North Park Latodami Nature Center

North Park
Latodami Nature Center

575 Brown Road
Wexford, PA 15090
(724) 935-2170

Unless specifically noted, all programs are appropriate for any age individual. All programs require pre-registration due to limited space or materials, unless otherwise noted. Although our programs are "rain-or-shine," it is recommended to call for up-to-date information on programs due to changes or cancellations to the schedule. Dress well for outdoor explorations!

A special note about the North Park Latodami Nature Center facilities: we have no running water, no public telephone, there is a handicapped port-a-john in the parking lot. Parking is limited at the Nature Center Barn; for organized groups we recommend carpooling.

For brochures, nature center and wildlife pictures, neat park features information, and other interesting stuff check out the External Internet Link Latodami Nature Center site.

YEAR ROUND (January - December)
DATE/TIME	2013 EVENTS
Weekly Every Thurs. 10 am - Noon	Thursday Adult Nature Walk Are you looking to learn more about nature, has your doctor recommended that you start exercising more, would you like to meet new people that enjoy the out-of-doors? Originally started as a program for stroke and heart patients, this nature group has expanded to any interested adult. This informal adult nature group meets rain or shine every Thursday of the year. Local naturalists guide these enlightening, leisurely-paced walks. New nature adventures and discoveries every week. No need to pre-register, just show up with a smile. Dress well for outdoor walking. Park and meet at the Ice Skating Rink parking lot off Kummer Road.
Monthly Second Tues. of each month	Pre-School Children's Hour Pre-registration required - to be placed on the waiting list for openings, call (724) 935-2170. This program is specifically designed to introduce young children to the out-of-doors. This class is very hands-on oriented and we spend most of our time outside for every class.Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be actively assisting in teaching/learning process their child. Dress well for outdoor explorations as we do get wet and dirty. Park and meet at the Nature Center Barn.
Spring through Fall (Apr. - Oct.) 9:30 - 11 am & 1 - 2:30 pm
Winter (Nov. - Mar.) 10 - 11 am & 1 - 2 pm

WINTER SEASON (January - March) Winter programs/activities scheduled weather & conditions permitting!
DATE/TIME	2013 EVENTS
1/5 & 2/2 10 am - Noon Saturdays	Snowshoe Adventure Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170. Join us for a snowshoe adventure hike at Latodami. Bring your own snowshoes and dress well for exploring fields and woodlands. If there is no snow, we will hike.
1/28 - 3/15 Mon. - Fri. Pre-registration required	Maple Syrup Making Demonstration - (School, scout & private groups - pre-registration required) Morning, afternoon and after school hours available. Fulfills Forestry Badge for Webelos and Love Maple Syrup Try-it for Brownies. Using “home style” methods, we will show you how to tap the trees, collect and boil down the sap and make it table ready. You will learn everything you need to know so you can make your own maple syrup at home. Call (724) 935-2170 for more information and group registration.
3/2 10 - 11:30 am 12 Noon - 1:30 pm Sat.	Maple Syrup Making Demonstration - (Public & group programs) Using "home style" methods, we will show you how to tap the trees, collect and boil down the sap and make it table ready. You will learn everything you need to know so you can make your own maple syrup at home. Call (724) 935-2170 for more information and group registration.
3/6 7 pm - 8 pm Wed.	History of Latodami Presentation Meet at the Scout Cabin located on Ingomar Road. Learn about Latodami's past, present and future during this "Friends of North Park" slide show presentation.
3/9 11 am - 12:30 pm Sat.	Maple Syrup Making Demonstration - at Marshall Township's Elias Frye Barn (Public & group program) Pre-registration required. Call Marshall Township to register for this program: (724) 935-3090 or register online. Find out why the season and weather are important to sap production and how to identify trees without their leaves. Using “home style” methods, we will show you how to tap the trees, collect and boil down the sap and make it table ready. You will learn everything you need to know so you can make your own maple syrup at home. Dress well for cold weather. Park and meet at Marshall Township’s Elias Frye Barn located off Knob Road in the Marshall Township Community Park.
Pre-order deadline: 3/16 Pick up date: 4/13 9 am - Noon	North Area Environmental Council Seedling Sale - Pre-ordering required. Great selection of native trees and shrubs for school and scout groups, or to improve wildlife habitat around your home, school or camp. For more information and 2013 plant list call (724) 935-2170. Ordered items will be available on the pick up date from 9 am until noon at the Nature Center Barn. Check the NAEC website for more information. Event Flyer

SPRING SEASON (April - June)
DATE/TIME	2013 EVENTS
6/1	Kayak Nature Paddle Meet at Boathouse Come along for some wet fun as we paddle the newly restored aquatic ecosystem of North Park Lake. Bring your own or rent a kayak or canoe at the Boathouse for this 2 hour nature voyage. For more info, visit: Boathouse watercraft rentals North Park Boathouse
6/3 9 am until classes are full Mon.	Registration Day for Summer Young Naturalist Programs By telephone at (724) 935-2170, starting at 9 am. Limit of 3 children per call. No age exceptions. These hands-on, outdoor experiences, investigations and adventures are designed to develop a lifelong appreciation and interest in our environment and an awareness of our relationship with the natural world. Age groups will be on the following dates from 9 am - 1:00 pm: 6 - 10 years - June 17, 18, 19 11 - 16 years - June 24, 25, 26 6 - 10 years - July 15, 16, 17 11 - 16 years - July 22, 23, 24 6 - 10 years - August 5, 6, 7

SUMMER SEASON (July - August)
DATE/TIME	2013 EVENTS
8/3 10 am - Noon Sat.	Wahdo:Gwas Wetland Inventory Meet at the North Dakota Education Pavilion on Pearce Mill Road. Assist in ongoing research by helping to document the great diversity of plant and animal life in our new wetland. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.

