Top 10 Eco Adventures in Pittsburgh This June
by Emma Honcharski
June 1, 2023
Are you ready to get outdoors this June? We’ve got a list of the top 10 eco-adventures for you to embark on in Pittsburgh this month. Whether you’re looking for an activity for the whole family, to learn a skill on your own, or maybe make a few new friends in the great outdoors — read on.
If your spring cleaning experience was anything like ours, the Pennsylvania Resources Council’s Hard-To-Recycle Collection couldn’t be more well-timed. For a $5 participant fee, individuals can drop off a range of electronics, Freon appliances, tires, packaging materials, and household chemicals. Participants must register in advance for the Saturday collection days starting June 3.
The 9th annual Ecolution Fashion Gala is a one-of-a-kind sustainable couture event to showcase hand-crafted fashion designs made by local artists using recycled and reused materials. We’re excited to present the event at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History with the theme “The Unseen World.” Expect unique fashions by local designers, music by DJ Soy Sos with a performance choreographed by Kyle Abraham, and more. General admission tickets for the event on June 7 are available.
Eager to make it to the beach, but can’t seem to fit it into the schedule? Celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8 at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium by deepening your knowledge of the ocean with discovery stations, keeper talks, and a special look at marine biology right here in Pittsburgh.
Or, if you’re more of a land-lover, check out BioBlitz Family Fun Festival at Phipps Conservatory. The event on June 4 includes a birding walk, nature tours focused on fungi and native plants, and botanical art workshops. Plus, a Snails and Leaf Litter Critters nature tour with Instagram-famous Dr. Tim Pearce of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
One of the best ways to connect to the environment is by getting to know the plants and fungi that surround you. Why not leave it to the experts at the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club to show you around? Make a day trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve for Mushroom Education Day on June 10 to learn more about fungi, insects, and mushrooms in permaculture, plus a mushroom identification walk.
Evening walks are a simple pleasure and low-key adventure as the days get longer. Soak up the full moon energy with 3 Rivers Outdoor Company’s June Full Strawberry Moon Headlamp Hike in Frick Park. The 4-mile hike sounds like a great way to meet your new bestie or boo.
Celebrate Pride Month with Venture Outdoors on a Pride Outside hike at Emerald View Park. If you’re a members of the LGBTQ+ community looking to hike while celebrating your queer identity, this 6.5-mile hike through Mt. Washington’s 257-acre park is for you!
If you’re ready to interact with the three rivers in a new way, this Kayaking Basics class might be the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning on the Allegheny River. No need to bring your own kayak or equipment! Just bring a good attitude and a readiness to learn from the experts at 3 Rivers Outdoor Company.
Once June is in full swing, your garden will be too — and Grow Pittsburgh’s Backyard Farm School can take your garden space to the next level. Learn more about Growing Berries at Braddock Farm on June 15, or about raising chickens in your backyard at Shiloh Farm in Point Breeze on June 27.
One of our favorite thing about Pittsburgh in the summer is the fact that the perfect weekend getaway for any outdoors lover is never more than a few hours away. For hiking and biking enthusiasts, try a trip to Cameron County, which is made up of almost 70% public land. A three-hour drive from the city will bring you to the least populous county in the state, with dreamy trails for gravel cyclists. Or, check out the Canaan Valley in West Virginia, which offers beautiful mountain hikes and views, plus arts and culture in the nearby towns of Davis and Thomas.
Leave A Comment