April is Earth Month! 4 great local places where kids can learn about saving the planet

Above photo courtesy of West Virginia Dept. of Tourism, Oglebay Park Resort Good Zoo.

April is Earth Month, the perfect opportunity to get kids outside and help them learn about protecting our planet. From trash pick-ups to themed story times, there are many opportunities around the city to learn about being a good steward of our natural resources. It’s also a great time to explore some of the sites around the region designed to educate visitors about the environment, native plants and animals, and conservation efforts.

Kidsburgh had a chance to chat with folks from four nearby programs about their family-friendly conservation and education efforts:

Powdermill Nature Reserve

Most locals have been to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, but did you know the museum has a nature reserve in the Laurel Highlands, too? Powdermill Nature Reserve is located in Rector, which is about an hour from the city. The 1,160-acre plot of land was gifted to the museum by General and Mrs. Richard K. Mellon and Mr. and Mrs. Alan M. Scaife. (It’s an easy day trip, but don’t miss our guide to an entire weekend in the Laurel Highlands.)

Powdermill Nature Reserve boasts a fascinating history, and the story of how people have utilized the land over time illustrates the effects of conservation,” says Katie DelVerne Scarano, associate director of Marketing and Communications for the family of Carnegie Museums. Most of the site was logged in the late 19th and early 20th century, and other portions of the reserve were used for farming and mining. “Today, woodland habitats, fields, and streams across the property are studied by scientists to understand the effects of historic land use and contemporary conservation on local biodiversity.”

For families who want to visit Powdermill, there’s a slew of activities in April and beyond. Admission is free, and the center is open every Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For field trips and group visits on other days, you can reach out to their team to make arrangements.

Events like nature hikes occur regularly (and often pop up on our calendar and event guides), and the center gives visitors a close look at conservation efforts in the region. “Powdermill is a field station and laboratory where researchers conduct long-term studies of natural populations in western Pennsylvania,” says Scarano. “In addition to being a good location for Appalachian-specific studies in ornithology, ecology, invertebrate zoology, and botany, Powdermill is a great place to spend a fun-filled day outdoors with the family.”

Along with these events at Powdermill, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland has a new exhibit that educates about conservation. Uprooted: Plants out of Place explores humans’ role in the history and future of invasive plants.

Oglebay Park Resort

Located in Wheeling, WV, this property was donated to the city of Wheeling for recreation and conservation purposes by Earl W. Oglebay a century ago. While there’s a host of year-round activities at Oglebay Park Resort including skiing, swimming, golf and horseback riding, there are also plenty of opportunities to learn about caring for the planet at the 2,000-acre park.

Oglebay is home to both The Good Zoo and Schrader Environmental Center, and both offer various camps, tours, and programs for visitors of all ages. Oglebay Park Resort’s Good Zoo Director, Dr. Joe Greathouse, says there are many ways for families to learn about conservation at both sites. The Schrader Environmental Center offers camps and educational programs, as well as drop-in learning opportunities for visitors to Oglebay.

The zoo also has many ways to get up close and personal with some amazing animals. You can learn about the animals, as well as their care and conservation through signage located at the animal habitats, says Dr. Greathouse. Between nearly 100 teen volunteers and Zoo Science Majors from West Liberty University, there’s always someone on hand to explain animal behavior, efforts to help endangered species, and any other question your kid can come up with.

“The team is highly interactive and loves to welcome our guests, and everybody from our custodian and zoo maintenance team members up through our managers and myself are familiar with the species we care for and the conservation programs that we support and are excited to talk with the guests about the animals that we are so passionate about,” Greathouse says. Close-up encounters, birthday parties, and even sleepovers happen at the zoo, too.

Oglebay Park Resort participates in many conservation programs including a raptor rehabilitation program, a breeding management program known as Species Survival Plans for nearly 30 different rare or endangered species, and was the first zoo in the world to hatch eggs from the Eastern hellbender in human care in 2007. Since then, their team has worked with various environmental agencies to reintroduce these aquatic salamanders back into local waterways.

The Frick Environmental Center

Located in Frick Park in the East End of the city, the Frick Environmental Center is one of the city’s hidden gems for family learning and fun. “The Frick Environmental Center is more than just a building—it’s a welcoming gateway to Frick Park, a vibrant education hub, and a place where people of all ages can connect with nature,” says Director of Advancement Alana Wenk.

The center is free and open to everyone and is operated by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. It’s  open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and a full list of free and low-cost events can be found on the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s events webpage.

Wenk says there are endless ways for families to learn at the center, whether they come for a specific event or just drop by. In fact, from the second they walk through the door, it’s a learning experience: “As a Certified Living Building, the Frick Environmental Center is one of the greenest facilities in the world, designed to operate in harmony with nature,” she says.

The building generates its own energy, captures and treats rainwater right on site, and uses sustainable materials. Programs use hands-on experiences to educate and get kids out in nature. On May 15, the center will be opening a new resource, the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail. The three-acre site will feature a short nature trail perfect for kids, with interactive discovery stations and hands-on learning for visitors of all abilities at stops along the trail.

“Whether it’s discovering how native plants support pollinators, understanding the role of healthy forests in managing stormwater, or participating in activities that promote waste reduction and responsible resource use, visitors gain practical knowledge they can apply in their daily lives,” says Wenk.

Latodami Nature Center

Located in North Park, this 250-acre reserve is rife with learning opportunities. Latodami Nature Center grounds are open from dawn to dusk every day. With five miles of trails wandering through ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and meadows, it’s a great place to get out and get muddy. The barn is open for scheduled programming, hosting around 250 learning events each year. “Our most popular summer program is our Young Naturalist Summer Day camps,” says Katrina Stanley, Lead Interpretive Naturalist at Latodami. “This camp teaches kids ages 10 to 14 how to become immersed in the world of nature.”

“We like to say that we teach about anything under, and around, the sun,” says Stanley. “We have programs from owl prowls, to bat kayaks, to wildflower hikes, to star parties, to volunteer work days and much more, all of which give attendees opportunities to engage with the natural world and learn about the importance of conservation.”

Each program leaves kids with a call to action, too, so the learning carries over into their daily lives. “Our goal is always to get people connected with nature so that they can be the stewards of the earth for current and future generations of humans, plants, and wildlife alike.”

This spring there are several activities at Latodami to help families celebrate Earth Month, such as Earth Day Tree Plantings on Saturday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There is a full list of events here, as well. Earth Month is our favorite time of year here at Latodami Nature Center,” says Stanley. “We are offering 20 public programs in April alone, and are so excited for people to join us  to help give back to the earth and learn about its incredible inhabitants.”

This list, while packed with great spots, is far from comprehensive. There are other events and centers located throughout the region where families can learn about caring for the planet. Check out the Jennings Environmental Education Center, Beechwood Farm Nature Reserve, and the McKeever Environmental Learning Center, to name a few. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is also hosting several Earth Month events.