Explore the interesting animals of the Laurel Highlands – both real and imaginary! Investigate the real mammals, amphibians, birds, and reptiles that play important roles in the Appalachian environment, and unravel the mysteries of the mythical creatures that live only in imagination. From the real but elusive hellbender to the mythical crying squonk, discover the animals that play a role in fact and folklore and what those stories can teach us about the natural world.
Learn more about Myths and Legends: Animals of Appalachia.
Do you have the drive and determination to survive in the wild? Build your survival skills as you play team-building games, decipher puzzles, and problem-solve your way through challenges. Investigate and identify edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants. Build a shelter, practice filtering water, and learn navigation techniques. Compete in a series of friendly competitions to see if you have what it takes to survive. The challenge is on!
Learn more about The Drive to Survive.
Curious campers, let’s ask questions and seek out answers! Ponder, hypothesize, and experiment your way through a week of hands-on science. Learn how to extract DNA, investigate optical illusions, and test out colorful chemical reactions. Create a cozy case for an egg and see how far it can fall without breaking. Make a racetrack for marbles, plus build a Rube Goldberg-like contraption to watch what happens next as you ask, “What if I?...”
Learn more about What If I....
Spend the week creating crafts and enjoying nature like you live in a cozy cottage in the woods! Trek through the forest to watch for Pennsylvania birds, press flowers from the meadow, and pick fresh raspberries for homemade pies. Try your hand at sewing and upcycle old fabric to braid into rugs. Extract essential oils to use in candle-making, and relax with puzzles of all types. Make a scrapbook of your adventures to remember your cottage core camp!
Learn more about Cottage in the Woods.
Adventure out into the wild and search for treasure in the forest, meadow, and stream! Hone your observation skills and seek out oddities to amass into a creative collection. Learn how to use a metal detector, press plants, and recycle collected items to leave no trace in nature. This camp will keep you active while using your creativity to turn trash to treasure!
Learn more about Treasure Hunters.
Get ready to see Pittsburgh like you’ve never seen it before! Trek across the city by foot and Pittsburgh Regional Transit to find out what makes our wonderful city unique. Visit famous ‘Burgh locations like the bustling Strip District, colorful Randyland, and beautiful Point State Park. Discover the sports, bridges, architecture, and organizations that put Pittsburgh on the map. Navigate through our area’s kaleidoscope of cultural traditions. Lace up your sneakers—this is an active camp with daily hiking and public transit excursions.
Learn more about Hello Pittsburgh!.
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.
Dive into the wonders of water! Splish and splash your way through experiments, games, and outdoor water play to learn all about the science of our watery, icy world. Find out what makes an object sink or float, and create colorful water paintings. Discover aquatic adaptations of amphibians, reptiles, fish, and other critters that live in ponds, rivers, and oceans. Build a cascading water wall and search the museum for minerals that look like ice.
Learn more about Splish Splash.
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.