Ideas Sought To Protect The Broads

Families and business leaders could hold the key to protecting the environment on the - and officials are seeking new ideas which could be backed up with a share of a ï¿¡200,000 grant.

The Broads Authority has today called on local people, companies and organisations to come forward with solutions which could help protect wildlife and reduce the carbon footprints of the tens of thousands of tourists who visit the Broads every year.

Each year since 2002 the government has provided ï¿¡200,000 to each of the UK’s National Parks to inspire communities to come up with bright ideas which will benefit the area.

The Broads Authority has used the money to form a , helping promote , with green business, boating, biking and canoeing projects, education programmes and projects to help disadvantaged people.

Funding has also now been given for a study and carbon audit of the Broads to be carried out by the Cred programme, based at the .

The study will provide a picture of where come from and how much is produced, so the Broads Authority can draw up a plan to comply with .

In the past the cash has helped launch the ’s Go Electric! campaign which gave grants for eight from diesel to electric.

Subsidies have also been given to help fund the only Green Boat Show in the UK, held on Salhouse Broad in September last year.

The in Norwich has also been given an ï¿¡8,000 grant to pilot a project, landscaping the grounds and building , an amphitheatre and a .

A spokeswoman for the Broads Authority said: “The projects we fund are wide-ranging but have several things in common. They are all innovative, sustainable, and improve the life of people living in and working in the area. The Broads Authority is keen to help young people and which do not qualify for other public funding. No project is too large or too small.”

Some of the organisations which have benefited from funding in the past include the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association which was awarded a ï¿¡15,200 grant to buy five new Wayfarer dinghies to help introduce schoolchildren to sailing.

The boats will replace 20 year old boats which were beyond repair.

David Wrenn, commodore of the association, said: “The help and support we have been given from the Broads Authority is brilliant. It is fantastic that they are helping projects like ours that bring a benefit to the community.

“Everyone who works here is a volunteer and gives their time for free so having the grant and being able to upgrade the boats has been a big boost for us.”

A leaflet, Bright ideas wanted, explains who and what qualifies for funding. It is available from the Broads Authority office at 18 Colegate, Norwich and at information centres.

The project follows the launch of the Broads Tourism Forum 2008 A Day in the Broads campaign with Visit Norwich, supported with funding from the Broads Authority’s sustainable development fund.

The focus of the campaign this year is to encourage green tourism with prominence being given to activities such as cycling, walking and nature spotting.

In December last year, the Evening News revealed how The Broads Authority had been awarded an extra ï¿¡1.3m of government funding over three years to be spent on important conservation projects.

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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Planned D.M. Sculpture Park Is Awarded $1 Million Grant

Vision Iowa gave a $1 million boost Thursday to for the new Pappajohn slated for installation in the in downtown .

The grant from the state-funded program will help cover costs for landscaping, lighting and security for the $ collection of at least 16 sculptures that venture capitalist and his wife, Mary, plan to donate to the Art Center. Although the will belong to the museum, the city of has been charged with maintenance and security.

said they still hope to raise another $1 million toward their total goal of about $6 million, but they’re confident additional donors will step forward.

“This is a jaw-dropping, magnificent for the people of Iowa and visitors to our capital city,” said Jim Cownie, who is leading the . “The response from the community has been resounding.”

Although some plans have yet to be completed, expect to start construction during the last week of August or the first week of September. A few of the may need to be installed before the is finished, but most are expected to arrive next spring.

“The idea is to have a rolling landscape and that will provide sites for the , with vistas from far away and intimate possibilities up close,” said Art , who recently hauled a few spotlights over to the Pappajohns’ yard to figure out how best to light the at night.

At least $1 million of the $6 million fundraising will be invested in an to cover long-term costs for security and maintenance. Until that kicks in, however, Allied-Nationwide, whose offices border the park’s south side, has offered up to $1.6 million for and staff to supplement what the city will provide. Security is a particular concern because the park’s design does not include fences, allowing visitors close access to the artwork.

“We’re very pleased that Allied stepped up,” said Steve Zumbach, who is helping with the project. “John and Mary have really done something wonderful for the community, and the community, in turn, is responding.”

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Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Hillside Landscaping No Comments

Modesto’s Choice Cut Now Or Go Bankrupt Later

For the in four years, Modesto is facing a significant . We are not alone. Cities throughout California and the nation are facing , fueled by the foreclosure crisis. has made recent headlines for considering bankruptcy, while Sacramento, San Jose and others are proposing substantial .

Could ’s experience happen in other cities? Regrettably, the answer is yes. To make sure it doesn’t happen here we must understand our challenges and act to limit impacts on the services most important to our community.

The foreclosure crisis has hit our region hard. The tri-county area of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and has been hit harder than most areas, with more than 2,000 foreclosures in March alone. Many of our neighbors are dealing with abandoned homes next door. Left untended, they devalue homes around them and become targets of and property theft.

Foreclosures have driven down . When people buy a house, they purchase washers, dryers, furniture, landscaping and all the other things that make our homes livable. When are rising, they can use their home equity for big- such as cars and .

