Photo: Philadelphia Water Department

Section 4. Public Awareness and Education

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTERS
Environmental education centers within or near the Schuylkill watershed provide many kinds of educational opportunities for children, adults and families. Operated by research institutions, environmental organizations, and by state, local and federal agencies, they offer various exhibits, workshops, publications, live animal programs, speakers, volunteer projects, educational supplies, and in-school and on-site curricula.

One of the largest is the Philadelphia-based Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Founded in 1965, the Center’s 500-acre preserve serves as an outdoor classroom for its educational and stewardship activities. Its educational programs range from one-half day lessons to year-long experiences. The Center serves over 60,000 individuals annually, ranging from pre-school children to college students. It also operates an Ecovan, a mobile laboratory and classroom that travels throughout the Delaware Valley’s local waterways. Oriented towards 4th-8th graders, the Center provides lessons in water quality monitoring and learning about human impact on watersheds.

Pennsylvania DCNR maintains a large environmental education program at its state parks and forests across the Commonwealth. It offers programs oriented towards field learning experiences, environmental problem solving and watershed education. For example, the 665-acre Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Berks County, provides a variety of programs for students, teachers, adult groups and individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Site Design: Tevlin & Clarke

The Fairmount Water Works was built in 1815 to pump water from the Schuylkill River. It is part of the nation’s first municipal water system. The Philadelphia Water Department has opened a new Interpretive Center at the Water Works, featuring state-of-the art exhibits on the site’s history, a water laboratory and reconstructed water wheels to educate the public about watershed ecology and urban water uses.

Photo: Philadelphia Water Department

Figure 39.
Environmental Education Centers Within or Near the Schuylkill
Watershed*
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2001

• Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
• Briar Bush Nature Center
• Cobbs Creek Environmental Education Center
• Evansburg State Park
• Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
• French Creek State Park
• Great Valley Nature Center
• Hawk Mountain Nature Center
• John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
• J. Larry Bolling Environmental Education Center
• Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
• Morris Arboretum
• Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center
• Riverbend Environmental Center
• Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
• Schuylkill County Environmental Education Center
• Stroud Water Research Center
• Welkinweir
• Wissahickon Environmental Education Center

*This list is not necessarily complete