Discover an enchanted world inside the museum and make connections to some of your favorite stories. Let it all go as you experiment with ice, and go under the sea to learn about the differences between fresh and salt water. You‘ll have no worries as you learn how lions, warthogs, and meerkats survive in their ecosystems, plus explore ways you can help make the world a better place.
Learn more about Enchanted Explorations.
Let’s go green! Discover the environmental efforts that make Pittsburgh a green city. Learn about the city’s transformation from industrialized and polluted to sustainable and livable. Visit nearby “living buildings” to examine how local organizations achieve net zero energy and keep our water clean. Hike our beautiful parks and uncover how green spaces keep the city’s inhabitants healthy, from people to plants to animals. Get active on this adventurous camp with daily excursions by foot and Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
Learn more about Green Pittsburgh.
Become a junior researcher and experience real science in action at Powdermill! Spend the week participating in active science in the field. Uncover an environmental issue, develop a research question and hypothesis, and collect data to prove your point. Work as a team to learn research methods to address real problems. Your group will be in full control of what you explore! At the end of the week, present your findings for review by a Powdermill ecologist.
Learn more about Junior Researchers.
Plunge into experiments about the physics and chemistry of water as you develop your own mega-bubble solution. Test solutions for acids and bases, and compare ice crystals to minerals in the museum. Challenge yourself with boat building, buoyancy tests, and water balloon drops. Hike through Schenley Park to investigate aquatic habitats in the Panther Hollow Watershed and take a dip in nearby Schenley Swimming Pool.
Learn more about Aquatic Adventures.
Investigate how water keeps our city of three rivers running. Study the diverse life of Pittsburgh’s waterways, discover the importance of watersheds, and learn everyday practices to keep them healthy. Build skills in freshwater field work as you collect macro- and microorganisms. Dive into the world of wetland plants and wildlife, and discover the science of condensation, evaporation, precipitation, and more.
Learn more about Urban Hydrology.
Search for salamanders, set up insect traps, and “fish” for microplankton on biology expeditions. Soar to new heights as you study seed dispersal, and find animals in different ecosystems on hikes through nearby Schenley Park. Learn how invasive plant species spread and make native plant kits for your garden. Discover the intricate art of making nests, plus build a nest and test its strength.
Learn more about Eco Adventures.