Special activities

5-km 'rally round the island'

The annual 5-km run will be held Wednesday May 29, 2002 at 5PM. The course will begin near the hotel and progress around the beautiful natural environment of Washington's Landing Island on trails. The entry fee of $20 includes a commemorative T-shirt, timing and refreshments at the finish. Age brackets are indicated on the entry form. Teams must have at least 3 age categories represented and one female to qualify. Teams should be named and indicated on the entry form. Names of team entrants do not need to be indicated until the day of the race. No extra charge will be assessed for teams. All runners must complete the 5-km Traditional Run form on the NABS 2002 Registration Form. Each runner's time will be recorded and awards will be presented on Thursday at the banquet.

Field trips

Realizing that many members will arrive over the Memorial Day Weekend, we have planned several activities for your enjoyment. Some of these activities are space limited, and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

1. Fly Fishing Trip - Sunday and Monday, May 26-27, 2002

Travel by bus to Central PA to fish our finest limestone influenced streams. Brook and brown trout are the quarry. Stay overnight at the PA Fish Commission Training Center along Spring Creek. Enjoy catered meals. Discuss your success at night over a cold libation. Visit Fishing Creek and Penns Creek. Spring Creek requires barbless hooks, and does not allow wading at the Training Center. The entire trip will be hosted and guided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (they know all the good spots!). For up to the minute information on stream conditions and hatches check out this website www.flyfishersparadise.com and navigate to the streams list. This trip is limited to 25 people. The bus leaves from the hotel at 7am Sunday and returns at 10pm Monday.

Organizer: John Arway (jarway@state.pa.us) Cost: $90

2. Whitewater Rafting - Monday, May 27, 2002

Challenge the whitewater of the famed Youghiogheny River. You can use 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 person rafts, or use single or double duckies. All trips will have experienced guides. Normally considered intermediate level water (class 4), when the water is high it can be class 5. A shore lunch is served. The trip takes 4 hours (plus travel) and you will be back in town for dinner. Helmets and instruction are provided, wetsuits can be rented reasonably, or wear your own swimwear/other gear. Limited to 32 people. The bus leaves the hotel at 8am and returns by 5pm (if you survive).

Organizer: Tom Proch (tproch@state.pa.us   Cost: $75

3. Memorial Day Picnic - Monday, May 27, 2002

Don't fret having to give up your Memorial Day picnic just because you went to NABS. Have a traditional picnic on the water (sorry, no horseshoes, badminton, or softball!). Enjoy ribs and barbecue, salads, and corn with ice-cold beer and soda to wash it all down. Relax on deck and enjoy the river. Stay on the boats to watch the fireworks (if scheduled), or head home early to recover. The two boats are Navy mine sweeper trainers, refitted as classrooms. All are air-conditioned, and have heads. Board the boats at 1pm at their docks a short walk from the hotel.

Organizer: Tom Proch (tproch@state.pa.us) Cost: $35

4. Carnegie Museums - Sunday, May 26, 2002

Buses will take participants to Oakland and the Carnegie Museums and Library. The cost includes transportation, admission, snacks and souvenirs. We will leave from the hotel at 1:00pm and return at 5:30pm. You can visit the Art Museum and/or the Natural History museum. Besides visiting the public areas, you will have access to the curated material behind the scenes. John Rawlins, Head of the Invertebrate Section, and "Silence of the Lambs" fame, has graciously volunteered to show members what goes on behind the closed doors. The immature 'wet' invertebrate collection is okay, but the adult collections are great.

Organizer: Gary Kenderes (gkenderes@state.pa.us) Cost: $30

5. Science Center - Monday, May 27, 2002

Cruise down Olympic bobsled runs. Hang glide over the Grand Canyon. Shoot hockey pucks at a 'virtual goalie'. Get a grip on the 25-foot climbing wall. Design your own roller coaster. Ride a unicycle 15 feet in the air. All at the UPMC SportsWorks section. Travel the world in the four-story Omnimax Theater! You'll explore everything from the mysteries of the ocean to the forces of nature. Escape into a laser landscape at the Science Center's Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium. Laser shows are performed live with the first of its kind in the world full-dome laser graphics projection system. (Generally, with very loud music). The Science Center also has all the normal gee-whiz things typical of the genre. The Center is open from 10am to 5pm. It is a short walk from the hotel and this will allow you to see and do as much as you want when you want. There is a café (with beer) on site for your pleasure and relaxation.

Organizer: On Your Own Cost: $18

6. Electrofishing Demonstration - Friday, May 31, 2002, Evening

At La Crosse we received a suggestion that we somehow include a demonstration of fish sampling with electrofishing gear. Since we aim to please, we have set up a demonstration along the rivers near the hotel on Friday evening. The Fish and Boat Commission and ORSANCO will be doing the actual electrofishing (no use losing any NABS members!), and several observation boats will be available. For those not able to fit on the available boats, we will not be far from shore, so you should be able to see what is going on. All the fish collected will be brought to shore to identify, weigh and measure. Everyone will get the chance to get smelly hands. There are over 100 species of fish recorded from the local rivers, so we should obtain a nice variety, particularly of shiners and darters. We will be done in enough time to wash up and attend the mixer. Please indicate your interest in participating on the Registration Form. The demonstration is free.

Organizer: Rick Spear (rspear@state.pa.us) Cost: Free

7. Intermittent Stream Trip - Friday, May 31, 2002

In conjunction with the 'Intermittent and Ephemeral Streams' Special Session, we will venture by bus to several intermittent streams outside Pittsburgh. Sampling and collecting requires a Pennsylvania Fishing License and limits you to a total of 50 animals. If you are just observing, you do not need a license. A 3-day non-resident license is available and should be purchased by session organizers (the transportation fee includes the purchase of 6 licenses). The bus will leave from the hotel at 1:00pm and return by 5:30pm.

Organizer: Dave Penrose (dave.penrose@ncmail.net) Cost: $10