In 2007-08, the impact of the housing crisis hit hard. Just two years ago, the city collected over $29.6 million in sales tax revenue and projected annual increases of 4 percent to 5 percent. Our budget tax at $29.4 million for this fiscal year. Now, we estimate that we will end the year with slightly less than $27 million. Staff projections show next year it will be about $26.7 million.

also have fallen. Homeowners unable to pay their mortgage also are unable to pay . With declining property values (about 30 percent countywide), there have been a of requests for property reassessments. The assessor is anticipating a drop in of 4 percent to 8 percent. Our property tax revenue is expected to remain flat.

This council and councils before it have focused the majority of general fund resources on core , specifically public safety. In the upcoming budget year, 69 percent of operating expenditures will go to police and fire department budgets. The remaining 31 percent must be spread thinly to provide vital such as park maintenance, planning, and personnel and financial .

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Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Hillside Landscaping No Comments

April Fools’ Day License for Tricks and Fun

Yippee! It’s April Fools’ Day. Time to get naughty and mischievous. Be a trickster and play pranks on others with your witty plots. Crack rib-tickling jokes and make all LOL. Pull others’ leg and puzzle them with riddles and brainteasers. Get in a monkey business and drive everyone crazy - everything is fair on April Fools’ Day. Bug everyone and share a dose of healthy laughter.

Popularly known as “All Fool’s Day” in many countries, the day has been observed for centuries. It received its name from the custom of playing practical jokes, tricks, hoaxes, gags, fools’ errand and side-splitting fun upon unsuspecting people. The victim of your prank is called an April Fool.

Bluff your friends and let all hell break lose. Dupe all, as you try your hands on all-time perfect hoaxes. We have April Fools’ Day Pranks galore:

- Get really nasty, if your victim blow-dries their hairs, take talcum powder or substance like flour, makeup, colors or foam and put it in the front end of the blow drier. Clean the blow drier nicely so it looks spotless. When your victim uses the blow drier, the powder will shoot out on their face. Make sure you click the pictures of this embarrassing moment.

- Collect aluminum cans and start layering it on your victim’s door. To keep cans in place, tape it to the doorframe. And when victim opens the door, due to suction all the cans will crash down on them.

- Have a cracking April Fools’ Day! Take those firecrackers with the string on each end that explodes when you pull the string. Fasten the bunch of these firecrackers to your ’s door with the duct tape. When they open the door, it will set off the chain reaction. Boom of crackers will be embarrassing for them.

- Take cardboard and place it over the prankee doorframe. Tape the cardboard and put a giant bag of popcorn kernel over it. Fill it with popcorns and as prankee opens the door, they will be greeted by flood of popcorns!

This April 1, get Jiggy on the party floor and have a raucous time. Slip into a Shaggy Dog Story and brim the day with hilarious gags and jokes for whole lotta fun. Send your friends, family and acquaintances, funny and witty April Fools’ Day cards. Upload their day ‘fool’ of fun and make them roll all over with laughter. Share a slice of smile and amuse them witty and smart cards.

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Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Landscaping Idea No Comments

