Events & Volunteer Opportunities
Community Garden Stewards Needed
May 21, 2018 to October 31, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Have you ever seen a WPC garden and wondered how it stays looking colorful, strong and healthy? A loyal crew of volunteers known as Garden Stewards cares for the Conservancy’s many gardens. After spring planting, Garden Stewards help water, weed, prune and clean up the areas. Stewards work from spring to fall.
Are you looking for a way to get outside and tend a garden? We can help! Can we count on you to help a garden bloom all summer long? Contact Lynn McGuire-Olzak at 412-586-2324 or lolzak@paconserve.org to learn how to get started. The gardens below need stewards to care for them in 2018:
- Liberty Tunnels and Route 51, Beltzhoover/Bon Air/Mount Washington
- Centre Avenue and Herron Avenue, Hill District
- General Robinson Street and Anderson Street, North Side Neighborhoods
- College Avenue and University Boulevard, State College, Centre County
- Route 66 and Route 322, Shippenville (Paint Township), Clarion County
- Route 906 and Tyrol Boulevard, Monessen, Westmoreland County
Become a WPC Ambassador
May 21, 2018 to October 31, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Help Plant a Community Flower Garden
May 23, 2018 to June 2, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Volunteer to plant a community garden in the spring. With 130 community gardens in the region, there’s sure to be one near you. It’s a great way to give back to your community and it’s a fun team-building activity. So, sign up for you and your group to spend a morning or afternoon getting your hands dirty.
June 8, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Centre Ave. & Herron Ave., Hill District, Pittsburgh
May 23, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 119 & Pittsburgh St., Connellsville, Fayette County
12:00 p.m. - Liberty Ave. & Commonwealth Place – The Point, Downtown Pittsburgh
1:30 p.m. - South Dallas Ave. & Wilkins Ave., Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh
May 24, 2018
9:00 a.m. - East Ave. & 6th St., Erie, Erie County
9:00 a.m. - Tri-Boro Expressway & Electric Ave., East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
May 25, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 902 Chestnut St. - Ghost Town Trail (behind Nanty Glo fire Dept.), Nanty Glo, Cambria County
9:00 a.m. - Gateway Center - Faith's Garden, Downtown Pittsburgh
9:00 a.m. - Center St. & Locust St. - Ghost Town Trail, Ebensburg, Cambria County
9:00 a.m. - Chestnut St. & 2nd St., Nanty Glo, Cambria County
10:00 a.m. - 106 Pine St., Marienville Area Library Rain Garden, Marienville, Forest County
May 26, 2018
8:00 a.m. - Rt. 68 & Hansen Ave., Butler, Butler County
8:00 a.m. - Rt. 8 & Rt. 422, Butler
9:00 a.m. - 7th St. & Forster St., Harrisburg, Dauphin County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 173 & E. Cooper St. - Slippery Rock Memorial Park, Slippery Rock, Butler County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 366 near Tarentum Bridge, New Kensington, Westmoreland County
May 29, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 26 & 8th St. - Portstown Park, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County
10:00 a.m. - Rt. 906 & Tyrol Blvd., Monessen, Westmoreland County
May 30, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 30 & Greengate Rd., Greensburg, Westmoreland County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 286 & Indian Springs Rd., Indiana, Indiana County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 403 @ Stonycreek River, Benson, Somerset County
May 31, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 18 & Tyler Ave., Washington, Washington County
June 2, 2018
9:00 a.m. - Chestnut St. & 8th St., Altoona, Blair County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 6 & Rt. 285, Conneaut Lake, Crawford County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 48 & Haymaker Rd./Campus Blvd., Monroeville, Allegheny County
9:00 a.m. - Rt. 62 & East State St., Hermitage, Mercer County
10:00 a.m. - Rt. 40 & Broadway St., Brownsville, Fayette County
Volunteer for Land Stewardship
June 9, 2018 to November 10, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Do you enjoy hiking and getting outdoors? Become a Land Stewardship Volunteer! WPC owns and cares for more than 12,000 acres of land free and open to the public for outdoor recreation. Land Stewardship volunteers help keep these natural areas clean and safe. You can choose from a variety of locations to volunteer from March through November. It’s fun, hard work, and you’ll learn a lot, too! For example, you’ll learn from WPC staff about invasive plants that crowd out native species, and how to remove them. You may also work with staff to build and maintain hiking trails. Can we count on you to help protect these special places? Check out the schedule and pre-register today!
June 9, 2018
TRAIL REPAIR - Lower Elk Creek Nature Reserve, Erie County
We’ll install drainage improvements and paint the footbridge along the trail.
July 28, 2018
INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL & TRAIL MAINTENANCE - Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area, Butler County
We’ll cut back purple loosestrife and other invasives, and complete miscellaneous trail repairs.
August 18, 2018
TRAIL CONSTRUCTION - Casselman Conservation Area, Somerset County (tenative)
September 8, 2018
TIRE & DEBRIS CLEAN UP - Conneaut Marsh Natural Area, Cussewago Bottom Conservation Area and Mystic Valley Conservation Area, Crawford County
Removal of old tires and debris as part of the annual French Creek Clean-up. Please let us know at least a couple weeks prior if you plan to attend this workday, since we will register as the WPC Land Stewardship Team (2017 Winners!).
October 27, 2018
CONIFER PLANTATION MANAGEMENT - Bear Run Nature Reserve, Fayette County
Over the next few years, we’ll be restoring areas of native forest within the planted pine and spruce plantations. Come learn about this unique pilot project, and help with tasks like tree girdling.
November 10, 2018
WRAP-UP POTLUCK
Location TBD
In addition to the Saturdays listed above, occasional weekday projects will be scheduled. Workdays are typically held rain or shine. If a workday is cancelled, a message will immediately be sent to the volunteer land steward email list (the website may not be updated for a day or so). To sign up for the email list or for further information, please contact:
Andrew Zadnik
Director of Land Stewardship
azadnik@paconserve.org
412-586-2318
Redbuds and Brews
June 28, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Join us on the North Shore to help care for redbuds and other native trees planted in Pittsburgh’s North Shore Riverfront Park as part of The Pittsburgh Redbud Project. Afterwards, we’ll head to a local bar for appetizers and drinks. Meet us at Pittsburgh's Northshore Riverfront Park at 5:00 p.m. to join the fun!
Wolf Creek Narrows Workday Getaway
July 28, 2018
Volunteer Opportunity
Looking for a good reason to get out of Pittsburgh? Meet us in Slippery Rock at WPC’s Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area to help remove invasive plants and maintain the hiking trail. After you’ve expended some calories, refuel with local beer and food at nearby North Country Brew Pub. This event begins at 9:00 a.m.
Please email Dan Cody at dcody@paconserve.org with any questions.