The Naturalist Notebook

With summer winding down and the fall semester starting up next week, our summer intern season here at Shaver’s Creek draws to a close today. While a number of our talented summer staff are staying on for the fall season, many are heading off to other adventures. We wish the best of luck to them all,…

Here at Shaver’s Creek we strive to use only what we need, and to recycle (or compost) all that we discard. What better way to recycle used wires, take-out food containers, cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, and soda bottles than to get the creative juices flowing with a fun art project?! During Raptor Camp two weeks…

If you follow our Shaver’s Creek Facebook page, you may have noticed some weird and frequent posts from us earlier today. We’ve been working hard over the past several months to overhaul our website, and today we’re very excited to announce the launch of the new and improved ShaversCreek.org! (The extra Facebook posts you may have seen…

Easily one of the most recognizable butterflies in America, monarchs hold a special place in the hearts of many garden lovers. These beautiful orange and black creatures are always a delight to see in any garden. What makes monarchs so special, and why is Shaver’s Creek taking the time to monitor them this summer? Monarchs…

Visit baypoll.blogspot.com to check out this interesting post from teenage blogger Corey Husic about Barn Owl banding in PA.

Have you been outside at night lately?  There is no better time to take a relaxed nighttime hike to explore your surroundings than right now! The warm summer air fills your lungs as the sun sets over the central Pennsylvania mountaintops.  The chirps and buzzing of insects creates a symphony all around you.  One by…

The milkweed plant family encompasses a large group of plants, with almost 100 species of milkweed in the United States. There are about twelve milkweed species native to Pennsylvania, five of which can be found in the Stone Valley/Shaver’s Creek area. The species you might see around here are: -Poke or Tall milkweed A.exaltata L.…

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are known for their incredible migration patterns, travelling across the United States from Mexico to Canada and back. Some Monarchs have even begun to make trans-Atlantic trips to Bermuda to find milkweed. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants as they migrate, and the caterpillars acquire a toxin from the leaves…

State College Area High School students are lucky, indeed. Imagine spending some time away from class to mingle amidst a Renaissance Faire reenactment, to witness and participate in authentic activities like weaving a maypole; jousting with sticks and swords; playing human chess and checkers; bartering for tarts, cheese, and gingerbread; buying and selling colorful wares;…

Last year, the Penn State Methodology Department’s Green Team enrolled in the CSO’s Green Paws certification program, of which Shaver’s Creek has attained Level 4.  The Green Paws program outlines actions your office can do immediately to “green” your workplace, and suggests energy-saving behaviors like using the stairs instead of the elevator, unplugging laptops when…