Use a hand-held GPS to get from point to point, uncovering clues along the way. This high-tech scavenger hunt uses coordinates to help make a hike more engaging. How many clues can you collect? Venture Outdoors is a nonprofit organization located in Pittsburgh, PA which aims to create outdoor access for everyone. Registration is required for…
Zumba in the Park with Kemah is an outdoor, thumping, high energy class meant to get you grooving! Bring a towel, a water bottle, wear your mask. Bring your kids too! They'll join our Outdoor Educator on a Tyke while you work out. Sign them up under "Child Tyke Hike". Donations to Kemah are encouraged…
Free Lunch Time Fishing We'll provide the rods, bait, and instruction on this relaxed lunchtime fishing trip. Stop by anytime between 11:30am - 1:30pm. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River - smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. No prior fishing experience needed. No fishing license required, thanks…
Get healthy while being healthy! We’ll join a local medical professional for an easy-paced walk that gets our bodies moving and stimulates our minds. The medical professional will introduce his or her field of study and answer individual questions as we walk. At each stop along the trail, our expert will share tips for staying…
In partnership with Coalition for a Brighter Greene, Venture Outdoors will be offering FREE 1-hour pop-up kayaking rentals at Potter's Landing in Greensboro, PA. No previous kayaking experience needed, great for families and first-timers. Music and food will also be provided for a fun day along the river! All kayaks will be tandem (2-person) boats,…
Free Lunch Time Fishing We'll provide the rods, bait, and instruction on this relaxed lunchtime fishing trip. Stop by anytime between 11:30am - 1:30pm. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River - smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. No prior fishing experience needed. No fishing license required, thanks…
Free Lunch Time Fishing We'll provide the rods, bait, and instruction on this relaxed lunchtime fishing trip. Stop by anytime between 11:30am - 1:30pm. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River - smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. No prior fishing experience needed. No fishing license required, thanks…
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHOWING Drive-in Style at Carrie Blast Furnaces! Experience incredible highs and agonizing lows through the lenses of some of the most accomplished climbers, paddlers, skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, mountain bikers, explorers and adventure filmmakers alive today. Tickets $35 per person per night Carless tickets are now available: No car? No problem! Bring a blanket and…
FRIDAY NIGHT Drive-in Style at Carrie Blast Furnaces! Experience incredible highs and agonizing lows through the lenses of some of the most accomplished climbers, paddlers, skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, mountain bikers, explorers and adventure filmmakers alive today. Tickets $35 per person per night Carless tickets are now available: No car? No problem! Bring a blanket and…
Sunrise Paddle Wake up early to see the city like you've never seen it before. Watch the sun rise over the Allegheny River from the seat of a kayak. There's no better way to start your day. CEO Valerie Beichner will be one of your instructors for this trip, so be sure to ask her…
Beginner Stand Up Paddleboarding Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. We'll begin with a short land-based instruction, and then have you gliding on the water in no time! This great full-body workout is perfect for all ages and levels of ability. Minimal physical conditioning is…
Let's go on a birding adventure! Many of the species appended below are migratory, but you may see Red-tailed Hawks, Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, Piliated, Hairy, Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Junco, Chickadees, Cardinals, Wild Turkey, Mockingbird, Bluebirds, Downy, Hairy, Kingfisher, White Throated Sparrows, Towhee, Titmouse, Crow, Robin, Song Sparrow, Goldfinch and Red Bellied Woodpecker. We may also see…
Stay Active and Well as We Age This class will teach participants over 50yrs old to enhance the timing and coordination of walking, as well as basic exercises for a lifetime of movements. The exercise involves varied and progressive stepping and walking patterns to challenge your brain to improve the smoothness and efficiency of walking,…
Hike + Meditation Take a moment to be present. Take a guided hike through Frick Park and end with a guided mindfulness meditation. You'll go home feeling calm and aware of your body and surroundings. This event is part of Big Day Aht celebrating 20 years of Venture Outdoors
Beginner Kayaking If you're new to kayaking and want to learn how to effectively and efficiently paddle, this is for you! Certified Paddle Instructors will walk you through different strokes, how to properly launch, and more. With multiple instructors and a small class size we can take time for individual attention as needed. Before you…
Survival Skills Workshop Prepare yourself with the basics of outdoor survival skills. We'll teach you and the kids how to build fires, tie perfect knots, and build a shelter. This event is free, but please RSVP so we can get the group to a safe size. This event is part of Big Day Aht celebrating…
Take a deep breath and clear your mind. Participants will be lead through an outdoor yoga class followed by a loving kindness meditation session. Please bring: Yoga Mat or towel to practice on Water This event is part of Big Day Aht, celebrating 20 years of Venture Outdoors.
Get your hands dirty and help with stewardship and management activities at two Western Pennsylvania Conservancy preserves in Lawrence Co. At Fringed Gentian Fen Natural Area, invasive plants such as phragmites will be cut back. At Plain Grove Fens Natural Area, inspect and service trees planted in protective tubes within an area being restored to…
Tyke Hike Take a walk with the whole family through iconic Highland Park. Our Outdoor Educators will lead you and the kiddos out to explore nature and learn some fun facts along the way. We'll end with a craft and snack. This 1-2 mile, easy hike is stroller friendly and appropriate for people of all…
Outdoor Chess Want to practice your skills? Learn some new moves? Let's play chess while we soak up some sun outside. This event is part of Big Day Aht celebrating 20 years of Venture Outdoors.
