Summer 2013 Newsletter - Friends of the Wissahickon

PRESERVING THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND WILDNESS OF THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY FOR EIGHTY-NINE YEARS.SUMMER 2013 • VOLUME 22 • NUMBER 2Bee Aware:What we can do to support bees.Page 8Photo by Nancy Lee Adamson, Ph.D., Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society

A MESSAGE from the DIRECTOR2Over the past several months, our Board of Directors has been soliciting feedback fromour partners, FOW members, and the public through many venues as we shape ourStrategic Plan for the next five years. We thank you for participating in focus groups,attending public and stakeholder meetings, and completing surveys on everything fromsignage to maps.During the process of developing our new five-year Strategic Plan, FOWsolicited feedback from the community—our partners, members, and thepublic—through meetings, focus groups, and surveys. Problems and issues inthe park that are addressed in the Strategic Plan will also need communityinvolvement if we are to solve them. That means joining together not onlyto identify and remedy major stormwater and habitat issues, but to protectimportant native plants and wildlife, such as bees.Our feature in this issue of the newsletter written by former FOWBoard Member Bill Hengst, highlights the importance of bees in our ecosystemand the problems our hives face. A lack of pollination is afundamental problem affecting all of us, but we have the abilityto work toward solutions to this problem. In FOW’s Strategic Planwe talk about the preservation our eco-system and key speciesin the Wissahickon, but there is a role for the community to playthat goes beyond the park.The next time you plan your garden, you can do so with aneye toward improving the habitat for bees, as well as towardstormwater runoff and control. Every time we make a decisionThe next time you plan your garden, you can do sowith an eye toward improving the habitat for bees, as well astoward stormwater runoff and control.about land, whether it is parkland or our own backyards, we have a whole range of optionsbefore us and can think about the land from many perspectives. We can manage stormwater,support the bee population, and have a beautiful garden that blooms all summer.To do this we need to work together to educate ourselves, and FOW is excited to be a partof that educational effort. We look forward to working with the community, sharing our resourcesand knowledge, so we all can do whatever we can for the Wissahickon, including being goodstewards of the habitat surrounding it.*Photo by Laurie Beck PetersonFriends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013Maura McCarthy, Executive DirectorTrail Ambassador Ned Barnard leda Botanical Walking Tour of New York’s CentralPark on May 2, organized by FOW. Barnard is theauthor of New York City Trees (2002), the mostextensive field guide on New York and CentralPark trees to date. This was FOW’s second tripto Central Park and focused on the northernportion of the park, the section with the mostextravagant floral displays that is seldom visitedby tourists. The group was joined by Ken Chaya,creator of Central Park Entire: the DefinitiveIllustrated Folding Map (2011). Chaya’s map ofCentral Park is considered the most detailed mapof any urban park in the world.8708 Germantown AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19118-2717Phone: (215) 247-0417E-mail: office@fow.orgWebsite: www.fow.orgThe mission of the Friends of the Wissahickonis to preserve the natural beauty andwildness of the Wissahickon Valley andstimulate public interest therein.OfficersJohn Rollins, PresidentBettina Hoerlin, Vice President, AdvocacyWill Whetzel, Vice President, GovernanceJeff Harbison, Treasurerpast PresidentSCindy AffleckRobert A. LukensEdward C. StaintonBoard MembersChris BentleyChristine BambergerMelen BoothbyRichard P. Brown, Jr.Stephanie CraigheadEmily DaeschlerDavid DannenbergDaphne Lynch FifieldSam FinneyShirley GracieHeidi GrunwaldJeff HarbisonRobert HarriesDavid HiltonBettina HoerlinCharles DilksDavid PopeRobert VanceLouise JohnstonCourtney KappJohn KellyMartha KennedyRichard KremnickCharles Lee, Jr.Jerome MaddoxChris McCauslandJohn MeigsLiz PearsonDavid PopeJohn RollinsLiz WerthanWill WhetzelSTAFFMaura McCarthy, Executive DirectorRuffian Tittmann, Development DirectorAudrey Simpson, Business ManagerDenise Larrabee, Editor/PublicistZane Magnuson, Development AssistantSarah Marley, Outreach ManagerHenry Stroud, Project ManagerEric Falk, Volunteer CoordinatorNewsletterDenise Larrabee, EditorDena Sher, Associate EditorSarah West, Listings EditorMoon Design, LayoutPublished by INTERPRINT of Bristol, PA.Printed on recycled paper.United Way DonationsThe Friends of the Wissahickon can receivemembership/donations through the United Way.Our United Way number is 9882. If this is the mostconvenient way for you to give, please do so. Visit ourwebsite (www.fow.org) to learn about the benefits ofmembership in the Friends of the Wissahickon.

Hike withSusan Charkes,author ofOutdoors with KidsPhiladelphiaThursday, July 13, 2013 • 2 pmWissahickon Environmental Center300 Northwestern AvenuePresented by the Appalachian Mountain ClubFriends of the WissahickonWissahickon Environmental CenterJoin Susan Charkes,author of Outdoors withKids Philadelphia andAMC’s Best Day HikesNear Philadelphia,for a guided hike inWissahickon Valley Park.Perfect for families withchildren.Distance: 2 miles.Duration: 1+ hours.Difficulty: mild.Learn about thework done by FOWat the WissahickonEnvironmental Center.Wear breathable clothing, comfortable shoes/hikingboots, and hats/sunglasses/sunscreen, as needed.Bring water and snacks. Registration is not requiredfor this event. For more information, visit www.fow.orgor contact: Patrick O’Connell at 617-391-6639 between9am-4pm or poconnell@outdoors.orgPoetry CornerForbidden Driveby Karen HellerGirls track team running, ponytails swayingTrio of horsesQuartet of unicyclistsSmall dog, carted in child bike trailerA wedding at Valley Green, celebrated with tree infull bloom, fuschiaEverywhere you look, a MonetThe Wissahickon is my sanctuaryKaren Heller has been a provocative voice at ThePhiladelphia Inquirer for nearly 20 years, garneringawards for criticism, feature writing and investigativereporting, and was a finalist for the 2001 Pulitzer Prizein commentary.NEWSBRIEFSFOW Testifies for Open Lands Protection OrdinanceTemple University has withdrawn its proposal to build a new boathouse along the SchuylkillRiver after concerns were raised that replacement parkland would not be provided by theuniversity as required by the Open Lands Protection Ordinance enacted by the city in 2011.Bettina Hoerlin, Chair of FOW’s Advocacy Committee, testified on the issue on behalf of FOW tothe Parks and Recreation Commission in January, joining with the Philadelphia Parks Alliance intheir objections that the proposal did not meet the provisions of the ordinance. Her testimonystressed that Temple’s offer to donate $1.5 million toward a partial restoration of the East ParkCanoe House was not an acceptable alternative to the ordinance’s provisions. Temple is currentlyexploring the option of redeveloping the East Park Canoe House, an option recommended by FOWand other stakeholders. “We are very pleased that Temple is exploring alternatives to green- spacedevelopment, which could lead to a very exciting project we could support,” says FOW ExecutiveDirector Maura McCarthy. “A renovated Canoe House will be a great asset to the city.”FOW Wins Community Action AwardFOW accepted a Community Action Award on May 15 from the Preservation Alliance forGreater Philadelphia for efforts to restore historical structures and trails throughout the parkand continued stewardship of Valley Green Inn. The Alliancepresents these Special Recognition Awards to individualsand organizations whose extraordinary accomplishmentsin preservation contribute to the region’s uniquecharacter and sense of place. The Preservation Alliancefor Greater Philadelphia actively promotes theappreciation, protection, and revitalization