Taking Caribbean tourism to the American capital

NEW YORK, USA: This June’s Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS) in Washington DC from June 21 to 24 is not only the first such meeting, it also represents the new spirit of collaboration between the Caribbean’s public and private sectors. To convene the meeting, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), representing regional governments, and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), the umbrella body for the private sector, are combining resources in their new marketing and business development entity, the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) whose mission is to own, promote, protect, advance and enhance the Caribbean brand, while making a profit. In previous years, each June, the CTO had organized Caribbean Week in New York activities, billed as a celebration of the sights, sounds, colours, cultural and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean; while the CHA had hosted the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference, formerly known as CHIC, and held in recent years at the Hyatt Regency in Miami. These separate activities will not happen this year as energies are concentrated on combining conferences and transferring the travel and tourism debate from the shores of the region to the beltway of the American capital. Following the Summit, key policy makers head to Antigua %26amp; Barbuda for another landmark day-long meeting focusing on Tourism during the 29th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government set for July 3 to 5. Organizers say this Washington Summit is an opportunity for influential policy makers, financial leaders, marketing professionals, and tourism industry officials from more than 30 Caribbean countries to interact with each other as well as with US Government officials and leaders of tourism and investment communities. In fact, plans are afoot to invite US Presidential candidates Senator John McCain (R) and either of the Democratic Senators Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton depending on who emerges from the primary battle by June. As delegates look to the economic future of the Caribbean region, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is confirmed to address the conference on Monday, June 23. While some commentators argue that the authority on American domestic economic and monetary policy might not be a relevant candidate to speak about Caribbean tourism, others believe Dr. Greenspan’s presence will help to sensitise Caribbean policy makers about the important economic impact of the services sector. Organizers want the %26quot;learning conference%26quot; to help educate Caribbean stakeholders in general about the critical importance of tourism. Ministers of Finance and Governors of Central Banks, who oversee foreign exchange but have not played a central role in shaping tourism policy, have been invited to be part of the inner circle of players in taking a serious look at the challenges facing the region. The conference also offers an opportunity for the Caribbean to present compelling arguments to the Bretton Woods institutions and multilateral agencies about the debilitating impact trade liberalization has had on agricultural industries like sugar and bananas, and the need for a hand-up to boost the sector in which small vulnerable economies have a competitive advantage. The new requirement which stipulates that Americans use a passport when traveling by air from the Caribbean is also expected to dominate the conference, given its current and potential negative impact on Caribbean air arrivals just when the region must aggressively compete with other destinations (which have long required passports for entry into their ports) for today’s paltry percentage of Americans who will travel internationally. The other keynote speaker is Bahamian Dr. Myles Munroe, Founder and Senior Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, who will no doubt set an energetic and inspirational tone. Dr Munroe, scheduled to lead an inspirational brunch on Sunday, June 22, was chosen to speak based on his ability to energize a diverse audience as he did at a recent Caribbean Tourism Conference in his native Bahamas. With a reputation for %26quot;Transforming Followers into Leaders,%26quot; Dr. Munroe will inspire investors, politicians, tourism industry executives, the Caribbean Diaspora and Friends of the Caribbean to meaningfully contribute to the growth and prosperity of the Caribbean region. %26quot;ACTS will be held a time when all investors, political and tourism decision-makers, as well as the powerful Caribbean-American community will be called upon to help the Caribbean get on the path to realizing its full economic potential,%26quot; said St. Lucia’s Minister of Tourism Senator Allen Chastanet, co-chairman of the CTDC, and chairman of the CTO. %26quot;And we’re very excited to have one of our region’s most celebrated motivational and spiritual speakers add his influence to this important effort.%26quot; Also planned for the Summit will be the holding of CTO and CHA’s Board of Directors meetings; a meeting of the new CTO Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism; a %26quot;Capital Caribbean%26quot; Wedding; Town Hall Meetings ostensibly targeting Diaspora communities; interactive conference sessions and a gala dinner at which lifetime achievement and special recognition awards will be presented. %26quot;This conference is a rare opportunity to take a close look at the key issues and solutions that will (stimulate) tourism and investment revenue in the region,%26quot; said Peter Odle, co-chairman of the CTDC and President of the CHA. Held to coincide with June’s Caribbean American Heritage Month, the first Summit marks the dawn of a new day in Caribbean tourism. As delegates gear up for networking opportunities, food, rum and entertainment, and unique Caribbean vacation offers, they should also get ready for change - a change in the way tourism is managed in the Caribbean.

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Saturday, March 29th, 2008

Pool Landscaping No Comments

Pay Per Performance Web Traffic

Why should you pay to get web site traffic, isn’t SEO enough?

It’s a fair question - after all most businesses on and offline have tight budgets to play with and need to make each and every penny count.

So why should you as a business pay good money to drive targeted traffic to your site?

Perhaps there’s a clue in the last question.

What other options are there?

You have 3 basic choices to get traffic to your website:

1. You pay - using PPC, ezine ads, banners etc…

2. You borrow - constructing Joint Ventures and endorsed offers with partners

3. You grow your own - with natural search engine optimisation

So which is the best?

———————

Well they all do a different job and have different characteristics, perhaps the best information source you could hope to find on the subject is found here:

http://www.trackingandtesting.com/dystatic/TrafficGeneration.php

But why PPC?

You need PPC because you can:

* Control the flow of traffic to your website

* buying customers and those most likely to buy through correct keyword targeting

* Test different offers

The last benefit above is perhaps the most important. Remember a page on a website doesn’t have to stay recorded online forever…

Just because you’ve completed your site in terms of the pages you want to add (although in truth you’ll never be finished as you can continually add more related content), this does not preclude you from testing other pages…

The value of testing

——————–

Simple scenario: You want to test 2 price points for a product/service. (Yes you can do this and people don’t have to know about it so don’t be worried).

With a PPC campaign you can have your normal web page (Page A) sitting as normal at the well known web address with all of your normal links pointing to it.

You 2 price point test pages (Page B %26 C) are a different kettle of fish - they sit off to the side and you push traffic to them using PPC to quickly determine which is the winner.

You can do this for any test you dream up, the bottom line is you can quickly determine what is working and what is not in your marketing.

Knowing what’s not working is more important than what is (particularly if you are sailing close to the wind) because you SAVE you would otherwise have thrown away.

The Affiliate Advantage

———————–

When you have a website that is converting well, you will be able to attract many affiliates (and even super affiliates if you are doing a good enough job and providing a good enough incentive package).

Affiliates can make your business explode overnight if you have done your homework and have the site converting well.

If you have not you may attract them, they may pump some traffic and then they will disappear to pastures new when they see you are not doing a good job.

In summary

———-

If I could give you one reason why you should use PPC and in particular Google Ad words as part of your internet marketing campaign it would be this:

“Feedback fast, feedback cheap”

Yes you may spend a little up front, but you can save yourself a whole lot of heartache on the back end.

