African Arts in Allegheny Commons

Allegheny Commons is the place to be next weekend! The 6th Annual African Arts in the Park Festival is Saturday and Sunday, August 14 and 15 at Allegheny Commons.  This year the festival is celebrating Many Cultures, One Community, by bringing together a variety of African artists and organizations for two days of celebration.

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The Last First Monday

Yes it sounds weird, but this Monday, September 7th is the last of our First Monday Celebrations offering open climbing at Allegheny Commons. The Climb Pittsburgh climbing walls have inhabited Allegheny Commons on the first Monday of each month this summer. Bring your kids, youth group or whoever you got; everyone climbs for just $3.00 per person!
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Wild Art Wild Trails Festival

If you love recycling; you will love this! A Wild Art Wild Trails Festival is happening Labor Day, September 7 at Mount Washington Park. Here’s what’s going on: a morning (9:00-12:00) dumpsite cleanup will be followed by an afternoon (1:00-4:00) festival in this little known part of the Grand View Scenic Byway Park. Festival activities include helping artists turn dumpsite garbage into art, a climbing wall, kayak demonstrations, ultimate frisbee, boxing, trail walks and treasure hunts.
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Group Climbing This Weekend!

This Sunday, August 16 is your next chance to bring your group to Allegheny Commons for an afternoon of outdoor recreation close to home. Reserve a block of time to climb the Climb Pittsburgh Climbing Wall and kayak on Lake Elizabeth for just $3.00 per person. Don’t worry if you don’t have a group- you can still come enjoy the climbing wall and kayaking. Walk up pricing is available: $5 to kayak, $1 to climb the wall.

Groups must be 6 or larger to receive the discount. The climbing wall will be set up until 4:00 PM and kayaking in is available until dusk; both activities begin at 11:00 AM. Allegheny Commons is located on Pittsburgh’s Northside across from the National Aviary.

Reserve a spot by for your group by emailing: lcooney@ventureoutdoors.org.

Free Family Outdoors Festival to be held at Mellon Park

Venture Outdoors Family and Community Programs Initiative continues with festivals throughout city

(Pittsburgh, PA) – A free Family Outdoors Festival will be held Saturday, July 25 at Mellon Park as part of the Venture Outdoors Family and Community Programs Initiative, which includes a series of free festivals held throughout the city this season.

The Mellon Park Family Outdoors Festival is another proactive step in the Family and Community Programs Initiative. This multi-year Initiative seeks to reach families in diverse communities through outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship programs.

Festival activities will include the Climb Pittsburgh rock climbing wall, geocaching, bike rides, children’s art activities sponsored by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Pitt African Drumming Ensemble.
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Get Climbing, Pittsburgh

Outdoor organization makes it easy and affordable to try rock climbing this summer

(Pittsburgh, PA – July 8, 2009) – Over 5,000 Pittsburghers are already taking advantage of the many outdoor activities provided by Venture Outdoors. Starting this summer, Climb Pittsburgh, a project of Venture Outdoors, has set up a temporary home for their rock climbing wall on Pittsburgh’s North Side, allowing groups and individuals many opportunities to try this exciting sport.

Rock wall climbing is quickly becoming a challenging addition to many fitness programs and can provide organizations with team building exercises. And they encourage would-be climbers to try a high energy sport in a safe, controlled environment.
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Group Climbing at the Allegheny Commons

Saturday, July 18 is the next opportunity to bring your group for a Group Climbing Party at the Allegheny Commons. Bring your scout troop, birthday party or youth group to receive deep discounts on both climbing and kayaking. Simply reserve a block of time and get your group climbing and kayaking for just $3 a person.

More information at, climbpittsburgh.org
To reserve your spot today email, lcooney@ventureoutdoors.org

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Nonprofit group makes it easy to get outside

By Lyndsay Miron
The Sepectrum (Point Park University)
June 25, 2009

Most people know that Pittsburgh has three rivers – the Allegheny, Monongahela and the Ohio – but many people do not know how to take advantage of the city’s famous waterways.

One local nonprofit organization, Venture Outdoors, tries to help people do just that by showcasing the city’s rivers and other parts of its natural beauty through increasing activity in outdoor recreational activity.

According to the mission statement on its Web site, ventureoutdoors.org, the organization “seeks to transform the Pittsburgh region into a place where the outdoors is an integral part of our culture, our identity and our lifestyle.”

To raise awareness for the organization and get more people outdoors, Venture Outdoors prints 90,000 copies of its publications each year and distributes them throughout the area, said Assistant Executive Director Sean Brady.
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Venture Outdoors in Allegheny Commons all summer long!

Local nonprofit kicks off new programs and summer events in the North Side

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Kayak Pittsburgh has become a must-do for the Pittsburgh community’s summer recreation list, and now the excitement is growing with one more location at Lake Elizabeth in Allegheny Commons. Open seven days a week, this unique, beginner-friendly destination is the perfect place to put a paddle in the water for the first time…or make it a regular part of your family’s summer routine. Offering scenic views of the downtown skyline from elegantly designed shallow lake, it’s ideal for families and beginners, either after work or on weekends.

“This year we are putting special emphasis on growing the diversity of the outdoors community to include even more people from urban neighborhoods through our new Kayak Pittsburgh location in Allegheny Commons and our Family and Community Programs initiative,” said Sean Brady, Assistant Executive Director of Venture Outdoors and North Side resident.
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Deep Discounts on Group Climbing

Instead of paying to bring a climbing wall to your next party – bring your party to the climbing wall! On select days this summer the Climb Pittsburgh climbing walls will be set up inside the Allegheny Commons on Pittsburgh’s Northside. Groups larger then 6, adults included, can reserve a block of time to climb on the climbing wall and to kayak on Lake Elizabeth.

Group Party Dates:

• Sunday, June 21
• Saturday, July 18
• Sunday, August 16
• Saturday, September 19

For more information on pricing and to reservations visit www.climbpittsburgh.org

These days are made possible by the Charm Bracelet Project Fund through a grant from the Grable Foundation.

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