Upcoming Events
Stump Stories - Children's Storytime (best suited for children 3-5 years old)
February 3, 2026
10am
FREE
Bring your little one out for Stump Stories the first Tuesday of the month. We’ll read a nature inspired children’s book, make a simple craft, and go on a short hike.
Registration requested to help us prepare any necessary supplies.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STUMP STORIES.
Monthly Nature Lessons for Elementary Age Homeschool Students
Second Tuesday of the Month - September 2025 through May 2026
10am or 1pm sessions offered
The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will offer nature lessons to elementary age homeschooled students each month. The two-hour programs will occur the second Tuesday of the month, September 2025 through May 2026.
A 10am-12pm session and a 1pm-3pm session will be offered each month. Sessions will include a fun and hands-on mix of nature lessons, crafts, games, hikes, experiments, and more.
Depending on the topic we will make use of our indoor and outdoor classrooms; our animal room which has an impressive display of mounted, taxidermized mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish; our lawn and trails.
Tentative Class Topics:
February 10, 2026 – Igloos & Icicles
March 10, 2026 – Water Cycle
April 14, 2026 – Traveling Seed
May 12, 2026 – Pond Life
Each session is $10/child. You may pay by cash or check (made payable to the Armstrong Center for Community Learning) the day of the class.
Class size is limited.
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Filippini, ODC Program Coordinator at [email protected] or call 724-763-6316.
Homeschool Nature Lessons are supported through a grant from the Grable Foundation.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 10:00 AM OR 1:00 PM PROGRAMS ON IGLOOS & ICICLES.
Armstrong Nature Book Club
February 10, 2026
7pm
FREE
The book selected for discussion at the February meeting is How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World by Ethan Tapper.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FEBRUARY NATURE BOOK CLUB MEETING.
Nature Poetry Class
February 11, 2026
6pm
$5/person
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." --Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do you adore nature? Here is your opportunity to count the ways by sharpening your poetry writing skills. Join us as we explore an "ode to nature," specifically praising nature for its beauty, power, and restorative qualities. Your instructor, author and PA Master Naturalist, Sandra Stanko, will teach you several different poetry forms that you will then practice in class. No prior poetry writing experience necessary. All ages welcome.
The $5/person fee can be paid the night of the class.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE NATURE POETRY CLASS.
Climate Change Escape Rooms
February 18, 2026 - 6pm at Ford City Public Library - Registration Open
February 28, 2026 - 10am at Worthington-West Franklin Community Library - Registration Open
April 15, 2026 - 6pm at Apollo Memorial Library - Registration Open
This FREE program is for students 8-14 years old - Registration Required
Do you have what it takes to break out of the Climate Change Escape Room at your local library? The Armstrong Center for Community Learning is partnering with several local libraries to offer these fun and educational escape rooms that will challenge you to solve global warming related puzzles and test your climate change and sustainability knowledge. So, grab your friends and head over to your local library for exciting puzzles and prizes. Snacks and drinks will be served too.
This program was made possible through an environmental education grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE CLIMATE CHANGE ESCAPE ROOM.
Homeschool Nature Lesson for Middle School Students: Nocturnal Animals
February 25, 2026
1pm
$10/student
When you go to bed at night, many animals are just waking up. After spending the day resting, these animals are ready to go out to find food or mates during the night. Students will learn about various adaptations that allow nocturnal animals to navigate the dark. What's the difference between a cat eye and a human eye? What animal has the best sense of smell? Which animal's ears are asymmetrical? How does a firefly glow? Learn all this and more.
Students will also learn specifically about the owls of Pennsylvania and what makes them excellent nighttime hunters. Students will then have an opportunity to dissect owl pellets.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM ON NOCTURNAL ANIMALS.
Nature Trivia Night
March 4, 2026
7pm
$10/person or $18/team
Round up a few friends and join us for Nature Trivia Night. A fun evening, testing your knowledge of wildlife, plants, ecosystems, and conservation, all while supporting educational programming at the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Teams can consist of two or three players, or you take on the challenge solo! Prizes awarded for top winners. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks. Best suited for participants 16 years old and up.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR NATURE TRIVIA NIGHT!
Eco Camp
March 21, 2026
10am-2pm
$25/student
Middle school age students (ages 10-14) will have an exciting and interesting experience at Eco Camp, where through a variety of fun and engaging activities such as making solar oven s’mores, competing in the "Recycling Olympics", creating reusable shopping bags, participating in water conservation activities, planting tree seeds to take home, and much more, they will learn about climate change, waste reduction, sustainability, and how we can make a positive difference in the world around us!
Eco Camp is supported through an environmental education grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ECO CAMP!
Backpacking Program
April 12, 2026
1-5pm
$25/participant
This program will teach you the essentials of backpacking. Veteran outdoorsman and local Boy Scout leader, Richard Muth, will lead the class. You’ll learn about packs and the basic gear you need, how you can comfortably sleep along the trail, what food and stove should you pack and how will you treat the water so it’s safe to drink?
This program is intended for ages 12 and up. Anyone under 15 should be accompanied by an adult.
Dr. Muth is donating his time to instruct this class. All proceeds benefit the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE BACKPACKING PROGRAM!
Math in Nature Program
May 5, 2026
6pm
$8/student
The Math in Nature Program will encourage students age 8-14 to recognize mathematical concepts in nature in a fun and hands-on experience that will foster a love for both math and the environment.
Spiderwebs, tree rings, flower petals, the hexagonal shape of snowflakes, and more are just some of the many examples of mathematical concepts in nature. Students will learn about the Fibonacci Sequence found throughout nature, search for hexagons in the wild, examine fractals, find concentric circles, study symmetry, and look for various patterns.
The program will take place both inside and outside of the Outdoor Discovery Center and include a fun mix of hands-on activities.
This program was made possible through a grant from the Grable Foundation.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE MATH IN NATURE PROGRAM!
PA Master Naturalist Certification Training
Registrat
ion is closed for the Fall 2024 PA Master Naturalist training cohort. A cohort is held every other Fall at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek.
Do you enjoy learning about the natural world? Are you interested in sharing that knowledge with others? Would you like to know more about supporting natural resource conservation? Pennsylvania Master Naturalists are a dedicated group of people who share a passion for nature, getting outdoors and giving back. If you enjoy hiking, wildlife watching, being outdoors, and volunteering, you’ll love being a Master Naturalist.
Become a Master Naturalist by attending our 50-hour training course at the Outdoor Discovery Center. Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings from August 8 – October 24 with four field sessions on Saturdays (August 17, September 7 and 21, and October 5)
Click here to access the Fall 2024 schedule.
Visit the PA Master Naturalist Facebook page by clicking here.
You can also visit https://pamasternaturalist.org/become_a_master_naturalist/ for additional information about becoming a Master Naturalist.
Learn more about PA Master Naturalist training course application at https://bit.ly/PMNtraining.
For more information and registration details, contact Rachel Filippini, ODC program coordinator at [email protected].
