GET BACK TO NATURE
Spreading ecological awareness, fostering environmental literacy, and inspiring action.
Through a variety of educational lectures and immersive field experiences with WCT staff and other professionals, adults will gain a holistic foundation in four major conservation topics: birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, watersheds, and habitat stewardship. Students will gain a sense of ecological awareness and feel empowered to enact change in their own lives.
Ecocentric is defined as having a serious concern for environmental issues. It is a mindset that values the entire environment and all life within rather than only what is useful to humans. In other words, it is a deliberate shift toward the balance that can be achieved when we make nature our center rather than ourselves.
The human experience is heightened when we nurture our fundamental relationship with the earth. As we navigate a rapidly changing world, fighting ecological unconsciousness will be paramount to our success and sustainability as a species. Join us in this series as we learn more about the natural world and explore the actions we can all take at home to seek harmony with nature.
See our listing of ECOcentric Experiences below.
No Need to Get Salty About it: Impacts of Road Salt in Ridley, Crum, and Darby Creeks
Tuesday, February 3rd, from 5:30-6:30 pm at Easttown Library
Before a winter storm, many of us put out road salt to keep slippery surfaces safe in the winter weather – but have you ever wondered what happens to the salt after the snow and ice melt?
Join us at Easttown Library for an eye-opening talk on the impact of winter road salt on water quality in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Learn from stream specialists Lauren McGrath and Anna Walsh as they share data from local research and community science programs to reveal the surprising effects of salt on local waterways, including the Ridley, Crum, Darby, and Cobbs Creeks. We’ll offer practical steps we can all take to protect our water.
Learn how everyday practices—from salted driveways to highway maintenance—affect the health of our waterways, the creatures that live in them, and even the water we rely on at home. Whether you’re a concerned resident, a student, or simply curious about the hidden story in our streams, this talk will give you a clear picture of how winter care choices ripple through our environment.
This event is family-friendly. Funding for this event was awarded through the “Protect Your Drinking Water” grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with funding from Aqua, an Essential Utilities company.
Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania
March, time TBD
Learn about the historical influence of the Lenape people on our region during this informative lecture by a representative of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania!
The work of Willistown Conservation Trust takes place on the ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape. As we enjoy and protect the beauty of Willistown and the surrounding areas, we cannot forget its original inhabitants and how their way of life echoes throughout the conservation of this land and its natural resources. While we preserve the land, we must also preserve its history and the history of the Indigenous people. By sharing their story with the community and working with local Native American organizations, including the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, we can hope to ensure that their legacy lives on with the land.
Foraging Walk
May, time TBD
Join our knowledgeable staff on a nature walk to learn about foraging and the healing and nourishing power of local plants. Come prepared to taste plants you’ve never tasted before!
Buzzed with the Bees
Tuesday, July 21st, from 5:00-6:30 pm at Rushton Conservation Center
Join Director of Community Farm Program, Noah Gress, as we explore the fascinating world of honey bees! He’ll explain how bees are a super organism that have influenced humans throughout history. After learning about their bee-utiful ecology, we’ll get to taste their honey...while also enjoying some botanical cocktails. Cheers!
Lawn Alternatives and Meadow Walk with Chanticleer Gardens
Wednesday, July 22, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Inverary in Villanova
Explore lawn alternatives and meadow establishment as we tour a stunning local 20-acre wildflower meadow. Learn ecological lawn care, native plant integration, and meadow management. After touring the meadow at Inverary, we’ll end at Chanticleer Gardens next door to view their native gardens and wildlife structures while enjoying refreshments.
Getting Dirty with the Farm
Wednesday, August 19th from 11:30 am- 1:00 pm
Take a lunch break outside and get some natural light in your day as you help the friendly farm staff with their chores! From weeding to harvesting, there’s always work to be done. This time of year offers opportunities to pick juicy cherry tomatoes off the vine, pull garlic bulbs from the earth, and even dig up potatoes. As you work, you’ll experience first-hand how growing food in harmony with nature is regenerative for humans and the environment.
