VENTURE OUTDOORS Trailhead Connecting Everyone with the Outdoors DID YOU KNOW… BOARD of DIRECTORS Venture Outdoors Is a 501(C)3 Charitable Nonprofit Organization
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October – December 2016 Schedule VENTURE OUTDOORS TRAILHEAD Connecting Everyone with the Outdoors DID YOU KNOW… BOARD OF DIRECTORS Venture Outdoors is a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization. We are dedicated to Alice Johnston, Board Chair connecting everyone to the benefits of outdoor recreation throughout Southwestern Drew Lessard, Vice Chair & Treasurer Pennsylvania. We provide a variety of activities that inspire an active lifestyle, promote Todd Owens, Past Chair the region’s unique amenities, highlight its excellent quality of life, and foster a greater Amanda Beamon appreciation for the environment. Abby Corbin Dennis Henderson David Hunt Membership Has Its Benefits Membership Levels Lindsay Patross Darlene Schiller Time to renew your Membership or join for Student /Senior – $15 Marty Silverman the first time? Go to ventureoutdoors. Individual – $25 Robert J. Standish org/join-us to show your support of our Geoff Tolley programs and mission to connect people Dual – $35 W. Jesse Ward to the outdoors! Family – $50 David Wolf Trailblazer – $75 As a Member you save everyday on STAFF Paddler – $100 outing fees, rentals at Kayak Pittsburgh, Ranger – $125 Joey–Linn Ulrich, Executive Director and invitations to Members only outings and events. Steward – $250 PROGRAM DEPARTMENT Trustee – $500 Lora Woodward, Director Have a question about Membership? Pathfinder – $1,000 Liz Fager, Community Program Manager Email [email protected] Jim Smith, Equipment and Facilities Manager or call 412.255.0564, ext. 224. All members receive: Lora Hutelmyer, Youth Program Manager Jake Very, Custom Program Coordinator Thank you for your continued support! • Discounts of up to 40% on Venture Billy Dixon, Program Administrator Outdoors outings KAYAK PITTSBURGH • Outing vouchers between $5 and $25 Vanessa Bashur, Director in value based on membership level We’re new to the area and my • $5 off your first hour on Kayak DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS husband and I wanted to explore the Pittsburgh rentals Donna L. Bour, Director Kathi Radock, Membership and Volunteer outdoors. I found Venture Outdoors • Invitations to free Members only Manager “online and immediately bought him a outings and events Jessica Wiegand, Communications and gift membership. • 20% discount at local Eddie Bauer Media Coordinator stores and online at eddiebauer.com Jayme Penner, Membership and Special Projects Coordinator • 10% discount at Gander Mountain in Monroeville ADMINISTRATION Members at the $250 Steward level Sherry Buckham, Operations Administrator ” and above also receive these additional membership benefits: TRIP LEADER COUNCIL • Two 1–hour FREE rental vouchers for Kayak Pittsburgh Nanci Goldberg • Two general admission tickets to the Joel Johnston Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Nancy Latimer Erin McCormick Henry Schumacher Memberships are tax-deductible. Sheila Stagnitta Orville Steininger Christen Stroh Kevin Thomson Joe Walko VENTURE OUTDOORS I’ve only been a member for less than a year, but I have recommended this wonderful Contributor Choice #1529517 “organization to 8-10 of my friends. 2 ” VENTUREOUTDOORS.ORG Levels of Difficulty TABLE OF CONTENTS This terminology is general. Please refer Membership p. 2 Family p. 4 Leadership p. 11 to program description for specifics. The Levels of Difficulty p. 3 Fishing p. 5 Paddling p. 12 activity information is accurate at the How to Sign Up p. 3 Hiking p. 5 Rock Climbing p. 14 time of printing. Occasionally, an activity’s Specialty Hikes p. 9 information is altered before its start Biking p. 4 Workshops p. 15 date. You will receive the most recent information when you register. RELAXED • Short distances at a slow pace • Generally flat terrain, ellw defined trails • No prior activity experience is necessary HOW TO SIGN UP • Perfect start for beginners • Not too physically challenging To register for any outing, please visit the Activities Calendar at ventureoutdoors. org or call 412.255.0564, ext 0. EASY • Short distances at a slow pace • Relatively flat terrain, ellw defined trails, may involve some hills Here’s how we do it… Becoming a member helps us… • No prior activity experience is necessary With more than 700 outings and events • Get children and low–income families • Perfect start for beginners each year, people of all ages, families, kids, outside and active, experiencing the • Not too physically challenging and even pets, can enjoy our first–rate wonder and beauty of outdoor MODERATE outdoor recreation. recreation • Varying distances at a steady pace • Develop adaptive outdoor recreation • Varying terrain, fairly established trails Members save on outings, but everyone is programs for people with disabilities • Some prior experience in the activity is welcome. Want to create a unique group • Fund our continued efforts to promote required experience? Call about customized outings. healthy lifestyles throughout • Physically challenging, only