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Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Landscaping Idea No Comments

Harcourts helps Gore theatre

Harcourts has taken up a silver sponsorship, giving $20,000 to secure naming rights to the small movie theatre at the St James for 10 years.
Trust chairman Lloyd Thayer said it was great to have Harcourts on board.
%26quot;From our viewpoint its good to see an organisation which gains its money from the community giving back to the community,%26quot; Mr Thayer said.
Harcourts Gore branch co-owner Lloyd Anderson said the company was pleased to be associated with a venue that was used by a wide cross-section of the community, from young children to adults.
The company challenged other businesses to support the project.
Mr Thayer said securing a sponsor at the silver level has added considerably to the community pot of .
%26quot;It was gratifying to see so many supporting us at a smaller level and now its great to see a major sponsorship partnership in place.%26quot; When it embarked on the $2.91 million theatre renovation and installation of a fly tower, the trust set itself a of $350,000 from community sponsorship.
Mr Thayer said the trust was hopeful of signing further major financial partnerships in the near future.

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Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Garden Landscaping No Comments

First match set to draw Swifts fans

Southland has built a reputation for having supportive netball crowds unrivalled by any other team in the National Bank Cup, but with the ANZ Championship set to start early next month franchises across the Tasman are trying to get in on the act.
The Sydney-based Swifts franchise has put the call out for 8000 fans to turn up to its April 7 game against the Steel — which would be almost double the capacity of Stadium Southland.
The is a far cry from the 2500 crowd average Australias Commonwealth Bank Trophy games in Sydney and Newcastle traditionally attracted, but Swifts communications manager Kath Tetley was confident the first game would set the standard for the rest of the competition.
%26quot;This is the first time a single, stand-alone game has been held at Acer Arena,%26quot; she said.
%26quot;When we looked at the draw we knew that we … wanted to be able to showcase the game to as many people as possible. Having the opportunity to host the Southern Steel, which is such a strong franchise with such fantastic crowd support they have incredible Invercargill crowds (we thought) we should do the same thing and show that we take the game seriously.%26quot; The popularity of the season pass was yet to make its presence felt in Sydney, though the franchise was %26quot;well on its way%26quot; to selling its of 500 passes for this season, Tetley said.
Even so, with the combined fan base of the Hunter Jaegers, a side which boasted the highest crowd averages of any team in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy for the last three years, and Sydney Swifts from which New South Wales Swifts was born Tetley was confident the opening game against Southern Steel would be a popular one.
%26quot;I do believe this is the evolution of the game. The last 11 years has been a starting point, the next 11 years will be the middle ground and the next 11 years it will be just as big … if we dont aim for the stars, then were underselling ourselves.%26quot; The Acer Arena is the largest netball venue in Australia and can host up to 18,000 people.

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Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Garden Landscaping No Comments

Outdoorswomen enjoy getting out but they do it differently than outdoorsmen

Mandy Claypoole spends her downtime bird watching with a group of female friends on her mother’s grain farm in Fennelton.

For Claypoole, a 27-year-old physician’s assistant who lives in Butler, one of America’s fastest-growing pastimes is as much about sisterhood as songbirds.

“I think women bond in the outdoors as much as men,” she said. “It just may not be as obvious.”

Claypoole was introduced to birding at a National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors event three years ago. She plans to try her hand at spinning wool, birdhouse building, and beekeeping at this year’s program, April 19, at the Bullcreek Sportsmen’s Club in Tarentum. It is one of dozens of Women in the Outdoors events the federation is offering across the state in coming months, in an effort to attract future hunters and conservation stewards.

Shooting sports still top the agenda, but with just 6 percent of Pennsylvania women now hunting, the federation has broadened its appeal beyond bullets and bows.

“Although archery and shotguns are popular, not every woman is interested, so we offer a lot of other things like backpacking, kayaking and backyard habitat,” said national Women in the Outdoors coordinator Tammy Mowry of Butler. “Women come to learn, and they come for the camaraderie.”

Recruiting women to the outdoors, and ultimately to a conservation ethic, means recognizing their interests often differ from men’s, said Ted Lee Eubanks, whose Austin-based company Fermata Inc. has been helping the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources develop ways to market state parks and other amenities.

“In some ways, there’s a real schism between what men and women enjoy,” he said. “The activities men rated highest were the least favored by women.”

Big game hunting was No. 1 with Pennsylvania men, followed in order by small game hunting, football, migratory bird hunting, fishing for migratory species, surfing, wind surfing, golf, and primitive camping.

For women, it was in-line skating, soccer, outdoors volleyball, caving, boat tours, watching and photographing birds, sailing, horseback riding, and wildflower photography, Eubanks said.

Some of those activities have a strong social component, which is a big draw with women, Eubanks said.

“I hate to make , but women are far more likely to enjoy the outdoors in a social group. Men do also — that’s one of the appeals of golf — although hunting is an activity a lot of men do alone.”