of thePhiladelphia region’s historic buildings, communities,and landscapes. Pictured here are FOW ExecutiveDirector Maura McCarthy and Trail AmbassadorMerritt Rhoad, also a member of FOW’s StructuresCrew.Annual Meeting Features Guest Speaker Beth KephartLocal author Beth Kephart was the guest speaker at FOW’s annualmembership meeting on June 4 at Valley Green Inn. FOW membersgather every year to review the past year, learn about upcomingFOW projects, and receive a printed copy of the AnnualReport. Kephart, who has published 15 books, discussed theWissahickon as an enduring place in Philadelphia. She teachescreative nonfiction at the University of Pennsylvania and is thestrategic writing partner in the boutique marketing firm FusionCommunications. Kephart also writes monthly about place for ThePhiladelphia Inquirer and has written for the Chicago Tribune, NewYork Times, Good Housekeeping, and other publications. Picturedhere are FOW President John Rollins and Beth Kephart. A full report onthe Annual Meeting will appear in the fall issue of FOW’s newsletter.Organic Gardening the Focus of Valley Talk in AprilLocal residents took aphoto tour through the seasonsof several local organic kitchengardens with the Anna Herman,chef, food writer, and long-timeorganic gardener. The Aprillecture at Valley Green Inn waspart of FOW’s popular lectureseries Valley Talks, sponsoredby Valley Green Bank. Hermanruns the Backyard Farm School, a program developed to “create community through gardens andfood.” She is the coordinator of the Morris Arboretum Community Garden and is working oncreating a teaching kitchen on an urban farm in Northwest Philadelphia that will open this summerfor classes and workshops.Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 20133

SHALKOP STRIGHTER STWATERSHED WATCHFOW PROJECT UPDATEby Henry Stroud, Project ManagerValley Green StreambankStabilization & ParkingLot ImprovementsFOW will begin work on a two-phase project atthe upper parking lot on Valley Green Road inWissahickon Valley Park this summer.The project will improve water quality in WissahickonCreek by helping to meet the EPA Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) for sedimentation, improve parkingconditions, and restore native vegetation. Phase 1(July 1 to September 30) will involve stabilizing thestreambank along the parking lot and Phase 2 (datesto be determined) will involve resurfacing the parkinglot itself. Construction dates are determined by thepermitting process and weather conditions.The project will involve stabilizing 350 feet ofstream adjacent to the parking area by installing rocksteps designed to dissipate high energy storm flows,resurfacing/restriping the parking lot, repairing brokenwheel stops, and replacing invasive plant species withnatives. This project is being done in partnership withPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation and the PhiladelphiaWater Department as part of the WissahickonStormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project,a collaborative effort to reduce erosion and the loss offorest habitat park-wide.The parking lot will be closed during Phases 1 and2, beginning on July 1, 2013. Parking will be limitedduring the week prior to the start of Phase 1, fromJune 24 to 30. The two parking lots closest to ValleyGreen Inn will be reserved for patrons withdisabilities and families with small children.For the safety of all park users, ParkRangers will patrol Wissahickon Valley Parkduring the length of the project, and carsparking in non-designated parking areaswill be ticketed; emergency vehicles musthave access. Park users are urged to bike,walk, or ride public transportation to thepark, or use alternative parking lots inthe Wissahickon, which are shown in thepark overview graphic provided here. Amore detailed map of the park, trails, andparking areas can be found on FOW’s newMap of Wissahickon Valley Park (availableat www.fow.org/about-park/maps).SPRING LNHENDREN STMANATAWNA AVESTEEPLE DRNORTHWESTERN AVEAYRDALE RDRONNIE LNCATHEDRAL RDW BELLS MILL RDLYKENS LNOLD LINE RDHARNER STSUNSET AVEGRAKYN LNLARE STLARE STGRANVILLE RDCALEDONIA STSAGAMORE RDOLD LINE RDTIONA STMINERVA STEVA STPORT ROYAL AVECLYDE LNSEQUOIA RDGRAKYN LNSEFFERT STKEELY STCRESTVIEW RDCHESWICK RDPALAIRET RDSUMMIT AVESHAWMONT AVEHARMON RDAt a GlanceSCOTIA RDINVERNESS LNWISES MILL RDWIGARD AVERENZ STHILL RDVALLEY AVESILVERWOOD STDOMINO LNPAOLI AVELOMOND LNCHIPPEWA RDPARKWOOD LNWARTMAN STSUMMIT PLHAGNER STHIOLA RDMATTHIAS STPECHIN STCINNAMON DRAmount Invested$ 415,224Habitat to be Restored*1 acre# Volunteers anticipated100+Trees/Shrubs to be Planted125HILL RDPAOLI AVELIVEZEY STMITCHELL STLEMONTE STCROSS STHILL RDDELMAR STCINNAMINSON STPARKER AVEFAIRTHORNE AVEFOUNTAIN STFAIRWAY TERHILLCREST AVEW HAMPTON RDCREFELD STHERMITAGE STRIPKA STBOONE STSILVERWOOD STCLAIRE RDGAY STE BELLS MILL RDTOWANDA AVECREASE LNCARDIN RDGORGAS LNOVERLOOK RDJACOB STFLEMING STLEVERING STGRAPE STVOIGT RDACORN STKRAMS AVEDEXTER STGATES STDUPONT STGREEN LNTOWER STCRESSON STSTATION STE SUNSET AVEGLENGARRY RDPEDLEY RDFAIRWAY TERLEVERINGTON AVELYCEUM AVEMAIN STREX AVEW CHESTNUT HILL AVESAINT ANDREW RDAPPLE STCARYL LNNORMAN LNCONARROE STGRAPE STCOTTON STLAUGHLIN LNHENRY AVELAURISTON STVALLEY GREEN RDDUPONT STRIDGE AVERECTOR STPENSDALE STNORWOOD AVECORNELIA PLCONARROE STDAVIS STLYNNEBROOK LNMITCHELL STJAMESTOWN AVEMANAYUNK AVEEAST STSEMINOLE AVEMARTIN STMONASTERY AVEROXBOROUGH AVESHURS LNTERRACE STSHARP STSEVILLE STHILLTOP RDBETHLEHEM PKW EVERGREEN AVEW HARTWELL LNMANOR STNAVAJO STWOLCOTT DRW HIGHLAND AVEW MEADE STW GRAVERS LNCHEROKEE STDAVIDSON RDNEWTON STLIVEZEY LNGERHARD STSUMMIT STE EVERGREEN AVEMILLMAN STGATEHOUSE LNPARK TERMERRICK STNAOMI STPECHIN STDAWSON STCRESSON STW WILLOW GROVE AVERECTOR STW SPRINGFIELD AVEHOUGHTON STHERMIT STKALOS STPROSPECT AVENAVAJO STW MORELAND AVEW MERMAID LNSAINT GEORGES RDORWELL RDE MEADE STE HIGHLAND AVESHAWNEE STW TELNER STMOUNT AIRY TERMARIS STHENRY AVESEVILLE STROCK STSUMAC STE GRAVERS LNOSBORN STROCHELLE AVEW MOUNT AIRY AVEKELLY DRCITY AVEARDLEIGH STROANOKE STLINCOLN DRPOCONO STELBOW LNQUENTIN STSAINT MARTINS LNHOUGHTON PLVICARIS STSTENTON AVEE ABINGTON AVECREFELD STNAVAJO STN MOUNT PLEASANT RDRIDGE AVE RMP JCROSS LNWINSTON RDKITCHENS LNRITTENHOUSETOWN LNWINSTON RDROANOKE STCRESHEIM RDGATE LNHERMIT LNW ALLENS LNMC CALLUM STW WALNUT LNE ABINGTON AVEE MORELAND AVEHURON STSPRINGBANK STDEVON STW ELLET STLINCOLN DREMLEN STW SEDGWICK STHENLEY STGYPSY LNCRITTENDEN STSEPTA DWYWESTVIEW AVEPARK LINE DRE MERMAID LNRURAL LNGLEN ECHO RDARBUTUS STCRESHEIM VALLEY DRROUMFORT RDW GOWEN AVEBURNHAM RDTIMBER LNBRYAN STW JOHNSON STAPALOGEN RDRIVERVIEW LNCHARLTON STW HORTTER STWINONA STWEIGHTMAN STMC PHERSON STW SPRINGER STW UPSAL STMERRICK RDCREST PARK RDW DURHAM STCARPENTER LNDEVON STGREENE STW CLIVEDEN STPARK LNW KINGSLEY STCALUMET STWARDEN DRE GOWEN AVEMOWER STWEATHAM STANDERSON STQUINCY STBOYER STE DURHAM STPELHAM RDVAUX STSPRAGUE STW HORTTER STCHERRY LNCONRAD STCLEARVIEW STCHEW AVEE MOUNT PLEASANT AVEW GORGAS LNCHEROKEE STW UPSAL STBRIDGET STDANIEL STCRESSON STWIEHLE STDEVON STE GORGAS LNMOWER STCRESHEIM RDW CLIVEDEN STMEEHAN AVEGERMANTOWN AVEW PHIL ELLENA STSHERMAN STW JOHNSON STVAUX STW UPSAL STW DUVAL STWAYNE AVEFOXX LNW COULTER STMIDVALE AVEW PENN STAINSLIE STBOWMAN STPLEASANT STW WEAVER STMORRIS STTILDEN STDIVISION STSLOCUM STGOOD STW QUEEN LNMUSGRAVE STW WASHINGTON LNMONTANA STE SHARPNACK STE UPSAL STW TULPEHOCKEN STW PASTORIUS STLEHMAN LNCROWSON STBASS STEMLEN STCHEROKEE STROSS STW POMONA STPULASKI AVEW PRICE STW STAFFORD STTHE OAK RDINDIAN QUEEN LNE CLIVEDEN STE JOHNSON STE DUVAL STHARVEY STW HAINES STW RITTENHOUSE STSTOKLEY STFOX STROSS STW WOODLAWN STMORTON STBAYNTON STMC CALLUM STROSS STMAGNOLIA STMC CALLUM STKNOX STW CHELTEN AVEW SCHOOL HOUSE LNWINONA STWISSAHICKON AVEEARLHAM TERGARDENIA STHERMAN STKING STE WALNUT LNHIGH STE HAINES STE PRICE STW ARMAT STTACOMA STPULASKI AVEPRISCILLA STMORRIS STW BRINGHURST STHANSBERRY STCurrent condition of Valley Green Stream & upper parking lot. The parking lot edge is falling into thestream in areas where the stream channel has been drastically widened. Continued erosion couldeventually cause portions of the lot and surrounding hillside to collapse.4Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013

