Date/Time
Date(s) - Thursday, Oct 05, 2017
5:00 pm
Location
Audubon Community Nature Center
Categories
The Audubon Community Nature Center will hold a field trip on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania. You can join the group and venture 200 feet over the surrounding valley during what is expected to be peak leaf season, enjoy the new visitors center and explore the area.
The Audubon Community Nature Center van will depart at 10 a.m. from the Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Rd., one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania. The trip will take one hour.
Space is limited. The cost is $48 for the public or $36 for Nature Center members.
Reservations with payment are required by Thursday, Oct. 5. Register online or call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or register online on the Programs page at auduboncnc.org.
Built in 1882, the Kinzua Bridge was an engineering marvel built to move trains across Kinzua Creek. Now the Kinzua Sky Walk, it continues to marvel visitors today, with a glass-floored overlook and an expansive view.
In this park with its interesting natural and human history, you will be able to walk out along the old Kinzua Viaduct until you are standing 200 feet above the surrounding valley during peak autumn color.
A recently added interpretive building makes a high tech addition while staying true to the history of the site. It is chock-full of entertaining exhibits, short movies, and more — the perfect example of that place where human engineering and nature meet.
An optional hike down into the gorge will be included for those who wish it. Non-hikers can explore the visitor center and bask in the glory of autumn until the hikers return.
After enjoying the exhibits, learning about the bridge, and taking a walk out onto it, the group will have a BYO brown bag lunch before returning by 3 p.m.
Since the wind can be chilly on the bridge, participants are advised to bring extra layers of warm clothes walking shoes, and a lunch that does not need refrigeration. Binoculars, camera, and hiking poles are optional.
Rick Rupprecht, the host for the trip, is retired from the positions of director of aviation and professor of mathematics at Jamestown Community College. An active Audubon volunteer, Rupprecht leads children on discovery walks, presents programs for groups as an Audubon Ambassador, helps at festivals, presents a workshop on making maple syrup, builds things from wood for displays and exhibits, and more.
For information about the history of the Kinzua Bridge and to see a video, visit visitanf.com/kinzua-state-park-sky-walk.
