Those summer evenings when you need something fun for the kids — but don't want to plan a whole thing? TREC: After Hours was made for exactly that.
Every Thursday evening this summer, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is staying open late with hands-on activities, free movies, behind-the-scenes tours, and a new theme each week. It's brand new this year, so you're hearing about it early — and Thursday nights at Presque Isle are about to get a lot more interesting.
TREC: After Hours
📍 Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA
📅 Thursdays, June 4 – August 13, 2026
🕓 4 to 8 p.m.
💲 Free | No registration required
💻 trecf.org/afterhours
What Is TREC: After Hours?
TREC: After Hours is a summer evening program hosted by the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation and the Regional Science Consortium. The idea: turn TREC into a genuine Thursday night destination for Erie families already spending summer evenings near Presque Isle State Park.
Each week has a completely different theme, and local environmental partners join on select nights to help bring it to life. Some weeks are all about birds and wildlife. Others go deep on Lake Erie, pollinators, piping plovers, and — one very memorable night — the fizzy chemistry behind root beer floats.
Kids walk away having learned something. Parents walk away having actually enjoyed themselves. That's the whole idea.
Everything That's Included (All Free)
- Hands-on activities for all ages
- Free films in the Big Green Screen Theater
- Behind-the-scenes tours of the Regional Science Consortium's research wing
- Exhibits and interactive displays
- Nature play area
Concessions are available for purchase. Everything else is free, and you don't need to register — just show up.
The Full 2026 Schedule
Mark your calendar for these free Thursday night themes at TREC: After Hours.
- June 4: Ready, Set, Summer! Kick off the season with fishing casting practice, yard games, the nature play area, and a preview of everything Presque Isle has to offer this summer.
- June 11: This One's for the Birds! Three bird-focused nonprofits call TREC home. This night lets families look at bird feathers under microscopes, learn about bird banding data, build seed ornaments, and get hands-on with binoculars.
- June 18: Wild About Wildlife Presque Isle's wetlands, shorelines, and tree canopy are home to a lot more than fish and birds. Explore the wildlife living there — live turtles expected.
- June 25: Pollinator Palooza Timed to National Pollinator Week, this night celebrates the birds, bees, and butterflies that keep ecosystems running.
- July 2: America's Birthday Party A red, white, and blue early celebration with crafts, noisemakers, cake, and nature activities themed around Independence Day.
- July 9: What's So "Great" About the Great Lakes? Lake Erie sits inside the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world. This evening takes families below the surface and along the coast to explore what makes it worth protecting.
- July 16: Super Science Night Aquaponics, forensic science, real research projects, and data collection from Presque Isle itself — science takes center stage.
- July 23: Discover Presque Isle Week A closer look at the things families walk past every visit without noticing — macroinvertebrates, lesser-known trails, and old infrastructure with stories to tell.
- July 30: Piping Plovers: A Conservation Story The piping plover's return to Presque Isle is a real conservation success story. A movie, exhibit, and hands-on activities bring it to life for kids who love animals.
- August 6: National Root Beer Float Day The sweetest science lesson of the summer. Explore how a root beer float combines liquid, solid, and gas — then enjoy the results.
- August 13: Stop Bugging Me! Close out the season with a deep dive into the insects found right here at Presque Isle — more variety than most people expect.
Why This One's Worth Putting on Your Summer Calendar
Because the theme changes every single week, this is one of those rare summer events you can actually return to more than once. Pair it with a beach trip or a sunset walk, or make TREC the whole plan — either way works.
Put it on your calendar now, because Thursday evenings at TREC are bringing a whole new kind of free summer fun to Erie!