Andorra Natural AreaForest Loop Reroute CompleteWith funds provided through a PECO Green Region Grant, FOW recentlycompleted a reroute of the Forest Loop Trail at the Andorra Natural Area.Traversing the ridge above Forbidden Drive, the newly redesigned trail of 2, 317feet provides scenic views of Chestnut Hill College and Wissahickon Creek. A smaller trailadjacent to the Wissahickon Environmental Center was also restored to provide a shorteducational loop for young visitors.Professional trail builder Valerie Naylor performs the initial cut for atrail in the Andorra Natural Area using FOW’s SK500.“I want FOW to know how much we appreciate hiking on thenewest trails at the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Last Fridaynight I took our New Moon hikers on the new trail overlookingForbidden Drive, and even in the dark, I was confident that thefooting would be easy for all of us—without flashlights. It waswonderful! I have heard nothing but great comments about thetrail, and I am happy to see that even in the dark it is a joy tohike! Thank you so much for all the hard work, and please shareour thanks with all who made the trail possible.”Treevitalize for theSpring Planting SeasonDue to generous assistance fromPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR),FOW received more than 120 trees andshrubs from Treevitalize for planting in thepark. Treevitalize is a program sponsored bythe Pennsylvania Department of Conservationand Natural Resources that is designed to helprestore tree cover in metropolitan areas. Thetrees and shrubs were planted at Blue Bell Hilland the Andorra Natural Area, primarily in recenttrail closures and along newly built trails. Thesenative species will help restore forest habitat indisturbed areas. Special thanks to Curtis Helmfrom the Division of Urban Forestry & EcosystemManagement at PPR for helping FOW with theapplication.Forest Loop Reroute2,317 ft. of sustainable trail built1,800 ft. of trail closed$ 10,000+ investedTrish Fries, Environmental Education Program Specialist, WECVolunteers at Andorra: Leah Brown, Ashley Johnson,Fran Gilmore, and Taria Stutzman.WATERSHED WATCHQAKeep theConversation GoingWith limited time at the Town Meeting on the Health ofthe Wissahickon Creek in March 2012, not all questionssubmitted by audience members were answered. FOWposts answers to remaining questions in each issue of thenewsletter as well as on Facebook and the FOW website.Ouestion:The impact of dogs on water quality hasbeen discussed, but what is the impact ofgeese and deer on the watershed in termsof water quality?Answer:Geese and deer can be abundant at somelocations within the Wissahickon Watershed,but I do not believe they have beenidentified as a major source of contaminantsto Wissahickon Creek. Our water chemistrysamples and the studies of many otherssuggest that the primary pollution source is theinadequately treated outflow from waste watertreatment plants.—John K. Jackson, Ph.D., Senior ResearchScientist, Stroud Water Research CenterPreserving Our Gatewayto the WissahickonConservation Attorney Patricia L. Pregmon discussedconservation tools designed to protect the WissahickonWatershed at a lecture in March at Springside ChestnutHill Academy. Preserving Our Gateway to the Wissahickon wassponsored by FOW and the Chestnut Hill Historical Society.She also answered questions concerning open space and thenatural environment of the Chestnut Hill area. Pregmon hasmore than 25 years experience as an attorney and has spentmuch of that career working specifically on conservation andreal estate law. As one of the region’s foremost authoritieson historic preservation and conservation law, Pregmon hasserved as a board member at such groups as the PennsylvaniaLand Trust Association and the Wissahickon Valley WatershedAssociation. She has written extensively about conservationlaw and is principal author of The Model PennsylvaniaConservation Easement and Commentary (2011), a keypublication of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association andthe Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and NaturalResources.Project InformationGoing OnlineInformation about all FOW projects will soon be availableonline at www.fow.org. Look for the new ProjectsSection to be popping up soon. Information, includingproject descriptions, maps, and photos, will be available fordownload.5Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013

VOLUNTEERREPORTby Eric Falk, Volunteer CoordinatorAndorra Natural AreaThe Andorra Natural Area has been the focus of a major trail project thatinvolved the closure of old eroded trails and the construction and openingof new more sustainable routes. Over the course of the two-month project,more than 100 volunteers invested roughly 300 hours of their time in bringingthe new trails to completion. Everything from clearing the new trail corridor,to cutting the back slope and shaping tread was accomplished by diligentvolunteers.Trail Building workshopwith Valerie NaylorValerie Naylor was our “official” on-site trail expert extraordinaire forthe majority of the machine work completed for the new trail system at theAndorra Natural Area. She travelled all the way from Brevard, North Carolina,to instruct everyone in the art of operating the SK500 trail machine for twoweeks. She also offered hands-on trail building wisdom for all of the volunteersthat were lucky enough to come out and participate. Our local experts puttogether a solid rock wall and even managed to have some fun pulling downa branch hanging dangerously from a tree using a grip hoist. Great work DaveDannenberg, Kevin Kramer, and Kenn Rymdeko!Wissahickon Creek Clean-UpA beautiful spring day in late April wasthe setting for the annual Wissahickon CreekClean-Up. The Wissahickon Valley WatershedAssociation and Friends of the Wissahickonjoined forces for the fourth year toundertake an all-out assault on therubbish and debris found along theriparian corridor between NorthwesternAve. and Bell’s Mill Road. Over 300volunteers participated throughout theWissahickon Watershed, with close to 60volunteers in Wissahickon Valley Park.They spent the morning along ForbiddenDrive and the adjacent side of the creekcollecting various items such as faketeeth, tennis balls, one bike, and sixfive-gallon buckets of plastic bottles (toomuch!). When all was said and done, wecollected over 50 bags of trash!! A very specialthanks to the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterdaySaints for dedicating their day-of-service tothe Wissahickon Valley Park.FedEx workdayIn preparation for the upcoming Valley Green Streambank Stabilization& Parking Lot Improvements, FedEx employees from the Philadelphia regionput in a massive effort to eradicate invasive plants and remove debris fromthe stream corridor adjacent to the eroding parking lot. Everyone from FedExvigorously attacked the invasive weeds and showed no fear when they cameface to face with the notorious Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa). Afterward,the group gathered and did some planting of a rock garden located in frontof Valley Green Inn, where the day came to a conclusion with a well-deservedlunch. Thanks again FedEx and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation forproviding the resources and human power to make this project possible.Philadelphia InsuranceCompanies WorkdayFour sections of split-rail fence were installed just north of the ThomasMill Bridge with the inspired assistance of the Philadelphia InsuranceCompanies. A valiant showing of 27 volunteers diligently dug holes,moved oversized stones, and planted a few trees and some bushesin order to close a pesky little social trail that had refused to goaway quietly. One old bench was also replaced and became thebackdrop for some very pleasant photos. It was a perfect place forthe Philadelphia Insurance Companies to dedicate some time to theWissahickon Valley Park and honor Earth Day.Creek Clean-Up volunteers: Kadeem Kamara andJohnny Bonilla from Mormon Helping HandsStructures CrewThe Structures Crew has been busy repairing benches throughoutWissahickon Valley Park. To date, they have repaired 15 benches. They havealso completed some repairs to a bridge on the Lavender Trail. A special thanksto Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for providing space for the Structures Crewto store their tools and equipment.6Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013

