ALT’s environmental education team has always provided all-ages, hands-on, nature-based programs to learners across the region. By bringing programs to schools, libraries, and community centers and hosting them online and on our lands, we always hoped to reach as many learners as possible. Now, ALT and project partners have completed designs for “Nature On Wheels”: a Mobile Learning Lab that will bring environmental education programs to even more learners!

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.

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 big thank you to our steering committee that helped guide 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.

We look forward to meeting our learners of all ages where they are.

 

For Nature On Wheels updates, return to this page, subscribe to our monthly emails, and check back on our events calendar!