Streamlines - Green Valleys Watershed Association

Volume 42, Issue 3
Summer 2007
S treamlines
from Green Valleys Association
Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living
When a picture is worth 1,000 words
Pictured at left are a portion of
the results of GVA’s 2007
Stream Day Cleanup effort.
Volunteers tackled five streams.
This particular pile of trash was
removed from Pickering Creek
in West Pikeland Township.
Our next Stream Day will be
scheduled in the spring of 2008.
For article on 2007 clean-up, see
page 5.
GVA appeals for legislation prohibiting
new residential construction in floodplain
By John Hoekstra
In a letter to and subsequent meeting with Congressman Jim Gerlach, GVA has
emphasized the need to introduce federal legislation that would prohibit or severely
restrict any new residential developments from being built within a floodplain or floodway, as delineated by the best tools of the day.
GVA’s position on the issue: it would be irresponsible and economically unsound to
allow for new developments to be built in a floodplain district. The reasons are
immediate and compelling:
• Storms are continuing to increase in frequency and severity.
• Millions of taxpayers dollars are already going toward the acquisition and
demolition of floodplain properties or funding the elevation of existing homes
above flood level.
Environmental
School Programs
Our environmental school program
continues to grow in the following three
school districts: Downingtown, Owen J.
Roberts and Phoenixville. We are also in
the process of expanding into the
Pottstown schools. This grant-funded
program targets children at specific
schools and provides ongoing models of
environmental education.
Downingtown – We will maintain
projects with Uwchlan Hills Elementary
School, working with the parents’
Environmental Awareness Committee to
enhance the existing programs and the use
of the habitat garden.
Owen J. Roberts – This year, GVA
extended its Environmental School
Program to Vincent Elementary with
Nature Explorers, an after-school club.
Phoenixville – In May, a select group of
7th grade science students at the Middle
School engaged in a stream study of the
Pickering Creek at the Phoenixville Area
YMCA site. To determine the health of
See “Programs,” p.8
• The Delaware River Basin is still dealing with the devastating, non-hurricane-driven flood event of June 2006.
• Major flood insurers are billions of dollars in debt and have no realistic
expectation of ever being able to repay that debt
• As upland properties continue to be developed, the likelihood of additional
flooding increases
Many floodplains are zoned commercial. However, living next to water is irresistible
for many people. This encourages developers to answer that demand and petition
for rezoning. If new developments are built in floodplains, it would endanger people
and their property and increase the negative impact of downstream flooding on
waterways.
Phoenixville students collect samples
from Pickering Creek for quality tests
GVA Mission
Statement
Protect
the lands and waters of the
northern Chester County region
Educate
Envirofest 2007 “Sustainable Living In
Action” draws record numbers
By Catharine Swan
the community on
environmental issues
This year’s Envirofest on May 5th was another one for the record books. We kicked off
the day with the 5K run. This was an amazing success, with the number of run/walk
participants tripled from last year. The fastest runner, Janed Oyler, crossed the finish
line at 18 min. and 15 sec., and 11-year-old Michael Auer finished in the remarkable
time of 23 min. and 56 sec. coming in 10th overall!
Advocate
environmental guidelines
that will preserve the watersheds of our region
GREEN VALLEYS ASSOCIATION
OF SOUTHEASTERN PA
1368 Prizer Road
Pottstown, PA 19465
Phone: (610) 469-4900
Fax: (610) 469-4990
E-mail: [email protected]
Homepage: http://
www.greenvalleys.org
OFFICERS
President — Peter Klose, Ph. D.
Vice Presidents — Ed Bacon, Harriet
Stone
Treasurer — John Eldridge
Secretary —Michele Vaughn
STAFF
Executive Director—Catharine Swan
Director of Watershed Advocacy —
John Hoekstra
Director of Welkinweir— Victoria
Laubach
Director of Education — Dawn
Kauffman
Administrator — Heidi Goss
Webmaster — Virtual Farm Creative
Newsletter Layout — Pamela Baxter
Streamlines, our quarterly newsletter, highlights local and regional
activities focusing on water resource
conservation and preservation. If
there are water resource issues you
would like to learn more about
through our newsletter, contact
Catharine Swan, Executive Director,
at 610-469-4610.
