberries mixed with the tart bite of rhubarb melting into your mouth? Join us for a hike through Boyce Park and afterward we will recount those nostalgic memories with each mouthful of this delicious pie. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Yoga Outdoors
6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Schenley Park Café
Fee: $20; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $10
This outing will take you to inspiring natural settings close to home to help you experience the peace and concentration of hatha yoga. We will explore a variety of postures and deep breathing suitable for all levels. Sherryl will emphasize posture and the development of balance and alignment to best support muscles and joints with peace and stillness on the trail. In addition to yoga, we will enjoy some light hiking to access the best spots for the day. Bring a mat or ground pad.
www.ventureoutdoors.org
9:00am – 11:30am
Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield End
Level: Adv. Beginner/Intermediate
Build strength & stamina with two skates for two levels
while admiring the ‘Burgh!
Monday, May
19, 2008
Medicinal Plants Hike
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Frick
Park
Fee: $10; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $5
Come join Dr. Christopher Powell, from Powell Chiropractic, for an evening of exploration in Frick Park. We will be exploring traditional and folk medicinal uses of some of the most common plants in our ecosystem. Open your eyes to what has always been in your backyard!
www.ventureoutdoors.org
"Learn to Row" Indoor Session 7:00pm - 8:00pm Three Rivers Rowing Association Try rowing in Three Rivers Rowing Association's indoor rowing tanks and on the ergometers (rowing machines) at its Millvale Training Facility.
Learn to Row
Tyke Hikes 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Fee: $5; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $5 Come and join us for a Tyke Hike! We welcome Parents or Caregivers with children-newborn to 8 years old. We will explore nature, touch the trees and look for little critters. Adults & Children can make new play date friends! Hikes will be easy and trail friendly for strollers, slings, child-carriers or on foot. Strollers must be able to maneuver off road. Children on foot should were tennis shoes. We provide snacks after the hike! www.ventureoutdoors.org
7:00pm
REI
Over the past few years two middle aged women and a dog have canoed the entire lengths of the Allegheny & Monongahela Rivers with plans to canoe the Ohio this year making them the first women to accomplish this feat. Come join Kim and Pat as they can help make planning your next boating/camping adventure on the water a lot easier with their combined experience of 75 years on the water. This event is Free!
Full Moon Paddles 7:45pm - 10:00pm Kayak Pittsburgh: Downtown Fee: $50; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $30 The full moon is out and the water is fine! Join us as we follow the full moon through the evening quiet and sights of the Allegheny River. The shimmering skyline provides a humble foreground for the celestial bodies above. After basic instruction and tips on technique, you'll find yourself enjoying the ease of paddling a sea kayak on the smooth Allegheny River. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Bird Walk
7:30am
Free
A
free birdwalk led by Jack & Sue Solomon (412-521-3365), will
take place on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:30 am.
Participants should meet in the
Weeknight Wine and Cheese Hike 6:30pm - 8:30pm Riverview Park Fee: $30; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $15 Join us for a shorter version of one of our favorite weekend activities. We’re going to visit Riverview Park for a short hike on a Wednesday night, and then we'll relax and enjoy a repast of bread, wine, and some of the best cheeses in the world! www.ventureoutdoors.org
Great Allegheny Passage with Adventure Cycling
7:00pm
REI
Did you know you can ride 335 traffic free miles of cycling from our nations Capital to Pittsburgh? The C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage combine to form the longest trail in the USA. Join Adventure Cycling trip leader Larry Brock as he shares his experiences along the trail and tips on how you can plan your own traffic free trip to Washington DC.
Thursday Speed Skate Clinic
7:00pm – 8:00pm : BY APPOINTMENT
Highland Park
Velodrome (Washington Avenue)
Levels: Beginner and above
Learn from the fastest skates in Pittsburgh how to increase your
speed, correct your stroke, and get more out of skating safely!
Tireless Friday
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Strip
District
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED, Our rivers are not trash dumps!!! The Tireless
Project will host a river cleanup along the Strip District Trail
and adjacent
Friday Nights City Light's Skate
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Eliza
Furnace Trail, Greenfield End
Level: Intermediate
Skate through some of the most amazing views of the city!
