At Powdermill, wildflowers, trees, songbirds, and salamanders can be examined by eye, ear, magnifying glass, and camera. Children participate in week-long nature programs during the summer months, and individuals and families can attend free nature programs on Sundays from January through October.  The classroom and exhibit areas in the Powdermill Nature Reserve headquarters building, as well as the trails outside,  provide meeting spaces for these programs and for school field trips and teacher workshops.  All these programs are supported by the Mudge Environmental Education Program and the Martha Edwards Lazear Foundation.

Admission is free. Two nature trails, the Black Birch Trail and Sugar Camp Trail, are open daily from dawn to dusk. The hours for the Powdermill Nature Reserve headquarters building are as follows:

April-October
Wednesday- Saturday 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 pm
Sundays 12-5 p.m.

November-March
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sundays during program times

The Homeschool Program Brochure is in two parts for easier downloading and printing. Both files are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have the Reader, please click here for the free download.

– Click here for page 1 of the brochure
– Click here for page 2 of the brochure

Always fascinating and fun, BioForay continues in 2008 from June 4 through June 8. Scientific experts from Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the State Museum in Harrisburg, and St. Vincent College join researchers and educators at Powdermill to lead amateur naturalists on expeditions through a 75-acre foray plot on the Reserve. Enthusiastic participants shadow the scientists as they collect, identify, and record specimens for study. For details and to register, please call Powdermill Coordinator of Education, Theresa Gay Rohall at 724.593.6105.

- Click here for a downloadable brochure (PDF)
- Click here for the registration form only (PDF)