RUSHTON NATURE KEEPERS

RUSHTON NATURE KEEPERS
Inspiring tomorrow’s conservationists

Rushton Nature Keepers (RNK) provides youth (ages 8-11) with unique opportunities to develop a meaningful relationship with nature, which will fuel a lifelong desire to protect the environment. RNK is focused on shaping and empowering these future conservationists while nurturing a spirit of discovery and wonder. We offer regular programs covering four conservation themes including: birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, watersheds, and healthy habitat.

Our Objectives for Your Child:

• Create a conservation ethic by showing the importance of preserving open space.
• Connect personally to nature and foster lifelong respect for the natural world.
• Nurture a spirit of discovery and wonder.
• Develop observation skills and understanding of science beyond the classroom.
• Recognize the connection of wildlife, farming, and watersheds.
• Understand how people can help create and preserve healthy habitats.
• Appreciate the origins of the food we eat and how nature and agriculture can flourish together.
• Demonstrate the positive role humans can play in the natural world.
• Foster an awareness of how everyday personal choices can help the planet.

RNK Membership is $200 for the first child and $150 for each additional sibling. Membership includes a t-shirt, reusable water bottle, nature journal, and one tote per child. Programs are drop-off only unless otherwise noted. Waivers will be offered on a case-by-case basis (no questions asked), as we do not wish to exclude anyone based on financial need. Otherwise, membership is required to attend most events*.

A Rushton Junior Naturalist Certificate will be awarded to Rushton Nature Keepers who attended events within each of the four themes for a total of at least 8 by year-end. They will be invited to attend the Rushton Junior Naturalist Celebration in November during which prizes will be awarded. Each program will allow time for reflection in a nature journal in which children will receive attendance stamps to document their progress. Each event is designated with icons covering one or more of the four themes.

Event Registration Coming Soon*

Monday, June 17 – Discover Wild Rushton (9:00 am-12:00 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
Welcome to Rushton Nature Keepers and summer! For our kick-off event, we’ll get to know each other while exploring the woods and fields of Rushton Woods Preserve. We will learn about some of the actions we take here to study and help birds and wildlife while growing food sustainably for people. We’ll also learn the basics of keeping a nature journal from local children’s book illustrator, Kate Garchinsky! In addition, we’ll explore the bustle of insect life that exists in the wild meadows and on the blooming milkweed that borders the farm fields.

Tuesday, June 18 – Leaf Packs & Stream Life (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)
Ashbridge Preserve: E. Strasburg Road, West Chester
Explore Ridley Creek at our wetland preserve with our watershed specialists while learning about the basics of stream ecology. We will investigate macroinvertebrates that call the stream bed home and discover what these aquatic insects reveal about stream health. Using “leaf packs”, we will study food webs, invasive species, and how terrestrial and aquatic habitats are linked. Wear shoes that can go in the water!

Wednesday, June 19 – Diversity of Birds (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)
Rushton Woods Preserve and Farm
Discover how preserved land like Rushton helps provide habitat for a variety of bird species throughout the seasons. Nature Keepers will get a private sneak peek at our summer breeding bird banding station
nestled in the heart of the forest where they’ll see wild songbirds up close and meet field scientists. We’ll monitor our bluebird boxes and learn what type of insect-rich habitat baby birds like best after leaving their nest. We’ll even have a special visit from live birds of prey from Indian Run Environmental Education Center!

Thursday, June 20– Farming with Nature and Honeybees (9:00 am-12:00 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
Let’s help out on the farm! But this isn’t just any farm; it is regenerative, meaning it complements the surrounding ecosystem by providing healthy, chemical-free habitat for many living things while conserving water and making soil (which helps fight climate change). We’ll discover a diversity of insects and birds while working in the field and learn about how this farm functions harmoniously within the surrounding landscape. We’ll also get to meet Rushton Farm Field Manager Noah and his honeybees who will provide us with yummy honey to taste! (We’ll learn that it’s actually the native bumblebees that do more heavy lifting in pollinating the crops.)