VOLUNTEERREPORTEarth DayStudents from Springside Chestnut HillAcademy celebrated Earth Day in the Wissahickonworking with David Bower, Volunteer Coordinatorfrom Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Picturedhere are Bower and a group of sixth graders whomoved fallen trees that were blocking a trail andbuilt a “fantasy fence” out of natural materials tohelp redirect walkers along a trail near the school.Photo by Mary Anne Boyer, SCH AcademyNational Trails DayOn June 1, FOW once again joined in a nationwideeffort to raise awareness of and care for thetrails in Wissahickon Valley Park with the helpof REI Conshohocken. This year marks the 21thanniversary of National Trails Day, sponsoredevery year on the first Saturday in June by theAmerican Hiking Society. For over ten years, REIConshohocken has joined FOW on its monthlyworkdays in the Wissahickon, where they havehelped with projects such as clearing trails andremoving invasive plants. This year, they removedinvasive plants and help build a new trail nearKitchen’s Lane.Meet Eric FalkNew FOW Volunteer CoordinatorEric Falk never thought he would be working on trails in Philadelphia.“If you had told me I’d be doing trail work in Philadelphia before Imoved here,” he says, “I would have laughed.” But as FOW’s newVolunteer Coordinator, he spends considerable time doing just that.Eric grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri, playingoutside, fishing, and camping. But it was mountain biking, which he begandoing as a teenager, that took him away from St. Louis. “I would read thesemagazine articles about trails in Colorado,” he says. In 2001, he moved toColorado and enjoyed the outside lifestyle there, where he says the focusof most people is on enjoying yourself; work is something one has to do.While living there, he began doing trail work with groups such as JeffersonCounty Open Space and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, whichprotects and preserves the natural integrity of Colorado’s14,000 foot peaks.He soon began travelling, which took him all overthe world to such places as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, theCzech Republic, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Spain. While in Thailand heworked on the Tsunami clean-up effort, which was all manual labor—pulling4,000 tons of debris out of the ocean. It was there that Eric met his futurewife, Victoria Herrero-Garcia, who joined him in his travels. By 2006, theymoved to Colorado and the following year, Eric began pursuing a B.S. inEnvironmental Biology at Fort Lewis College in Durango.While studying for his degree, Eric worked for the UnitedStates Forest Service designing and implementing erosion controlstructures on multi-use trail systems throughout the ColumbineForest District of Southwest Colorado. In his fourth year at Fort Lewis, he worked as a ResearchAssistant doing assessments of the invasive plant Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), including its densityand health along the Dolores River. Eric gained more environmental research experience after hegraduated with the Mountain Studies Institute in Silverton, Colorado. There he participated in datacollection and analysis in a variety of field oriented projects.When Eric’s wife decided to pursue a degree in Sustainable Design at Philadelphia University, heand their four-year-old daughter, Ayla, moved to Mt. Airy. After a short time working as a BiologistAide at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, Eric began working as Volunteer Coordinator for FOW.Eric believes that making volunteering fun is key to keeping people involved, and that FOW’svolunteers are one of the park’s greatest assets. “The volunteers here are so dedicated and investedin this park,” he says. “It never ceases to amaze me how much work volunteers can get done.”IT’S HERE!New Map of Wissahickon Valley ParkMike Sharp (front) and Jim Greenwoood (back) worked withFOW on National Trails Day at Kitchen’s Lane.• Reflects STI trail changes• Durable Synthetic Paper• 100% recycled materials• Clear delineations on trail use• updated modern graphics• Distance markersOnly $ 10Available for purchase at FOW’soffice and www.fow.orgFree to all new FOW membersand current members whenthey first renew at the $45level or aboveAlso available at:Franklin Maps inKing of PrussiaJoseph Fox BookshopWeavers Way Co-opValley Green InnFriends of the Wissahickon • Summer 20137

We can support bees by planting native plants.Planting Bee-Friendly GardensThe risk of being stung by a native bee is actually very low, so don’thesitate to plant bee-friendly gardens, such as the one at the WissahickonEnvironmental Center. (see pg. 10) Bees often receive a bum rap forinflicting painful stings, however it is hornets, yellow jackets, and otherwasps that are aggressive and responsible for most stings. Native bees donot sting because they are solitary nesters and do not have large coloniesto defend.• Provide a succession of plants. In order to support a range of beespecies which fly at different times of the year, plant a succession ofplants that bloom between March and November.• Plant in clumps. Clusters of one species will attract more pollinatorsthan individual plants scattered throughout the garden. Where spaceallows, clumps four feet or more in diameter are best. Even a smallerpatch planted with the right flowers will add to the mosaic of beefriendlyhabitat.• Choose a variety of flower colors. Blue, purple, violet, yellow, orange,and white are best.• Include different flower shapes. Bees come in different sizes, withdifferent tongue lengths, and they feed on different shaped flowers. Arange of flower shapes attracts more bees.• Select native plants. Research suggests native plants are four timesmore attractive to native bees than exotic plants. Many introducedgarden plants are bee-friendly, too.Sources:The Pollinator Partnership (http://pollinator.org)The Xerces Society (www.xerces.org)The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat andConservation Landscaping (2003) (http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake)Acknowledgements:Special thanks to Nancy Lee Adamson, Ph.D., Pollinator Conservation Specialist at The Xerces Society,and Sam Droege from the U.S. Geological Survey.Thanks also to: Stephanie Wilson, Horticultural Intern at the Morris Arboretum; Ron Kushner,“The Passionate Gardener” columnist in The Shuttle (Weavers Way Co-op); Camila Rivera-Tinsley,Environmental Educator at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education; Brooks Mullahy, Naturalist,Beekeeper, and former FOW Board Member; Amy Hoffman, Education Coordinator at Bowman’s HillWildflower Preserve; and the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild.Perennial Plants that Attract BeesMost of the perennial plants listed in the chart below are native. Certainshrubs and trees are good pollen and habitat sources, too, and provide nestingsites for tunnel-nesting bees, however space does not allow including them here.For shrubs, trees, and more plant ideas, contact The Xerces Society (www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource center) and The Pollinator Partnership (http://pollinator.org/guides.htm)The plants listed here grow best in full sun. Those with an asterisk (*)include some species in the genus which tolerate shade. A genus name followedby spp. indicates more than one species. The list is not exhaustive but providesguidance on where to start. Annuals, herbs, and weeds also provide food forbees. Finally, should you choose to be bold, plant some garden “bee magnet”plants. The best “bee magnet” natives are milkweeds, bee-balms, mountainmints, goldenrods, and asters.Botanical Name Common Name Flower SeasonAquilegia canadensis* wild columbine May-JuneAsclepias spp. milkweed May-AugustBaptisia australis false blue indigo May-JuneChelone glabra white turtlehead July-OctoberEchinacea purpurpea purple coneflower June-AugustEupatorium spp. Joe-pye weed July-OctoberGeranium maculatum* wild geranium April-JulyHelianthus spp.