It’s the first day of spring, and Maple Harvest Festival is almost here! Join us this weekend, March 24 and 25, for an action-packed day of maple sugaring demonstrations, interactive teaching stations, live music, Bird of Prey shows, and the ever-favorite all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Our pancake breakfast features pure maple syrup from regional PA producers,…
The Naturalist Notebook
Welcome to the Shaver’s Creek blog! The entries here are posted by staff, interns, and volunteers, and aim to keep you informed about the programs, updates, and natural history happenings here at the Creek. Enjoy!
It's that time of year again – where teachers, naturalists, administrators, students, and environmental education professionals gather for one conference: the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) conference, titled: "Earth: The Educator's Manual." Shaver's Creek staff have been helping to prepare an exceptional event. Expect workshops and presentations on citizen science, engaging diverse audiences, using…
The skunk cabbage is blooming, the sap is flowing, and young bird fancies are turning to thoughts of love—especially if the young bird in question is a bald eagle. Bald eagles start nesting in late February and early March, and the bald eagles here at Shaver’s Creek are no exception. We have three bald…
Hoot hoot! Our first Owl Prowl of the season is coming up quickly! Join us on Friday, February 24 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. We will take a close look at the injured owls that live at Shaver’s Creek, and learn how owls survive the winter. Then we’ll head outside and try out some of the wild…
The Kids Corner program is up and running:10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center—Discovery RoomWednesdays, February 22, 29, and March 7Cost: FREE thanks to the support of our members and sponsor Growing Tree Toys Exciting, environmental programs for preschool-aged participants and their parents or grandparents! Crafts, games, experiential learning, and more. Last week’s program focused on…
With winter programs happening at Shaver’s Creek like wreath-making and the Solstice Sale & Stroll, it may not seem like we are closed to the general public – but in fact we were, for a couple of months, at least. Of course the staff has been busy – teaching classes both here and on campus,…
Some form of parasitic insect injected an irritant into the stem or leaf of a local plant that reacted by forming a gall, a ball-like structure within which the insect eggs or larvae will live throughout winter. We found this gall on a weekend hike in State College, with itty-bitty larvae tucked inside. It is…
No matter how old you are, looking up at the stars at night always seems to put things in perspective. How many stars are out there? What do those planets look like through a telescope? What if I’m just a tiny speck inside a giant vacuum…? Well, if you like stars, planets, and existential questions, (or…
Here at Farm Show many of the Shaver’s Creek staff past and present have come together for a week long affair to teach about Pennsylvania’s native creatures. Farm Show is a week long annual event in Harrisburg celebrating the state’s agriculture, diversity and culture. Families, farmers and many more gather to watch livestock competitions, enjoy…
You might imagine that we have a multitude of photos archived here at Shaver’s Creek – after all, we’ve been around for over 35 years, offer many diverse programs, and there’s a lot of history in this place even before Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center was created. So, in 2012, we’re celebrating by posting a new…