History of Halloween Program
October 26, 2026
6:00 PM
$10/person
All ages welcome. Snacks & refreshments provided
Explore with local author, Ron Murphy, The Haunted (and Not So Haunted) History of Halloween. This program explores the origins and evolution of Halloween from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain through the Christian observances of All Hallows Eve and into the modern celebration we know today. Attendees will learn how beliefs about the dead, spirits, witches, ghosts, monsters, and the supernatural became intertwined with seasonal traditions and eventually transformed into popular culture.
This talk will investigate the historical development of Halloween traditions including jack-o'-lanterns, costumes, trick-or-treating, bonfires, divination, haunted houses, witches, black cats, bats, ghosts, and other Halloween symbols. Particular attention will be given to the folklore surrounding the boundary between the living and the dead and humanity's enduring fascination with the unknown.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN PROGRAM.
Nature Lessons for Middle School Age Homeschool Students
October 27, 2026
1:00 PM
$10/student
With generous support from the Grable Foundation, the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will offer nature lessons to middle school age homeschooled students. The approximately two-hour program will occur once every month, September 2026 – May 2027. 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.
Upcoming Class: October 27, 2026 – Spooky Science: Dive into chemistry, forensic science, seasonal change, and more by mixing a witch’s potion, analyzing fingerprints, creating a no-heat lava lamp, and exploring dry ice. This fun, spooky science lesson introduces sublimation, exothermic reactions, and other key chemistry concepts.
Each session is $10/child. Advanced registration is required so that we may plan accordingly. 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.
Ceramic Turkey Lantern Painting Class
November 1, 2026
1:00 PM
$35/each with a portion donated back to the Outdoor Discovery Center
Paint your own ceramic turkey lantern and learn some interesting facts about wild turkeys at the Empty Nest Art Studio in nearby Shelocta, PA.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE CERAMIC TURKEY LANTERN PAINTING CLASS.
Stump Stories
November 3, 2026
10:00 AM
FREE
Bring your preschooler out for Stump Stories where we'll read a nature inspired story, make a simple craft, and go on a short hike.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STUMP STORIES.
Fireside Conversations: Exploring the World of Bats
Featuring Mollie Byrne, Wildlife Technician, Pennsylvania Game Commission
November 3, 2026
6:00 PM
FREE
Join us for Fireside Conversations, an engaging series at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek featuring stories, science, and conversation with authors, naturalists, conservationists, gardeners, photographers, and others who inspire a deeper connection to the natural world.
Did you know that bats are the only mammals capable of true flight? Have you ever wondered why you don't see as many bats as you once did?
Join Mollie Byrne, Wildlife Technician with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, for a fascinating look into the world of bats. Learn about their unique biology, the important role they play in our ecosystems, and the challenges facing their populations. Mollie will share insights from her work behind the scenes—and underground—studying and monitoring bats, including efforts to better understand and address the devastating effects of white-nose syndrome.
About Our Speaker: Mollie Byrne is a Somerset County native and a 2020 graduate of Saint Francis University, where she earned a self-designed Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology. She has worked with the Pennsylvania Game Commission for six years on a variety of wildlife projects, with a primary focus on hibernating bats and white-nose syndrome.
This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FIRESIDE CONVERSATIONS WITH MOLLIE BYRNE FROM THE PA GAME COMMISSION.
Nature Lessons for Elementary Age Homeschool Students
November 10, 2026
10:00 AM Session
1:00 PM Session
$10/student
With generous support from the Grable Foundation, the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will offer nature lessons to elementary age homeschooled students. The approximately two-hour program will run the second Tuesday of every month, September 2026 – May 2027. Sessions beginning at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM will be offered each month, and 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.
Upcoming Class: November 10, 2026 – Let’s learn about bobcats! Though they may look cute and cuddly, these North American felines are fierce predators. Also called the bay lynx, wildcat, red lynx, or swamp tiger, the bobcat is Pennsylvania’s only feline predator. Bobcats thrive in diverse habitats, including forested mountains, swamps, agricultural areas, and suburban woodlots. Students will explore basic bobcat biology, examine a taxidermized bobcat and replicas of a skull, scat, and claw, create a fun craft, and take a hike.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ELEMENTARY-LEVEL HOMESCHOOL NATURE LESSONS ON NOVEMBER 10, 2026.
Each session is $10/child. Advanced registration is required so that we may plan accordingly. 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.
Nature Book Club
November 10, 2026
7:00 PM
FREE
The book being discussed at the November meeting is On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor.
The book is a New York Times Bestseller. On Trails is a wondrous exploration of how trails help us understand the world - from invisible ant trails to hiking paths that span continents, from interstate highways to the Internet. While thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to wonder about the paths that lie beneath our feet: How do they form? Why do some improve over time while others fade? What makes us follow or strike off on our own? Over the course of seven years, Moor traveled the globe, exploring trails of all kinds, from the miniscule to the massive.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE UPCOMING NATURE BOOK CLUB MEETING.
PA Master Naturalist Certification Training
Registrat
ion for the Fall 2026 PA Master Naturalist training cohort is full and closed. 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 with four field sessions on Saturdays.
Click here to access the Fall 2026 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].