Rotary: Battle of the Minds 2021

Green Grove Gardens 1032 Buchanan Trail E, Greencastle, PA, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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 […]

Winter EXPLORE! Seasonal Slumbers and Survival Strategies

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

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. How do local critters get through the winter? Kids will listen to “A Warm Winter Tail” by Carrie A. Pearson, a book about how different animals […]

StoryWalk® Sundays – February 2022

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

After being snowed out twice, StoryWalk® Sunday for "The Mitten" has been rescheduled for February! This is the second in a series of StoryWalk® Sunday adventures for kids. February’s storybook is “The Mitten” by Jan Brett. “Based on a Ukrainian folk tradition, the story is a whimsical tale of winter woodland animals climbing into a […]

Winter EXPLORE! Nature’s Valentines

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

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. In addition to listening to a nature storybook, Love Matters Most, by Mij Kelly and Gerry Turley, students will learn some fun facts about bears, go […]