Page 2
envirofest
Nearly 900 people attended the event, an increase of 300 over last year. We also had
54 local environmental businesses and organizations present, featuring information
on healthy lifestyles and activities, sustainable land-use practices and renewable energy
technologies. How-to Clinics provided folks with practical knowledge about caring
for their wells and septic systems, how to compost their food waste, and how to
recycle.
Other highlights included a special presentation of local filmmaker Richard Hoffman’s
“Fridays at the Farm,” a
film documenting his
reconnection to food and
community through
membership in his local
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm,
and a presentation on
green building and architecture by Re: Vision
Architecture’s Scott
Kelly. Children had fun
doing catch-and-release
fishing of blue gill and
sunfish throughout the
day at the big pond. They
also cuddled with the
farm animals, “slithered Yellow school bus drives message home -- Moms for
with the snakes,” and the Future shows how to create healthy schools
learned about raptors.
Others went on nature hikes, studied bees, and enjoyed sampling local and organic
foods, among many other activities.
Kristy Deischer-Eddy, who helped staff the “Moms for the Future” booth, said,
“Envirofest rocked! I learned a lot and met a bunch of great people, and I barely got
to see a fraction of who all was there! My little one loved seeing and petting the
animals, seeing her daddy catch a sunfish, and touching some feathers after the bird
talk. Needless to say, Envirofest was not only a great way to get our group’s name out
there, but also to network.”
Rev. Tom Hall was also enthusiastic about the experience. He commented, “I can’t
think of a better way to spend an afternoon, month, or a life than to bring attention
to earth’s gracious beauty and our resolve to care for it and to enjoy it. Envirofest
showcased it all under one bluescape canopy.”
(See “Envirofest” page 8)
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
stewardship
from John Hoekstra, Director of Watershed Advocacy
Talks continue on stormwater permit
Helping our neighbors
Update on Charlestown slip ramp, Valley Creek
W. Vincent Land Trust thanks GVA
As planning continues for the proposed PA Turnpike Slip Ramp project in Charlestown
Township, we have seen some change for the better. However, we are concerned that
the PA DEP seems inclined to move ahead and issue a permit, regardless of the fact
that these plans still do not meet existing regulations or the recommendations of the
new Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual. For instance, in their
latest response to our comments on the plan, STV Engineering (the firm working for
the PTC) ignores some components of the BMP Manual while at the same time they
take excessive credits in other areas.
There seems to be a great deal of pressure on the DEP to accept the latest revisions by
the PTC and issue a permit. One might understand, since this project has been on the
books for an exceptionally long time. However, issuing a permit at this point would
not only allow an unsatisfactory project to go forward, but would also weaken the new
Stormwater BMP Manual by setting a precedent for ignoring it.
The current plan’s stormwater load exceeds the capacity of the proposed recharge
basins; this would cause the basins to ultimately fail. The result would be increased
flooding due to no stormwater being managed, a decrease in water quality and lower
flows in Valley Creek under normal conditions.
We have told the PTC as well as PA DEP that this Slip Ramp project is a “line in the
sand” for the Valley Creek Coalition, as it sets a precedent for what the PTC will do
on the upcoming project to widen the turnpike. It is essential to assure the protection
of Valley Creek and its Exceptional Value status, and fully comply with Pennsylvania’s
anti-degradation regulations.
GVA helps coordinate effort to protect
local Bald Eagles
Petition needs your support
Green Valleys Association and other
environmental organizations are concerned about the proposed development
of the Sedgley farm on the banks of the
Pickering Reservoir, and the adverse
affect such development would have on
Bald Eagles nesting in the vicinity.