For women, safety is also a concern, said Eubanks. “Facilitated activities are appealing.”

Pennsylvania state parks officials have only recently begun to explore ways of attracting new users, including minorities and women. DCNR is about to release an outdoors recruitment study that first took shape at the Governor’s Outdoors Conference in State College a year ago.

“Historically, how you managed state parks is by serving whoever knocked on the door and it hasn’t been women,” said Eubanks. “But that doesn’t mean the need, the demand, isn’t there.”

Venture Outdoors, one of the region’s biggest recreation boosters, seems to already have figured that out.

Participation is overwhelmingly female in most of the 230 different activities Venture Outdoors offers and they quickly sell out, said program director Rob Walters.

“Some of the most popular are specialty hikes. They’re a nice couple of hours in the woods, followed by a treat, like wine and cheese or hot chocolate,” he said. “It’s an easy way to get outdoors, and a lot of people graduate to day treks or rock climbing.”

Aside from the social appeal, women are often more adventurous than men, Walters said. “It’s not like we’re taking them sky diving. But I think women are more willing to try new things, and they like the idea of making new friends.”

And while the bulk of Venture Outdoors participants are in their late 20s to early 40s, the region’s older population is also represented, shattering misperceptions about age.

“An 84-year-old woman came snow-shoeing with us this winter,” Walters said.

Although women are making strides in outdoors recreation, the gender divide remains stubbornly intact when it comes to Pennsylvania’s more traditional activities: hunting and fishing. Despite a modest increase in female hunter numbers in recent years, fewer than 10 percent of women fish or hunt in Pennsylvania, although they are an avid minority.

Lisa Diehl, 35, of Overbrook, became the first woman to compete with the Holiday Park Bassbusters and now is fishing the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. That means juggling a full-time job as an adult education counselor with the demands of a Southern tournament circuit.

“I wanted to take my fishing to a whole new level,” said Diehl. “I wanted to meet like-minded people and see and fish new places. The competitiveness was part of it.”

Diehl has tried to interest her female friends in fishing, but none has taken the bait. They don’t know what they’re missing, she said.

“Women are natural anglers. They have the patience and sensitivity for it. I do think it helps if kids are introduced to fishing at an early age. I learned to fish from my mother and an aunt.”

Heather Seitz of Allison Park would like to see more women on streams, too. As captain of the Pennsylvania U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team, which competed against international youth anglers last summer in State College, Seitz, 19, wants to make fishing a career.

“I’d like to teach women and youths,” she said, “maybe get into guiding, maybe even putting together camps.

“Other women need to know this isn’t just a male sport and they can enjoy it very much,” said Seitz, a freshman at Pitt. “In fact, women are better casters, they’re more graceful.”

Ron Anderson of Butler taught his daughters to hunt when they were old enough to hold a rifle.

“The objective was to hit a paper plate from 50 yards with a .22,” said Anderson, who owns a tackle shop near Lake Arthur. “They’d get points for hitting targets and would compete with one another.”

Now in their 20s, both Jess and Jen hunt today.

“They’re not obsessed, but it’s a fun thing to do with dad a couple of days a year,” said Anderson.

“It’s a manly thing, hunting,” he said, tongue in cheek. “Nobody remembers Annie Oakley anymore.”

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Sunday, March 23rd, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Get Out Events Hunting amp; Fishing Calendar

HIKING

Wednesdays The Audubon Society of Pennsylvania holds walks every Wednesday, 9 a.m. 412-963-6100.

March 29 Afternoon Hike in the Woods. Brady’s Run Park. 6-8 miles. Must be over 18. 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. $5 members, $10 non-members. Venture Outdoors. 412-255-0564.

March 29 Sushi and Sake Hike. Frick Park. Minimum age 21. 4-7 p.m. $35 members, $55 non-members. Venture Outdoors. 412-255-0564.

March 30 Beaver Creek State Park. Sections of the national North Country Trail and well-preserved canal locks. $6 carpool. Sierra Club, 412-362-5567.

April 5 Easy 7-mile loop, Sarver (Buffalo Creek). Meet at Bob Evans Restaurant on old Route 28 in Harmarville, 10 a.m. $2.50 carpool. Sierra Club, 412-828-5154.

May 4 A Walk on a Trail. Schenley Park, Steve Faloon Trail, Circuit Drive at Westinghouse Pond, Oakland. Dogs on leashes welcome. Less than 2 miles. 10 a.m. $15, kids $10. Benefits Steve Faloon Bone Marrow Fund. 412-561-7161.

HUNTING

March 29 Western Pennsylvania Woodlands and Wildlife Conference. Discuss forest management, plant diversity, pests, forest economics, etc. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Greensburg. $35 includes buffet lunch. Register at 412-837-1402, http://westmoreland.extension.psu.edu.

April 21-22 Pennsylvania Game Commissioners Meeting. 8:30 a.m. both days. 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.

May 4, May 11 Qualifying shoot for program that culls deer from Allegheny County parks. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northside Sportsmen’s Association, Marshall. 412-931-9438, 412-735-0497. Hunts occur during regular archery season.

