Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Schools, scouts, and other groups can enhance their visit to Powdermill Nature Reserve with rich, hands-on learning experiences guided by our knowledgeable educators. We welcome the opportunity to create unique programs that complement your school curriculum or scouting adventure, and we are happy to adapt the programs below to the interests of your group.
Field trips must be booked at least four weeks in advance.
Have a preferred date and back up dates ready when booking.
Have the number of participants and adult chaperones attending your field trip.
Know if your group has any special requests, like lunchroom reservations, accessibility needs, or curriculum focus.
Chaperones and teachers are admitted free for field trips. Costs listed below are applicable for groups of 10 students or more. Smaller groups pay the 10-person minimum. Groups are welcome to schedule unguided visits to the Nature Center at no cost.
60 min – $9/participant
Spend an hour hiking the beautiful Black Birch Trail and experience the rich woodlands of Powdermill Nature Reserve! Observe plants and animals in their natural habitats, see evidence of historic land-use, and view the exceptional Powdermill Run. This hike can be adapted to fit a focused topic.
60 min – $9/participant
Visit each of Powdermill’s four distinct outdoor gardens, and find specific herbs, wildflowers, barrens plants, and pollinators. Determine the plant adaptations needed for each garden.
$9/participant
See wild birds up close, and learn about their biology from Powdermill scientists. Learn about avian research projects to prevent bird-glass collisions during migration, bird banding, and high-tech tracking with nanotags. Please note that tours of the bird banding station may be cancelled in rain or hot weather to protect the safety of birds.
60 min – $9/participant
Jump in and get your feet wet in Powdermill Run to search for macroinvertebrates! Explore how scientists use these tiny organisms as bioindicators to help determine stream health. Learn how to safely capture and examine macroinvertebrates while investigating their adaptations, diversity, and role in the environment. Participants will be required to wear appropriate clothing and footwear to enter the stream.