To demonstrate the broad-based support
and concern of the environmental
community, on April 22 GVA coordinated
a press conference at the reservoir. Attending were representatives of the Defenders of Wildlife, Valley Forge Audubon,
Sierra Club, PennFuture and Citizens for
Open Space (Schuylkill Township).
The property also supports a diversity of
other wildlife. Additionally, access into
and out of this site on Route 23 has
significant safety concerns and, as
expressed by the township’s attorney, does
not meet the township’s own ordinance
requirements.
by Zoe Perkins, chairman of the West
Vincent Land Trust
The West Vincent Land Trust appreciates
the help Green Valleys Association has recently given us on two properties we own.
John Hoekstra arranged for Greg
Leinweber and the enthusiastic volunteers
from XL Insurance Corp. to adopt our
slaughterhouse property for long-term
maintenance. This year they cleared the
paths again, installed two new benches,
and mulched the paths with wood chips
donated by Bartlett Tree Experts of Exton
and Rich Dexter, arborist.
John Hoekstra also gave us advice on
improving the riparian corridor for our ten
acres on the Birch Run which was once
part of the Green Valleys headquarters. He
put us in touch with the Chester County
Conservation District where we were
given a TreeVitalize grant to plant native
species in the floodplain in place of the
multiflora rose which has been so overwhelming there. Rich Dexter and Bartlett
Tree Experts helped here also by chipping
up much of the rose and vines which our
volunteers clipped.
We thank Green Valleys Association for
their professional, neighborly help and for
their efforts in protecting our streams.
GVA has brought its concerns on this
matter to Representative Rubley, Congressman Gerlach and Senator
Dinniman. Senator Dinniman issued a
press release in May stating his position of making sure that the eagles are
afforded proper protection by US Fish
and Wildlife Service. This issue was
covered by the local press.
Please consider signing onto the
petition at GVA’s website,
www.greenvalleys.org.
Bald Eagle feeding
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
Page 3
members & support
Every Drop Counts—Help us reach our Camp Scholarship
Fund
Endowment Campaign goal
Contributions to our current Endowment Campaign have reached $123,000, an donations
increase of $23,000 since our last report to you in the winter issue of Streamlines.
Please help us reach our goal of $250,000 with your generous donation.
The funds from the Endowment help to support our professional services to individuals, townships, businesses, concerned citizen groups, and other non-profits and institutions. They also support educational programs that promote conservation leadership
and environmental stewardship, including family and youth programs, environmental
camp, lectures, and workshops.
Thank you to Kathleen
DeAnna, Lisa Kelly,
Carys and Seymour
Levin, and Erik
Magness for their donations to our Summer
Camp Scholarship Fund.
Please reflect on the importance of continued access to clean water and the unique
services GVA provides to you and your community. Then help us respond to emerging
opportunities and unanticipated challenges in the next 20 years through a generous
outright gift to GVA of $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 or more.
So far this year, GVA has given out
summer camp scholarships to two local
children, but our goal is to provide two
more.
There are many ways you can give. To find out how your gift would be put to use or
for information on how to make a contribution, please contact GVA’s Executive
Director, Catharine Swan at 610-469-4610.
If you wish to donate to the Summer Camp
Scholarship Fund and send a child to camp
for a week ($170), please send your
donation to the attention of Dawn
Kauffman. Any amount is appreciated.
GVA thanks Larry Stone for his
article in Streamline’s last issue
entitled “How Many Environmentalists Does It Take to Change a
Lightbulb?”
Members
GVA welcomes our new members and appreciates their support. New Members will
be formally recognized in our next issue.
Join GVA or Renew Your Membership Today!
Name ____________________________________
_________________________________________
Address __________________________________
City __________________________ State ______
ZIP ________ Phone ______________________
Township ________________________________
Watershed ________________________________
Email ____________________________________
❏ I would like to volunteer time to GVA.
Dues and contributions are tax-deductible. Green Valleys
Association is a registered charitable organization. A copy
of the registration and financial information is available
by calling 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply
endorsement.