for those in Southwestern Pennsylvania good physical condition Venture Outdoors also runs Kayak Pittsburgh and operates a 24’ portable climbing wall ADVANCED to bring fun to your next festival, • Fast–paced over a short distance or community day, or corporate event. Venture Outdoors would like steady–paced over a long distance to thank the following • Varying terrain, may include off–trail And join us each spring for two of our most participants and volunteers sections, rough spots, unexpected popular events – the Banff Mountain Film who generously provided obstacles Festival World Tour and the Venture • Prior experience in the activity is required Outdoors Festival in Point State Park. photographs for this issue • Physically challenging, only for those in of Trailhead. good physical condition Nanci Goldberg STRENUOUS Karen Hanley • Fast–paced over a short distance or I became a member to Pat Hinson fast–paced over a long distance Kate Keech • Difficult terrain, will include off–trail support the cause and sections, rough spots and unexpected to socialize and meet Suni Lynn Lee obstacles “ Mary Lynn Marsico new people. • Prior experience in the activity is required Chelsea Szost Bugieslski • Only for those in excellent physical Neva Szost condition. Most physically challenging FAMILY FRIENDLY • These activities are geared toward the whole family and offer discounts for ” children under 18; some restrictions apply. A parent or legal guardian must sign an assumption of risk form for a participant under 18 years of age. DOG FRIENDLY • Bring your best friend along on the trip. These activities are great for both you and your dog. • The number of dogs allowed on an activity is limited AND those dogs must be registered with participants. Dogs must have licenses and up–to–date shots. VENTUREOUTDOORS.ORG 3 DRAVO CEMETERY RIDE ON THE GAP OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SKILLS Ride from little Boston to West Newton and Spend a day in the woods of Riverview Park as back as we travel 30 miles along the Great we learn basic outdoor skills. We’ve set up Allegheny Passage. We’ll stop at Dead Man’s different stations throughout the park to learn Hollow, the site of a thriving industrial area different outdoor skills, like campfire building, 100 years ago that contains only a few orienteering, and setting up camp. Come away remaining signs of its past industry, and the from the program with a better understanding isolated Old Dravo Cemetery with gravestones of the outdoors and some sweet skills that that date back to 1812. In West Newton, we’ll you can teach your friends. This activity is enjoy lunch at one of the local eateries. recommended for youth ages 8-18. At least (Lunch is not included in the outing fee.) Time one parent or guardian is required to register will be allotted to wander the town before and attend the workshop with the child(ren) pedaling back. Minimum age 12. Bike rentals they are registering. are not available for this outing. November 5 October 30 1 - 4 PM 10 AM - 4 PM Riverview Park Great Allegheny Passage Non-member: $8 Non-member: $18 Member: $6 Member: $12 Kids: $5 Member Family: $18 BLACK ‘N GOLD SCAVENGER HUNT Let’s find our Pittsburgh pride! You’ll learn to FAMILY use hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) units to locate your treasures. Each EASY find will have a Pittsburgh or Black ‘n Gold theme! PUMPKIN DECORATING WALK November 12 Halloween is just around the corner, and we’ve 2 - 4 PM found the pumpkin patch in North Park! We’ll take a discovery walk, followed by snacks and Frick Park mini-pumpkin decorating. Each attendee Non-member: $12 receives their own pumpkin to decorate. Member: $8 October 9 Kids: $5 1 - 3 PM Member Family: $20 North Park BIKING Non-member: $12 Member: $8 MODERATE Kids: $5 Member Family: $25 SUNDAY RIDE ON THE TRAIL: WESTMORELAND HERITAGE TRAIL CAMPFIRE STORIES Southwestern PA has many bike trails to The air is getting chillier and there are leaves explore. We will pedal 20 to 25 miles out and crunching under our boots – it’s the perfect back along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail. time for a hike and campfire stories! We’ll This crushed-limestone trail runs along the walk about 2 miles before heading to a picnic Turtle Creek Branch of the former Penn area where we’ll roast marshmallows and Central rail corridor, and features natural listen to family-friendly stories. beauty and scenic wildlife. Bring your lunch, we’ll stop to eat along the way. Bike rentals October 22 are not available. 5:30 - 7:30 PM October 2 Riverview Park 10 AM - 3 PM Non-member: $10 Westmoreland Heritage Trail Member: $6 Non-member: $18 Kids: $5 Member: $12 Member Family: $20 4 VENTUREOUTDOORS.ORG COCOA AND COOKIE ADVENTURE If you like cookies dipped in milk, then try them dipped in hot chocolate! Join us as we FISHING TYKE take a nice afternoon stroll through a local park. Afterward, we’ll dip sugar cookies in hot MODERATE HIKES cocoa! Come enjoy, and bring the parents! November 20 FLY FISHING FOR WILD BROWN TROUT 10 – 11:30 AM Enjoy the great insect hatches this fertile Kids $5, Family $10 1:30 - 3:30 PM stream provides - the fish certainly do.