July 19 Youth Day. Pitcairn-Monroeville Sportsmen’s Club, Rt. 48, North Versailles, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Boys and girls 9-15. Rifle, trap, archery, safety education, muzzleloader, trapping. Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League. Register by June 15. 412-824-6467, acslyouthday2008@yahoo.com.

SHOOTS

ALIQUIPPA BUCKTAILS Skeet and trap, Wednesdays 6 p.m. and Fridays 5 p.m. 724-378-1450 or www.bucktails.us.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY RIFLE CLUB Saturdays and Sundays: ATA registered trap, 10 a.m. 412-821-9828.

ALL SEASONS TRAP AND SKEET Wednesdays: Open shoots, 5 p.m. 814-590-3777.

CALIFORNIA HILL Sundays: Sporting clays and five-stand, 9 a.m. 724-938-3480, 724-938-3477.

CARRICK SPORTSMEN Sundays: Traps, 1 p.m. Junior rifle and traps programs, personal protection/firearms safety, hunter safety courses. 724-348-5354 or http://www.carricksportsmen.com.

CHARLEROI ARCHERY CLUB March 1-2, NFAA Mid-Atlantic archery shoot. 724-366-3596.

CLAIRTON Tuesdays: Skeet, trap leagues and practice, 5 p.m. : Trap practice 6 p.m. Sundays: Trap practice, leagues, 1 p.m. Last weekend of each month: Cast bullet and .22 rim-fire matches, www.clairtonsc.org.

CLAYBUSTERS Sundays: Sporting clays, five stand, skeet and trap, 9 a.m. and Thursdays 1 p.m. 814-437-3252, 814-437-3428.

COLLIER SPORTSMEN Tuesdays beginning April 15: Trap 6:30 p.m. Public welcome. 412-276-9628.

CONNELLSVILLE SPORTSMEN Tuesdays: Trap practice and skeet shooting, 5 p.m.

CORAOPOLIS Sundays: Junior Olympic archery development, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Indoor archery, 7 p.m. Wednesdays: Informal combat, 7 p.m. 412-264-9920, 412-793-7692.

CROWFOOT ROD %26amp; GUN Tuesdays, and Sundays: Public trap practice, 7 p.m. 724-327-9315, 724-327-0592.

DORMONT-MT. LEBANON SPORTSMEN Mondays: Outdoor pistol, NMC and MPRL, 7 p.m., Wednesdays: Indoor Open shoot, noon. 412-531-5043, www.mdi.net/dml.

EAST MONONGAHELA SPORTSMEN Mondays and Thursdays: Bowling pin shoot, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays: Trap, 6:30 p.m. Third Sundays: Air pistol silhouette match, 1 p.m. 412-384-4747, http://www.dp.net/~emsc.

ELRAMA SPORTSMEN Mondays: Trap practice, 6 p.m. 412-384-8896.

FIVE POINTS HUNT Mondays: Trap practice, 5:30 p.m. 724-375-7381, 724-457-0315, www.fivepointshuntingclub.com.

FORD CITY SPORTSMEN May 18: Relay for Life Cancer Trap Shoot, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 100 16-yard targets, prizes awarded. Public welcome, benefits American Cancer Society. Wednesdays: Skeet practice, 6 p.m. : Trap practice, 6 p.m. 724-763-3136, fordcitysportsmen@yahoo.com.

FOREST GROVE SPORTSMEN Mondays: Trap, 6 p.m. Thursdays: Combat pistol shoots, 4 p.m., Third Wednesdays: Membership meetings, 7 p.m. Third Sundays: Muzzle-loaders shoots, noon. 412-269-0942.

LAWRENCE COUNTY Wednesdays: Trap/skeet shoot, 5 p.m. 5-stand, 5 p.m. Thursdays: 5 p.m.; Sundays: Sporting clays, 9:30 a.m. 5-stand, 9:30 a.m. 724-652-1075.

LIBRARY SPORTSMEN ASSOCIATION Thursdays: Trap, skeet, 6 p.m. 412-835-9812, www.librarysa.com.

LONG BRANCH SPORTSMEN Tuesdays: Indoor NRA 50-foot small bore pistol league, 7 p.m. 724-925-2919, 724-333-4408, www.bloomautomatic.com/lbsc

McDONALD SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap and skeet, 7 p.m. 724-796-2271, www.mcdonaldsportsmen.com.

McKEESPORT SPORTSMEN Skeet practice, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. Cast bullet matches third Saturdays, 9 a.m., three classes, public welcome. 412-271-2144, 412- 824-7566.

MILLVALE SPORTSMEN Tuesdays: Skeet, 5 p.m. Wednesdays: Evening leagues, practice, 6 p.m. Saturdays: Registered targets, 9 a.m. 724-935-9963, www.millvalesportsmens.org.

