Please be sure to check the event organizer’s website for any last-minute changes or cancellations prior to attending.
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We will take a hike to look and listen for creatures of the night: owls, toads, flying squirrels, fireflies, racoons etcNocturnal Wildlife Walks We will take a hike to look and listen for creatures of the night: owls, toads, flying squirrels, fireflies, racoons etcWed April 5 7:30pmWed May 3 7:30pmFri June 23 8:30pm
RESCHEDULED from last Friday! Come learn about the beetles we call Fireflies!RESCHEDULED from last Friday! Come learn about the beetles we call Fireflies! Learn what ones inhabit our local area and a special one that resides in the Allegheny Forest of Pennsylvania. Find out what we can do to protect fireflies. Then we go outside to observe them. Children will catch and release.
Join us as we use sweep nets and bug boxes to find out what insects live in Andorra Meadow.Thursday, July 6th Meadow Exploration Join us as we use sweep nets and bug boxes to find out what insects live in Andorra Meadow. We expect to find beetles, butterflies, mantids, katydids, plant hoppers, and more! We will talk about how these insects are adapted for life in the meadow, and pollination.
We will walk and collect ripe wine berries, then blend them with blueberries and a few other ingredients into tasty smoothiesWineberries are a type of raspberry originally from Asia, but grow in great abundance in Philadelphia parks and are considered an invasive plant. We will walk and collect ripe berries, then blend them with blueberries and a few other ingredients into tasty smoothies. Please wear long pants and clothedtoed shoes. Bring a container with you.
Have fun looking for the small life that lives in Wissahickon Creek and use outdoor microscopes to get a better view.Have fun looking for the small life that lives in Wissahickon Creek and use outdoor microscopes to get a better view. What is a macroinvertebrate and why do we care about them? Make a drawing of what you find.
With mosaic artist, Eve Miller. Bring an idea for creating a simple nature-themed mosaic.With mosaic artist, Eve Miller. Bring an idea for creating a simple nature-themed mosaic. You will begin to learn how to cut and arrange glass tiles to create your image. For children ages 10 and older, and adults. Cost of materials: $10. PREGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Butterfly themed walk and craftDid you know there are butterflies that do not nectar at flowers? Or that there are some that lay their eggs not on small plants but on tall trees? What’s the difference between a host plant and a food source for butterflies? Come learn about this and more. We will take a walk after the presentation. Caterpillars may be available to observe. Make a butterfly craft.
Edible plant themed walk.What are some of the more common edible plants in the Park and what parts are edible? Take a walk focused on what can be responsibly foraged. Pick leaves of Spicebush and brew up a tea at the Tree House.
Look for the small life that lives in Wissahickon Creek and use outdoor microscopes to get a better view.Look for the small life that lives in Wissahickon Creek and use outdoor microscopes to get a better view. What is a macroinvertebrate and why do we care about them? Make a drawing of what you find.
The Tree House will be hosting a week of camp for kids aged 11-14, August 11-14 , visiting different ecosystems each day.Ecology CampAges 11-14August 14-18 2023Wissahickon Environmental Center (Tree House)The Tree House will be hosting a week of camp for kids aged 11-14, August 14-18 from 9am to 3pm or (8:30-4 for longer trips). This camp will consist of daily field trips, each to a different ecosystem. We will visit a bog in the Poconos, a salt marsh, the New Jersey Pine Barrens, and forest and aquatic environments within Philadelphia. Binoculars, field guides, nets, magnifying glasses, field notebooks, and other
Learn the basics of tree ID. Learn the basics of tree ID. What’s a compound leaf, a broad-leafed tree, etc.? What are some of the more common trees in Wissahickon Park? Learn to identify at least 10 types and then make a small tree journal from the leaves you collected.
A talk and walk to learn some of the common bird sounds around you.As spring ends, the leafy trees obscure our view of forest birds. But if you can identify a bird by song or call, a new world of wonder will open to you! Talk and walk to learn some of the common bird sounds around you. Learn to use a free App on your phone called Merlin to help with bird song ID and learning.