AUTUMN SEASON (September - December)
DATE/TIME	2013 EVENTS
10/5 9 am - Noon Sat.	Arboretum Service Day Meet at Grant Grove on Wildwood Road. Assist today with our third annual service day in memory of Naturalist, Esther Allen. We will be removing smothering overgrowth from select areas throughout this unique site that was one of Esther’s favourite North Park destinations. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.
10/5 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Sat.	Arboretum Tour Meet at Grant Grove on Wildwood Road. Join us as we identify the unusual and rare tree and wildflower species found in this 25 acre site. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.
10/17 10 am - Noon	Thursday Adult Nature Walk Fall Foliage Hike Meet at the Ranch House on Kummer Road. Walkers will enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this fall walk along woodland trails around the Golf Course. Dress well as the program is rain or shine. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170
10/17 1 pm - 2 pm	Thursday Adult Nature Walk Presentation Meet at the Ranch House on Kummer Road. We will be celebrating the 43rd year of this walking group with a slide show presentation. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.
11/2 10 am - Noon Sat.	Native American Story Pole and Story Telling Learn the history of Native Americans in North Park and how the Story Pole came to call North Park its home. Lee Dingus (Seneca), of Echoes of the Four Directions, will be presenting the stories of the Snohomish Nation, of the west coast, of the four footed, winged and of our other brothers and sisters that are carved on the Story Pole, as well as Seneca stories. Story Poles were a tool to educate the young to teach morals and respect of all life. More information - Echoes of the Four Directions North Park’s Story Pole and its creator Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.
11/2 1 pm - 3 pm Sat.	Native American Flute and Display Learn about the cultural history of the Seneca and Cherokee Nations through the use of historical, cultural and educational displays, including: baskets; tools; snowshoes; games; beads; pottery; drums; rattles; and much more. Come to hear the sounds of the winged ones as you relax and meditate to the sounds of the Cherokee flute. Lee Dingus (Seneca) and Earl Dingus (Cherokee) of Echoes of the Four Directions will present this program. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.
12/28 7:30 - 11:30 am and/or 1 pm - 4 pm Sat.	Christmas Bird Count Meet at the Rose Barn on Pearce Mill Road to take part in the ongoing research to document winter birds in North Park. No experience necessary. For more information about this important and/or to sign up, please contact North Park Bird Count Coordinator, Bob VanNewkirk at: van126@comcast.net. Pre-registration required. To register call (724) 935-2170.

Special Group Programming

To schedule your group, call (724) 935-2170.
Scheduling for programs for the year 2013 will begin September 1, 2012.

Programs (subjects relative to Pennsylvania) are available to school, scout, public and private groups by special request September through May, Monday through Friday, morning, afternoon, and after school hours, on or off site (northern Allegheny County).

Most of these programs can accommodate special needs persons and/or wheelchairs. Most programs will assist teachers in providing to their students the new state-mandated environmental education and ecology standards for Pennsylvania and are specially adapted for your classroom needs.

A reminder about Latodami Nature Center facilities: we have no running water; no public telephone; there is a handicapped port-a-john in the parking lot. Parking is limited at the Barn; for organized groups we recommend carpooling.

Programs available though Latodami Nature Center include:

Apples - Classroom apple activities and field investigations of Latodami Farm's remnant and restored apple orchards.
Butterfly Meadow - Classroom and field explorations on regional species of butterflies and the special habitats they require.Offered spring and fall.
For the Birds - Classroom and field exploration on birds of the region and of efforts in North Park to provide critical habitats for nesting and migrating species.
Grassland Ecosystem - A hands-on field program on the restoration and ecology of a vanishing Pennsylvania habitat.
Wetlands - A hands-on detailed field program on the wetland ecosystem (yes, we get wet!)
Vernal Pools - Hands-on detailed field program on life in and around vernal pools. Offered spring and fall.
Night Hike - Nocturnal ceratures and sensory exploration.
Star Parties - Exploring the night sky with eyes, binoculars and telescopes.

Other Program Titles:

These are special subject areas, relative to Pennsylvania, with detailed investigations into each; features, adaptations, changes, interrelationships, etc.

Forest Study Wetland Study Fish Study	Reptile Study Amphibian Study Pond Study	Bird Study Stream Study Tree Study	Insect Study Mammal Study Specific Animal Study (one species in detail)
Field/Meadow/Grassland Study

The following, relative to Pennsylvania, are general, broad topic programs, providing a lot of information without going into great detail:
Habitats
Seasonal Discovery
Vertebrate Study
Plant Study

Schools & Home-Schools:
Programs can be developed to meet curriculum needs for students of any grade level, from one hour classroom presentations to all day outdoor field experiences. Special habitat and trail adoption programs are available to schools and classrooms. Teacher training workshops are also available.

Private:
Private group programming can be developed to meet the interests of the group (e.g.: garden club, nursing/senior home). Volunteer opportunities abound.

Scouts:
Programs are available to Daisy, Brownie, Girl, Cub and Boy Scouts that are looking to accomplish activities that are in their handbooks (e.g.: achievements, electives, badges, try-its, etc.). These active hands-on outdoor programs are usually one hour to two hours in length. Individual and group service projects are available (e.g.: Silver, Gold, Eagle, Hornaday). I am a Boy Scout Merit Badge Councilor for Bird Study, Dog Care, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, Reptile and Amphibian, Soil and Water Conservation.

Call (724) 935-2170 for more information on our volunteer opportunities, service projects, special adoption programs and more!

North ParkLatodami Nature Center

YEAR ROUND (January - December)

WINTER SEASON (January - March)

SPRING SEASON (April - June)

SUMMER SEASON (July - August)

AUTUMN SEASON (September - December)

Special Group Programming

North Park
Latodami Nature Center