There are many different forms of wildlife that prowl the woods in Scott Township such as deer, foxes and wild turkeys, but on April 10, 2010 a new form of wild life was seen visiting the area...Panthers! Not to worry however, these Panthers were very tame and friendly and sported knapsacks, pencils, notebooks and were more interested in attacking rocks than attacking humans. The University of Pittsburgh's Environmental Geology Lab class lead by Professor Charles Jones visited the AMD site on Old Scrubgrass Rd as part of their field trip to gain hands on experience concerning lessons they had been learning in the classroom during the semester about various geological events. 

The field trip started with a visit to Fedex Drive in Robinson where the students took notes, studied, discussed and explored the rock formations along the hill side leading to the Fedex complex. Next the band of cavorting Panthers traveled to the Wal-Mart shopping center where they examined the exposed Pittsburgh coal seam located behind the store and learned about the formation of coal. 

Afterwards the next stop was the AMD pond on Old Scrubgrass Rd where the students not only studied the effects of acid mine drainage and its effects on the environment, but Professor Jones also taught them about the various techniques used to help reduce those negative effects such as the passive system used here. They also prowled the creek and studied the rocks as well in search of fossils and learned about stream flows, ground water flow and flood plains. 

With red tinged shoes the students boarded their bus and headed off to the final leg of their journey to Mt Washington where they had a bird's eye view of the city of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. With notes in hand the Geology students examined the flow of the rivers, the formations of the hills and the terrain of the area. The field trip was a huge success and a fun learning experience for the University of Pittsburgh's Geology Lab class. They were able incorporate the theories and knowledge they had learned in the classroom in a real life setting and were able to see how Geological events form and affect the earth. 

As a student in this particular Environmental Geology Lab class I was excited to learn that our field trip included a visit to the AMD pond on Old Scrubgrass Rd.  We had a great time laughing, joking and learning with our fellow classmates and the professor as we explored the creek for interesting looking fossils and rocks. While we gathered interesting rocks from the creek, our Professor helped to clean up the creek when he rescued a very nice football and soccer ball that had washed down in the area during the last rain. 

Professor Jones had reminded us that we may not always remember the things we learned in the classroom later on in life, but the knowledge and experience we gain from field trips such as this would stay with us forever, and he was right. I have gained a new appreciation of the various rock formations in the area and even learned more about the AMD pond that I see every day. 

We were not the first Pitt students to visit the AMD pond on Old Scrubgrass Rd., and we will not be the last, so do not be afraid if in the future you happen to see a band of marauding Panthers in the Scott Township area armed with notebooks and pencils; you never know if one of them just might be someone you know. 

When you come to Whiskey Point this year, you will see several new improvements. No longer will you need to worry about sliding down the hill from the upper parking area to the shelter. We now have a well built pair of steps connecting the upper level of the parking lot to the shelter. There is also now a stone patio located at the beginning of Catfish Path, the Blue Trail, which goes towards Kane Blvd. 

 The improvements were made by Nick Miller and his friends who are members of Troop 834 and meet at Our Lady of Grace Church. Nick is working on obtaining his Eagle Scout badge. The planning, organizing and completion of this project will help him achieve his goal. 

These young men worked very hard to make these improvements to the Whiskey Point Trailhead. The work was done in the mud amid the raindrops on a very hot and humid day. They did a wonderful job. The steps and patio are very well built and will serve the conservancy and the community for a long time. 

The hike at noon led by Mary Pitzer offered a botany tour of the Kane Woods Nature Area, as she pointed out mayapples and other woodland flora.  

Mary showed us where the hillside sewer easement construction area  is now sporting colorful native meadow wildflowers.  She also identified bird calls, adding interest to the hike.

The new signage made the trails much easier to follow.  

Providence Point's Kitty and Paul Emory, who often take advantage of Kane Wood's amenities, joined us for this hike on the longest day of the year.  

A few new faces were also on the tour, including Sally Adams and Christine Rohr from the Crafton-Ingram area. 

As we cross a footbridge over Scrubgrass Run, Jane Sorcan points out a parcel of recently acquired acreage.  

Walking her dogs along Scrubgrass Run, Carol Shaw  took the opportunity to pick up bark and place it on muddy spots along the path.  

Many thanks to Carol, Bob Gamble, Ed Fogarty and countless other nature lovers who help maintain our trails, pick up litter, and keep our woods beautiful while they enjoy their walks.  

The Lorax Still Speaks for the Trees 
by Bob Podurgiel

Most of us remember the Dr. Seuss stories about the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch who stole Christmas, but Theodore Seuss Geisel also wrote a very important and still influential book about the environment called "The Lorax." 

Published in 1971, the year after the first Earth Day in the United States, "The Lorax," delivers an important environmental message cloaked in Dr. Seuss' wonderfully complex and playful use of language. Where else but in a book by Dr. Seuss will you find phrases like"miff-muffered moof," or as he describes the Lorax, "He was shortish. And oldish. And brownish. And mossy. And he spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy." 

