Calendar
Plenty to do in the Wissahickon...
The Wissahickon Valley provides the perfect venue for a wide variety of activities to suit everyone! Many of the activities occur regularly and details can be found below. Volunteer events are also included in the calendar and your help is always needed to keep the Wissahickon Valley beautiful.
 Click for a quick view of March Activities.
See details of activities for:
Wissahickon Events
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21
Stewardship Challenges in the Wissahickon. A PowerPoint presentation by Sarah West at 7 pm at Cathedral Hall at Cathedral Village, 600 East Cathedral Road. Click here for more information.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26
Trees of the Wissahickon Forest. A PowerPoint presentation by Ken LeRoy at 6 pm at Valley Green Inn. Click here for more information.
An Equine Experience. Last Sunday of Every Month. 1 pm at Valley Green Inn.
An “up close & personal experience." Ask questions, meet & greet the horses & their riders. Learn about safe & proper horse etiquette when encountering a horse on the trail or Forbidden Drive, and how to safely approach a horse. Come celebrate the Horse! For more information, click here.
Hikes, Walks, & Runs in the Wissahickon
TUESDAYS IN THE WISSAHICKON
Casual social hike through the hills of the Wissahickon Gorge. Bring water and flashlight. Always an option for dinner following the hike. Meet at Bruno's, corner of Germantown and Northwestern Aves. 6:30 PM. Nasty weather will cancel the hike.Leaders: Pat Naismith at hikerbabepat@gmail.com.
Next hikes: 15, 22, 22, 29.
Trail Ambassador Walks
Trail Ambassador Walks last up to two hours. Unless otherwise specified, these hikes use rocky, rugged trails that may be wet, slippery, or steep. Please bring water and snacks if desired. Children over six are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain or icy conditions. Please check this website for updated information.
Sunday, March 14
Late Winter Geology Hike with Sarah West. Meet at Valley Green Inn at 2 pm. This rock talk and field trip is suitable for children over 10 accompanied by an adult. Click here for more information. WestSarah@aol.com.
Sunday, April 11
Hike with Merritt Rhoad. Meet at Northwestern Ave and Forbidden Drive at 1pm.
Distance about 4 miles. Click here for more information.
Saturday April 17
The Spirit and Science of the Waters of the Wissahickon Creek.
This 1½-2 hours walk begins at Northwestern Stables along the orange trail to the covered bridge and back on Forbidden Drive.
Meet at 10 am. Leaders—Bruce Wagner and Diane Garvey. Click here for more information. bwagner@temple.edu.
Meandering in the Wissahickon
with Shelly Brick.
Walk will last
1 ½ to 2 hours. Pace will be set by the group. For
more information, e-mail shellybrick@verizon.net.
Saturday, April 10 at 2:00 pm - Meet at The
Chestnut Hill entrance to the park on Chestnut Hill Avenue at Seminole
Sunday, April 18 • 3 pm - Meet at the Kitchen’s Lane entrance parking lot
Saturday, May 1 • 2 pm - Meet at the intersection of Wayne Ave and Allen’s Lane
Sunday, May 23 • 3 pm - Meet at the Kitchen’s
Lane entrance parking lot
Saturday, June 5 • 2 pm - Meet at The Chestnut
Hill entrance to the park on Chestnut Hill Avenue at
Seminole
Sunday, June 20 • 3 pm - Meet at the intersection
of Wayne Ave and Allen’s Lane
Saturday, April 24
The Mighty Wissahickon with Scott Quitel. Meet at 9 am at Valley Green Inn.
Total distance: approx. 4 miles.Click here for more information. squitel@comcast.net.
Saturday, May 8
Hike with Peter Lapham. Meet at10:30 am at Forbidden Drive near Northwestern Stables. 1 1/2 to 2 hour hike. Click here for more information.
Sunday, May 2
Geology Hike with Sarah West.
Meet at Valley Green Inn at 3 pm. Click here for more information. WestSarah@aol.com.
Sunday, May 16
Mindfulness Nature Walk with Edie Mannion and Linda Miller. Meet at the picnic tables next to the Valley Green Inn at 2 pm. Click here for more information.
Saturday, June 26
Hike with Sarah West. Meet at Washington’s Rock, where Forbidden Drive intersects with Lincoln Drive at 3 pm. Click here for more information.
Spring Bird Walks
FOW’s Spring Bird Walks are organized by the Wildlife Committee and led by
Richard Berman, Debbie Carr, Trish Fries, Paul Good, Robin Mattison, and Steve Lawrence.
