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October 2021
Forest Bathing – CANCELED
Come celebrate the fall season with a peaceful walk through and meditation in the forest. Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care. The guided walk will be led by certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
Find out more »November 2021
The Lenape and the Land
While so many of our place names-- Wissahickon, Manayunk-- are of Lenape origin, most of us know far too little about the region’s original people. During Native American Heritage Month, members of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania share their historic relationship to the land they called Lenapehoking. Living in large settlements, the Lenape practiced agriculture, growing the Three Sisters, hunted and harvested the bounty of the land, and significantly altered the composition of forests by the clever use of fire.…
Find out more »The Urban Forest: A Meigs Award Evening
Philadelphia has ambitious plans to plant thousands of trees across the city, mitigating climate change while addressing environmental justice. Learn about this plan while discussing trees with a panel of experts. In addition, Mindy Maslin, leader of the Tree Tenders program for almost 30 years, will be honored with the 16th annual Henry Meigs Environmental Leadership Award; Mindy has trained thousands of volunteers in tree planting while helping plant tens of thousands of trees across the city and beyond.
Find out more »Restoration Volunteer Workday
Connect with nature and make new friends as we work to improve the health and biodiversity of our forest. Remove invasive plants, carry out general trail maintenance, and get to know our property at this monthly volunteer session. We recommend wearing long pants and sturdy boots and bringing a pair of gloves if you have them available. No experience necessary—we provide gloves (if needed), tools, and instruction. Please bring your own water bottle. Please note: our volunteer workday will be…
Find out more »December 2021
LESS IS MORE: Gallery Opening Reception
Celebrate the opening of Makeba Rainey’s new exhibition “LESS IS MORE: The Nature of Letting Go” with a restorative walk through the grounds and a conversation between the artist and collaborator Dominique London, facilitated by culture worker and healer Hakim Pitts. They’ll discuss the exhibition’s inspirations, Rainey’s printmaking process, finding sustenance in community, working with nature, and more. In her exhibition, Makeba Rainey will create meditative and restorative spaces in the gallery and outdoors, exploring how Black folks can access…
Find out more »Volunteer Appreciation Party
Every year our dedicated volunteers donate thousands of hours to support the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Whether you planted native species in our forest, cared for animals at our wildlife clinic, helped the toads cross the road, worked in our administrative department, or served on our board of directors and committees – we want to express our gratitude. Join us for a special event where we celebrate you! Registration is required.
Find out more »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 »March 2022
11th Annual Richard L. James Lecture: The American Chestnut: Restoring the “Perfect Tree”
We’re kicking off our Year of Restoration with our annual lecture named in honor of our founding director. The American chestnut was once a foundational tree in Pennsylvania forests, valued for its timber, and nuts, craved by wildlife of all kinds. But it was wiped out in the blink of an ecological eye when a devastating fungal disease killed the tree in only a few decades. Happily, researchers with The American Chestnut Foundation and affiliate groups have been working hard…
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 »May 2022
The Enchanted Forest
The Enchanted Forest is our biggest party beneath the stars to support the Schuylkill Center's mission. We will honor former board presidents Kathleen Wagner and Charles "Chip" Lee III outdoors while enjoying live jazz music, locally sourced food and drink. Guests will also have a first hand look at a unique site-specific art experience celebrating Filipinix Culture.
Find out more »Restoration Volunteer Workday: Planting at Polliwog Pond
Join us in planting native plants near one of our most unique ecosystems, Polliwog Pond. Polliwog Pond is a seasonal pond at the edge of a forest. Native plant species will entice pollinators, provide enhanced habitat and food sources for our wildlife, and add to the overall magic of the pond. Learn a bit more about the ecology of our native plants while helping us accomplish our restoration goals for this pond. This workday includes the removal of invasive plants…
Find out more »Forest Therapy
Come celebrate the spring season with a peaceful walk through the forest. Forest therapy is deeply inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which roughly translates to "forest bathing." Developed in Japan during the 1980s, it refers to spending time in forested areas for the purpose of enhancing health and happiness. This program will be led by Anisa George, a permaculture designer, theatre artist, and certified guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides.
Find out more »August 2022
Adult Restoration Retreat – cancelled
Have you ever seen an event that seemed super exciting and engaging…only to realize it’s just for kids? And then wondered why they get to have all of the fun? Well, that stops here. Join us for our first-ever adult retreat where we combine all of the fun, nature- and play-based activities of childhood with some more adult-focused mini sessions. Canoe on Wind Dance Pond, go on a guided nature hike along the trails, take part in mini workshops, and…
Find out more »January 2023
Honoring Rich Giordano, Roxborough’s Green Giant
In a special outdoor ceremony, we honor Rich Giordano for more than 20 years of leadership in Roxborough by presenting him with the 18th annual Henry Meigs Environmental Award, our highest honor. As president of the Upper Roxborough Civic Association and a leader in the effort to establish the Upper Roxborough Reservoir Preserve, Rich has worked tirelessly to preserve open space and the character of our community. He’s planted innumerable trees while removing countless invasive plants and tons of roadside…
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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Bird Census
Calling all birders! Experienced birders are invited to capture a real-life snapshot of how many birds surround us. This data is very valuable to us especially since bird populations are constantly shifting. This event is reserved for experienced bird watchers.
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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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