NORTH BUFFALO SPORTSMAN’S Second Sundays: Action pistol, rifle. Third Sundays: Hunters trail shoot. Last Saturdays and Sundays: 3-D archery. 724-353-2444, 724-664-0513.

NORTH SIDE SPORTSMEN Wednesdays: Skeet, 6 p.m. Trap, 6 p.m. Sundays: Trap, skeet, 11 a.m. 724-935-9884, www.nssa.ws.

PITCAIRN-MONROEVILLE SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap, practical pistol practice, 6 p.m. Saturdays: Trap practice, 10 a.m. Sundays: trap practice, 1 p.m. 412-824-3790, www.pmsconline.com.

POSSUM HOLLOW SPORTSMEN Thursdays: 3-D archery, 6 p.m. 724-513-5338, 724-601-4796, 724-843-3489, www.possumhollowsportsmansclub.com.

RICHLAND SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Archery. Alternate Mondays: Junior rifle. 412-486-2873.

ROSTRAVER SPORTSMEN Practice trap, pistol and 3-D archery. 724-872-4399.

RUFFSDALE GUN Sundays: Trap practice, noon. Saturdays, 10 a.m.

SALTSBURG SPORTSMEN Paintball shoot second and fourth Sundays, 9:30 a.m. 724-845-6936.

SHANER SPORTSMEN : Trap. 724-494-6834, 412-417-3744.

SINNAMAHONING SPORTSMEN Paint ball shoot second and fourth Sundays, 9:30 a.m. 724-845-6936.

SPORTSMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GREENSBURG 724-834-3671.

SUTERSVILLE SPORTSMEN Trap practice: Mondays, 6 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m. 412-872-0989.

TARENTUM SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Skeet practice, 5:30 p.m. 724- 353-1216.

TRAFFORD SPORTSMEN Indoor pistol: Mondays, Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 p.m. Trap: Wednesdays 10 a.m.; 6 p.m. Tuesdays: Archery practice, evenings; Bowling pin shoot: First and third Sundays, 10:30 a.m. 412-372-3820.

VICTORY HILL GUN Tuesdays: Trap practice, 6 p.m. 724-258-9871.

WASHINGTON SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap, wobble trap, skeet, 6 p.m. 724-222-0651.

WEST PENN SPORTSMEN Five-stand: Sundays, 10 a.m., Thursdays 4 p.m. Trap: Thursdays 4:30 p.m.

YOUNGWOOD Trap: Sunday 10 a.m., Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

HUNTER-TRAPPER SAFETY

Allegheny County

March 29-30 Monroeville Municipal Building. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Lunch provided, registration 412-856-3369.

March 28-29 Bullcreek Rod and Gun Club. 6-9 p.m. Fri.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Lunch provided, registration 724-226-3369.

April 4-6 Carrick Sportsmen’s Club. 6-10 p.m. Fri.; 8:30-4:30 p.m. Sat. Registration 412-398-9599.

April 19-20 Springdale District Sportsmen’s Association. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Lunch provided, registration 724-335-7171.

Armstrong County

April 4-5 Armstrong County Hunting and Fishing Club. 6-9 p.m. Fri.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Registration 724-543-4920, 724-763-8288.

Beaver County

March 28-29 Beaver Valley Sportsmen’s Club. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Registration 724-544-8904.

April 18-19 Pine Run Sportsmen’s Club. 5-9 p.m. Fri.; 8 a.m-4 p.m. Sat. Registration. 724-774-4642.

April 21-23 Ambridge Sportsmen’s Club. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Registration 724-869-9749.

Greene County

March 21-22 New Freeport Fire Hall. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat. Lunch provided, registration 724-447-2040.

Indiana County

April 4-5 Montgomery Township Rod and Gun Club. 5:30-9 p.m. Fri.; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Lunch provided, registration 724-254-9264.

April 18-19 Indiana County Bow and Gun Club. 6-9 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Lunch provided, registration 724-422-6326, 724-463-0822.

Somerset County

April 1, April 3, April 5 Rockwood American Legion. 6:30-9 p.m. April 1, April 3; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 5. Lunch provided, registration 814-926-2465.

Westmoreland County

March 29-30 Bridgeport National Guard. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; 1-5 p.m. Sun. Lunch provided, registration 724-925-8054.

March 29-30 Rostraver Sportsmen’s Club. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun. Lunch provided, registration 724-684-4219.

FISHING

March 29 Early opening day trout season (18 southeastern counties only). Details at www.fish.state.pa.us.

March 30 Ice Out Party. S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie. 1-5:30 p.m., Cauley Memorial Auditorium, 215 East 4th St., Erie. $8 adults, under 12 $5, toddlers free. 814-453-2270.

April 12 Opening day trout season. Details at www.fish.state.pa.us.

April 12 Ohio River Catfish Tournament continues April 26, May 10, May 24, June 14, June 26. Pittsburgh to Wheeling. $10, 304-387-3982.

April 26 Magical Macros and Art of Fly Tying. McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org. www.mckeever.org.