Let’s get down and dirty and look at what types of animals we can find living under logs and in dead leaf piles.Let’s get down and dirty and look at what types of animals we can find living under logs and in dead leaf piles. We will learn more about decomposition and what other organisms help recycle nature’s dead back to the nutrients of the soil.
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Learn about insects in the meadow by using nets to catch and identify. Also take pictures of pollinators for citizen science project.By the end of summer, insects are in great abundance in the meadows. Enjoy using nets to catch and identify various species. We will also look for late flowering plants and animals in the meadow. Take pictures of what you find to enter in the PARKS FOR POLLINATORS BIOBLITZ, a citizen science project.
Enjoy a walk around the meadow and take photos of bees, hummingbirds, flies, and other insects that you see pollinating late summer flowers.To draw attention to the importance of pollinators and native plants, the National Recreation and Parks Association has created a BioBlitz for the month of September. This BioBlitz is a time to record as many sightings of pollinator species and the plants they visit as possible. If you are competitive, our Park can compete with other parks!Enjoy a walk around the meadow and take photos of bees, hummingbirds, flies, and other insects that you see pollinating late summer
The Upper Roxborough Reservoir has a little bit of everything: woods, meadows, wetlands, and open water.The Upper Roxborough Reservoir is a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation facility. The mostly drained reservoir has a little bit of everything: woods, meadows, wetlands, and open water. We can observe canopy-feeding birds at eye level in the trees growing on the steep slope of the old reservoir. The reservoir's north rim is a great vantage point for scanning the open sky for migrating raptors.
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Curious about the mushrooms you see in the woods? Then come on this Phila. Mycology Club walk!We are pleased to welcome the Philadelphia Mycology Club to the Wissahickon Environmental Center to help us with some basics about mushroom identification. They will lead us on a walk through the woods nearby to see what mushrooms can be found in the Wissahickon. Meet at the Tree House.
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Learn to identify trees , nuts, seeds and berries collected and eaten by wildlife in the fall. Learn who eats what.In autumn, nuts and seeds are falling to the ground to begin next year’s cycle of plant regeneration. Wildlife is busy collecting and eating this bounty before winter’s arrival. Let’s take a walk and identify as many of these food sources as possible and who might eat them. We can collect some and use them to add to colorful collage art.
Houston Meadow provides quick access to different upland habitats that support a diversity of birds.Houston Meadow provides quick access to different upland habitats that support a diversity of birds. We will scan the meadows for bluebirds and sparrows, the woods for warblers and vireos, and watch the open sky for raptors. If Eventbrite is “full” RSVP at WEC@phila.gov
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics.Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics. The natural environment will be our laboratory for exploring mathematical principles in the real world. We will develop logical reasoning and skills in areas outlined in the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics: numbers and operations, measurement, probability, geometry, basic algebraic concepts and more. Students with up to an 8th grade math ability may find some challenges but each session will be
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics.Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics. The natural environment will be our laboratory for exploring mathematical principles in the real world. We will develop logical reasoning and skills in areas outlined in the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics: numbers and operations, measurement, probability, geometry, basic algebraic concepts and more. Students with up to an 8th grade math ability may find some challenges but each session will be
Explore tree identification by key guides and a leaf pigmentation experiment.Learn how to use a simple guide to identify trees by leaf patterns. Collect leaves and make rubbings or drawings of at least 5 species. Learn about the different pigments in leaves and help with a simple experiment to see them.
Noontime bird walks.Enjoy an expert guided bird walk during fall migration. If it's raining we will watch the feeders from inside and talk about birds!
Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics.Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics. The natural environment will be our laboratory for exploring mathematical principles in the real world. We will develop logical reasoning and skills in areas outlined in the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics: numbers and operations, measurement, probability, geometry, basic algebraic concepts and more. Students with up to an 8th grade math ability may find some challenges but each session will be
This walk coincides with hundreds of robins and waxwings feeding on crabapples in Andorra Meadow.This walk coincides with hundreds of robins and waxwings feeding on crabapples in Andorra Meadow. We also expect to find Eastern Bluebirds, raptors, and a diversity of sparrows.
Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics.Puzzles, games, challenges and other fun activities will be our way to engage with a wide variety of math topics. The natural environment will be our laboratory for exploring mathematical principles in the real world. We will develop logical reasoning and skills in areas outlined in the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics: numbers and operations, measurement, probability, geometry, basic algebraic concepts and more. Students with up to an 8th grade math ability may find some challenges but each session will be
Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime!Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime! The winter is an excellent time for birding, as the Wissahickon is host to many boreal forest species like juncos, sparrows, and spasuckers. If its too cold, we will stay inside and watch the feeders!
Join us as we conduct part of the Christmas Bird Count for Wyncote Audubon on the Tree House grounds, Andorra Meadow and forest.Calling all birders!! Join us as we conduct part of the Christmas Bird Count for Wyncote Audubon on the Tree House grounds, Andorra Meadow, and the surrounding forest. The walk will begin at 8AM at the Tree House. Please dress appropriately for the weather. We will be out for at least three hours. You are welcome to join for some of the walk, or to extend your birding until later in the day.There will be some procedures to
Come explore fun ways to learn about math with nature as your laboratory!This week's topic will be knots (rescheduled from December 6th)! We will make useful knots to unknot the subject of natural knots, mathematical knots, and unknots! If this is "Greek" to you, then come and find out more! Students with up to an 8th grade math ability may find some challenges but each session will be adjusted to accommodate the ability levels of those in attendance. No special affinity for math is required, just a sense of curiosity! Recommended ages: 8 to 12. Taught by Brian Rudnick. $5.00
Join us for hot cider, a campfire, crafts and a short talk about the Winter Solstice!Join us on during the early evening of the Winter Solstice to learn more about this tradition that marks the shortest day/longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter. Come warm by the campfire, drink hot cider, and enjoy some maple popcorn. Children can make a craft inside the building or make a gift for the bird on the back porch. Enjoy stargazing in the picnic area. NOTE: You don't need a ticket to come to this event.
Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime!Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime! The winter is an excellent time for birding, as the Wissahickon is host to many boreal forest species like juncos, sparrows, and spasuckers. If its too cold, we will stay inside and watch the feeders!
What is a mineral, other than a pretty, shiny object? Learn through a few experiments and then see how minerals form local rocks.What is a mineral, other than a pretty, shiny object? Learn some of the scientific properties of minerals by conducting a few simple experiments. Then see some of the minerals found in rocks of the Wissahickon and hike to examine them outdoors. We will be joined by FOW Trail Ambassador and amateur geologist, Hallam Harper. Best for ages 8 and above. Suggested donation is $5 per child.
Learn some of the scientific properties of minerals by conducting a few simple experiments, then hike to see the rocks in the area.What is a mineral, other than a pretty, shiny object? Learn some of the scientific properties of minerals by conducting a few simple experiments. Then see some of the minerals found in rocks of the Wissahickon and hike to examine them outdoors. We will be joined by FOW Trail Ambassador and amateur geologist, Hallam Harper. Best for ages 8 and above. Suggested donation is $5 per child. NOTE: Time change to 1pm to 2:30pm.
Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime!Enjoy a guided bird walk in the Andorra Natural Area during lunchtime! The winter is an excellent time for birding, as the Wissahickon is host to many boreal forest species like juncos, sparrows, and spasuckers. If its too cold, we will stay inside and watch the feeders!
Erica Smith Fichman, Acting Manager, Urban Forestry will give highlights of the new TREEPHILLY PLAN, a 10-year strategic urban forest plan.Erica Smith Fichman, Acting Manager, Urban Forestry will give highlights of the new TREEPHILLY PLAN, a 10-year strategic plan for the equitable planting and care of Philadelphia's urban forest, released in 2023.We are inviting several professionals from Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to speak on important sustainability and ecological topics. Light snacks and soup will be available for purchase. This is first lecture in the series.