Hike + Instagram Poetry Take a hike through Highland Park to gain inspiration. Take in the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that come up in nature. As we head back to our starting point, sit back with Professor Nicole Peeler for a writing exercise. Nicole will walk a through an instagram poetry exercise. This event…
Walk through Pittsburgh's History Take a guided hike through the city ending at Heinz History Center to learn about Pittsburgh history. The Senator John Heinz History Center is the Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh. Discover 250 years of Pennsylvania's history including exhibits on Heinz, Mister Roger's Neighborhood, Pittsburgh Innovations, AND a fun spot to learn your…
Walk Through Prehistory Travel through time on a 2-mile hike in the footsteps of our hunter-gatherer predecessors. Learn about the flora and fauna the prehistoric people used as a source for food and materials needed to survive. Admission to the museum is included in this partnership. This event is part of Big Day Aht celebrating…
Post up along the North Shore Trail to get the best view of the city while we fish along the Allegheny. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River – smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. We’ll provide the rods, bait, and instruction No prior fishing experience needed. No…
Geocaching Adventure Bring the whole family out for a high-tech scavenger hunt. Our delightful Outdoor Educators will teach you and the kids how to use GPS units to find hidden "caches". Each cache is filled with a fun surprise. Navigate through Peters Park to find them all. This event is part of Big Day Aht…
Participants will get to explore a portion of the 5,100 acres of the Bear Run Nature Reserve, with ample opportunities for doggie participants to take a dip in Bear Run to cool down along the way. Afterwards, everyone is invited to enjoy a beverage outdoors at the dog-friendly Falls City Pub in Ohiopyle. Bear Run…
Time to get outside so let's get to 3 Rivers Outdoor Co. for an informative lesson in camping. What supplies do you need? How will you survive overnight without McDonalds? Do owls sense fear? Get ALL of your questions answered here!
Peak Cycling in Butler Cyclist, Fred Zelt, is taking a group of bicyclists out for a leisurely adventure on a very nice segment of a lovely, fairly flat rail trail. Bike to the most picturesque trail points in Butler. Gravel, mountain, trail, touring, hybrids, and multipurpose bikes are all welcome. This event is part of…
Bike Braddock to Banff Bike through Braddock and neighboring communities on a 10-12 mile no-drop ride (meaning: no one gets left behind). Start and end at Brew Gentleman with the option to continue on and bike to Carrie Blast Furnaces to watch the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour or stick around for a…
Biking the North Shore No bike? No problem! We'll bring along our yellow cruisers for you and the family to ride. Helmets too! We'll kick off from the North Shore and ride along at a slow family-friendly pace to Millvale and back. This event is part of Big Day Aht celebrating 20 years of Venture…
Women's Beginner Stand Up Paddle Board Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. We'll begin with a short land-based instruction, and then have you gliding on the water in no time! This great full-body workout is perfect for all ages and levels of ability. Minimal physical…
Take in the sunset from the water! We'll take a relaxing paddle at our North Park location enjoy the lake. Previous paddling experience required and only solo kayaks are available for this outing. REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT CLOSES AT NOON ON FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH.
SATURDAY NIGHT Drive-in Style at Carrie Blast Furnaces! Experience incredible highs and agonizing lows through the lenses of some of the most accomplished climbers, paddlers, skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, mountain bikers, explorers and adventure filmmakers alive today. Tickets $35 per person per night Carless tickets are now available: No car? No problem! Bring a blanket…
Get outside and give back to the community! We'll help Grow Pittsburgh get ready for the harvest and maintain the gardens at Braddock Farms. We'll provide work gloves. Stewards should wear clothes that can get dirty. All you need to bring is a good attitude and desire to help keep our gardens growing! No heavy…
Welcome back to Wednesday Wake Up Paddle! This moderate paddle provides views of the city and sun rise, while paddling at a steady pace. The route and length vary weekly due to weather and river conditions. Tandem kayaks are not available for these outings. Previous paddling experience is required for this outing.
Free Lunch Time Fishing We'll provide the rods, bait, and instruction on this relaxed lunchtime fishing trip. Stop by anytime between 11:30am - 1:30pm. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River - smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. No prior fishing experience needed. No fishing license required, thanks…
Free Lunch Time Fishing We'll provide the rods, bait, and instruction on this relaxed lunchtime fishing trip. Stop by anytime between 11:30am - 1:30pm. We catch all sorts of fish along the Allegheny River - smallmouth bass, catfish, and more! Great activity for all ages. No prior fishing experience needed. No fishing license required, thanks…
The Great Allegheny Passage is an outstanding, world-famous rail trail with many beautiful segments between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland. In this excursion, we make the highest and very best part of this wonderfully photographic trail accessible to everyone who can pedal a bike on a nearly flat, road-free route for 6 miles. We will be…
Let's tend to the vacant lots in our Homewood on this beautification project with Grounded Strategies. Remove trash, trim hedges, and remove weds. Expect to spend about 45 minutes engaged in fun and about 90 minutes engaged in stewarding. No heavy lifting is required. Venture Outdoors will provide gloves, bags, trash grabbers, PPE, and water…
Welcome to Rocks & Waterfalls! This trip will explore Falls Run Park in Shaler. This trip is led by Earth Science Excursions, LLC. We will: learn to identify shale, sandstone, limestone and coal see fossils of animals that lived 300 million years ago If there is snow, we will see a winter wonderland! This waterfall,…