Sunday, April 25
Meet at 9:00 a.m. on Forbidden Drive at Bell’s Mill Rd. for a two-hour walk to the Covered Bridge and back .Click here for more information.
Thursday, May 13
Meet at 8 a.m. at the W. Ellet St. entrance to Carpenter’s Woods for a twohour
walk through one of the best places in Philadelphia to see a great variety
and large number of migrating songbirds during the high point of spring migration. Click here for more information.
Sunday, May 16
Meet at 8 a.m. on Forbidden Drive at Bell’s Mill Rd. for another two-hour walk to the Covered Bridge and back. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, May 19
Meet at 5 p.m. at the Wissahickon Environmental Center for a late afternoon walk up to the Andorra Meadow. Click here for more information.
SUNDAYS
Gay/Lesbian/TG Wissahickon Walk. Departs outside Borders on Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill at 2 pm every Sunday. Return: approx. 5 pm. Walk at a focused pace, 3 hours, some ups and downs, over uneven paths. Exit at midway break, if desired. A fun, talkative group of gay/lesbian/TG people who like fresh air and hidden exercise. Free cookies included! Contact: Bert G.;
ALS12345@comcast.net or 215-271-8822.
EVERY SATURDAY
WIssahickon Walk. Starts 8:00 a.m. at the end of Forbidden Drive/Northwestern Ave. Distances ar at the discretion of runners. All levels. Emphasis is on fun! Info: www.shawmontrunningclub.com.
SATURDAYS
Hike on Trails Not Often Trodden. The Sierra Club & Hiking Around Philly regularly sponsors a hike on the last Saturday of each month, hiking different trails. Meet at 9:45 a.m. in Chestnut Hill. For more information visit hikingaroundphilly.com or email Sidney Goldstein at sg@mrbasketball.net.
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
5th Annual Wissahickon Trail Classic. 6 am to 1 pm. For
information and registration, e-mailamandah@rhd.org or
visit http://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org.
EVERY THURSDAY
Wissahickon Wanderers Trail Run. 4-5 miles. Starts 6:30 p.m. at Valley Green Inn. For details call 215-849-9080 or visit www.wanderersrunningclub.org.
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Volunteer Opportunites in the Wissahickon
Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) will lead a service project from 10 a.m. – noon as part of their on-going reforestation activities. Details and directions to the worksite posted on the WRV website (http://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org) at least one week prior to the event. For information and to RSVP contact WRV at 215-951-0330 x2101 or wrv.info@rhd.org.
Friends of the Wissahickon volunteers repair and build structures in the Wissahickon from 9:00 am to 1 pm. If you are handy with tools and like to build, call Ed Stainton at 215-247-2763.
Friends of the Wissahickon volunteers rebuild dry stone wall in the Wissahickon from 9:00 am to 1 pm. If you like to work with stones, call Dan Mercer at 215-280-0441
Friends of the Wissahickon volunteers do repairs within the Wissahickon from 9:00 am to 1 pm. If you would like to help, call Ed Stainton at 215-247-2763.
Sierra Club and Hiking Around Philly sponsors a monthly trail work party from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. For details and place to meet, email Sidney Goldstein at sg@mrbasketball.net or call 215-247- 4459.
Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) will lead a service project from 10 a.m. to noon as part of their on-going reforestation activities. Project details and directions to the worksite will be posted on the WRV website (http://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org) at least one week prior to the event. For information and to RSVP, contact WRV at 215-951-0330 x201 or wrv.info@rhd.org.
Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association leads a work day sponsored by FOW. This work day focuses on sustainable trail restoration at various locations throughout the park from 9 amto 2 pm. For more information, visit www.phillymtb.com or contact Kevin Groves at 215-247-0417 or groves@fow.org. Click here for more information about the next workday.
Friends of the Wissahickon leads a service project at various locations in the Park from 10 am to 2 pm. Projects include trail maintenance, invasive weed removal, planting and clean-ups. April through October volunteer days are typically held 3 to 4 Saturday per month. November thru March volunteer days are typically held 1-2 Saturdays per month. For information on particular dates, check the volunteer calendar or contact Kevin Groves at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.
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Activities at Historic RittenhouseTown
Historic RittenhouseTown (HRT) offers classes, workshops and events for individuals and families to learn about the craft of hand papermaking and other spects of Colonial life at the original Rittenhouse Family Homestead. HRT is located on Lincoln Drive at Rittenhouse Street . For information, call 215-438-5711; e-mail HistRitTwn@aol.com , or visit www.rittenhousetown.org.
Annual Egg Hunt. 11 am.
