BSWP 2021 Zoom meetings
View BSWP's May 2022 Zoom meeting.
The Society meets monthly from September through June on every second Monday of the month at 7:15 p.m. For now, our meetings take place via Zoom.
Members who have joined the BSWP e-mail list will be contacted and e-mailed an invitation (link and password) to each monthly meeting.
Directions to our museum meetings, when they resume:
Directions to Ford Mateer Classroom of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History:
The entrance to the parking lot, which is gated, is just past the Museum at the intersection of Forbes and Craig Street. The Ford-Mateer Classroom is reached through the Portal Entry in the rear parking lot area. Once inside the building, the room is located just beyond the Security desk on the left. In addition to the Museum parking lot, which costs $6, there are metered spaces on Forbes Avenue opposite the Museum and along Craig Street that are free after 6 p.m. From there you will cross the street and walk through the right side of the gates to the parking lot. Continue on the sidewalk to the rear of the building where you will see the sign for “Portal Entry” ahead.
If you do not park in the Museum’s lot, from Forbes Avenue, walk along the right side of the parking toll gates to the parking lot. Continue on the sidewalk to the rear of the building where you will see the sign for "Portal Entry" ahead.
Directions to the Carnegie Museum
http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/interior.php?pageID=36
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 1:00 PM
Barking Slopes, Plum Borough, Allegheny CountyLeader: Mason Heberling heberlingm@carnegiemnh.org
Join
Mason Heberling, Assistant Curator of Botany at Carnegie Museum of
Natural History, to learn about this unique natural area. The Barking
Slopes Conservation Area, protected by the Allegheny Land Trust, was
once a coal mine, but is now an incredibly diverse forest. Mason will
introduce us to the site and discuss current research on how this forest
is adapting to a changing climate and plant invasions.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, take PA Route 28 North to Exit 9 (Blawnox). Merge onto
Freeport Road. After 3 miles, turn right onto Hulton Bridge to enter
Oakmont, and continue straight onto Hulton Road. Travel 1.5 miles to the
Sheetz. At this stoplight (where Hulton Road turns to the right),
continue straight onto Coxcomb Hill Road. Travel 3.3 miles and make a
sharp left onto Barking Road (after the Lock 3 Allegheny River sign). Travel Barking Road 1.2 miles to parking for the preserve.
GPS coordinates: 40.53285, -79.78191 Google Map Link
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 1:00 PM
Duff Park, Murrysville, Westmoreland County
Leader: Loree Speedy; loreespeedy@gmail.com We will meet at the new Visitor Center along US 22. Directions:
From Pittsburgh, take I-376 east (Parkway East) to its end at US 22
East - Murrysville. Travel US 22 for about 4 miles to the intersection
of Trafford Road (McDonald’s on the left). Continue along US 22 in the
right lane about 7/10 of a mile. At The Fireplace and Airgas businesses,
turn right into the new Robert Trail Access, where we will meet. GPS Coordinates: 40.42699, -79.68400. Google Map Link
(724) 518-6022 cell
Monday, April 22, 2024, 1:00 PM Great Gorge Trail, Ohiopyle State Park Leader: Mark Bowers; monarda55@gmail.com Directions:
From Pittsburgh, take the PA Turnpike to Exit 91 - Donegal. Turn left
onto PA 31 East and travel 2.1 miles. Turn right at a traffic light onto
PA 711/ PA 381 South and continue 10 miles to a T in Normalville. Turn
left onto PA 381 and continue 11 miles to Ohiopyle. Drive through the
town and make a right onto SR 2019/Kentuck Road. Travel less than a half
mile and turn right into the parking lot for Cucumber Falls. GPS coordinates: 39.8629, -79.5027 Google Map Link
EARTH DAY!
Fayette County
cell: (724) 454-4012
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10:00 AM
Boyce Mayview Regional Park, Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County
Leader: Mary Ann Pike
Contact Information: cell: (412) 855-8239
mapike@earthlink.net
We will initially travel downhill to get to the riparian forest and wetlands at the bottom.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, proceed south on US 19 (Washington Road) to Boyce Road
which is 3.0 miles south of South Hills Village (at Fort Couch Road).
Turn right onto Boyce Road and proceed 0.5 mile to the intersection with
Morton Road on the right. Turn right onto Morton Road and continue
about 1.5 miles to parking for the Morton Complex on the left side of
the road. Park here.
Alternatively,
take I-79 south.Take Exit 54/ Bridgeville. At the end of the ramp, turn
right onto Millers Run Road (PA 50) and proceed to the traffic light at
the T-intersection with Washington Pike. Turn right onto Washington
Pike and drive for 2.1 miles to the intersection with Boyce Road. Turn
left onto Boyce and proceed 1.4 miles to the traffic light at the
intersection with Mayview Road. Continue on Boyce Road for another 1.1
mile to Morton Road. Turn left onto Morton Road and continue about 1.5
miles to parking for the Morton Complex on the left side of the road.
Park here.
GPS Coordinates: 40.32842, -80.09581 Google Map Link
Sunday, May 5, 2024, 1:00 PM
Sandy Creek Trail at Belmar Trailhead
Venango County
Leader: Ron Zagrocki; cell: (717) 580-5736
We will walk along the Sandy Creek Trail, winding through undeveloped and remote forest along East Sandy Creek.