* sunflower July-OctoberHibiscus moscheutos marsh mallow July-SeptemberLiatris spp. blazing star July-OctoberLobelia spp.* cardinal flower July-OctoberLupinus perennis lupine april-JulyMonarda spp.* bee-balm July-OctoberPenstemon digitalis foxglove beardtongue April-JunePycanthemum spp. mountain mint June-SeptemberRudbeckia spp. black-eyed Susan July-OctoberSalvia lyrata lyre-leaved sage April-JuneSolidago spp.* goldenrod June-OctoberSymphyotrichum & Eurybia* aster July-OctoberTradescantia spp.* spiderwort May-JuneVerbesina spp. wingstem June-OctoberViola spp.* violets april-JuneBees and Your PropertyAlthough we cannot manage native bees as intensely as beekeepersmanage honey bees, there are several measures homeowners and communitiescan take to provide a safer and more diverse habitat, such as:• Choose non-chemical solutions to insect problems. Most pesticides arehighly toxic to bees. If bees forage on sprayed plants, they die.• Leave undisturbed habitat for bees to nest. Bare ground, preferably with asunny, southern exposure, is ideal for certain native bee species to createholes for nesting. Approximately 70% of all native bees nest in the ground.30% nest in pre-existing holes in dead trees or old beetle tunnels in snags,twigs, and such. They may only be active for a few weeks, so may notalways be apparent.• Mow less often. Naturalize some areas. Mow when the weather is cool,overcast, or windy, or in the evening when bees are less active. Wherepossible, allow some lawn to revert to a more natural state with floweringplants, perhaps a meadow garden or mixed hedgerow. Clover and otherlawn “weeds” are excellent bee plants when allowed to flower.Photos by Nancy Lee Adamson, Ph.D., Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces SocietyFriends of the Wissahickon • Summer 20139

KEEPING UP With the TRAIL AMBASSADORSTrail AmbassadorTraining this FallFOW is offering a fall training session for thispopular volunteer program. The application deadlineis Friday, August 16, 2013.Trail Ambassadors are park volunteers whoassist and educate people in the park with anythingfrom directions to safety needs to park history,flora, and fauna. Ambassadors perform their servicein the park and participate in ongoing education.They become experts on the Wissahickon andhave the opportunity to delve deeply into their particular topicsof interest, while providing a valuable public service. TrailAmbassadors share their knowledge by:• interacting with and providing assistance to park userswhile walking the trails;• staffing information tables at FOW volunteer daysand events;• leading walks in the Wissahickon Valley; and• conducting surveys of park users and wildlife.In the winter FOW newsletter, I noticed on the page labeled “Keepingup with the Trail Ambassadors” a Field Report from September byPeg Shaw and Diane Garvey. They wrote, “. . . Encouraged birder whosaid she’d been meaning to join FOW to check out Trail Ambassadorprogram. . . .” Well, I’m quite sure that was me. I just attended myfirst TA training this week.FOW Trail Ambassador Fran Gilmore, 2/18/13Training will be held on Wednesday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m., at The CedarsHouse from August 28 to October 9. There will also be one Saturday morning FirstAid training session on Saturday, October 12, at FOW’s office. Applicants acceptedinto the program are required to pay a $100 registration fee, sign a one-timevolunteer release form, and obtain their criminal background check and childabuseclearance.Ambassadors must be FOW members or willing to join the organization. Thenumber of open positions is limited. For more information, program requirements,and an application form visit www.fow.org/volunteering/trail-ambassadors.Contact FOW Outreach Manager Sarah Marley with questions at marley@fow.orgor 215-247-0417 x109.Pollinator Garden atthe Tree Houseby Chelsea Heck and Trish Fries,Wissahickon Environmental CenterIt was a heartbreaking loss of three of our sixhives this winter, as Colony Collapse Disorderstruck close to home. In February, with noobvious reason, all of the bees were gone. ColonyCollapse is identifiable by no adult bees or avery low number of them, and little to no deadbees with honey and brood (eggs, larvae, andpupae) left behind. The Wissahickon EnvironmentalCenter’s (WEC) Beekeeper Chelsea Heck haspurchased new bees and one of these new hivesis in a beautiful cedar wood hive box donatedlast year by Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods. Thepollinator garden near the beehives is continuingto grow with plant donations by volunteers, and anew family of groundhogs has joined the activityof the garden.TA Field ReportSent: Sunday, 4/14/13 9am-12pmTo: Sarah MarleyFrom: Michael Kopena and Marvin SchwartzMode of Transport: Hiking Zone: B - Valley Green InnInteractions: Talked to three people on the trail. Four orfive more when we stopped by the information table. TwoRangers writing tickets at Valley Green.Shift Summary: Great day out. Many visitors enjoying thepark. Noted some very interesting rock and crystal formationsalong the Brown Trail, particularly rich with garnet. Gave a minigeology lesson to two park visitors curious about the micarichschist and garnets abundant in the park. Had a conversationabout dog leashing laws with a concerned park visitor. Had aconversation with several cyclists down by Valley Green whowere asking about what happened to the trail tags for bikes.We informed them that bicycle permits were still required forevery cycle-allowed trail beyond Forbidden Drive. Apparently, theyhad tried to get permits on the Parks and Recreation website butfound the website hard to navigate and couldn’t find it. NotedPark Rangers giving tickets to the many drivers parked illegallybetween Wise’s Mill Road and Valley Green. Picked up a bunch offishing line, along with other trash.Dogs off leash: Seven dogs off leash on Brown Trail betweenValley Green and Rex Ave. One dog off leash on Forbidden Drivecoming south from Rex Ave. We didn’t get a chance to sayanything in that instance, as the dog was trying to keep up withtwo cyclists.Photo by Kim Wood, WEC Educator10Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013This is a sample of an FOW Trail Ambassador field report, which areroutinely submitted after a patrol shift in the Wissahickon

Job #: NBCU155Job Name: Whispers Along the Wissahickon Sponsorship AdSUMMERRegistration is required so that participants can be informed of weather orother emergency cancellations. Walks are cancelled in heavy rain or thunderstorms. Unless otherwise specified, Trail Ambassador hikes use rocky, ruggedtrails that may be wet and slippery. Please wear sturdy shoes or boots withsocks. Long pants are recommended for protection against occasional poisonivy and possible ticks. Bring water and a snack if desired. Childrenover seven are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult,unless otherwise specified. Please email Outreach Manager SarahMarley at marley@fow.org with any questions.Orange Trail Hike with Merritt RhoadSunday, June 23 1-3:30 pmLearn a little bit more Wissahickon history and nature. Difficulty:Moderate. Distance: 4 miles along Forbidden Drive to Bell’s MillRd. and then along the Orange & White Trails to the Indian Statuewith return to Northwestern Ave. along Forbidden Drive. Meet atNorthwestern Ave. & Forbidden Drive.The Zip Line Site and Vicinity with Scott QuitelThursday, June 27 6:30-8:30 pmThere has been heated discussion recently of the pros andcons of a proposed zip line course within Wissahickon Valley Park.Come explore the forest that was proposed for the zip line andconsider the potential impacts to the area (positive or negative) that couldoccur. Observe