Children ages 12 and under are invited to search for prizefilled
eggs at Historic RittenhouseTown. The egg hunt starts
promptly at 11am and will continue until all the eggs have
been collected. The egg hunt is free and refreshments will
be available for purchase. Please bring your own bag or
basket. For more information and directions, visit www.rittenhousetown.orgor contact us at 215-438-5711
or information@rittenhousetown.org. Do not use GPS
or internet mapping sites to find RittenhouseTown. The
directions provided will be incorrect due to our park location.
Activities at Valley Green Inn
Yappy Hour. Benefits Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). 5-8PM. 20% of Inn sales for the evening will be donated to PAWS.
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Activities at Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association
The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA)
is a non-profit land trust founded in 1957 to protect the
quality and the beauty of the Wissahickon Creek. For more
information, visit www.wvwa.org.
Behind the Scenes Tour & Lecture of the
Fairmount Water Works Museum. 2 pm. Hear the story of the life, death and rebirth of the Schuylkill Watershed and then take a tour of the interior and exterior of this beautiful building. 640 Waterworks Drive, behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Free. Pre-registration is required; space is limited.
Guided Walk on the Green Ribbon Trail. 1:30 pm. Come see how the Green Ribbon Trail has changed! Walk
from WVWA Headquarters, over the Ambler Rotary Bridge
up to the newly installed Mathers Road stepping stones. Get
a brief overview of the BoRit Site from WVWA’s Director of
Stewardship, Bob Adams. Free. Bring your dog for a walk.
We plan for an hour – but often go longer. Call ahead to
register, or just show up.
How to Bird Class at REI
Meet at REI in Conshohocken. 7 pm. Join WVWA birder Jamie
Stewart for an introductory class in birding. Learn the basics
of bird identification, how to use binoculars and where to
bird locally. Free. REI, 200 West Ridge Pike, Conshohocken,
610-940-0809.
Activities at the Wissahickon Environmental Center
The Wissahickon Environmental Center (WEC) at Andorra Natural Area (Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Ave.) offers the following activities to teach individuals about the natural world. Pre-registration is required for all programs.Space is limited, so register early! Unless otherwise noted, all programs are FREE, meet atthe Tree House, and last approximately 90 minutes. For information and registration, phone 215-685-9285 or email WEC@phila.gov Your registration must be confirmed by our staff.
Open House at the Tree House
Come explore the Tree House on the first Saturday of each month! See our native fish aquarium, naturalistic mural, birdfeeders, and discover our children’s activity center. 10AM to 4PM. All ages. No registration necessary. FREE
Spring Cleaning Natu rally.
10 am.
(Rescheduled from February) Join us for this hands-on
program which will teach you how to make your own ecofriendly
household products. Learn how to make cleaners
for your floors, sinks and windows from natural ingredients
that are easy on you, your wallet and the environment.
Adults only. $5/person.
Baby Birds Satu rday. 10 am.
Bring your little one to the Tree House for a fun-filled lesson
for our next generation of birding enthusiasts. Your beginner
birder will find out how birds differ from other animals and
from each other. Children will learn basic bird songs, make
their own “bird nests,” play some fun games and go outside
to look for birds, their babies and signs that they have left
behind. Children ages 4-6 (with an adult).
Wildlife Walk. 5 pm.
Join us as we partner with the Friends of the Wissahickon
Wildlife Committee for an evening spring walk through
the Andorra Natural Area. We will walk through forest and
meadow habitat in search of resident bird species, late
migrants and nesting birds. We’ll also keep our eyes open
for other wildlife species along our hike. (Light refreshments
will be available to all participants before the walk begins.)
All ages welcome.
New Moon Hike. 8 pm.
Discover the wonders overhead during this month’s New
Moon. Meet inside the Tree House for an introduction to
the night sky as we wait for the sun to set. Then, we’ll hike
to the meadow to star-gaze and see what the sky above
Philadelphia has to offer on this spring evening. (Bring
flashlights & come prepared to hike through the woods.)
Adults only.
Summe r Solstice Hike. 5 am.
Rise and shine…it’s summertime! Celebrate the longest day
of the year by joining us on a fast-paced hike through the
Wissahickon woods. Wake up early and get out on the trails
for a morning walk as we welcome summer. (Join us for
breakfast at the Tree House after the walk.) Adults only.
As part of FOW’s Protect Our Watershed series, The Wissahickon Environmental Center staff is available to deliver a FREE presentation about watershed issues to your organization. Learn how you can play a role in cleaning up the waterways near your home. Call for information.
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