The Lorax in the book speaks for the trees, in particular the Truffula Trees that provide shelter, food and habitat for the Brown Bar-ba-loots, that look something like a cross between bear cubs and puppies, the Humming-Fish, and, not to be forgotten, the Sowmee-Swans. 

The Once-ler is a creature that decides to cut down the Truffula Trees to make a totally useless product called the Thneed, that with some good marketing, everyone decides they must have. Sales are brisk, leading to the need to cut more and more Truffula Trees. The rest of the book tells of the conflict between the Lorax, who wants to save the trees because of the terrible impact their loss is having on the forest creatures, and the Once-Ler, who only thinks of one thing - all the profits he can make by cutting down the trees. 

Most of the issues that are still plaguing us today are addressed in the book - habitat destruction, short-term thinking, mindless consumerism, and toxic pollution caused by industry in a mad dash for profits. Dr. Seuss, who passed in 1991, is probably shaking his head now in sadness at the destruction in the Gulf of Mexico caused by BP, and its corporate enablers in government. 

Like the Lorax, the Conservancy spoke for the trees, and the animals that depend on them when we saved the Kane Woods Nature Area, and built a network of trails so that people could enjoy the forest, but even the trees in our nature area need some help now and then. The heavy snows we had this winter weakened many of the trees and when combined with the high winds and thunderstorms that swept through the woods this spring, many of the trees were damaged or blown down across the trails. The Conservancy is working hard to open the trails and clean up the trees that were blown down, but we need help from more of our members. It's a big job, but in the words of the Lorax, "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not." 

The book ends on a hopeful note. One Truffula seed is left and the Once-Ler tells the little boy in the story, "Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.  Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back." 

So if you have a child or grandchild, consider reading them "The Lorax." I am sending a copy to my grandchild, who is five, and who already loves animal and trees.  The Lorax Project  lets people of all ages know what they can do to help preserve our forests.  Like the Lorax, my granddaughter already is a bit "sharpish and bossy," so I'm holding out hope for us yet.

School Districts Learn About Composting
by Bob Podurgiel

A few years ago Sharon Pillar, the Western Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture, gave an intriguing presentation at our annual meeting on the impact climate change was having on Pennsylvania.   Since then, Sharon has gone on to found her own environmental organization called the Citizens Climate Corps to focus on energy and conservation issues at the local level. 

One of her most successful projects to date has been establishing a food waste composting program for the Quaker Valley School District. Every year, we Americans throw out over 25 million tons of food, almost a third of all the food we consume in our country. Most of that waste ends up moldering in landfills, where as it decays it gives off methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists calculate that methane is an even more potent atmospheric warming gas than carbon dioxide, so Sharon's project is helping the environment in several ways: saving food waste from going to landfills, cutting down atmospheric warming pollution, and producing a valuable soil amendment, in the form of compost. 

If you would like to learn more about how you can start a food composting program at your school district, send an e-mail to citizensclimatecorps@gmail.com

Recycling Grants in Danger
by Bob Podurgiel

A show from the 60's called "Lost in Space" featured a robot that looked like a big gum ball machine with lights flashing inside its head and rubbery arms dangling from its sides. The robot would intone in a low-pitched robotic voice, "Danger, danger, Will Robinson," when he sensed something bad was about to happen. Usually, the danger was caused by some nefarious plot dreamed up by a creepy scientist who was out to undermine the brave space colonists. 

Today, we don't have a creepy scientist to worry about, but we do have a big dose of danger to worry about when it comes to the recycling program in Pennsylvania. Waste haulers currently pay a $2 a ton fee to the state for dumping garbage in the state's landfills.  A lot of that garbage comes from out of state, from New Jersey and New York, where they are running out of space for landfills.  The money collected from the tax goes to pay for grants to make our community recycling programs successful, and Scott Township has one of the best. 

Here's where the danger part comes in. The recycling fee is scheduled to be phased out in 2011 unless reauthorized by the State Legislature. If not reauthorized the DEP will start to shut down the grant program this year because the money may not be there by the time the grants are processed and awarded. 

House Bill 1768 to reauthorize the $2 per ton fee on waste haulers has already passed the State House, but is stalled in the State Senate, where there is less support. Here is where you can help avert the danger. Get on your phone or computer and call or write your state senator, asking the senator to vote for HB 1768. Last year, the fee brought in about $32 million, much of that money came from out of state garbage.  Shouldn't we in Pennsylvania receive some benefit for giving a home to all that trash from New Jersey and New York?  I think so, too.  In fact, I think we ought to raise the fee for out-of-state trash to $4 a ton, and use the money to help create more solar and wind energy jobs in Pennsylvania. 

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If our environmental stewardship, land conservation, recreational and community activities appeal to you, please consider joining The Scott Conservancy today.  If you are already a member, please consider volunteering your time to help steward our land and help organize our events and activities.  Your support keeps our trails open for the public.