Fireworks Paddle 8:00pm - 10:00pm Kayak Pittsburgh: Downtown Fee: $50; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $30 Once the Pirate game is over, it is time to sit back, relax and enjoy the fireworks from a front row seat. You will feel all the BOOMS and POPS rush through your body as the fireworks vibrate the water. We will take a leisurely paddle up the Allegheny River and float back down towards the ballpark in time for the show. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Doggie Day Treks 6:30pm - 9:00pm Grandview Park Fee: $18; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $8 We’ll start out with some social time for our dogs to get to know each other, and then we’ll cover 5-6 miles on various trails throughout local parks, stopping for a snack along the way. Please remember, only 2 dogs per person, leashes required (off-leash time will be included). Dogs must have current vaccinations, and bring dog food, water, and bags to clean up after your doggie. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Great Outdoors Week Bike Ride on the Great Allegheny Passage 10:00am - 4:00pm Ohiopyle to Confluence Fee: $30; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $15 Join us in celebration of Great Outdoors Week as we bike the oldest section of the Great Allegheny Passage. After 11 gorgeous miles, we will arrive in Confluence, a charming valley village. Lunch will be on your own here, with a listing of bike-friendly restaurants provided. The trip will end upon our return to Ohiopyle. All are welcome to stay and explore the town and park. Bike rentals are not included in the fee. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Curry Hike 10:00am - 1:00pm Panhandle Trail Fee: $25; Venture Outdoors Fee: $15 We will start off by spending a couple hours on one of Pittsburgh's best kept secrets, The Panhandle Trail. We will get some exercise and discover this wonderful area just outside of downtown. Afterwards, we will join hostess and Indian curry cook extraordinaire Kanak Siyer and sample some fine Indian curry, a mouth-tingling treat to warm up on a cold day. The chef will share information about the origins of curry and what it takes to make this wonderful food! www.ventureoutdoors.org
Day Trek: Lite 1:00pm - 4:00pm Harrison Hills Park Fee: $10 Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $3 Beginners looking for an easy, rejuvenating experience outdoors will spend a day in a nearby park exploring a new trail, getting some exercise and discovering something new about the natural world. With experienced guides to lead the way, participants will learn about regional trails that are fun, inspirational and easily accessible. We'll learn about the trees, plants, flowers, birds and other creatures that live in nearby natural spaces. The pace will be slow and the maximum length will measure no more than 5 miles. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Rachel's Sustainable Feast 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Rachel Carson Homestead, Springdale, PA Fee: $5/person, children under 5 FREE Rain or Shine - Bring your appetite for great local food! Enjoy the best from Pittsburgh's chefs who are committed to buying locally. You'll also find local farmers' markets and as many of the region's environment, conservation and fair-trade organizations that can be squeezed into one block party. www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org
Northmoreland Park Fishing Day
8:00am - 1:00pm
Intro to In-line Skating 11:30am - 1:00pm Eliza Furnace Trail Fee: $10; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $5 Put your legs to the test with this fun introduction to in-line skating sponsored by The Three Rivers In-line Club and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Skate Patrol. We’re going to skate at an easy pace along the Eliza Furnace Trail learning to glide, stride, scissor and brake from trained, skilled members of the National Skate Patrol. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Sunday “Stroll” Skates
9:00am – 11:30am
Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield End
Level: Adv. Beginner/Intermediate
Build strength & stamina with two skates for two levels
while admiring the ‘Burgh!
Rock Climbing 9:00am - 4:00pm Laurel Highlands Fee: $65; Venture Outdoors Fee: $45 Imagine the feeling of using your own two hands and feet to pull yourself up the side of a cliff. Rock climbing is becoming a popular outdoor sport, it’s great for strength and confidence building. We will hike a short distance over easy terrain to reach our climbing areas. Once there, we will learn about equipment, safety, how to belay, and some of the necessary knots. Afterwards, we'll do some climbing and hopefully get in some rappelling! This class is perfect for beginners. Everyone will successfully accomplish at least one and probably two of the climbs or more. All gear is included. www.ventureoutdoors.org
Hydrobike Excursions 9:00am - 11:00am
Raccoon Creek State Park Fee: $20; Venture Outdoors Member Fee: $10 Once a month we’ll explore the waters of 101-acre Raccoon Lake in Raccoon Creek State Park. Join us for a ride aboard a unique human powered watercraft. This innovative form of exercise will give you a workout with a fun vantage point. www.ventureoutdoors.org