Make checks payable to Green Valleys Association
and mail with Membership Form to
1368 Prizer Road, Pottstown, PA 19465.
Visa/MasterCard accepted—please call office.
Page 4
BASIC MEMBERSHIPS ❏ Check if this is a gift membership
Basic Membership includes quarterly newsletter, notice of events and
programs, access to Welkinweir grounds, reduced rate to special programs
(including summer environmental camp) and fishing with a GVA permit.
❏ Family Membership
❏ Individual Membership
$50.00
$35.00
(Individual Membership and higher, save $5 and renew for two years.)
❏ Sr./Student Membership
$25.00
SPECIAL MEMBERSHIPS
❏ Naturalist ........................................................................... $100.00
Includes basic membership, plus hummingbird feeder*
❏ Environmentalist .............................................................. $250.00
Includes all benefits of Naturalist, plus bluebird house*
❏ Protector ............................................................................. $500.00
Includes all benefits above plus bluebird feeder*
❏ Steward ........................................................................... $1,000.00
Includes all of the above benefits plus a “tribute tree” planted on
the Welkinweir property in your name*
* ❏ Check here if you wish to receive the added benefit.
calendar
July
On Stream Day, more is less
By John Hoekstra
Thurs, July 26 Family Fun Fireflies!,
7:30 to 9 p.m.; at barn; Fee: Members
$4, Nonmembers $6. (One adult free
per child.) Discover the amazing lives
of “lightning bugs” as we play a game
to uncover the mystery of how and why
fireflies light up and study the insects
themselves. You’ll make your own
firefly to take home! Appropriate for
ages 6 and up. Pre-registration
required.
August
Fri, Aug 17
Last Day of Camp
September
Sat, Sept 8
Wildlife Walk, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Sat, Sept 8
Anselma Mill and GVA hold Auction at
Welkinweir, 5 to 9:00 p.m.
Sun, Sept 16
GVA Family Fun Annual Picnic, 4 to 7
p.m.
Mon, Sept 17 Kinder Nature Club, 12:30 to 2 p.m. 3 –
5 year olds, “Wetland Romp”
Tues, Sept 18 Kinder Nature Club, 9:30 to 11 am, 3 – 5
year olds; 12:30 to 2 p.m., 5 – 6 year
olds, “Wetland Romp”
Over the past 10 years, our Stream Day volunteers have
removed tons of trash from the streams in northern Chester
County. While these efforts have helped to keep our waterways clean and healthy, each year’s Stream Day cleanup
reminds us
that we still
have a long
way to go in
educating
people about
disposing of
their trash in
a responsible
manner. This
year alone,
roughly
1,900 pounds
of trash were
c o l l e c t e d Volunteers remove a discarded bicycle from a
from sites portion of French Creek in Phoenixville
along French,
Pickering, Valley and Pigeon Creeks and Stony Run.
We are grateful to all the volunteers—individuals, families and
employees from XL Insurance and Weston Solutions—who
took time out from their daily routines to remove other people’s
trash from the streams. One particularly energetic group scoured
645 pounds of trash just from one stream collection site.
Another positive outcome from this year’s event: a digital
camera was found and returned to its owner, who had lost it
three weeks earlier.
Thanks to all who took time to make our waterways so much
cleaner.
October
Mon, Oct 15
Lists only Kinder Nature Club programs
Waterways Clean-up is a global effort
Kinder Nature Club, 12:30-2pm, 3-5 year
olds, “Sensory Exploration”
In 2006, over 350,000 volunteers from 68 countries removed about 7 millions pounds of trash from
34,500 miles of coastlines and waterways along
with ocean, river and lake bottoms. The U.S. had
the most volunteers (182,100), who collected 4.1
million pounds of trash from10,550 miles of waterways and coastlines. To read more about this,
check out this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/
20070607/ap_on_sc/coastal_cleanup_1
Tues, Oct 16 Kinder Nature Club, 9:30-11am, 3-5 year
olds; 12:30-2pm, 5 & 6 year olds,
“Sensory Exploration”
Mon, Oct 22
Kinder Nature Club, 12:30-2pm, 3-5 year
olds, “Sowing Seeds”
Tues, Oct 23 Kinder Nature Club, 9:30-11am, 3-5 year
olds; 12:30-2pm, 5 & 6 year olds,
“Sowing Seeds”
Mon, Oct 29
Kinder Nature Club, 12:30-2pm, 3-5 year
olds, “Creepy Critters”
Tues, Oct 30 Kinder Nature Club, 9:30-11am, 3-5 year
olds; 12:30-2pm, 5 & 6 year olds,
“Creepy Critters”
Coming Soon -- Information on our Annual
Dinner in October!
