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July 2020
Foraged Flavor: Edible Wild Plants
Forager Tama Matsuoka Wong visits wild places across the region to harvest-- and eat!-- the surprisingly delicious weeds that invade our gardens, lawns, and forests. Learn savory recipes featuring plants like dandelions, garlic mustard, stinging nettles, day lilies, Queen Anne’s lace, even knotweed and devil’s walking stick. Tama is the co-author of “Foraged Flavor,” crammed with 88 recipes for all these plants-- and more-- and brings her foraged plants to upscale East Coast restaurants. Tired of weeding? Eat them instead!…
Find out more »Night of the Living Moths
It’s National Moth Week-- who knew!-- a time set aside to celebrate this surprisingly diverse and amazingly successful group of insects. While their butterfly cousins get all the press, moths are very important pollinators, with maybe 500,000 species worldwide. They come in a dazzling array of colors, some incredibly bright, others unbelievable camouflage. Master naturalist and “moth-er” Kris Soffa introduces us to these extraordinary creatures, sharing examples of them while answering all your questions. You’ll never see moths the same.…
Find out more »The Story of Plastic: A Film Conversation
The new film THE STORY OF PLASTIC takes a sweeping look at the crisis of plastic pollution and its effect on both people and planet. Spanning three continents, the film illustrates the ongoing catastrophe: fields full of garbage, mountains of trash, rivers and seas clogged with waste, and skies choked with the poisonous emissions from plastic production and processing. With engaging original animation, archival footage beginning in the ‘30s, and first-person accounts, the film shines a bright light on an…
Find out more »September 2020
Bee Basics: Honeybees and Beekeeping
Honeybees remain one of the most intriguing backyard insects, and more and more people express an interest in both bees and beekeeping every day. Sadly, however, they face many threats. Two members of the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild join us to share information on bees and their extraordinary biology, from how they create a queen to how they communicate where pollen is (hint: by dancing!), plus the basics of beekeeping, and what those threats might be. On the cusp of the…
Find out more »Ecotactical: Earth Day at 50, a Virtual Art Reception
It's a virtual celebration of our new art exhibition, "Ecotactical: Earth Day at 50." Originally planned for April, the exhibit examines the contemporary role of Earth Day 50 years after the first 1970 celebration, and features artists like Ants on a Log, Nicole Donnelly, Julia Way Rix, Kristen Neville Taylor, Tools for Action, Sophy Tuttle, Water Ways, and Pili X. See images of their art while hearing commentary by the artists, and join the Q&A. Here's an added bonus: meet…
Find out more »October 2020
Nature Trivia Night
It’s a cornucopia of questions about nature, wildlife, the environment and all things green– even frogs. Which nocturnal animal plays dead, emitting a putrid smell to escape its predators? What popular nocturnal creature’s droppings can actually be used as a fertilizer? Gather around the computer and vie for prizes in our live Zoom trivia event. First place will receive a pint glass and t-shirt from Twisted Gingers Brewing Company plus a prize from our gift shop. Prizes will also be…
Find out more »The Wildlife Clinic: A Virtual Tour
Our Wildlife Clinic treats thousands of injured, orphaned, and sick animals every year. Join us for a virtual behind-the-scenes tour with our Wildlife Rehabilitation team with Director Chris Strub and Assistant Director Liz Ellmann. Our clinic, the only one in Philadelphia, has handled over 150 different species, everything from tiny hummingbirds to massive snapping turtles. Chris and Liz will answer all your questions about how you can champion wildlife and rehabilitation in the region.
Find out more »Roxborough’s River and Water: A History
For almost 100 years the Roxborough Pumping Station, just above the Flat Rock Dam, was a landmark on the Schuylkill River, pumping water into two reservoirs on high ground to serve the city's northwestern section. In this illustrated talk, Adam Levine, historian for Philadelphia Water, reveals why the system was built, how it worked, why it was abandoned, and its ultimate dereliction and demolition in 2011. River pollution and flooding, drownings, water filtration, the revitalization of the reservoirs as parkland,…
Find out more »The Hidden History of the Schuylkill Center
Today’s Schuylkill Center-- an island of preserved open space in a large developing city-- might have turned out differently. Did you know that the farmland that became the Schuylkill Center was short-listed as a site for the United Nations in the 1940s? Later, planners wanted Roxborough’s Cathedral Road to continue down our driveway and end at a bridge over the Schuylkill River to the Main Line. In a reprise of his popular lecture, executive director Mike Weilbacher presents the hidden…
Find out more »Pandemic Play: Spread Joy, not the Virus
Here’s a lecture perfect for frustrated parents navigating the current COVID world, with both you and your children spending too much time online. Come learn how Studio Ludo, a non-profit design firm specializing in play, uses play during the pandemic to fight against social disconnect, preserve parental happiness, and build more resilient, happier kids. They believe that play helps us live life a little more fully. The evening is presented by Meghan Talarowski, Studio Ludo’s executive director, who believes that…
Find out more »January 2021
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (online)
Community members as well as Nature Preschool families past and present are invited to join us virtually as we discuss the important legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and highlight ways to preserve that legacy through vital service projects. While we can’t meet in person this year, we know that you don’t have to go far to make a difference. We encourage you to complete one of the suggested service projects to help your neighbors, your community, wildlife, and the environment.…
Find out more »Virtual Nature Trivia
Put your nature knowledge to the test at our third annual virtual trivia event. It’s a cornucopia of questions covering the scaly, feathered, furry, and even slimy members of the animal kingdom. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place teams. Teams can consist of 1-6 players. A Zoom link will be in the confirmation email received after registering.
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