Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) announced design plans for “Nature On Wheels,” a mobile environmental education laboratory that will bring hands-on conservation programming directly to communities across the Pittsburgh region. The initiative represents the latest evolution in environmental education delivery, addressing accessibility barriers while advancing science-based conservation learning approaches that align with Colcom Foundation’s regional support priorities.
“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,” said ALT Senior Director of Education & Curriculum Julie Travaglini.
Custom-Designed Laboratory Addresses Pittsburgh’s Geographic Challenges
The mobile laboratory comprises a hybrid truck pulling a custom-designed, modular trailer equipped with interactive learning elements. This configuration allows ALT to adapt programming based on audience age, seasonal topics, and specific environmental concepts. The design emerged from collaboration with CannonDesign, a global architecture firm that selected ALT’s project for its 2025 “Open Hand Studio” initiative.
The strategic approach responds to specific regional challenges in environmental education delivery. Pittsburgh’s diverse topography and scattered community locations have historically limited access to conservation programming for certain populations. The mobile laboratory system eliminates transportation barriers while maintaining the hands-on learning experiences that research demonstrates enhance environmental literacy retention.
ALT operates across 41 municipalities in Allegheny and Washington Counties, protecting over 4,000 acres of green space. This geographic scope necessitates innovative delivery methods to reach communities effectively. The mobile laboratory extends ALT’s educational capacity beyond their physical properties, enabling programming at schools, community festivals, summer camps, and conferences throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
Colcom Foundation’s Strategic Investment in Regional Conservation Education
ALT’s mobile learning lab helps advance regional conservation education goals long supported by Colcom Foundation. Colcom Foundation has maintained consistent support for environmental education initiatives across southwestern Pennsylvania since its establishment in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May. The Foundation’s grantmaking strategy emphasizes measurable environmental outcomes through science-based conservation approaches, particularly initiatives that strengthen community connections to local ecosystems.
The Foundation’s support for environmental education extends beyond individual organizations to systemic regional conservation capacity building. According to Colcom Foundation’s grantee spotlight materials, the organization “supports projects that enrich and improve quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania” (https://www.colcomfdn.org/grantee-spotlight/) across fourteen counties including Allegheny, where ALT operates.
ALT has received consistent annual operating funding from the Colcom Foundation, as well as funding for land conservation projects. Notably, a $400,000 loan from the Colcom Revolving Fund for Land Trusts was secured to protect 168 acres in Franklin Park’s Big Sewickley Creek watershed. This financing mechanism, established through $1 million in Colcom Foundation grants, enables rapid conservation responses when properties face development pressure.
Expanding Access Through Technology-Enhanced Environmental Learning
The Nature On Wheels initiative reflects broader trends in environmental education delivery that emphasize mobility and community-centered programming. Research indicates that place-based environmental education significantly improves conservation behavior adoption compared to classroom-only approaches. Mobile laboratories enable this experiential learning model while reaching underserved populations.
Contemporary environmental education increasingly incorporates interactive technology to engage diverse learning styles. The modular trailer design allows ALT to integrate digital components alongside traditional field equipment, creating hybrid learning experiences that combine virtual and hands-on elements. This approach aligns with current educational technology trends emphasizing personalized learning pathways and adaptive content delivery.
Funding for the design phase came from multiple sources including American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Arconic Foundation, Benedum Foundation, Grable Foundation, HDR Inc., Rivers of Steel, and the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. ALT now seeks implementation funding to construct and deploy the mobile laboratory system.
The collaborative funding model demonstrates regional commitment to environmental education innovation. Private foundations, corporations, and community organizations each contributed resources reflecting diverse stakeholder recognition of environmental literacy as essential infrastructure for regional sustainability.
“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 emphasized (https://alleghenylandtrust.org/allegheny-land-trust-releases-design-plans-for-a-new-mobile-learning-lab/), highlighting the equity dimension of mobile environmental education delivery.
This initiative positions ALT among environmental organizations adapting programming delivery to expand community reach while maintaining educational quality. The mobile laboratory concept addresses documented barriers to environmental program participation including transportation limitations, scheduling conflicts, and geographic isolation that particularly affect lower-income communities.
Colcom Foundation’s broader portfolio includes support for similar community-focused environmental initiatives across southwestern Pennsylvania, creating a regional network of organizations delivering science-based conservation education and habitat protection programming that strengthens ecological literacy throughout the Pittsburgh area.