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
Page 5
Thanks to Our Envirofest Sponsors
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS
Centocor, Inc.
PECO, An Exelon Company
WATERSHED HEROES
Greater Philadelphia Marketing Tourism Corporation
Martin, Banks, Pond, Lehocky, & Wilson
Staples • Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Exhibitors display benefits
of green roofs
WATERSHED BENEFACTORS
Family fishing on the
Welkinweir ponds
Cahill Associates • Charlestown Township • Conestoga Rovers & Associates, Inc.,
East Pikeland Township • North Coventry Township • Oehlert Brothers, Inc.
Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust • Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
R.A.M. M., Inc. • South Coventry Township • Virtual Farm Creative, Inc.
West Vincent Township • XL Insurance
WATERSHED STEWARDS
Alliance Environmental Systems, Inc.• Brandywine Springfield Waterproofing • Entrekin Builders
H.C. Rineer & Sons • IMC Construction • James A. Cochrane Realtors, Inc.
Kelly Homes/Quaker Homes • Longview Development LP/422 Realty LP • Mainline Financial Advisors LLC
Malvern Federal Savings Bank • PA American Water • Pook & Pook, Inc.
Relief Rental • The Inn at Chester Springs • Tri-County Toyota
WATERSHED FRIENDS
1-800-GOT-JUNK? • All Seasons Catering by Shackamaxon
Automotive Training Center • Bartlett Tree Experts • Chester County Economic Development Council
Czop-Specter, Inc. • Dame Juliana Flyfishers • David M. Frees Insurance • Dewitt Capital Management
Eastern Mountain Sports • Evergreen Cleaners • French Creek Golf Club • Gardner’s Landscape & Nursery
Graham & Mauer P.C. Attorneys at Law • Ground Source HVAC• H&S Business Partners
Joseph W. Davis, Inc. • Kenneth Carroll Real Estate • Kimberton Whole Foods
Lionville Natural Pharmacy and Health Food Store • Phoenixville Community Health Foundation
Ludwig’s Inn and Oyster Bar • Ludwig’s Village Market • Ludwig’s Corner Supply Co.
Maillie, Falconiero & Co • Marcal Paper Products • Marchwood Dental Associates
New Age Air • New Century Bank • Piedmont Designs • REI • Sun & Earth, Inc.
Studioeec, Inc. • The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center • The Hankin Group
The Organic Mechanics Soil Company, LLC • Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc.
Valley Asset Management Inc. • Victory Brewing Company
Waste Management • Werner & Wood Attorneys at Law • Weston Solutions, Inc.
William Wood Company Realtors • Yoga Living Magazine
Page 6
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
welkinweir
from Victoria Laubach, Director of Welkinweir
The elusive Red-wing
Last fall, in this section of the newsletter
you read about the happenings at our pond
in the small bio-retention area in the parking lot at the visitor area. You read about
the wildlife—tadpoles, frogs, toads, turtles
and ducks—and the volunteer plants like
sedges, rushes, and of course cattails, the
latter attracting a male red-winged blackbird.
This year the blackbird is back, with his
various behaviors including the songspread and the song-flight. And yes,
it appears that he has successfully wooed
a female to nest in this most desirable
location.
