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March 2021
Six Legs to Rule Them All
With over 1 million species found so far and millions more still to be discovered, insects are unbelievably diverse in form and function. Join entomologist Isa Betancourt for a deep dive into the wonderful world of insects. She’ll share stunning examples of insect diversity here in Philadelphia, from the fastest color-changing arthropod known to the cicadas that emerge once every 17 years, then jump into why insect biodiversity is so precious-- and what we can do to support it in…
Find out more »Celebrate Spring! A Virtual Wildflower Walk
After this wicked snow-filled winter, spring has finally sprung, bringing the promise of a forest overflowing with bright green leaves and a stunning carpet of ephemeral wildflowers. Mike Weilbacher, our resident wildflower expert, takes you on a virtual nature walk through the Center’s trails to meet our wonderful wildflowers, so many having such evocative names: Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauties, Jacob’s ladder, Jack-in-the-pulpit, wake robin. He’ll share their life stories, the role they play in the ecology of the region, and…
Find out more »May 2021
The Story in Rocks: Geology with Sarah West
Wissahickon’s dramatically beautiful rock formations-- huge banded gneiss formed deep underground, garnet-studded schist that grace the foundations of so many homes-- tell a great story of continents crashing into each other, mountains rising and falling, and time slowly revealing the earth’s secrets. Sarah West has been leading popular Wissahickon geology walks and talks for many years, and shares the stories found in these rocks. You’ll never walk the Wissahickon trails in the same way again.
Find out more »The Philly Tree Plan: Growing Our Urban Forest
Though parts of Philadelphia are shaded by a beautiful canopy of trees, much of the city is not-- and our overall tree canopy sadly declined 6 percent between 2008 and 2018. To address this, the city is creating an urban forest plan-- and needs your help. Erica Smith Fichman, the city’s Community Forestry Manager and the project lead for the Philly Tree Plan, presents the city’s efforts to create a 10 year plan for the planting and care of our…
Find out more »A Botanical Paradise: Kazakhstan & the Altai Mountains
Paul Meyer presents an illustrated lecture on his recent botanical travels in northeast Kazakhstan. The world’s largest landlocked country, few travelers from the western world have visited this extraordinarily beautiful region, noted for its rich steppe and alpine flora. In addition, Meyer will share stories of the people, architecture, and culture. He is the retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum, not to mention an exceptional photographer, writer, and speaker.
Find out more »June 2021
Green New Deal: A Roundtable
The Green New Deal has been a source of extreme controversy ever since it was first proposed more than two years ago. But while a lot of ink has been spilled about the GND, few people know much about what it actually proposes. We’d like to change that. State Senator Nikil Saval, State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler-- two candidates who ran, in part, on the proposal-- and the Sierra Club’s Zakia Elliott answer all your questions about the Green New Deal.
Find out more »December 2021
Secrets of the Solstice
In December, natural symbols celebrating the holidays abound: evergreens, hollies, mistletoe, even branching menorahs and the first fruits of Kwanzaa. What exactly happens at the solstice? And what is the strange and wonderful history of these-- and other-- symbols? Executive Director Mike Weilbacher has been writing about these symbols in his weekly newspaper columns for years, and offers a special virtual lecture on the reasons for seasonal decorations. At long last, you’ll understand why we kiss under the mistletoe.
Find out more »April 2022
Thursday Night L!VE: Snakes, Turtles, and Toads, Oh My! Philadelphia’s Reptiles and Amphibians
Don't panic, but snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads, and turtles are all around you, even in Philly's most urbanized areas. Join naturalist, writer, and herper Billy Brown to learn about our city’s reptiles and amphibians. From the tiny red-backed salamander to the huge and prehistoric snapping turtle, the quiet box turtle to the trilling American toad, Billy shares how these surprisingly common animals live, how to find them, and-- so important-- how to be a good neighbor. Event is online; please…
Find out more »Thursday Night L!VE: Bicycling with Butterflies
Author, educator, and adventurer Sara Dykman biked the entire route of the migrating monarch butterfly, pedaling 10,201 miles from Mexico to Canada and back on an old mountain bike weighed down with all the supplies she’d need for nine months on the road. The first person to bike the monarch’s migration route-- and a committed “butterbiker”-- Sara joins us to share her adventures and the monarch’s epic story. Her book, Bicycling with Butterflies, part science and part memoir, is on…
Find out more »Thursday Night L!VE: Earth Day Live
The tradition continues as we celebrate Earth Day in a lively virtual event featuring very special guests and a countdown of the top 10 environmental movies of all time. Co-hosted by Mike Weilbacher and Aaliyah Green Ross, environmental historian Adam Rose discusses “The Genius of Earth Day,” his recent book, Sam Bucciarelli offers edible wild natives to plant in your garden, and wildlife clinic director Chris Strub and Bird Safe Philly’s Leigh Altadonna explain an innovative program to make the…
Find out more »Thursday Night L!VE: Restoration Roundtable: A Town Meeting