large beech and tulip poplar trees, interesting forest floorvegetation, and rocky barrens. We will also hike a section of the Yellow Trail.Meet in front of the Wigard Ave. house, just inside the park from Henry andWigard Aves.Lovers Leap to Mom Rinker’s Rock with Scott QuitelThursday, July 11 6:30-8:30 pmCome out for an evening hike to explore parts of the Orange Trail, YellowTrail, and an interesting side trail. Along the way, we will check out someinteresting summer ecology, pass twice beneath the historic arch of theWalnut Lane Bridge, and enjoy views from three prominent, rocky overlooks.Hike will end by gazing west from the base of the Toleration Statue atop MomRinker’s Rock. Meet at the trailhead near the intersection of Hortter Street andPark Line Drive.To the Top of Both Ridges with Bruce WagnerSaturday, August 17 9:30 am-12:30 pmThe east ridge above the Wissahickon (Chestnut Hill side) and thewest ridge (Roxborough side) top surprisingly different forests. Thiswill be a 3.5 mile stroll reaching both ridge tops and enjoying howdifferent the terrain is and how different Wissahickon Creek looks fromeither side. We will take a leisurely pace, and our paths are sometimesrocky trails up and down hills, but not terribly arduous. Children,accompanied by a responsible adult, are welcome so long as they canmanage themselves, the trails, the hills, and needs of other walkers.Wear sturdy boots or shoes. Dress for the weather. Bring at least oneliter of water. Meet at The Cedars House at the upper end of ForbiddenDrive and Northwestern Ave.Horses & History with Diane GarveySaturday, August 24 1-3 pmThe route will take us through gorgeous shady woods and abreezy meadow. Learn about horses in the park, the history of theMonastery Mansion and Stables, and steps taken to protect theenvironment. We will follow the White Trail on our return to thehistoric Monastery Mansion and Stables. Difficulty: brisk pace alongrough, steep terrain with stops to talk. Distance: 3 miles along theOrange Trail between Kitchen’s Lane and Mount Airy Ave. Be preparedto scramble over rocky outcrops and logs. Children are welcome withadult supervision; dogs on leash are welcome. Meet at the parking lotat the bottom of Kitchen’s Lane in West Mt. Airy.Trail Ambassador HikesTop: Trail Ambassador Cynthia Turecki instructs Clara Iodice during her workshop “From theBack of a Horse” at Courtesy Stables. Photo by John IodiceLeft: Trail Ambassador Michael Kopena helping park visitors at Valley Green. TAs often staffa table there on weekends.Bottom: A large gathering of Trail Ambassadors at a TA Happy Hour in April.We appreciate ValleyGreen Bank reinvesting inour community and in theWissahickon Valley!You make the worlda more beautiful place.NBCUniversal is a proud sponsorof Friends of the Wissahickon.Bravo, Chiller, CLOO, CNBC, CNBC World, Comcast Sports Group, E!,ExerciseTV, G4, Golf Channel, msnbc, mun2, Olympics, Oxygen, Sprout,Style, Syfy, Telemundo, Universal HD, USA, VERSUSFriends of the Wissahickon • Summer 201311

Safety GuidelinesPark users should exercise with a partnerwhenever possible; if exercising alone, try to avoidusing the park during off-peak times.Be alert! Go headphone free! It’s not only unsafe from theperspective of crime prevention, but you won’t hear bicyclists behindyou or other potential problems.Vary your routine. If you always start your run at Valley Green at 6a.m., try going to Bell’s Mill Road or Kitchen’s Lane once or twice aweek.Trust your instincts. There is a sense of isolation from the city in thepark that has a lot of appeal, but if you sense trouble because of aperson or a place, leave.When you park your car, lock your doors, carry your keys with you,and do not leave wallets, cell phones, or other valuables in plainsight in your car. The major area of crime in the Wissahickon is inthe parking lots.Please report suspicious activity by calling 911.Visit www.fow.org frequently. FOW posts crime alerts as necessary.Important Numbers to KnowIf your car is broken into, call 911. Report the location ofyour car (the number of the parking lot will help). Stay untilthe police arrive.The Fairmount Park Rangers can be reachedat 215-685-0144.FOW Trail Ambassadors are often in the park. Their primaryrole is to provide information to park visitors about theWissahickon and report any problems they see to FairmountPark Rangers. If you are unable to call 911 or the Rangersyourself, a Trail Ambassador can help.Photo by Allison OstertagSwimming at Devil’s Pool and in anyof Philadelphia’s rivers and streams isillegal and dangerous. The PhiladelphiaDepartment of Public Health states thatswimming and wading is not permitteddue to risks of drowning, injury fromsubmerged objects, strong currents, and otherhazards. Swimming in Philadelphia creeks and riversis also a serious health hazard because of bacterialcontamination and pollution. Below is a list of publicpools near Wissahickon Valley Park.Awbury Recreation Center6101 Ardleigh StPhiladelphia, PA. 19138215-685-2895Hillside Recreation Center201 Fountain St.Philadelphia, PA 19128215-685-2595Public Pools Near the Park12Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013Kendrick Recreation Center5822-24 Ridge Ave.Philadelphia, PA 19128215-685-2584Pleasant PlaygroundEast Slocum St. and Chew Ave.Philadelphia, PA 19119215-685-2230PPR at Work on Two Forest Plansby Tom Witmer, Philadelphia Parks & RecreationPhiladelphia Parks &Recreation (PPR) hasrecently developed twomanagement plans for our parksystem. The first is a plan toaddress the arrival of the EmeraldAsh Borer (EAB), an insectpest that is expected to be inPhiladelphia County in the verynear future. It has been found asclose as Warrington, Pennsylvania,in spring 2012. EAB is an exoticinsect that attacks all species ofthe genus Fraxinus and resultsin virtually 100% tree mortality.The species was first discoveredin the United States in Detriot,Michigan, in 2002 and has beendevastating ash populations inthe Midwest and eastward sincethen. EAB has moved rapidlythrough Pennsylvania and iscurrently found in 31 counties. ItsPhoto by Leslie Sauermovement is primarily due to thetransportation of wood products or plants that carry the larval lifestage of the insect. Roughly 6% of the trees in Philadelphia (approximately 126,000trees) are white or green ash, and all of these trees are at risk.The plan, developed by PPR Natural Resources staff member Curtis Helm, followsa template developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and NaturalResources (DCNR). The initial task as outlined in the plan will be to inventory trees thatare or could become hazardous if killed by EAB. In summer 2013, park ash trees within100 feet of major trails, roadways, meeting areas, and private properties will be evaluated.All potential hazard trees will be documented and marked for felling in place, removal, ortreatment against EAB. PPR will use data from the completed inventory to develop a workplan and seek the funding needed to perform the recommended work. Since treatmentof ash trees is costly and generally only lasts for two years, only select “high priority”trees or groups of trees will be treated. Treated trees will be re-treated every two yearsas long as the pest remains. It is expected that the majority of ash trees that are in parkwoodlands will simply be killed by the pest and fall apart over time. Planting will be donein areas where a large number of ash trees succumb to the pest.PPR is also in the process of developing the “Parkland Forest ManagementFramework.” This is a broad-level plan that provides the framework to protect, maintain,and restore forests (upland and riparian), shrublands, meadows, and forested wetlandsin PPR parks. The scope of the plan is the natural areas within the City of Philadelphiapark system, including some neighborhood parks, such as Fernhill Park, that have multipleacres of natural lands. The plan will provide an ecological assessment of the park’s forestsand describe principles on enhancing and managing those forests. Some components ofthe plan will be:• An overview of existing conditions, including recent forest plot data collected by theU.S. Forest Service• A summary of past work in park natural areas• Management goals and guiding principles• Problems, threats, and constraints• Staffing, equipment, and funding needs• Projects that demonstrate goals put forth in the plan (demonstration projects)• Maps that illustrate various conditions, relationships, and opportunitiesThe plan is being developed by Biohabitats, Inc., a widely-respected environmentalconsultant in Baltimore, Maryland. Funding for the plan is being provided by the WilliamPenn Foundation. Both plans are posted on PPR’s website at http://www.phila.gov/ParksandRecreation/environment/forestry/Pages/Resources.aspx.Tom Witmer is Director of Natural Resources, Urban Forestry & EcosystemManagement, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

