SpiderMentor

04/25/2026

Hallow looks forward to seeing you at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek today 10-12!

04/24/2026

I’ll be there 10-12pm! Looking forward to seeing yinz there!

Our Earth Day Celebration is just a little over a week away. Join us on Saturday, April 25th from 10am-2pm at the Outdoor Discovery Center for this FREE, FUN Community event!!

We've got lots of fantastic activities planned including these in the 10am-12pm timeframe:
🌎 Search for spiders with the SpiderMentor
🌎Be astonished by O'Ryan the O'Mazingperforming as a Stilt Walking Tree
🌎Get creative at the reusable art activity led by Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse

And these activities which will be available all day (10am-2pm):
🌎Learn about reptiles & amphibians from Paherpsurvey& EctoTerra
🌎Explore the Carnegie Museum of Natural Historymini museum
🌎Make nature crafts and participate in a variety of nature activities
🌎Hike one of our trails
🌎Learn about mushrooms from the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club
🌎Purchase & Enjoy Food from Bugsy's-Pizzaand The Coffin Bean & Co.
🌎Visit the pollinator garden & learn about native plants from the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Armstrong County
🌎Learn about the important work that Humane Animal Allies does in our community
🌎Make your own fabric pouch out of waste fabric material with Jen Rocket LLC
🌎Story time with Clifford the Big Red Dog
🌎Go on a Sustainability Scavenger Hunt and win prizes. The Sustainability Scavenger Hunt is supported by an environmental education grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
We can't wait to see you next week!!

04/13/2026

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, I'll be leading a spider walk at the Frick Environmental Center to celebrate a Decade of Discovery from 12 to 1pm for ages 5 and up. All events for the day are free! Sign up for Spider Tracks here!

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh's historic city parks. EIN: 23-2882145

09/05/2025

It’s that time of year when all of the big spiders get called out! In this article, I advocate for responsible journalism!

How exciting! If you’re reading this I guess it worked! This post goes out to anyone who has seen this scary headline in its many shapes and forms about the introduced Joro spider (Trichoneph…

04/27/2025

Just published on the SpiderMentor website!

I volunteer at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History once a week. I get to go behind the doors that say, “Research Staff Only”, into the backroom of the Department of Invertebrate Zool…

01/17/2025

Steatoda triangulosa in apartment stairwell.

10/12/2024

Stop by for a free spider presentation at noon! You’ll see spiders in a whole new (positive) light!

09/24/2024

I’ll be here with the spider tent from 4-6! Stop by, say hi, and grab a killer sundae!!

Please join us for an afternoon of fun for everyone! Make ice cream art, get your face painted, touch and learn about spiders, and be regaled by our beloved German accordion player, Frank :)

09/22/2024

Set up for Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Donor Appreciation Day! Hoping to instill curiosity and dispel fears! ❤️🕷️

09/17/2024

https://spidermentor.com/2024/09/17/smiley-faced-spider/

Pittsburgh, with all of our hills and valleys, is rumored to have the most public, city steps of any city in the country. As we zoom into the south shore of the Monongahela River, most of the steps…

06/14/2024

My captive- bred, brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) “Chance” has died. She was 8 YEARS OLD! That’s hella long for a recluse. “Chance” (originally named “ #21”) was used at many educational events. She was an ambassador. Countless people from Pgh had never seen a recluse before they met her. Thank you for your service, Chance. I can’t help but get teary eyed over this. 😫. She is survived by 22 offspring. Here is her story: Yinzer recluses

Chapter One – Nah-uh (Pittsburghese for “No way”) It may come as a relief to our locals in Western PA that recluse spiders (Loxosceles genus) are rarely found here. We are too far…

04/30/2024

Join me at the 2024 Phipps Conservatory Bioblitz! Sunday, June 2nd in Schenley Park! The event runs from 9-3pm. I’ll be leading a spider walk from noon to 1pm! This is a FREE family event!

On Sun., June 2, our annual BioBlitz festival will bring together families, students, local scientists and naturalists, teachers and community leaders to explore the biodiversity of Schenley Park, meet local scientists and naturalists, and engage with community organizations and agencies – all ...