Upcoming Events

Spring Lectures

Sarah West
Stewardship Challenges in
the Wissahickon
Wednesday, April 21 • 7 pm
Cathedral Hall at Cathedral Village
600 East Cathedral Road
This PowerPoint program takes a trip along
the Wissahickon Creek from its origin near
Montgomeryville Mall to its outlet at the Schuylkill River. In addition to an overview of the watershed, Ms. West will discuss flooding and flood damage,
water runoff, pollution and sedimentation, invasive plants, deer over-population, loss of biodiversity, and repairs and restoration. Sarah West is retired from Germantown Friends School where she taught biology, earth sciences, and physics. The author of a short book on Wissahickon science and history, she currently serves as a Trail Ambassador for the Friends of the Wissahickon and is a member of its Speakers Bureau. She is a former FOW Board member.

Ken LeRoy
Trees of the
Wissahickon Forest
Wednesday, May 26 • 6 pm
Valley Green Inn
In this PowerPoint program, Ken LeRoy
will identify and discuss the trees found in the
Wissahickon forest and elaborate on the changing dynamics of our urban forests and review management strategies. Ken LeRoy is a graduate of Temple University and a Horticulturist Emeritus of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. His interest in urban forestry issues is expressed through teaching, speaking, and business (Green Earth Enterprises). He is a former board member of FOW and remains active on its
committees.

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, unless otherwise indicated. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain or icy conditions.

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. We will discuss the possible Precambrian formation of Wissahickon rocks, learn to identify five different rock types, and then look at the rocks on the east side of the creek between  Valley Green Rd. and the Megargee Dam. For more info. e-mail WestSarah@aol.com. 

Hike with Merritt Rhoad
Sunday, April 11 • 1 pm
Meet at Northwestern Ave and Forbidden Drive.
Distance about 4 miles. We will hike from
Forbidden Drive to Bell’s Mill Rd on the orange
and white trails to the Indian Statue, returning
to Northwestern Ave. via the yellow trail.
We will talk about a bit of geology, history,
WPA efforts, Sustainable Trail Initiative, and
some current FOW activities.

The Spirit and Science of the Waters of the

Wissahickon Creek
Saturday April 17 • 10 am
This 1½-2 hours walk begins at Northwestern Stables along the orange trail to the covered bridge and back on Forbidden Drive. We will observe
water quality indicators and discuss modern advances and challenges of protecting water quality, historic structures and their role in society, the Wissahickon Turnpike, and the role of the valley in contemporary life. On return, the group may split into two groups: speed walkers and meanderers. Leaders—Bruce Wagner and Diane Garvey. For further information
e-mail bwagner@temple.edu.

Meandering in the Wissahickon
with Shelly Brick
Come enjoy our park and share stories. 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

The Mighty Wissahickon
with Scott Quitel
Saturday, April 24 • 9 am
The first half of this three hour walk will be
a moderately strenuous trek (some rocky
and some wet areas) along the orange trail
from Valley Green to Kitchen’s Lane. Return
route will be along Forbidden Drive. Dress
for conditions and bring water and food as
desired. Total time: Total distance: approx. 4 miles. Meet at Valley Green Inn. Further info. at squitel@comcast.net.

Hike with Peter Lapham
Saturday, May 8 • 10:30 am
Learn a little about the natural and man-made history of the Wissahickon while strolling up Forbidden Drive to the Rex Avenue bridge and back along the east side. The walk is about three miles on even ground and will take 1 ½ to 2 hours. Meet at Forbidden Drive near Northwestern Stables.

Geology Hike with Sarah West
Sunday, May 2 • 3 pm
Meet at Valley Green Inn. This rock talk and field trip is suitable for children over ten accompanied by
an adult. We will discuss the possible Precambrian formation of Wissahickon rocks, learn to identify
five different rock types, and then look at the rocks on the east side of the creek between Devil’s Pool and the Megargee Dam. For more information e-mail WestSarah@aol.com.

Mindfulness Nature Walk with Edie Mannion and Linda Miller
Sunday, May 16 • 2 pm
If you need to take a break from worries while enjoying the wonders of the Wissahickon, this 1-2 mile easy walk is for you! Meet at the picnic tables next to the Valley Green We will start with a brief overview of mindfulness or fully experiencing something in the present moment. We will practice being truly mindful of the sights, sounds, smells and bodily sensations experienced as we hike on a scenic trail. Afterward we will be free to share what we discovered about the park and ourselves, and what we can do to continue to benefit from mindfulness.

Hike with Sarah West
Saturday, June 26 • 3 pm
Meet at Washington’s Rock, where Forbidden Drive intersects with Lincoln Drive. This is a short, easy hike along lower Forbidden Drive. We’ll look at
several historical sites and discuss the mills, inns, and roads of the 19th and early 20th century, including the Wissahickon Turnpike, Ten-box, Washington
Rock, the Henry Rittenhouse Mill, the Bluestone Bridge, and the Lotus Inn. Length of hike is less than one mile.

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. A good time for early migrants and permanent residents, ranging from wood ducks and belted kingfishers to phoebes, Louisiana water thrushes and some other early warblers , as well as towhees, catbirds, wood thrushes, Baltimore orioles, and chicadees, titmice, woodpeckers, and possibly some predators overhead.

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. We expect to spot a variety of vireos, wrens, flycatchers, thrushes, sparrows, finches, and, above all, warblers. Screech owls are a probability and pileated woodpeckers an outside possibility.

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. This is often an excellent time to see wood ducks and their young as well as many local breeders that have established nests in this area, such as the bluegray gnatcatcher, common yellowthroat, rubythroated hummingbird, wood peewee, Acadian flycatcher, rough-winged swallow, and indigo bunting.

Wednesday, May 19
Meet at 5 p.m. at the Wissahickon Environmental Center for a late afternoon walk up to the Andorra Meadow to see how the restoration is already producing results in the number of species now nesting there, including
tree swallows, eastern bluebirds, yellow warblers, red-eyed vireos, field and chipping sparrows, and numerous active mammals including woodchucks, red squirrels, cottontails, and other small creatures. Late flying chimney swifts and a common nighthawk are also possible.