April 22, 2025
For Immediate Release
Pittsburgh, PA – In celebration of Earth Day 2025, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) and CannonDesign are releasing plans for a brand-new environmental education mobile learning lab called “Nature On Wheels” that will operate in the greater Pittsburgh region.
“Our education team prides ourselves on providing all-ages nature-based programs in classrooms, at community centers, online and – of course – on our lands; this variety of locations has allowed many in the region to come learn with us. Now, Nature On Wheels will allow us to bring our programming to even more of our neighbors to increase access for additional learners,” Senior Director of Education & Curriculum Julie Travaglini said.
Nature On Wheels is comprised of a hybrid truck that will pull ALT’s custom-designed, modular trailer. The trailer will be outfitted with interactive learning elements that engages learners of all ages with evolving and adaptable programming tailored to the age of a given audience, the program topic and/or the season.
The mobile learning lab will bring hands-on, all ages programs to communities across the Pittsburgh region at school events, camps, community festivals, conferences and like events.
The build-out and design of Nature On Wheels was led by CannonDesign, a global architecture design firm with an office in Pittsburgh. CannonDesign chose ALT’s Nature On Wheels to be a 2025 “Open Hand Studio” project; Open Hand Studio is CannonDesign’s public interest design arm that partners with nonprofits to advance important missions across education, health, economic development, racial and social equity and beyond.
“This is exactly the kind of project we look for at Open Hand Studio — scalable, replicable and built on strong collaboration. Allegheny Land Trust is doing incredible work to connect people of all ages to nature and inspire education about our planet. It’s been a phenomenal experience for the design team, and we’re excited to see the impact this will create in Pittsburgh and beyond,” said Maggie Bailey, Open Hand Studio of CannonDesign leader.
The design process was funded by American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Arconic Foundation, Benedum Foundation, CannonDesign, Grable Foundation, HDR Inc., Rivers of Steel and the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. A steering committee helped guide ALT and CannonDesign in the planning process.
ALT will now seek implementation funding to bring the programs to learners across the region. Once Nature On Wheels is built, interested parties can contact ALT to book a Nature On Wheels visit.
“Nature On Wheels will allow us to take nature directly into communities that may not have, historically, had access to our programs. We can bring learning directly to communities who may need it the most,” Travaglini said. “We look forward to meeting our learners of all ages where they are – both physically and educationally.”
For more information and future updates, visit:
https://alleghenylandtrust.org/nature-on-wheels/