Jazz Festival 2021-An Evening at The Wharf

The Wharf 10141 Wharf Road, Waynesboro, PA

2021 marks 30 YEARS of The Institute’s annual jazz festival! 30th Anniversary Institute Jazz Festival features a NEW location, NEW time, and a band featuring some of the hottest young talent in jazz! With a fabulous new location, the jazz festival continues to spotlight top professional artists each year that light up the outdoor stage with…

Rotary: Battle of the Minds 2021

Green Grove Gardens 1032 Buchanan Trail E, Greencastle, PA

Battle of the Minds—the ultimate trivia challenge! NOTICE: This event was rescheduled from last year, when the originally-planned event was cancelled due to Covid. In 2021, the event may look a little different, but with safety protocols in place, we plan to engage in a Battle of the Minds! The Institute was selected as The…

Recurring

October ‘Wee Wonder’ Series

Pine Hill Recreation Area 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA

Autumn adventures in the park! Activities include: exploring the outdoors, hikes, nature stories, rhymes, finger plays, nature games, puppets. Ages 2.5 to 5 years. (Children must be accompanied by a parent.) Pre-registration for full series required. Series Fee: $28/child Institute member; $32 non-member. Prepayment required and confirms your registration. To register, email us at [email protected].

StoryWalk® Grand Opening

Pine Hill Recreation Area 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA

Families are invited to the grand opening of a new community resource that invites them to take a stroll on the nature trails at Pine Hill Park, while enjoying a delightful children’s story. The Institute, in partnership with Summit Endowment and other sponsors, have installed a permanent StoryWalk®, which will feature a new storybook monthly.…

Pumpkins & Pippins Fall Festival Fundraiser

Pine Hill Recreation Area 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA

Support The Institute by bringing your family to a fall celebration of Pumpkins & Pippins! Enjoy live music by Mountain Air, performing a mix of acoustic contemporary folk and pop music. Have lunch from Coco’s Grill or Maddie Ann's Perogies food trucks, with dessert from our bake sale. Activities include Kid Zone/Yard Games, Pony Rides,…

Intro to the Antietam Meadow with Dr. Doris

Antietam Meadow Park 11881 Rinehart Drive, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Antietam Meadow Park. Source:http://www.washtwp-franklin.org/antietam-meadow-park/ Join Institute staff member and biologist, Dr. Doris Goldman on a tour and introduction of Antietam Meadow Park, a 25-acre park located west of North Welty Road along the East Branch of Antietam Creek in Washington Township. Dr. Doris will guide participants around the area and talk about the meadow, its…

Birds with a Gettysburg Address

Lisa Lunny Join us for this educational and entertaining program about the many species of birds that inhabit one of our nation's most famous places, Gettysburg Battlefield. Location and program specifics to be announced, but mark your calendar for this one now!

Recurring

Birding Field Trip: Short-eared Owls in Gettysburg

Gettysburg Battlefield 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA

Short-eared Owl in flight at Gettysburg. Photo by Dave Graff. Notice: The January 22 event is full. Contact Dave Graff ([email protected]) to join a second trip scheduled for Saturday, February 12 at the same time.   Let's travel to Gettysburg for a special winter afternoon birding excursion, in search of Short-eared Owls. Arrive at 3 p.m.…

Recurring

Winter Season Family Trail Hike

Appalachian Trail PA

THE JANUARY 30 HIKE IS CANCELLED. Parking areas at the trail heads are not plowed, the trail has ice under the snow, and another storm is in the forecast…please plan to join us on February 27! The Naturalist Series of Outdoor Programs First in a series of Appalachian Trail Hikes, planned for the last Sunday…

Winter EXPLORE! For the Birds

Pine Hill Recreation Area 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) perched on a snowy branch Register for one session OR the full series of four programs! See the flier with the whole series of four programs here. Email us at [email protected] to register for this program. Activities include listening to a storybook about birds, plus learning about the structure of a bird’s body…