Treetop AdventureCourse inWissahickon HaltedIn May 2013, Philadelphia Parks &Recreation (PPR) announced that itwill no longer pursue the developmentof a Treetop Adventure Course withinPhiladelphia. (http://fow.org/zipline) Afterlengthy deliberations, FOW decidednot to support the five-acre TreeTopAdventure concession in the Wissahickonoff Henry Avenue near Wigard Avenue.This recommendation was conveyed toPPR, the final arbitrator on this proposal,and followed a prior statement issued byFOW in February that listed a number ofconcerns (see pg. 14). Although PPR wasresponsive to most of these conditions,several of them remained unmet or onlypartially met.As with many other issues affecting thepark, FOW followed a process that involvedcareful research, wide community input,and assessment of the project in light ofFOW’s mission. FOW representatives visitedthe Go Ape course in Rock Creek Park inWashington, D.C., and subsequent FOWdiscussions weighed myriad considerationsabout such a facility in the Wissahickon.FOW concerns were outlined in a letter toPPR in February 2013, members of FOW’sAdvocacy Committee and the ExecutiveDirector attended a public hearing onthe proposal organized by PPR, and theAdvocacy Committee hosted a specialmeeting in April with proposal opponents.Cameron Morgan at last year’s Ice Cream SocialSixth AnnualIce Cream SocialWednesday, August 21, 20133 to 6 pm8708 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut HillFree ice cream, music, activities for thewhole family, and the chance to meet withFOW’s staff and volunteers.Members are encouraged to wear theirFOW t-shirts and hats!For more information visit www.fow.orgSalamanders Help Tell the Story ofWater Quality in the Wissahickonby Robert Petrillo, Arcadia UniversityIn the summer of 2011, Robert Petrillo, a 2012 graduate of Arcadia University, examined how urbanizationaffects stream salamanders in the Wissahickon Watershed for his Senior Capstone Project, under thesupervision of Dr. Christopher A. Binckley, Assistant Professor of Biology.The urbanized landscape of Philadelphia playsa crucial role in the surrounding environmentand animal populations. When an areabecomes more urban it changes the surroundingarea in many ways that can have a negative effecton the ecosystem. I conducted a study in thesummer of 2011 in Wissahickon Valley Park alongthe Wissahickon Creek from Bell’s Mill Road toValley Green Inn. Being an urban park ,the aquaticecosystems within this area are greatly affected bythe surrounding city.The study consisted of sampling 23 first Long-tailed salamander (Eurycea longicauda). Photo by Robert Petrilloand second order streams (smallest streams ina watershed). Of the 23 streams sampled, seven were dry and 16 were flowing. The streams with water weretested for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. This was done using a YSI meter. Both the dry and flowingstreams were tested for the % urban, meaning how much urbanization surrounded the streams. Urbanization wasdetermined by using a national online database (http://streamstats.usgs.gov/pennsylvania.html). Two different typesof urbanization measurements were used: land cover, which consists of lawns, golf courses, and any other land thatis not in its natural state, and impervious surfaces, such as roads, sidewalks, and driveways. The streams varied in% urban throughout the study with an average of 49% urban.Both flowing and dry streams were tested for salamanders by lifting rocks and logs in and around thestreams. Salamanders were captured by hand and taken to the lab to be weighed, photographed, and measuredbefore being released back into the streams. The entire project lasted from May to October 2011, and over 200salamanders were captured and released throughout this time period.Four main salamander species were identified: two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata); long-tailedsalamander (Eurycea longicauda); red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber); and dusky salamander (Desmognathusfuscus). All of these species are in the Plethodon family, which consist of the lungless salamanders, which meansthey respire through their skin. In order to do this, they must remain moist, so they are found on the banks ofstreams with easy access to water. Plethodons are a good indicator family for stream pollution because theyare sensitive to temperature and pH fluctuations within their aquatic ecosystem. They also rely on streams forreproduction. The larvae of these species breathe through gills and live a fully aquatic lifestyle for the first portionof their lives (in some species up to three years), and they rely on dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water to breathe.My results indicated that salamanders were found in the flowing streams with large watersheds because theyneed the water to reproduce and stay moist. These streams were more urbanized because the watershed wentfurther into the city than the smaller dry streams. Although adult populations did not seem to be affected by theurbanized streams, they may take a toll on the larval forms. There was a negative correlation between dissolvedoxygen (DO) and urbanization, because colder water holds oxygen better than warmer water. When a surface isurbanized, stream temperatures rise thus lowering the DO.Overall, the study indicated some significant results and conservation implications to help these species in amore urban area. Future studies may benefit by choosing a place where a wider range of urbanization is found. Thegradient was small in Wissahickon Valley Park due to the overall large number of % urban watersheds. In a lessurban area the gradient may be able to prove if less urbanization directly correlates with adult salamanders. Thesite was also part of a renewal process to fix the erosion on these streams (FOW’s Sustainable Trails Initiative), andthis may have greatly affected salamander abundance. Future studies may want to choose a less disturbed area tostrictly look at the % urban of the watershed. The site was also in a an area where it was safer to take samplesonly during the day. Due to the nocturnal nature of these species, an area that can be sampled at night mightprove a better place to calculate abundance. Due to the correlation between DO and urbanization, future studiesshould also look for any correlations between % urban and larval salamanders to a greater level. Having a largersample size will increase the findings and indicate if the reduced DO caused by urbanization affects all species oflarval salamanders and affects them in all urbanized streams.It would be useful for this study to be repeated in the same area in the future to learn if these larvae aregrowing to adult species. Because there is no record of salamander abundance from previous years, the populationof adults cannot be determined to be healthy or not. In the future, if numbers are less than they are now, we willknow that these urbanized areas are affecting the salamander abundance.Background photo: red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber). Photo by Robert Petrillo13Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013

