Pennypack Environmental Center

February is a sweet, but busy month as we focus on winter activities such as sugaring and duck stamp art. But "in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." (Albert Campus) And with that, we are also preparing for summer. Save the dates: Returning Camper Registration 2/21 New Camper Registration 2/24 Mini Camp (5-7 yo) is July 1-3, but Nature Camp (8-12 yo) is July 7-11 and Teen Adventure Camp is August 4-12. We are also waiting on the final approval of summer staff, but if you are a 14-17 or 18+ and think you might be interested in a fun summer outdoors teaching kids, hiking, holding bugs, and possibly getting peed on by a toad, send our resume to Stephanie at [email protected].

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate Black leaders and activists and engage with the rich histories of Black Americans. Though there are countless, we’d like to celebrate just a few of the many Black environmentalists who champion our green spaces here in Philadelphia.? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWV68MfC Thank you to Susan Slawson, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner, Sahlee Brown, the Wissahickon's very own Park Ranger and District Supervisor, and Nathan McWilliams, Stewardship Manager at Riverfront North Partnership for sharing more about you and your work with us! You make Philadelphia's parks great.

Welcome Woodcocks! It’s official! Migration has begun. American Woodcocks are typically the first species we see migrate through Philadelphia as a harbinger of warmer weather to come. To aid in their journey back north for the spring, help limit window collisions by participating in #LightsOutPhilly. Turn your lights off at night to help keep traveling birds from becoming disoriented on their route. American Woodcocks are a unique bird that is typically found in marshy areas where they have access to their favorite food- earthworms! Watch as this Woodcock shows off her beak- uniquely adapted to allow her to probe through the soil in search of food. American Woodcock can eat up to their body weight’s worth in worms in a single day! That’s a lot of worms! Help us in our final push to raise money for our wildlife clinic so that we can continue to help injured wildlife, like the gorgeous American Woodcock. See our website for ways that you can support our mission: https://lnkd.in/eeVgc2GW

We are incredibly proud that Philadelphia has been named the best city in the U.S. for street art by USA TODAY's 10Best. Through Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program, we strive to beautify our City, empower communities and inspire artists of all generations.

Is it time to have the "talk" with your goldfish. Maybe Bubbles was an impulse buy. Maybe your cat won’t stop trying to "play" with them. Maybe you just didn’t expect them to live this long. Whatever the reason, you can’t take care of them anymore. We’re not judging! But if you’re thinking about setting them free, don’t do it. Goldfish may seem small and harmless, but once they’re out of the tank, they turn into giant ecosystem wreckers. In the wild, they can grow as big as a football, uproot plants, stir up sediment, and eat anything they can fit in their mouths. This damages water quality, destroys habitat, and pushes out native fish. Instead of setting them free, try these responsible options: ?? Rehome them—ask pet stores, aquariums, or local hobbyists. ?? Return them—some pet shops and shelters accept unwanted fish. ?? Dispose responsibly—never dump aquarium water or fish into lakes, rivers, or drains. Breaking up is hard, but dumping Bubbles into a lake isn’t the answer. Let’s keep our waters healthy and our wildlife thriving!

??? Become a Lifeguard with PPR! ??? Join Philadelphia Parks & Rec this summer for a fun, rewarding job! ?? Earn $16-$18/hr ?? FREE training & certification (Ages 16-24) ? End-of-season bonuses! ?? APPLY TODAY & find more information using the link below https://lnkd.in/duWFrBNZ #PPR #philadelphiaparksandrec #lifeguards #phillysummerjobs #ApplyNow #citylifeguard

Frost in the Philadelphia?Garden

Just wanted to take a moment and thank our partners at Friends of the Wissahickon for featuring myself and two other great leaders in the POC segment for their leaders of Color newsletter for honoring Black history month It's all about legacy and leaving a positive impact on the world. Click the link below to read a bit more about our journeys and to learn about some of the awesome strides we are currently making towards a better and cleaner philly . Riverfront North Partnership Philadelphia Parks & Recreation https://lnkd.in/ebMf2kSE

Big news! The Delaware River has been voted Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year! ?? From its rich history to its incredible conservation comeback, this iconic river is a true PA treasure. ????? More than 14 million people rely on it for drinking water, and now it's time to celebrate and protect it! Learn more → https://bit.ly/42WdrrQ #PARiverOfTheYear #GetOutdoorsPA

Recent directives related to U.S. federal grants and funding are creating uncertainty and hardships for many organizations and communities dedicated to environmental education and related fields. These changes impact a broad network of people—including federal employees, government partners, nonprofits, and community-based organizations—that provide essential services in education, health, food security, and environmental protection. To better understand how these policy changes are affecting you, our national partners, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the NAAEE Affiliate Network, are gathering insights from professionals across our network. Please take a few minutes to complete this brief, anonymous survey. Your input will help us inform policymakers and the broader community about the real-world consequences of these shifts. https://lnkd.in/eujUCpTf