This spring, whenever I pass by this area,
the male gives a loud alarm call, an obvious clue that there is a well camouflaged
nest located within. This check-call is a
harsh sound repeated irregularly in situations where there is danger on or near the
territory.
As noted in Volume 1 of the Stokes Guide
to Bird Behavior, one of the interactions
between redwing mates starts with the
male doing song-flight (a slow, stalling
flight, with epaulets exposed,
tail spread, head down, ending with a glide to a perch)
over the territory and then diving down among the plants,
where he lands, wings held in
a V-shape above his head
while he lets out a harsh, rasping “chjjj.” Following landing, the male walks through A male Red-winged Blackbird displays his
the vegetation with his wings distinctive epaulets
still stiffly in a V; the female will often streaky-brown, sparrow-like coloring, is
harder to glimpse.
follow him into the plants.
The nest, built by the female, is a sturdy
cup attached to and suspended from the
surrounding stems of the cattails. The nest
materials consist of dried cattail leaves,
grasses, willow bark, or rootlets and mud.
The interior is lined with fine grasses.
As far as the female redwing goes ….well,
she’s more elusive. If you weren’t looking at this particular area on a daily basis,
you wouldn’t even suspect the female is
there except for the rattling among the
cattails and other observed behavior. With
his bright red shoulder patches the male
is easy to spot, but the female, with
Researcher Les Beletsky reports that,
“Redwing breeding in many regions is tied
to insect emergence.” Dragonflies,
damelselflies, mayflies, caddisflies,
midges, gnats, and mosquitoes are all
abundant for limited periods that coincide
with red-winged blackbird nesting. High
insect populations ensure that a parent can
capture sufficient prey to feed the nestlings. In late July to early August the redwings will depart for several months’ residence in wetlands, where they will molt.
It will be fall before we see them back in
the the open again.
Around the Garden
This past December, thanks to funding
from the Chester County Conference and
Visitors Bureau, we were able to rebuild
the interior stone walls and add safer steps
to the Barn Ruins. This garden is now
more accessible from Azalea Lane, and
features additional plantings of trilliums,
foamflower, Solomon’s seal, and hostas.
We have nearly two dozen
new azaleas, some of them
Lloyd Partain hybrids, courtesy of Win Howe. The majority of these were added
throughout the plantings on
Azalea Lane. The many
shades of pink, purple,
white and red blend beautifully with the existing
plants and help to fill in
some bare areas created by
the removal of invasive
vines.
Enjoying the Mothers’ Day Tea
Azalea Lane was the highlight of the
Mother’s Day Tea event, in its third and
most successful year. Many thanks go to
all who helped make this event a success:
our sponsor, Harleysville National Bank;
our caterers, the Butterfingers and BauseLandry; and of course all the volunteers
who worked to create and distribute
invitations, take photographs, staff the
registration table, guide tours, and keep
things flowing.
Summer Hours
Hours for the Welkinweir grounds are
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
weekends for members only. For
more information call 610-469-7543.
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
Page 7
greener living
from Catharine Swan, Executive Director
Save water inside the home
Programs, from page 1
the creek, the students conducted water
quality tests, including chemical tests
and collection and study of insect larva,
nymphs, and other invertebrates. They
concluded that the stream is, in fact,
Tips for conserving water and keeping your bills down
Despite the concern about water conservation across the U.S., water overuse still
plagues the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if owners of a typical ten-year old home install Energy Star water-efficient toilets, dishwaters and clothes
washers, they could save 18,700 gallons yearly. If you are a family of four, you can
save more than 8,500 gallons of water monthly by practicing the following tips:
• Keep you shower under 5 minutes: up to 1,000 gallons
• Install low-volume toilets: about 480 gallons
• Install low-volume showerhead: more than 2,000 gallons
• Turn off water while brushing teeth: 800 gallons
• Ensure that your toilet flapper isn’t sticking when flushing: 900 gallons
• Turn off the water while you shave: more than 400 gallons
• Fix leaky faucets and toilets: 500 gallons
• Run your washing machine only when it is full: up to 2,400 gallons
Total saved monthly: more than 8,500 gallons
Source: National Wildlife
Envirofest, from page 2
GVA has so many people to thank for making this year’s Envirofest an informative,
useful and fun event: Kimberton Whole Foods for supplying oranges, Taylor Rental
for tent coverage, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ for lending us 24 tables,
PA-American Water Company for providing the water tank, Michael Rubin for
the music, JND Designs for designing the Run brochure, Staples for printing 10,000
copies of the brochure, Virtual Farm Creative for their graphic design expertise,
Lloyd Casey from Casey’s Forestry Concepts for leading the forestry hike, Charlene
Briggs from Lionville Natural Pharmacy and Health Food Store, Harriet Stone
for leading the botany and edible weed walk, French Creek Outfitters for donating
fishing poles and bait, Yellow Springs Farm for supplying the native plants, and
Ludwig’s Corner Market for the food.
