East Montgomery Times

Afternoon Activities/Native Foods

January 27, 2023

3:00 AM to 4:15 AM

Wissahickon Environmental Center- Tree House

Weekly Afternoon Activities/ Out of School/ Homeschool Lessons:

Join us for weekly-themed, 1-1.5 hour activities and lessons on most Thursday and Friday afternoons, (includes most Philadelphia School District half days and full days off (not holidays). Equipment and materials are provided. These programs are geared for elementary and middle school-aged children with caregivers. We can accommodate your group’s requests for other times and dates by appointment and can adapt programs to the needs of your group. $5 per child.

Weekly Topics–

Native Foods

January 26, 27

As maple sugar season approaches, learn what other common grocery store items have a local origin. We will have some food made with local ingredients to taste.

Nice Marmot

February 2, 3

Let's celebrate and learn about Pennsylvania's most iconic mammal, the groundhog, aka woodchuck, aka whistle pig, aka Marmota monax.

Maple Sugaring

February 9, 10 and February 16, 17

Take a hike to see a sugar bush, tap a tree, and see how maple syrup is made. Taste some locally-made syrup.

Ducks at Valley Green

February 22, 24

Meet us at Valley Green to observe Wood Ducks, Mallards, and various feral domestic waterfowl. Do a field sketch to prepare for the Junior Duck Stamp art contest, a program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or take a walk to see more wildlife.

Junior Duck Stamp Art or Skunk Cabbage Walk

March 2, 3

Join Susan for the indoor session to start artwork for Junior Duck Stamp contest, a program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Or you can walk along the creek with Tony and check out swampy areas looking for one of the earliest and weirdest wildflowers. We will keep an eye out for other signs of early spring.

Junior Duck Stamp Art or Bluebird Walk

March 9, 10

Join Susan to finish your entry for the Junior Duck Stamp contest. Or you can take a walk with Tony in Andorra Meadow looking for Eastern Bluebirds as they claim birdhouses for nesting season. 

Bluebirds in Houston Meadow

March 16, 17

Meet at Houston Playground to take a walk focused on finding Eastern Bluebirds that use the birdhouses. There will be plenty of other birds to observe. 

 Phoebes

March 23, 24

Eastern Phoebes are one of our area’s earliest returning songbirds. This chunky flycatcher nests under manmade structures and under rock ledges along the creek. We will also look for Wood Ducks, Bald Eagles and anything else we can see. 

Signs of Spring

March 30, 31

Take a walk with us to look for early signs of spring. We will search for wildflowers and returning birds. Document your findings with field sketches or writings.

Original source can be found here.