Youth Programs

Learn and Grow with Us!

Fern Hollow offers a wide range of youth programs to teach and develop young people’s understanding, appreciation, and discovery of the natural world. Our programs range in age from preschool to to high school. Please browse the options below and get involved!

Become a member for early access to programs, discounts, rentals and more! Your membership keeps Fern Hollow Nature Center inspiring the future!

Are you an educator looking to have a field trip with Fern Hollow? Browse our field trip page!

Click on the tabs below to explore our programs!

Youth Drop-Off Programs

These programs are drop-off events for children. Age ranges are provided as a guide, however all participants must be ‘bathroom independent’.
Current permission slips, waivers and emergency contact information are required to be on file before a child is left at the Nature Center.
Only authorized caregivers will be permitted to sign a child out at dismissal.
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about whether a program will meet your child’s needs.

See below for more details on our listed programs.

A generous grant from the Union Aid Society and The Johnathan R DePace memorial fund scholarship will provide financial aid to those in need. Contact [email protected] to apply.

Fiddlehead Club Homeschool

For the past 10 years, Fern Hollow has offered nature-based learning experiences for homeschoolers. Our science programs encourage kids to get outside and explore nature through hands-on, engaging activities.

To cultivate a sense of community and allow for students to develop meaningful social connections, homeschool families are invited to stay and have lunch on the grounds after dismissal. Bring a picnic or snack and explore.

There are 2 sessions for grades K-4. One group will meet on Tuesdays and the other group will meet on Fridays.

Member fee:
$180 for all 10 sessions
or $25 for a single session

Public fee:
$225 for all 10 sessions
or $30 for a single session

Class size is limited and registration is required.

Registration for Members opens July 1. Public registration opens July 15.

Grades K-4 - Tuesday - Register Now! Grades K-4 - Friday - Register Now! Grades 5-8 - Register Now!

26/27 Fiddlehead Homeschool Schedule (K-4th Grade)
Third Tuesday and Third Friday of each month
10am-12pm

Date	Location	Topic
08/25/2026, 8/28/2026	Walker Park, Shelter #3	Welcome and Stream Study
09/15/2026, 9/18/2026	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Entomology 101 for Kids
10/13/2026, 10/16/2026	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Funky Fungi
11/17/2026, 11/20/2026	Fern Hollow Nature Center	What’s That, Habitat?
12/15/2026, 12/18/2026	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Mad Nature Science
01/12/2027, 1/15/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Seeds on the Go
02/16/2027, 2/19/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Eco Warriors
03/23/2027 (fourth Tuesday), 3/19/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Pennsylvania’s Reptiles
04/13/2027, 4/16/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Honey and the Bees
05/18/2027, 5/21/2027	Walker Park, Shelter #3	End-of-Year Homeschool Celebration

26/27 Fiddlehead Homeschool Schedule (5th-8th Grade:Middle School)
Third Friday of each month
2-4 pm

Date	Location	Topic
08/28/2026	Walker Park, Shelter #3	Welcome and Watersheds 101
09/18/2026	Walker Park, Shelter #3	Stream Health
10/16/2026	Walker Park Shelter #3	Native Trees of Pennsylvania
11/20/2026	Location TBD	Litter Clean Up and Audit
12/18/2026	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Salt Watch
01/15/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	Winter Sowing w/ Native Plants
02/19/2027	Fern Hollow Nature Center	From Tap Root to Tap Water
03/19/2027	Sewickley Heights Borough Park	Vernal Pool and Investigation
04/16/2027	Walker Park, Shelter #3	Fly Fishing with Trout Unlimited
05/21/2027	Walker Park, Shelter #3	Aquatic MacroInvertebrate Study

Quaker Valley Creekers Club

Middle and High School
Explore the natural world around us in an environmental science-based club.

This after-school program is a hands-on learning experience that allows students to create connections between environmental impacts and data collection in the classroom.

Middle School Creekers – Stay tuned for 26/27 school year details!

Join the club! There is no fee and no registration is required.

At each meeting, we will provide a snack. We will learn about our local watershed through hands-on activities and experiments.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Miss Cam or call 412-741-6136.

QV Middle School
3:05 to 4:30 PM

Middle School Calendar

Date and Time	Program	Location
Stay tuned!

High School Creekers – QV Creekers Parent Orientation Night – Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 6:15 pm-7:00 pm at QVHS

HS Creekers, better known as QV Creekers is a high school environmental science internship in conjunction with Creek Connections at Allegheny College and the Little Sewickley Creek Watershed Association. This accredited internship allows juniors and seniors at Quaker valley to explore their interests in environmental and watershed science in the field and with professionals in the area.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Miss Cam or call 412-741-6136.