Friday, June 21– Into the Forest (9:00 am-12:00 pm)
Rushton Woods Preserve and Farm
Ignite your sense of wonder and awe as we ground ourselves in the beauty of the forest. We’ll practice mindful connection to nature through tree hugging and forest bathing (no bathing suits required!). We will also look for salamanders and explore secret parts of the forest including an ancient red maple wetland. Afterwards, we’ll monitor our farm bird boxes and witness the banding of any Purple Martin chicks from our martin hotel!

FAMILY*: Wednesday, June 26 – Fireflies, Moths, and Your Yard in the Dark (7:30-9:30 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
Enjoy a summer evening at Rushton observing and learning about one of our best-loved insects, the firefly! We will discover what sets them apart from other beetles, the intricacies of firefly light shows,
and how to help vulnerable nocturnal insects in your backyard. We’ll also get a chance to experience nature at night with a no-flashlight hike through the woods!

*This is an OPEN EVENT and not exclusive to Rushton Nature Keepers, so feel free to bring your family or a friend. Free for Rushton Nature Keepers, but there may be a registration cost for non RNK members.

Tuesday, July 23 – Wildflowers and Watercolor Workshop (4:00-6:00 pm)
Willistown Conservation Trust Headquarters : 925 Providence Road, Newtown Square
Explore the Trust’s spectacular wildflower meadow and paint with watercolors in the fresh air! We’ll identify different native flower species, discover pollination, and learn about the importance of native
plants for pollinators and other insects. Leave with an understanding of what you can do in your own yard to support these important declining insects and the food webs they support.

Thursday, August 23 – Summer Harvest (9:00 am-11:30 am)
Rushton Woods Preserve and Farm
Spend a morning at Rushton helping the farmers harvest the bounty of the season, like garlic and tomatoes! Then we’ll meander into the woodlands for some creative fun making forest art, gnome
homes, and toad abodes. The flower cutting garden will also be in full bloom, so we’ll create personal bouquets to take home.

FAMILY*: Wednesday, August 28- (7:30 pm-9:30 pm) – Bug Night with Academy of Natural Sciences 
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square

Did you know there are over 11,000 species of moths in North America (as compared to only about 825 species of butterflies)? Explore the fascinating nocturnal insect world with entomologists from the
Academy of Natural Sciences who will be surveying Rushton’s population of moths, beetles, flies, crickets, and more with mercury vapor lights set against white sheets.

*This is an OPEN EVENT and not exclusive to Rushton Nature Keepers, so feel free to bring your family or a friend. Free for Rushton Nature Keepers, but there may be a registration cost for non RNK members.

Saturday, September 7 – Fall Songbird Banding (8:00-10:00 am)
Rushton Woods Preserve and Farm
Observe the science of bird banding, meet field biologists, and see beautiful migrant birds up close. Nature Keepers will get to “practice their banding skills” at a demo net and learn about the mysteries of migration. Sanctuaries such as Rushton are integral to the survival of migratory birds as they journey hundreds of miles from breeding to overwintering grounds.

Thursday, October 17 - Monster Night and Autumn Hayrides (4:30-6:30 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
Observe spooky little stream creatures projected from a microscope onto a screen to MONSTER size! Learn all about which fish are native and which are invasive (the real monsters!) and how invasive species compete with natives for limited resources. Get creative designing your own stream bug, and take an autumn hayride through the farm fields at sunset!

Friday, November 1– Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding (6:30-8:30 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
Observe Northern Saw-whet Owl banding and experience an autumn evening on the farm! These tiny owls (no bigger than a soda can) travel through Pennsylvania in the fall in search of ideal overwintering habitat. Learn all about their ecology and conservation from our field scientists, and (hopefully) see an owl up-close.

Friday, November 15 – Rushton Junior Naturalist Celebration (4:30 - 6:00 pm)
Rushton Conservation Center: 915 Delchester Road, Newtown Square
All Nature Keepers are invited to this special celebration. Those who have attended enough events within each of the four themes as designated by the icons on the schedule (for a total of 8) will be awarded the Rushton Junior Naturalist certificate. Following a final challenge activity, there will be a fun awards ceremony with prizes and pizza!

*Please note that other relevant WCT family programs or volunteer events may pop up during the year that can count towards the Rushton Junior Naturalist certificate. Members will be notified as opportunities arise.

For more information, please contact Blake Goll at 610-353-2562, ext. 109, or bhg@wctrust.org.