water, land, life
WPC's Monthly eNewsletter

Our Partnership with You and Nature is as Strong as Ever


We hope our April eNewsletter finds you healthy and safe. Although so much is changing daily during this crisis, nature is a constant. It carries on, teaches us patience and provides calming respite in difficult times.

Although we’ve made operational changes to help keep you and our staff safe, our mission to protect our wonderful places in Western Pennsylvania remains stronger than ever. Most of our spring volunteer opportunities are cancelled, but we’ll be able to volunteer together again soon. We had to postpone Members’ Day, but look forward to seeing you later this year. In the meantime, our staff is continuing to work from home and outdoors to protect and restore our region’s natural areas and rivers and streams, and plant green spaces in our communities.

This eNewsletter also provides fun, safe ways to get kids out to enjoy nature and learn things, too. We encourage you to consider visiting one of our properties or public lands to enjoy fresh air and natural beauty and be reminded of the reasons you partner with us. Your health and safety is always important to us, so please remember to practice social distancing while outdoors. And although Fallingwater is temporarily closed, you’ll learn about ways you can help ensure this world treasure lives on.

We’re so grateful for our donors and volunteers. You’ve always been there to help us restore, beautify and protect the most important places in our region. In this challenging time, we’re glad we have you as partners in nature.

Members’ Day is Postponed

We so enjoy meeting with our members each year on Members’ Day and sharing the important work that you support throughout our region. We have made the decision to postpone this year’s Members' Day, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 2 at Bear Run Nature Reserve. We will hold Members’ Day in some form at a later date, and we’ll keep you posted.
You Can Help Fallingwater During This Difficult Time
 
Members and visitors are the vitality of Fallingwater. Sadly, we’ve had to close our doors temorarily for your safety and the safety of our staff and volunteers. But that means we’ve also stopped bringing in revenue needed for Fallingwater’s care, operations and maintenance. You can donate to help keep Fallingwater operating at a level that protects the building and its art. Or, shop online at Fallingwater’s Museum Store, where your purchases of books, puzzles and gifts help support Fallingwater during this difficult time.
 
Kids at Home Can Design Houses for Gnomes: Registration Extended
 
Gnomes around the world are looking for homes, and there are plenty of kids worldwide eager for a challenge right now! We’ve extended registration through April 15 for Fallingwater’s Gnome House Design Challenge, a fun, at-home, educational activity for students ages 8 to 13. They’ll use creativity, math, science, technology and language arts skills to design houses for gnomes.
 
Connect Kids with Nature and Organic Architecture During Social Distancing
 
Stay-at-home life is making us all appreciate the outdoors even more. Luckily, you and your family can still get outside and enjoy spring. It’s a great time to connect kids with nature and architecture, whether on WPC properties or in your own neighborhood. Here are some great ideas from WPC and Fallingwater. Remember to follow proper social distancing guidelines.
Update on Spring Volunteering
 
We know many of you can’t wait to get outdoors with us! In compliance with Pennsylvania’s current stay-at-home order due to COVID-19, all WPC and Fallingwater volunteer opportunities are cancelled through April 30. We hope to plant community flower gardens with our valued volunteers beginning May 15. We’ll let you know if plantings are canceled or rescheduled.
Follow the Redbud Blooms and Stay Connected to Nature and Our Work on Social Media
 
Our Eastern redbud trees are about to bloom all over Pittsburgh! Learn more about the Pittsburgh Redbud Project, and follow WPC Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where you can see beautiful photos and share your own. Plus engage with other nature lovers and find suggestions for hikes on our properties, educational activities and information about our conservation work. And you can post your stories and comments as well! Follow Fallingwater Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, too!

At-home Activities from Fallingwater


Even though the house is temporarily closed, your family can enjoy Fallingwater at home through our offerings. There are games, projects and books for the kids as well as puzzles, books and home and garden items! Every purchase helps to support Fallingwater’s operations. Please note that delivery times could be slightly extended.

April Desktop Background


Please excuse our brief delay in sending this month's enewsletter due to technological challenges related to working remotely. In concert with how different the world is this month, we are foregoing the usual calendar and providing a beautiful, inspirational desktop image. Right click on it, choose "Save Image As" and save to a folder. Then right click on the image in your folder and choose “Set As Background.”

This patch of large-flowered trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum) in our Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area in Slippery Rock, Butler County, Pa., indicates a forest habitat with rich, moist soils. This wildflower species, iconic to our region, quickly blooms in the spring before tree leaves cast shade, typically from the second half of April into early May. After they turn pink and then fade, the pollinated plants produce fruit, the seeds of which have a fleshy protuberance that is food for ants, which transport the seeds to new places of the forest floor. The 243-acre
Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area is a wonderful place to see spring wildflowers, hike, watch wildlife, hunt, fish and experience nature’s calming influence. Celebrate spring! 

Dear Members, Thank You for Your Patience
The Conservancy has converted to new database software to improve our donor service capabilities. We’re working to make this transition as seamless as possible, but if your name, address or any other information is incorrect at any time, please let us know by sending an email to development@paconserve.org or calling 1-866-564-6972.
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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 412-288-2777, Email: info@paconserve.org


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