Thanks to the following for contributing to a very successful silent auction
Bartlett Trees
Bonefish Grill
Cob Studio, Commerce Bank
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Downingtown Country Club
Home Depot
EMS
French Creek Ridge Vineyard
French Creek Outfitters
The General Warren Inn
Going Wild In the Kitchen
Green Mountain Coffee
Kimberton Inn
Lionville YMCA
Marchwood Dental Assoc.
Piedmont Design
The Cherished Pearl B & B
Organica Biotech
REI
Philadelphia Zoo
Seven Stars Inn
Southwest Airlines
The Organic Mechanics Soil Co.
Photographer Ed Bacon
Vicker’s Tavern
Yoga Life Institute
Artist Meryl Joblin
Finally, special thanks to the Envirofest Committee for their tremendous dedication,
talents, and unflagging team spirit: Patty Barthel, Don Cook, Mark Eschbacher,
Jennifer Hohenberger, Sue Hout-Singer, Lyla Kaplan, Mary Kane, Chris
Orzechowski, and Jody Segal Reinbold.
Page 8
1st and 2nd grade Eco Explorers Club at
Vincent Elementary School learns about
wildlife in the school’s habitat garden
healthy. They reported back to the rest
of their classmates, teaching them how
to perform the same water tests in the
classroom. Through this study, the
students realized the importance of clean
streams not only to plants and animals,
but to human health as well.
Next year, we will continue teaching
curriculum classes at the Middle School
and revive the Eco-Action Club. This is
an after school club in which the students
choose and work on environmental
issues in their school and community.
Pottstown – We are pleased to partner
with Pottstown Area Middle School’s
Environmental Science Club, offering
environmental programs throughout the
year. These programs will include a daylong visit to GVA, since many of the
students have never experienced the
diverse natural setting that Welkinweir
has to offer. (Photo, p. 9)
We are excited to be able to provide these
valuable programs to our area schools
and their teachers. To continue such
work, we are searching for a part-time
environmental educator to work
specifically on the Environmental
School outreach programs. (See p. 9.)
If interested, contact Dawn at 610-4698646 or 610-469-3277 for details on this
paid position.
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
education
from Dawn Kauffman, Director of Education
Discover Kinder
Nature Club
Environmental Education Internships
available
This popular program attracted many
preschoolers and their parents this spring
as we learned about animal camouflage,
the music nature creates through birds,
water and insects; met a snake to learn
As our education programs continue to expand, we are in need of seasonal staff to
continue providing the wide variety of quality nature programs.
Kinder Nature Club children meet
a live Ball Python
We are seeking a college student or
graduate interested
in learning to teach
hands-on environmental education
programs for children, in a non-formal
education setting.
Responsibilities
would be developing
the activities for and
teaching Kinder
Nature Club classes,
monthly family programs, and workshops for visiting
school and Scout
groups.
St. Matthew’s School students learn about wetlands animals
on a nature walk at GVA
about the unique features of reptiles;
studied trees; and discovered tadpoles,
frogs, fish and insect nymphs in the pond,
stream and wetlands.