Directions:
The Belmar trailhead is at Belmar Village on the west side of the
Allegheny River. From Exit 29 of I 80, travel PA8 North for 14.4 miles
and make a right onto Pone Lane (at the first traffic light; Red Express
Service Station). Travel Pone Lane for 2.4 miles and make a right at the T
onto Belmar Road, and follow it to the parking area at the foot of the
hill.
GPS coordinates: 41.3333, -79.77459 Google Map Link
mapike@earthlink.net
Venango County
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 1:00 PM
Sheepskin Hollow Nature Preserve
Columbiana County, Ohio
Many people have called this the “most wild” place in all of Ohio (and it is less than a mile from the PA border!). The trail is flat but can be muddy.
Directions: From Exit 36-Brighton of I-376-Beaver Valley Expressway, turn left on Brighton Road (if coming from south, right if coming from north) and travel a short distance to the first stop sign at Tuscarawas Road. Turn right and travel 2.8 miles to Lisbon Road (GCU Credit Union on corner). Turn right onto Lisbon Road and travel 6.7 miles. (When you reach the intersection with PA 168, continue straight on Lisbon Road). Keep a lookout for a large stand of pines on the left. At the end of the pines, turn left onto Pancake-Carlson Road. Continue 1.2 miles to the bottom of a hill. After the underpass at the bottom of the hill, look for the parking area on the right before the bridge. There is additional room to park on the side of the road near the underpass.
GPS coordinates: 40.75219, -80.53779 Google Map Link
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 1:00 PM
Oil Creek State Park, Venango County
Leader: Robert Coxe; 814-775-0005
robcoxe@gmail.com
Directions:
Take I-79 north to Exit 116 to head east on I‑80. Travel I-80 east to
Exit 29 Barkeyville/PA 8. Travel PA 8 north about 16 miles to Franklin.
In Franklin, turn left onto 13th Street to pick up US322 West and PA
417. Travel PA 417 north 12 miles. Turn left onto PA 8 North in
Cherrytree and continue about 6 1/2 miles to Titusville.
At
the traffic light just before the Oil Creek bridge, turn right onto
Bloss Street toward Drake Well Museum. Go a mile or so to the Jersey Bridge
Parking Area on the right, before the other bridge over Oil Creek. Meet at the parking lot.
We will join members of the local chapter of the Wild Ones to explore the exceptionally diverse Oil Creek Bike Trail.
GPS coordinates: 41.6159, -79.6582 Google Map Link
Sunday, May 19, 2024, 1:00 PM
Pine Ridge Park, near Blairsville, Indiana County
Leader: Loree Speedy; loreespeedy@gmail.com
(724) 518-6022 cell
Directions:
From Pittsburgh, take I-376 east and US-22 east about 45 miles to
Blairsville. Continue past the Walmart and the ramps for US-119, and as
you proceed up the mountain, take the second right for Pine Ridge Road. Continue a short distance to the park entrance on the left. Follow the
signs for Toms Run pavilion (about 3/4 of a mile).
We will join the Botanical Society of Westmoreland County for an easy stroll and moderate climb.
GPS Coordinates: 40.44467, -79.19351 Google Map Link
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 1:00 PM
Jakes Rocks Overlook
Allegheny National Forest, Warren County
Leader: Loree Speedy; loreespeedy@gmail.com; (724) 518-6022 cell
We
will join Ava Turnquist, retired Natural Resources Specialist for ANF,
to botanize a hardened path through the woods holding botanical
surprises in the dense vegetation. A scenic view overlooks the Jackson
Bay on the Allegheny Reservoir, Kinzua Dam and the surrounding forest.
Directions:
From Pittsburgh, one can reach US 6 outside of Warren, PA, by taking PA
Routes 28, 36 and 666 to pick up US 6 west of Sheffield, or by taking
I-80, PA Route 8 and PA Route 27 in Titusville to pick up US 6 east
just west of Youngsville.
At
the intersection of US Route 6 and PA 59 west of Warren, travel east on
Route 59 for 10 miles. Turn right onto Longhouse National Scenic Byway
and continue 1 mile . Turn right onto Forest Road 492. Travel on Forest
Road 492 for 1 mile and continue on Forest Road 492 to the right when it
splits and follow it to the parking area, approximately 1 mile. We will
meet in the Jakes Rock Overlook parking lot, which has a vault toilet.
GPS Coordinates: 41.84867, -78.98219 Google Map Link
robcoxe@gmail.com
(724) 518-6022 cell
Allegheny National Forest, Warren County
Coming Up: Saturday, July 13, 1 PM - Fernow Experimental Forest, near Parsons, West Virginia, with Forest Researcher Melissa Thomas Van Gundy.
Sunday, September 15, ANNUAL BSWP PICNIC We love our online monthly meetings by Zoom – happy speakers, less traffic, no search for parking. But we sorely miss the face-to-face social time. Join us Sunday, September 15, 2024. We will gather at Cedar Creek County Park. This park is 45 minutes south of Pittsburgh, and easily accessible via the PA Turnpike, I-70 or PA Route 51. We have reserved the Park’s Activity Center with a kitchen area and indoor restroom. We can sit inside in case of inclement weather, or outside on a deck overlooking the Youghiogheny River. We will rotate the ANNUAL PICNIC location each year, with so many great park and picnic spots in the north, east, south and west of the city. Mark your calendars. More details to come!
Cedar Creek County Park, Westmoreland County
If you would like to lead a field trip, please contact Loree at loreespeedy@gmail.com, 724-518-6022.