Community Learning

Location: Pine Hill Recreation Area, off Mentzer Gap Road in Waynesboro. Naturalist Lori Schlosser will conduct this outdoor walk through wooded areas of the 174-acre Pine Hill Recreation Area.  A brief pre-walk informational talk will help participants learn more about these nocturnal creatures and the methods used to locate them. The entire program will be […]

SOAR (“Studying Ornithology Around the Region”) resumed in 2021. IMPORTANT: Location for Saturday, Feb. 20: Antietam Meadow Park Locations for the SOAR bird walks vary. The walks will occur at different natural areas throughout the local region. If not posted here, email us at [email protected] to find the location.  First and third Saturdays ONLY Download […]

Ryan Davis, Pennsylvania Forests Projects Manager for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, presents a program on tree and shrub identification. The program is free and offered online via Zoom.  “I used to give loads of in-person tree ID workshops,” Ryan said, “but had to change that up with COVID. So now, rather than teaching […]

Brittany Martin and Jeri Jones Free program, presented online via Zoom. Hosted by geologist Jeri Jones, with geoscientist Brittany Martin. The program will show which physical properties to use for identifying minerals, and what to look for when you are trying to identify a rock. An audience participation segment is included. All participants will receive […]

SOAR (“Studying Ornithology Around the Region”) resumed in 2021. The location for Saturday, March 6 is Caledonia State Park. Meet in the parking lot at the park office near the entrance of the park, left turn off Rt. 233 N, just north of Rt 30. Also, effective immediately, SOAR walks will begin at 8:00 AM.  […]

This excursion on Sunday, March 14 was originally scheduled for Feb. 7 and postponed due to weather.  We also have Family Hike #4, coming up on March 21. See details here.  Families are welcome but children must be age 10 or older for the March 14 hike. Hike with us along a portion of the […]

Brittany Martin and Jeri Jones Free. Presented via Zoom. Hosted by geologist Jeri Jones, with geoscientist Brittany Martin. Learn about how and where earthquakes occur. Also learn how earthquakes are measured, and where in Pennsylvania they have occurred. An audience participation segment is included. All participants will receive via email a map that will be […]

SOAR (“Studying Ornithology Around the Region”) resumed in 2021. IMPORTANT: Locations for the SOAR bird walks vary. Check back for our monthly schedule soon. (If in doubt about the weather—check The Institute’s Facebook page) The March 20 SOAR walk is at Caledonia State Park – Meet at Park Office. First and third Saturdays ONLY Download […]

Geologist Jeri Jones explains the significance of stone characteristics in a tunnel during a field trip. NOTICE: This field trip is FULL. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, send us an email at [email protected].  Hosted by geologist Jeri Jones, with geoscientist Brittany Martin. The day will be spent traveling through […]

Due to popular demand, we have added more sessions of our Winter Family Hike. For this March 21 hike, children must be age 5 or older. (This hike was originally scheduled for Feb. 21 and postponed due to weather) Hike with us along a portion of the legendary Appalachian Trail! We are fortunate to live […]