2007 Annual Report MESSAGE from the BOARD CHAIR
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“We’re more than just a walk in the woods!” “We’re more than just a walk in the woods!” The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education 2007 Annual Report MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Dear Friends, Back in 997, when I first volunteered at Highlights include everything from the The Schuylkill Center, I had only the vaguest introduction of Friday morning bird-walks Mission notion of its activities and potential. As a with our new development officer, George member of the Roxborough community, I Wood, to this year’s Henry Meigs Award, To promote, through environmental had been asked to participate in a master- which gave us the opportunity to honor two education, the preservation and planning process at The Center. I knew about outstanding stewards of the environment: improvement of our natural the animal rehabilitation clinic, and that this Philadelphia public schoolteacher Kim environment. was a place that showed city kids their first Fullam and her 8th grade class from the tadpole, but little beyond that. Dobson School in Manayunk, and Governor We do this by: Ed Rendell. The Governor was honored for Ten years have gone by, and I am still expanding funding for the State’s Growing Fostering appreciation, understanding volunteering, although this report marks Greener initiative, and teacher Kim Fullam and responsible use of the ecosystem; the completion of my first year as chairman for her outstanding participation with The of The Center’s board. I upped my own Center’s education staff on the (Growing Disseminating information on participation level over the years because Greener funded) Junior Environment Corps current environmental issues; I saw what fantastic services The Center Pilot Project! provided to its neighbors, the city and the Encouraging appropriate public region. And because I saw the possibilities of As chairman, I am committed to keeping The response to environmental problems; what it could do. This has been a watershed Center’s mission at the front and center of year for increasing our presence as a cutting- every decision and opportunity we face in the Maintaining the facilities of The edge resource for ideas and practices in coming years. Thank you for this past year’s Center and conserving its land for the the realms of environmental education, support as we are looking forward to another purpose of environmental education. sustainability, and the relationship between great year. And I hope I’ll see you soon on a nature and the built environment. Friday morning bird-walk! Sincerely, Education Preservation John Howard Improvement Chair, Board of Trustees MISSION MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ten years ago The Schuylkill Center invited its I am happy to report that The Schuylkill Center We increased awareness of The Center Strengthening The Schuylkill Center’s All of that, we hope, has made The Center more neighbors and area constituents (governmental, has progressed steadfastly on all four fronts, through our involvement with the region’s relationships with neighbors and constituents user-friendly in the broader sense of the term. academic, and philanthropic) to participate as well as toward realizing a 1999 Master Plan environmental issues. Our hands-on workshops has been my most rewarding and most More specifically, we continue our efforts to in a series of planning sessions called Future that was an outgrowth of the Future Search educated Philadelphia schoolteachers on challenging task. But because you are a attract more visitors down our half-mile-long Search. These were visioning sessions designed process. The programs and events of this past sustainability. The newly introduced Greening resolute and stalwart group of supporters, my bumpy driveway for unique events such as to project The Center as an environmental and year are evidence of that advancement. Your Home seminars brought environmental greatest satisfaction has been finding ways to the Green on Screen film series, night hikes, community resource into the 21st Century. To restore The Center’s natural ecosystems, education to area homeowners. Our successful suitably merge your ideas and suggestions into camp-overs, and bird walks. To continue that Many hours of many days went into Future our staff and volunteers enhanced our partnership with the Philadelphia Water The Center’s policies and programs. To that end, effort we eliminated the entry fee, giving all Search and resulted in four goals-- seemingly 360-acre habitat to allow native species Department’s Rain Barrel Program helped The Center continues its dialogue of inclusion our visitors an equal opportunity to appreciate simple, yet as complexly associated as the such as Pinxsterbloom Azalea, Viburnum remove countless gallons of stormwater with our neighbors in Roxborough, stays and enjoy the emerging forest of the largest ecosystems they’re designed to protect. First, and even Orchids and Trillium to reestablish from the city’s sewer system. Our corporate current with its 4th Council District, and has privately held, undeveloped open space in reestablish and enhance The Center’s natural themselves. We conducted monthly invasive environmental stewardship sessions with become involved in the environmental concerns Philadelphia. ecosystems. Second, increase public awareness plant identification and removal sessions, held Merck, PECO, and Rohm and Haas allowed of Greater Philadelphia as it moves forward to and usage of The Center’s programs. Third, backyard habitat workshops for homeowners, them to roll up their sleeves and participate in becoming the Next Great City. The purpose of Future Search was not to have strengthen the relationship between The Center upgraded our Native Plant Sale to include more our programs. And our successful summer camp a final product but rather a work in progress, and its neighbors and supporters. Fourth, make species with local provenance, and partnered (environmental education cleverly packaged a Schuylkill Center whose Board and staff are The Center more user-friendly. with Philadelphia University and Green Woods as fun) gave many children the opportunity current with environmental issues, flexible Charter School to improve the water quality of to stave off Nature Deficit Disorder, the latest enough to adjust to those evolving issues, and Smith’s Run, one of our first order streams. buzz-phrase for the pejorative effects of accessible to the public on all levels. We take technology. environmental education seriously. We also take great pride in the programs and events we offer and will always take the time to listen to your suggestions and requests as we advance the mission of The Center into the coming decades. Dennis Burton Executive Director OUR NEWEST INITIATIVES Adventure Travel Summer Camp for Teens The Schuylkill Center’s Nature Ramblers Summer Educational Programs for Adults Camp continues to grow and offer fun, nature-based Adult Education at The Schuylkill Center has grown summer experiences for more than 00 children each considerably this past year. With additions of a six- summer. This summer the camp expanded its offering part ‘Greening Your Home Seminar’ series, Native Plant to the teenage crowd through adventure travel camps. Container Gardening workshops, Evening Hikes, Outdoor Participants ages thirteen to fifteen traveled to exciting Yoga and ‘Green on Screen’—a series of environmental destinations such as the Allegheny National Forest and film nights—adult education is taking a prominent role Presque Isle, the Catskill Mountains, Ohiopyle State Park in public programs at The Center. in Southwest Pennsylvania, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Being away Monday through Friday each week The Greening Your Home Seminar series featured gave the campers a chance to immerse themselves in speakers on Creating a Healthy Home, Environmentally the environments of these destinations and experience Friendly Home Materials, Green Architecture, Backyard a variety of activities. The Adventure Travel Camps for Ecology and Habitat, and Renewable Energy. The older students provide more opportunities for this age set seminars provided resources, information, and contact to interact with other kids their age and experience the with regional experts to participants, enabling them to Enjoying an best of destinations beyond the Mid-Atlantic Region. create healthier, more environmentally friendly living evening hike Parasailing at the Outer Banks spaces for themselves and their families. In order to extend the ecologically friendly landscaping concept of ‘Backyard Ecology’ to stoops and balconies, Native Plant Nursery patios, and row-house yards, our Native Plants Container Last year, The Schuylkill Center unveiled our new Native Gardening workshop offered alternative ways to beautify Plant Nursery, which specializes in the production of small outdoor spaces while supporting local flora and native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Plants fauna. grown in the nursery will initially be used to enhance populations on The Center’s grounds. Sources for plants As our Education Programs for Adults evolve, we strive to material include sustainably gathered seed and cuttings fulfill the interests of our visitors by providing relevant from local plant populations. In the coming growing topics, speakers and events that are aligned with the ecological needs of our times. season, production will expand to include our own Outdoor yoga with handmade potting mix, an on-site composting area and Teresa Conroy an expanded line of plant material. In June, scouts