This paid internship is for 10 weeks in the fall or the following spring. Interested
individuals can view the full position description on our website or contact Dawn
Kauffman at 610-469-8646 or 610-469-3277.
Kinder Nature Club will be held again
for 10 weeks, starting in the fall. Each
week, children and their parents will discover nature through hands-on activities,
stories, games, crafts and nature hikes.
Please see the enclosed GVA Calendar
for the new fall schedule.
Nature Camp Begins!
If you haven’t signed up your children,
grandchildren, nieces and nephews yet,
don’t worry because there are still some
Camp spaces left! Call Dawn at 610-4698646 or 610-469-3277 for availability of
the remaining Camp weeks.
Middle School
Environmental Club
At left, Pottstown Middle
School’s
Environmental
Science Club members learn
about watersheds with the
Enviroscape, an interactive
model used to demonstrate the
origin of point and non-point
sources of water pollution.
Campers enjoy a stream walk (2006)
Wildlife Walks
Reminder: there are no monthly
Wildlife Walks during the summer. They will start up again in
the fall beginning on Saturday,
September 8, 9-10:30 a.m.
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
Page 9
“Thank You!” to Donors
Bird Observation Site
Thank you to Joel Flachs for his generous donation of a 4-inch reflector telescope.
The telescope will be a great addition to our education programs.
Get personal with the local bird species
by volunteering to maintain the feeders.
Each month, a family volunteers to fill the
bird feeders next
to the Pavilion,
using seed and
supplies provided
by GVA.
Thanks to Cabela’s Outfitters for the 10 x 20-foot canopy that will provide an
activity area for summer campers.
Thank you to Pottstown Area Middle School’s Environmental Science Club.
Groups of students built five bird boxes and donated them to GVA. We donated two
of the boxes to Vincent Elementary School, who installed them in the open fields
around the school to add to their wildlife-friendly schoolyard. We will put up the
remaining three boxes on the Welkinweir property.
Thanks to Ray McGlew for building four picnic tables for GVA’s Pavilion.
And thanks to Matt White, of Chesapeake Custom Decks, LLC, for designing and
building new railings for the education building.
Volunteers always needed
Volunteers are essential to GVA’s mission and we have many opportunities for individuals or groups to get involved in such important work. If you are interested in
volunteering, please contact the following people for details on the specific programs
or projects, and the duties and time involved:
Community Outreach, Finance, Marketing, Special Events, Membership:
Contact Catharine Swan, Executive Director, at 610-469-4610 or
[email protected].
Educational programs: Contact Dawn Kauffman, Director of Education/Camp
Director, at 610-469-8646 or [email protected].
Watershed Advocacy: Contact John Hoekstra, Director of Watershed Advocacy, at
610-469-2596 or [email protected].
Welkinweir Property: Contact Victoria Laubach, Director of Welkinweir, at
610-469-7543 or [email protected].
Green Valleys Association
1368 Prizer Road
Pottstown, PA 19465
“Healthy Watersheds Lead to Healthy Living”
Elaine Husted, a
GVA member and
volunteer, has
offered to get new
feeders, acquire
the seed, and recruit volunteers to
maintain the feeders. Thank you Elaine!
Green Valleys Association also thanks the
following folks for maintaining our Bird
Observation Site this winter and spring:
January – Joanne and Billy Sellers
February – The Donoghue Family
March – The Tucci Family
April – Elaine Husted
May – The Donoghue Family
June – The Fink Family
If you, your family, or Scout group are
looking for a fun and educational volunteer opportunity, consider adopting our
bird feeders for a month and teach your
children about environmental responsibility and bird conservation. If interested,
please contact Dawn Kauffman at
610-469-8646, or send her an email at
[email protected].
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Birchrunville, PA
Address Service Requested
SAVE THE DATE! GVA Annual Picnic
Sunday, September 16, 4-7:00 p.m.
Visit our website: www.greenvalleys.org
Summer, 2007
Printed on recycled paper