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.
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See details of activities for:
Wissahickon Events
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 ● 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Friends of the Wissahickon Ice Cream Social
Meet at FOW office (8708 Germantown Avenue, 19118). FOW members and friends are invited to enjoy complimentary ice cream and music while meeting FOW staff and volunteers.
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 1
Friends of the Wissahickon Photo Contest
The Friends of the Wissahickon invites photographers to enter our Biennial Photography Contest. FOW is looking for striking images taken in Wissahickon Valley Park that capture the park's natural beauty and wildness. Photographs will be featured in the Friends of the Wissahickon newsletter, on the FOW website, and other FOW publications. The entry deadline is October 1, 2010 at 5 pm. Entries should be sent to the FOW office at 8708 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118. Visit this link 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
MONDAYS
Wissahickon Gorge Wandering. Brisk-paced hike; distance is dependent on the conditions and speed of the group. Meet at 6:30 pm by Valley Green Inn. Bring water and a flashlight or a head lamp. Bad weather cancels. Leaders: Christina Lawless, Michael Lawless, David Stein at david0857@verizon.net. Dates: June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.
TUESDAYS
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 and David Stein at david0857@verizon.net.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
Wissahickon Friday Night Hike. Meet 6 pm at intersections of Germantown & Northwestern Aves. in NW Section of Philadelphia for 4-mi. mod.-paced hike along scenic Wissahickon Creek. Optional dinner after hike at local eatery. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Cliff Hence at 215-247-3559 or CWHenceIII@aol.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Wissahickon Gorge Hike. Meet at 10 am near Bruno's Restaurant, at the corner of Germantown Pike and Northwestern Avenue, across from Chestnut Hill College. We'll hike on various trails to the Valley Green Inn and back. Bring water and snacks. Steady rain cancels. If in doubt, call L before 9 wam on the morning of the hike. Lunch after hike at Bruno's. Leader: Joan Aichele.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Labor Day Holiday Hike in the Wissahickon. Meet at 10 am at the intersection of Germantown and Bethlehem Pikes, in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, for a 7-mile, moderately-paced hike to the Wissahickon Gorge. Optional lunch stop near end of hike. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Cliff Hence at 215-247-3559 or CWHenceIII@aol.com
Trail Ambassador Walks
Please bring water. Children over the age of six are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult on hikes that are designated as suitable for them. Walks are cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
Geology Hike
Saturday, August 7 ● 3 pm
Led by Sarah West. Meet at Valley Green Inn. Hike lasts from 3 to 4:45 pm and covers about a 1.5 miles along a rough, steep trail on the east side of the creek upstream from Valley Green. For further information contact Sarah at WestSarah@aol.com.
Horses and History
Saturday, August 14 ● 1 pm
Led by Diane Garvery. Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of Kitchen’s Lane in West Mt Airy. On this two hour hike you will cover about 3 miles along the orange trail between Kitchen's Lane and Mount Airy Avenue. We’ll follow the white trail on our return to the historic Monastery Mansion and stables. For further information contact Diane at Diane@GarveyResources.com.
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.
EVERY SATURDAY
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.
SATURDAYS
Valley Green. Meet at 1:15
pm at Germantown Ave. & Rex St. (23 trolley). Route: along
Wissahickon to Valley Green and back to Germantown Ave.
SATURDAY, JULY 31
Northwest. 1:15 pm. Meet at Northwestern Ave & Germantown Pike (23 bus to end of line in Chestnut Hill, then L bus to Northwestern Ave.) Route: West trail along Forbidden Drive to Valley Green.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Devil’s Pool Area. 1:15 pm. Meet at Germantown & Springfield Aves 7800 (23 bus)
Route: Hike to Devil’s Pool on to Valley Green, return to starting point.
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 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 istRitTwn@aol.com , or visit www.rittenhousetown.org.
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.
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.
Bat House Workshop. 6 pm. This hands-on workshop will allow you to construct a bat box to take home or leave for use in the Wissahickon Valley Park. Learn about the benefits of the insect-eating bats that inhabit Pennsylvania, the potential risk of diseases carried by bats, and some of the current threats to local bat populations.Adults only please. $10/person.
Bats of the Night Sky. 7:30 pm. Discover the truth about bats as we dispel some of the myths about these fascinating -- not freaky -- creatures. Are bats blind? Will they fly into your hair? Separate fact from myth with fun activities and games that focus on bats. Learn about the benefits of Pennsylvania’s bat species and then take an evening hike down to the creek to see brown bats in action. All ages welcome.
Insect Investigation. 4 pm. Discover the incredible world of insects! Explore forest and field habitats with bug boxes to take a closer look at these critters. Hunt for garden spiders, praying mantises, butterflies and grasshoppers...and learn the important role they play in our environment. Moderate hiking involved. All ages welcome.
FULL MOON Feast. 5:30 - 9:30 pm. Begin the evening around a campfire learning to cook simple and delicious foods as we wait for the sun to set. What better way is there to celebrate the Full Grain Moon than to do so with food and an evening hike to watch the moon rise? Participate in family-friendly activities along the trails to become more acquainted with the forest after dark. We will provide a light, healthy dinner to be cooked over the campfire. Children ages 6-15 (with adult). $5/person.
Biking Basics. 9 am - 1 pm. The Tree House staff will lead a moderate bike ride along Forbidden Drive and the beautiful Wissahickon Creek. We will ride 5.3 miles from the Tree House to Lincoln Drive and back. Along the way, we’ll make several stops to provide interpretation about the park and to offer snack/lunch breaks. You must bring your own bikes, helmets and lunches. Children ages 6-15 (with adult). $5/person.
Family Fishing. 9 am - 1 pm. Join us for a day of fishing with your family. Learn more about casting and what bait the local fish prefer. With rod & reel fishing poles, we’ll attempt to catch and release fish from the creek. Parents who would actively like to fish are required to bring a fishing license. Fishing poles and bait will be provided, but you must bring your own picnic lunch. Children ages 6-15 (with adult). $5/person.
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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