The Outdoor Classroom

For the past 12 years, The Outdoor Classroom has offered a wide variety of environmental education programs and activities to introduce children, students and adults to the wonders of the natural world using the resources of Boyce Mayview Park. Our programs have been praised by students and teachers. However, we have not been able to maintain sufficient funding to continue offering programs. As a result, the Board of Directors of The Outdoor Classroom have reluctantly decided... to suspend operations effective June 2, 2016. We are in the process of refunding payments that have been made for programs scheduled for June 2, 2016 or later. The Board wishes to acknowledge the dedication and teaching excellence of the Classroom staff and the support of our many friends. We believe that the benefits delivered by more than a decade of environmental education programming stand as a testament to The Outdoor Classroom's mission to connect the people of southwestern Pennsylvania with their environment. The staff and Board of The Outdoor Classroom thanks you for your past support and wishes you the best in your future education endeavors.

Join us Saturday for the annual (and international!) Migratory Bird Count! Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Bird migration has been recorded for over 3,000 years with ancient Greeks such as Homer and Aristotle having made note of the movement patterns of cranes. The timing of migration seems to be controlled primarily by changes in day length. Migrating birds navigate using celestial cues from the sun and stars, the earth's magnetic field, and probably also mental maps. What migrants will you spot during the count? Neo-tropical Warblers? Rose Breasted Grosbeaks? Barred Owls? Call our offices and let Jessica know you plan to come birding!

This guy has been calling right outside our offices all day! Baltimore Orioles are named for their resemblance to the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore (Cecil Calvert), the first governor of the Province of Maryland (1600s). Baltimore Orioles build a cup shaped nest which hangs from a tree twig. Favorite foods of the Baltimore Oriole include tent caterpillars and dark berries and fruits. Placing orange slices and grape jelly in your bird feeder can help attract Orioles!

We had a small group for the NestWatch Citizen Science program by Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvanie tonight but we were able to see and touch multiple types of nests! Can you name the birds that belong to these nests? Remember, unless you have a special permit you are not allow to collect any parts of a native song bird which includes: feathers, eggs and nests! #NestWatch

Since it's lunch time, here's a little info on a very interesting eater; the wheel bug! A wheel bug is a type of assassin bug, and as their name suggests, the entire family of assassin bugs (Reduviidae, 7,000 species) are ambush predators. They use their long rostrum as a piercing instrument. After piercing, the wheel bug injects its victim with potent saliva that contains an enzyme which destroys the soft tissue. Wheel bugs are considered beneficial bugs since they generally liquefy and suck out the innards of creatures we consider pests; caterpillars and stink bugs. Avoid handling these bugs, their rostrum can pierce human skin and cause a painful bite. Allergic reactions to their bite have been reported.

Would your little one like to build a bear den? Learn where the color green comes from? How about build a makeshift shelter? Spend the day learning about animals with the Pennsylvania Game Commission? Our BRAND NEW summer camp themes have something for everyone! They're already filling up, so register now! http://www.theoutdoorclassroompa.org/registration_events.asp