Our annual native plant symposiums are a wonderful opportunity to broaden your knowledge of native plants and landscaping. Our speakers bring a wide range of experience and expertise to share.

2025 Symposium

“Naturally Connected: Strengthening Communities by Reimagining our Role in Native Habitats”

March 26, 2025
5:00pm – 8:30pm
Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh

Join the Western Pennsylvania Wild Ones for our 3rd Annual Symposium that explores the vital connection between communities and native ecosystems. This engaging event will feature thought-provoking panel discussions with experts and advocates, delicious food, refreshing drinks (including alcoholic options), and ample opportunities for socializing and networking. Together, we’ll reimagine our role in fostering harmony between human activity and natural habitats while celebrating the power of community. Whether you’re a conservationist, gardener, or simply a nature enthusiast, this gathering promises to leave you inspired and “naturally connected.”

Let’s grow together—because building stronger communities starts with restoring the land we share.

We’re excited to introduce this year’s panelists!

Adam Haritan (Learn Your Land)

Adam Haritan is a nature enthusiast, observer, documenter, and faithful adherent to the land in western Pennsylvania. In 2015, he created Learn Your Land — an educational platform designed to integrate humans with wild places. Adam leads various classes and workshops on ecology; plant and mushroom identification; wild food harvesting; nutritional and medicinal components of wild foods; and the benefits of nature connection. Over the years, he has created over 200 instructional nature videos that can be viewed on the Learn Your Land YouTube channel.

Nick Liadis (Bird Lab)

Nick Liadis is an avian conservation biologist based in Pittsburgh. His work takes him across the human landscape gradient into urban, suburban, and rural areas to better understand how birds coexist with humans. Trained as an architect, he became involved in bird conservation by researching bird-window collisions. He founded Bird Lab, a non-profit dedicated to studying and implementing solutions to human-related sources of avian mortality, particularly within cities.

Nick has pioneered a novel approach to architecture by integrating his deep interest in the natural world, especially birdlife. Central to his cross-disciplinary work is resolving conflicts between the natural and built environments. Other research interests of his include how cities affect avian migration and how migratory birds utilize urban and suburban habitats.

With research and teaching appointments from California to Pennsylvania, Nick has gained significant insight into the challenges birds face nationwide. His unique perspective focuses on promoting healthy landscapes across the various ecosystems birds traverse during migration, from cities to forests.

Abigail Salisbury (State Representative)

Heather Hulton VanTassel, Ph.D. (Three Rivers Waterkeeper and Carnegie MNH)

Chris Murakami (Chatham University and USDA Farm Service Agency)

Tickets: $35.00

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2024 Symposium

“What does ecologically responsible land stewardship look like?”

March 14, 2024
5:00pm – 8:30pm
Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh

Join us for an enlightening day of exploration into the realm of Ecologically Responsible Land Stewardship at the 2nd Annual Wild Ones Western Pennsylvania Area Symposium! This year’s event promises to be a captivating journey into the world of sustainable practices, with a focus on native plants and their crucial role in ecological harmony.

The panelists include:

Mark Brownlee, ArcheWild
Wil Taylor, Jennings Environmental Center
Jake Kristophel, Fallen Aspen Farm
Chris Kubiak, Western Pennsylvania Audubon Society
John Creasy, Garfield Community Farm
Ashley Funk, Mountain Watershed Association

Wild Ones Western PA Chapter 2024 Native Plant Symposium

2023 Symposium

“How we can better utilize our many public green spaces and vacant lots to create native habitats?“

March 29, 2023
Tree Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh

Our friends at Tree Pittsburgh will host our 2023 native plant symposium. Hear from an exciting panel of local people who, in their various fields, encounter the different benefits of creating habitats with PA native ecotype plant species. See and learn about different habitats in and around our public green spaces — our parks, waterways, urban gardens, and vacant lots.