May 17 Dan Wagner Memorial Kids Fishing Day, Allison Park Sportsmen’s Club, North Park Lake. Free and open to all children.

May 17-18 George Daniel Fly Fishing Clinic. McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org, www.mckeever.org.

June 7 Fisherman’s Paradise Bus Trip. Penn’s Woods West Trout Unlimited trip to Spring Creek, Bellefont/State College. $50, $45 before May 1. Non-members welcome. 412-521-0714, pwwtubustrip@gmail.com.

BOATING

Pittsburgh Area Power Squadon boating safety seminars are free, additional fee for course materials.

March 30 Learn To Sail Seminar. Northland Public Library, hosted by Moraine Sailing Club. 1:30-5 p.m., 412-366-8100, joeshields@yahoo.com.

April 3 How to Use a Chart. Oakmont Yacht Club, Oakmont. 7 p.m. Mark Steele, 412-760-1465, m.d.steele@verizon.net.

April 5 Canoe and Kayak Classic, Emporium Country Club, Emporium. 11-mile course, Driftwood branch Susquehanna River. All racing and family classes. Adults $15, juniors up to age 17 $10. 814-546-2011, beetlecamp@yahoo.com, www.eteamz.com/canoeclassic.

April 12 Personal Watercraft Safety Course. Mon Valley YMCA, 9 a.m. $20, includes snacks, beverages. Register 724-684-5320.

April 19 Personal Watercraft Safety Course. Mon Valley YMCA, 9 a.m. $20, includes snacks, beverages. Register 724-684-5320.

April 26 Personal Watercraft Safety Course. Mon Valley YMCA, 9 a.m. $20, includes snacks, beverages. Register 724-684-5320.

May 1 Using VHF and VHF/DSC Marine Radio, Oakmont Yacht Club, Oakmont. 7 p.m. Mark Steele, 412-760-1465, m.d.steele@verizon.net.

June 14 Boating Course. A%26amp;M Marine, New Castle. Holt Conner, 724-752-4410.

EDUCATIONAL

April 6 Case of the Vanishing Pond. Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock. Indoor and outdoor discovery. 2 p.m. Register by March 31, 724-794-1090.

April 13, April 27 Sunday Strolls (Signs of spring and dam hike). McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org. www.mckeever.org.

April 20 Reliving Pennsylvania’s Native Culture. Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock. Historical reinactors, 2 p.m. 724-794-6011.

April 24 Fayette County Children’s Water Festival. Divito Park, Dunbar. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 724-438-4497.

April 26 Battling Invasive Species. Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock. Help wanted to manage invasive species. Lunch provided. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Age 12-plus, register by April 18 at 724-794-6011.

April 26 Pond Management Workshop. Representatives of Penn State, Crawford and Venango County Conservation Districts, Pennsylvania Lake Management Society. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Towne Square Conference Center 110 West Spring Street, 4th floor Titusville. $10, register by April 21, 814-676-2832.

April 27 Frick Park Bird Walk, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. 7:30 a.m. Meets Frick Park. Bird watching, ecological restoration. Wissahickon Nature Club, 412-521-3365..

May 9-11 A Feather Quest. Two-day birdwatcher eco-tour, Ohiopyle State Park. $150-$185. 724-329-0986, eeohiopyle@qcol.net.

May 11 Spring Wildflowers. Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock. Half-hour guided walk. 2 p.m. 724-794-6011.

May 11, May 25 Sunday Strolls (Mother’s Day Hike and Leave No Trace). McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org. www.mckeever.org.

May 24 Spring Woodland Flowers. McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org. www.mckeever.org.

VOLUNTEER

April 19 Volunteer Work Day. McKeever Environmental Learning Center, Sandy Lake. 724-376-1000, info@mckeever.org. www.mckeever.org.

April 19 Nine Mile Run Stream Sweep, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Meets Frick Park. 412-371-8779 ext. 14.

MISC.

April 3 Physical Activity Lecture. Schenley Park Visitor Center, Oakland. Noon, pittsburghparks.org.

April 4-5 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Carnegie Library of Homestead Music Hall, 7 p.m. $12 one night, $20 both nights. Tickets@ventureoutdoors.org.

April 10 Injury Prevention Lecture. Schenley Park Visitor Center, Oakland. Noon, pittsburghparks.org.

April 19 Frick Environmental Center Earth Day Celebration. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2005 Beechwood Blvd, Squirrel Hill. 412-422-6538.

April 27 Frick Park Bird Walk. 7:30 a.m.

Meet in parking lot off Lancaster Avenue, lower Frick Park. 412-521-3365.

May 23-23 Outdoor Extravaganza. Butler Outdoor Club. Sampler of outdoor activities. Base camp at Breakneck Campground near McConnell’s Mills and Moraine State Park). www.butleroutdoorclub.com,724-526-5407 and joyceappel@windstream.net.

Get listed in GETout. At least two prior to the event, send event name, activity, date, time, location, fee and phone number to outdoors@post-gazette.com or Post-Gazette, Outdoors, GETout Events, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

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