So many environmental groups are working so hard to restore our forests, meadows and wetlands, but climate change, invasive nonnatives, and those darn deer, not to mention new threats like lantern flies, conspire to undo all this hard, necessary work. What do we do? What's the path forward? Join some of the region’s top restoration specialists in a lively conversation about a critical issue, restoring native habitats. Guests include Gary Gilbert of Natural Lands, the Schuylkill Center’s Steve Goin, Steve…
Find out more »February 2023
12th Annual Richard L. James Lecture: Creating Biodiverse Pollinator Gardens (online)
The plight of insect pollinators like bees, butterflies, and beetles-- not to mention the songbirds that feed upon them-- is finally receiving the attention it deserves. As public awareness of these keystone creatures grows, pollinator gardens are becoming more and more popular. But how do you build a biologically diverse pollinator garden in your own yard that fully embraces both science and design? Landscape designer Claudia West has the answers. Coauthor of the critically acclaimed Planting in a Post-Wild World…
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Monarch Butterflies and the Miracle of Migration (online)
Every year, monarch butterflies-- those showy, Halloween-colored beauties-- engage in one of nature’s most extraordinary feats, flying to a very few secluded mountain valleys in Mexico. After wintering there, they begin a perilous journey north, taking three, even four generations to return to Pennsylvania. And in the fall, they start over again. How do they accomplish this remarkable feat? Why did this even evolve? Among the most popular butterflies, the monarch is also among the most endangered, their numbers in…
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Urban Wildlife: Sharing Spaces (online)
Though many may not realize it, the city of Philadelphia offers a very unique ecosystem that is ripe with opportunity for wildlife to flourish. Despite the large human population and cityscape, our urban area is home to a wide variety of critters that have adapted to Philly's hustle and bustle. Join Interim Director of our Wildlife Clinic, Stephanie Stundon, and Clinic Assistant, Sydney Glisan, in a discussion about cohabitating with wildlife and how to avoid conflict before it arises. Learn…
Find out more »March 2023
Ways of Walking Book Discussion with editor Ann de Forest
Join Walking the Edge curator JJ Tiziou in conversation with Ways of Walking editor Ann de Forest and contributors of the book. Ways of Walking brings together 26 writers who reflect on walks they have taken and what they discovered along the way. Some walk across forbidden lines, violating laws to seek freedom. Some walk to bear witness to social injustice. Still others walk so they can notice what faster travelers in cars or trains might miss. The event will…
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From Food Deserts to Food Forests (online)
High inflation rates nationwide have made it more difficult for many people to put food on the table. This impact is even greater in areas of our city where stores selling fresh fruits and vegetables are few and far between. Many community organizations throughout Philly are stepping up to transform city green spaces into urban farms and food forests, growing fresh produce, teaching gardening skills, providing nutrition education, and making neighborhoods more sustainable and resilient in the face of economic…
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Walking the Edge Community Exhibition Discussion (online)
The Center’s newest exhibition, Walking the Edge, is an exciting investigation into artistic expressions of the city of Philadelphia’s perimeters and boundaries, as well as other urban landscapes and natural spaces. For this community show, we invited the public to share their creative expressions on borders and edges in nature. Selected submissions are curated into a display, presented both in the Schuylkill Center’s art gallery and online on its website. Hear from curator JJ Tiziou, Director of Environmental Art Kristina…
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Environmental Justice Roundtable (online)
For over 30 years, the environmental justice movement has been fighting adverse environmental impacts that are disproportionately concentrated in poor neighborhoods and communities of color. An example in Philadelphia is the lack of tree canopy in certain neighborhoods, leading to higher incidences of heat-related illness and death during summer heat waves. What are the environmental justice issues facing Philadelphia neighborhoods and what government and citizen-led initiatives are empowering communities to work toward a more just and sustainable future? We speak…
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Wild Philly Book Launch
Gather with friends for a fireside chat with Mike Weilbacher and Paul Meyer to discuss Wild Philly, Mike's vibrant, family-friendly guide to the unexpected nature found in and around Philadelphia. Ticket price (includes a signed copy of Wild Philly): $115 per couple $70 per individual Locally-sourced hors d'oeuvres, small bites, and refreshments will be provided. Space is limited; please register by Friday, March 24th.
Find out more »February 2024
Flying Free: Birds at the Schuylkill Wildlife Clinic
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a wildlife rehabilitation clinic? Do you have a passion for birds and want to learn more about helping preserve our native species? An upcoming virtual gathering sponsored by the Valley Forge Audubon Society, Flying Free: Birds at the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, will discuss the rehabilitation process for avian patients. Our Assistant Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation, Sydney Glisan, will be sharing about what brings these birds in for care,…
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