The fee for each 2019 Natural Areas Conference Field Workshops includes transportation to and from the workshop sites, any equipment needed and a boxed lunch. All workshops will take place Thursday, Oct. 10. Pre-registration for Field Workshops is required, as space is limited. We will not offer registration for Field Worshops onsite.

FW1 - Botany By Bike: Youghiogheny River Scour Along the Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail

The Youghiogheny River Gorge scour complex is by far the most significant ecosystem in Pennsylvania in terms of plant biodiversity. Incorporating biking and hiking, this Field Workshop will cover scour processes, adaptation of plants to scour conditions, globally and regionally at-risk scour specialist species, protection history of the Youghiogheny Gorge, and threats to and management of scour systems. 

Fee: $95

FW2 - Canoeing to Sycamore Island: The Protection, Planning and Transformation of a Unique River Oasis

Attendees will paddle their way to an island that has transformed from a knotweed-infested, abandoned marina to a rare, forested floodplain with the help of a detailed management plan, 10 years of planning, spraying and planting, and the dedication of a local land trust.

Fee: $95

FW3 - Bear Run Nature Reserve: An Example of Forest Restoration in the Lands and Waters of Franl Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

Explore Bear Run Nature Reserve, a 5000 acre landscape harboring a mixed deciduous forest that protects the state - designated Exceptional Value stream known as Bear Run, the same stream that flows under Frank Lloyd Wrights famous architectural achievement, Fallingwater. Learn about the Western Pennsylvania Conservancys efforts to protect this watershed and the recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site that it surrounds.

Fee: $125

FW4 - Pittsburgh Urban Wilds Tour: Managing the Steel City's Wild Lands

This Field Workshop will highlight projects and programs that recognize the inherent benefits and issues that surround city wild lands. The group, which will be guided by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy staff, will make stops relevant to integrated pest management, watershed, forest and meadow restoration, green stormwater infrastructure, engaging young people, trail building, and workforce development.

Fee: $75

FW5 - At the Edge of Glaciation: Prairie remnant management, threatened species protection, and land conservation

Explore two habitats formed by glaciation in northwestern Pennsylvania.  Walk remnant prairie, home to the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, at Jennings Environmental Education Center and take in the scenic views at McConnells Mills State Park, an early public-private land conservation success and a National Natural Landmark. 

Fee: $75

FW6 - The Youghiogheny River Gorge Paddle/Pedal: A Biodiverstiy Hotspot and Recreation Destination

Explore this exceptional landscape by foot, bike and raft! The Youghiogheny (Yaw-ki-GAY-nee) Gorge is a valley formed by the Yough River as it cuts through Laurel Ridge. It is the deepest water gap in Pennsylvania. The forested gorge boasts unparalleled natural beauty, unique plant assemblages and natural communities, interesting geology and a rich cultural history. 

Fee: $105

FW7 - Exploring the Allegheny River: Freshwater Mussel Conservation Sites and River Floodplain Grasslands by Canoe   

Float the wild and scenic Allegheny River past riverscour grassland prairies and through aquatic habitat for freshwater mussels, fish, and eastern hellbenders while learning about the conservation efforts to protect these critical ecosystems.

Fee: $95