High School Calendar - Stay tuned for the 26/27 school year calendar!

Date and Time	Program	Location
Sept 17, 2026	Parent Night	Quaker Valley High School 6:15-7:15pm

Earn your badges at Fern Hollow!

Fern Hollow Nature Center is now offering programs designed to help troops accomplish their outdoor-related badges! Please contact [email protected] for information on Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award opportunities.

Click on the Girl Scout category of your interest to see the badges offered at Fern Hollow, or let us know if you have something different in mind.

Daisy (K-1)

Buddy Camper

Daisy Trail Adventure

Outdoor Art Maker

Ecolearner

Daisy Snow or Climbing Adventure

Brownies (2-3)

Bugs

Outdoor Adventure

Eco Friend

Outdoor Art Creator

Hiker

Junior (4-5)

Animal Hanitats

Flowers

Gardener

Junior Trail Adventure

Outdoor Art Explorers

Geocacher

Camper

Eco-Camper

Cadette (6-8)

Archery

Eco Trekker

Trailblazing

Night Owl

Trees

Cadette Trail Adventure

Outdoor Art Apprentice

Youth Drop-Off Programs

See below for more details on our listed programs.

A generous grant from the Union Aid Society and The Johnathan R DePace memorial fund scholarship will provide financial aid to those in need. Contact [email protected] to apply.

Little Exploreres

Junior Explorers

Bonkers for bats

Fiddlehead Club Adventures

Fiddlehead Club Homeschool

All programs will take place on Fridays, from 10:00am – 12:00pm at The Ohio Township Community Park unless otherwise noted.

Member fee:
$160 for all 9 sessions
or $20 for a single session

Public fee:
$208 for all 9 sessions
or $26 for a single session

Class size is limited and registration is required.

2025-2026 Curriculum

September 5 — Creek Day
October 10 — Bonkers for Bats
November 7 — Autumn, What’s Going on Outside?
December 5 — Fossils from Here, There, and Everywhere
January 9 — Winter Birds of Pennsylvania
February 6 — Winter Sowing
March 6 — PA Frogs and Salamanders
April 3 — Nature’s Recyclers: The Secrets of Decomposers
May 1 — Fantastic Fish of Pennsylvania

Quaker Valley Creekers Club

Middle and High School
Explore the natural world around us in an environmental science-based club.

This after-school program is a hands-on learning experience that allows students to create connections between environmental impacts and data collection in the classroom.

Middle School Creekers

Join the club! There is no fee and no registration is required. Join by attending the September 18th meeting!

At each meeting, we will provide a snack. We will learn about our local watershed through hands-on activities and experiments.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Miss Cam or call 412-741-6136.

QV Middle School
Room 308 unless otherwise noted
3:05 to 4:30 PM

Middle School Calendar

Date and Time	Program	Location
Sept. 17, 2025	Introduction to Creekers and Watershed 101	Middle School in room 308
Oct. 15, 2025	Water Quality Testing	Middle School in room 308
Nov. 19, 2025	Storm Water	Middle School in room 308
Dec. 10, 2025	Streamside Critters	Middle School in room 308
Jan. 14, 2026	Winter Bird Count	Middle School in room 308
Feb. 18, 2026	Vernal Pools	Middle School in room 308
March 18, 2025	Aquatic Macroinvertebrates	Middle School in room 308
April 17, 2025	Creeker Symposium	Camp-Kon-O-Kwee
May 13, 2025	EOY Wrap Up	Middle School in room 308

High School Creekers

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Miss Cam or call 412-741-6136.

High School Calendar

Date and Time	Program	Location
Sept 18, 2025	Parent Night	Fern Hollow Nature Center 6:30-7:00pm
Sept. 26, 2025	QV Creeker Training Day*	Walker Park, Shelter #2 8:30 am-3:00 pm
Oct., 2025	Litter Clean-up and Trash Audit	Morrow Pontefract Park 3:30-5:00 pm
Nov., 2025	Eden Hall Campus Tour (TBA)	6035 Ridge Rd, Gibsonia, PA 15044 Time TBA
Dec., 2025	Microplastics and Ripples of Plastic viewing	QVHS Room TBA 3:05-4:30 pm
Jan., 2026	Black bears of Pennsylvania	QVHS Room TBA 3:05-4:30 pm
Feb., 2026	Vernal Pool Research	Bell Acres Water Treatment Facility 3:30-5:00 pm
March, 2026	Riparian Buffer Zone Restoration Tour	North Park Time TBA
Apr. 2026	Working on research projects*	QVHS Room TBA 3:05-4:30 pm
Apr. 17, 2026	Creek Connections Symposium*	Camp Kon-O-Kwee 8:00 am-1:00 pm