Join Audubon Mid-Atlantic at Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center for an engaging day of learning, community connection, and environmental action. This free workshop will bring Strawberry Mansion residents, community leaders, and environmental organizations together to explore how climate change impacts our neighborhoods through extreme heat, flooding, rising utility bills, and environmental inequities. Participants will take part in interactive workshops, demonstrations, and a community stewardship activity. Discovery Center’s team will also participate in a panel and talk about the meadow restoration work that’s currently taking place.

There will be a free lunch, as well as raffles distributed at the end of the workshop. This event is created for adults - registration is encouraged to reserve lunch:

Register here: https://forms.gle/UnZeyzeQFg7LcxzX7

This program is coordinated by Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and sponsored by Alliance for Watershed Education. 

Join Penn State Master Watershed Stewards and Audubon Mid-Atlantic as we highlight trees present at the center, learn how we could care for them, and how they support local animals, insects and humans.

This program is for all ages (young children should have an adult present). We'll learn what a watershed is, tree identification basics, walk the trail to test our knowledge, and chat about how we can care for our trees.

Register Here

Todd Elliott will take us on a globe-trotting adventure and exploration of the frequently overlooked yet ecologically vital interactions between birds and fungi. Come learn about the ubiquitous interactions between these two amazing and diverse groups of organisms and how their relationships help shape the landscapes around us!

Todd Elliott is a biologist, ecologist, and natural science educator from western North Carolina. He has studied the interactions between organisms and ecosystems on six continents, with a particular focus on how the relationships between animals and fungi impact ecosystems. Todd is particularly interested in the ecological importance and complexity of biodiversity and how we humans can assist with its maintenance and conservation. Todd’s research outputs include over 60 peer-reviewed papers and the Timber Press field guide Mushrooms of the Southeast. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Interpretive Natural History from Warren Wilson College (USA) and his PhD in Ecology from the University of New England (Australia). To learn more about Todd and his work, visit his website: https://toddelliott.weebly.com/ and his Instagram accounts: toddfelliott & fungi.hunter.

We welcome you to join the Philadelphia Mycology Club at the Discovery Center for a lecture presented by Todd Elliott:

From zombie ants to truffle-munching apes! This talk will explore the many fascinating ways that fungi and animals interact and impact the ecosystems around us. These associations range from parasitic to symbiotic and are vital to the health of natural communities all over the world.

Can't join us on the 3rd? Todd is giving two talks at the Discovery Center!

Join The Delaware Valley Ornithology Club the following evening, Tuesday August 4th, for a talk on Ornithomycology: The intersection between birds and fungi.

More details and sign up can be found here: https://dvoc.org/events/special-summer-event-ornithomycology-the-intersection-between-birds-and-fungi-the-discovery-center/

About Todd Elliott:

Todd Elliott is a biologist, ecologist, and natural science educator from western North Carolina. He has studied the interactions between organisms and ecosystems on six continents, with a particular focus on how the relationships between animals and fungi impact ecosystems. Todd is particularly interested in the ecological importance and complexity of biodiversity and how we humans can assist with its maintenance and conservation. Todd’s research outputs include over 60 peer-reviewed papers and the Timber Press field guide Mushrooms of the Southeast. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Interpretive Natural History from Warren Wilson College (USA) and his PhD in Ecology from the University of New England (Australia). To learn more about Todd and his work, visit his website: https://toddelliott.weebly.com/ and his Instagram accounts: toddfelliott & fungi.hunter.

The Strawberry Mansion Lake has been here for decades, let’s see what’s inside! Join Audubon Mid-Atlantic in observing and documenting this aquatic ecosystem as the seasons change.

For August 1st, join Audubon Mid-Atlantic and Fairmount Water Works as we identify our aquatic macroinvertebrates and measure the mussels onsite. FWW will gather freshwater mussels from the reservoir to show us how to measure them, and how to become a mussel steward. We will also continue our monthly survey of macroinvertebrates, and see how our diversity changes throughout the Spring and Summer. This community science data will be collected and utilized for future management!

Register Here!

For more information, reach out to audubon@discoveryphila.org. Learn more about Fairmount Water Works at https://fairmountwaterworks.org/.

Let's explore the Discovery Center at night for Discovery Day! These monthly events are co-hosted by Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS) and Audubon Mid-Atlantic (AMA). Each month provides opportunities for community members to experience different adventures and activities related to the outdoors.

POBS will host a sunset paddle on our reservoir from 5-8pm. They will offer instruction in basic paddling skills and canoe safety.  Ages 8 and up, and registration is first come, first served!

Audubon Mid-Atlantic and Glen Foerd will lead an evening walk to survey for bats, birds and insects from 7:30-9:30pm. We'll have binoculars for people to use, as well as other tools to identify what we find. Lastly, we'll chat about ways we can get involved to maintain our ecosystem here and beyond. Register here!

For more information, reach out to audubon@discoveryphila.org. Learn more about Glen Foerd at glenfoerd.org.