For many years, school children all over the area have been visiting Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center on educational field trips.
It is always one of the highly anticipated outings of the year. The children, and accompanying adults, are able to experience and learn from knowledgeable staff and hands-on experiences. The lessons learned at Shaver’s Creek are often the memories that stick with students throughout their lives.
However, many people may not realize Shaver\’s Creek offers a wide variety of educational programs for the public, as well as for teachers, schools and community groups.
In conjunction with Penn State, Shaver’s Creek is a place of instruction, service and research. Through quality programs, the staff teach, model, and provide knowledge, values, skills, and experience to all who visit.
Located on 1,000 acres of woodlands, streams, meadows and marshes, the Center offers many opportunities for outdoor adventures. There is a 72-acre lake for canoeing, sailing, fishing, and aquatic study; an extensive trail system for hiking and cross-country skiing and group picnic areas among other things.
This August, Shaver’s Creek has planned several activities that promise to be fun as well as educational.
Things kick off on Sunday, August 1 at 1 p.m. at the Central Parklet in State College. There will be a live birds-of-prey presentation held at this time. For anyone unable to attend this event, there are several repeat presentation throughout the month. On Tuesday, August 10 the birds-of-prey presentations will be held at the Mifflin County Youth Fair in Lewistown. Presentations are also scheduled for Saturday, August 14 at 7 p.m. at Blue Knob State Park and on Saturday, August 31 at 7 p.m. at Raystown Lake Amphitheater in Hesston, Pa.
On Sunday, August 8, Bill Russell will lead a workshop on the identification, history and uses of mushrooms. Participants should wear their walking shoes. The group will meet on the front porch at Shaver’s Creek. Anyone interested in attending is asked to preregister for this event. The cost is $10 per person and $8 for Shaver’s Creek members.
A family rock climbing day is scheduled for August 14 and 21. Participants will have the chance to learn the basics of rock climbing or to extend their climbing skills. This event is for ages 8 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregistration and a fee of $15 per person is required.
From August 17 to August 19 there will be an outdoor agricultural exposition held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs. Admission and parking are free.
For individuals who have never had the opportunity to visit Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, summer programing creates a reason to go and enjoy. It also provides a great opportunity for families to spend time and learn together.
Anyone who would like to visit Shaver’s Creek but is not interested in their August programs, can go and enjoy other features including hiking trails, live reptiles and amphibians, interactive exhibits, and the popular raptor center, where non-releasable eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons are on display.
Shaver\’s Creek is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $2.50 per person (children under three free).
For more information about Shaver\’s Creek or program offerings, individuals can visit their web site at www.cde.psu.edu/ShaversCreek/ or call (814) 863-2000.