Update: Friends ofCarpenter’s WoodsBy Linda Goschke, President FoCWFindings and Concerns from FOW’s Visitto Go Ape in Rock Creek ParkDelegates from Friends of the Wissahickon visited the Go Ape facility at Rock Creek Park in Marylandand were pleased to find:• No environmental detriment to the canopy. No through-bolting of trees is practiced to supportplatforms; instead, platforms are placed using protective staves and bracing to keep the cabling andplatforms off the trees, ensuring that the trees are allowed to grow freely. Platforms are monitoredand adjusted when appropriate to allow for tree growth. Trees that had until recently hosted aplatform were inspected by FOW representatives and no visible damage was observed on thetrees’ trunks, roots, or limbs.• Low impact construction practices. Platforms and lines are placed in the canopy by handby experienced crews, with no large equipment on site.• High standards of care for the canopy. A Go Ape staff arborist evaluates the trees inthe facility’s boundaries on a regular basis, and these evaluations are kept in an activelog. Arbor care is treated as an essential part of the operation of the facility.• Regular invasive plant removal on the grounds of the facility.• An established willingness on the part of the Go Ape operators to work with localcommunity groups to promote environmental values.Although FOW has confidence in the environmentally low-impact nature of the GoApe installation, support will be withheld for this proposal until the following additionalconditions are addressed by PPR and/or the vendor:• Perform all due diligence with the community directly adjacent to the proposed zip linesite (Roxborough) to obtain community support for the installation.• Commission a traffic study at the Wigard Ave. park entrance.• Ensure that an environmentally and aesthetically sensitive parking lot is added to theWigard Ave. park entrance.• Ensure that no new buildings will be installed in the park. Existing buildings in the area shouldbe renovated and repurposed.• Ensure that land rented by Go Ape does not intersect with the Wissahickon trail system.The zip line course should not be visible from the trail system during summer leaf-out.• Link the rental income from the facility to the Wissahickon in a direct way. An idea that FOWwould strongly support would be to have income from the zip line concession offset the costsof an environmental educator at the Wissahickon Environmental Center.• Make the creation of a stewardship plan for habitat maintenance part of the lease agreementwith Go Ape.• Obtain written agreement from Go Ape to contribute volunteer service on habitatpreservation projects in and around their rental property.• Require Go Ape to place educational signage in the zip line facility (should it be allowed),with input from both FOW and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation as to content.• Ensure that there are provisions to provide an equal level of oversight to any successors toGo Ape, should that company be unable to fully execute any contract with the City.• Should the installation go forward, FOW should be named as a co-insured on Go Ape liabilityinsurance.• A termination clause for environmental impact should be added to the vendor rental contract.14Photo by Larry GoldfarbFriends of the Wissahickon • Summer 2013Much has been happening in Carpenter’sWoods, thanks to the efforts of the dedicatedvolunteers of Friends of Carpenter’s Woods(FoCW). In January, arborist Ken LeRoy definitivelyidentified a mature American chestnut tree in thewoods. There are several smaller, immature chestnutsscattered throughout the woods, and it is hoped theywill continue to remain healthy to maturity. Thanks toDavid Dannenberg for spotting this rare tree.On the March and April service days, volunteersremoved non-native, invasive plants along the lower trail,meadow, and hillside above the bridge. It is a constantbattle removing these aggressive invaders in Carpenter’sWoods’ native habitat. Volunteers hauled bags of Englishivy, Japanese knotweed, and garlic mustard out of thegorge.On May 2, over 40 volunteers from Friends CentralHigh School and Springside Chestnut Hill Academyworked in Carpenter’s Woods under the expertsupervision of David Bower, Volunteer Coordinator forPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation.Starting in the “thumbnail”section of the woods,northeast of Greene Street,these student volunteersrepaired three sets of ruts onthe hillside along North Mt.Pleasant Avenue. They repairedmost of the trail damage inthe thumbnail, caused by anexcavator in connection withthe Philadelphia Gas Works’(PGW) repairs at the stop signnearby. The good news is thatPGW has completed its workon the Greene Street corner ofCarpenter’s Woods.A family of screech owlshas taken up residence inCarpenter’s Woods. Photo byLinda Goschke.The student volunteersfound they could not repairone large crater along thetrail; it is now home to anextensive underground beehive!(Read more about bees on p. 8) This is a good reasonto check out this section of the woods, but don’t get tooclose. The bees do not appear to be aggressive, as theytolerated workers nearby, but getting too close mightdisturb them. FoCW will check the crater again in late fall,when the bees are likely to be finished using the space.Along the trail between the steps at Greene Streetand the meadow, volunteers cut up fallen trees andscattered the limbs throughout the gully repair projectsite. They also repaired the “fantasy fence” along themeadow trail, reinforced the gully closure, and planted awhite pine in the woods near the Ellet kiosk.On May 18, FoCW hosted LOVE Carpenter’s WoodsSpring Fest, part of the city-wide Love Your Park Week.The day included wildflower, trail, and night-time wildlifewalks, poetry readings, and tree planting near the WayneAvenue and Ellet Trails.

NEWMembersFOW is pleased to welcome the following new members, who joinedthe Friends of the Wissahickon from February 1 through May 31, 2013.Mr. Marion AmbrosMr. Taylor AndersonMr. Wesley AstheimerMr. Tom AtkinsonMr. John BakerMr. David BalamuthMrs. Donna BaldinoMs. Judy BantivoglioMs. Katherine BevansMr. Edward BiasiMr. Alan BlitzMs. Stefania BradleyMr. Charles BrantDr. Barry BubMs. Joan BurrellMrs. Dorothy CahillMs. Alice CampbellMs. Susan CampbellMrs. Deborah Cantu-HertzleMr. George ChamounMs. Gina Chestang-PaigeMs. Amanda ChildsJan ClarkeMrs. Andrea ClymanMr. and Mrs. Richard CohenMrs. Suzanne CohenMrs. Aileen ConwayMs. Linda CookeMr. Jonathan CornibeMr. Brendon CostelloMr. Phillip DammMr. Robert DankoffMr. Frank DaveyMr. Dan DeJosephMr. Richard DellheimMr. Ajit DesaiDr. John A. DetreDr. Bernard FriedbergMrs. Beverly GastMrs. Mairi GaugerMr. Robert GaussMr. John GiatropoulosMs. Fran GilmoreMrs. Julie GoldMr. Gary GrayCarole GreenMr. Bernard GreenbergMr. Kevin GrovesMr. Gregory GrussMr. Bernard HamelMs. Christina HavilandMr. Frederick HeldringMr. David HillMr. Jerome HochmanMr. John HolbackMr. and Mrs. Glenn HopeyMs. Emily HoughtonMs. Jennifer HubbardMs. Gwen Gordon andMr. Edward HughesMs. Virginia HulnickMs. Lynn JacksonMr. and Mrs. Andrew JarvisMr. Torben JenkMrs. Diane JohnsonMr. James JohnstonMr. and Ms. Thomas KaneMr. Patrick KavanaghMs. Kathleen KellerMs. Kathleen KnowlanMr. Willaim KochMr. Michael KopenaMr. Paul KrzywickiMrs. Judith LeiferMs. Marybeth MedernachMs. Dorothea MelnicoffMrs. Laurie MenyoMr. Derek MillerHank and Terri O’DonnellMs. Irene PalmerMs. Jennifer ParkerMr. Warren PearMs. Betsy PearsonMr. and Mrs. David PerelmanMr. John PerryBetsy and David PlimackCarl and Sandra RappDr. Ann RepplierMrs. Joan RittlerMs. Sharon RizzutoMs. Elaine SalvucciMrs. Christine ScennaMr. Lothar SchoebelMs. Jessica SchoenbergHinda SchumanMr. Rob SchwartzMs. Joann SeaverMs. Diane SembelloMr. Michael ShawMiriam SolomonMr. Henry SommerMs. Mariana SorensenMs. Mary SouthKim StrauchMs. Marie StrycharzMs. Sarah StuartMs. Tania StutzmanMr. Douglas SukeenaMs. Jamie SwidlerMs. Deborah TangenMr. William ThorpMrs. Lynne DixMs. Debbie Hoffman andMr. Robert TonerMr. David LevyMr. Alfonso DominguezMrs. Joanne TumoloMr. R. Fielding LewisDr. Edward DorazioMichael and Joyce VarzallyMs. Donna LongMrs. Marcea DriscollMr. Robert VictorMs. Linda Lou LopezMs. Lorraine DurkinMs. Sheila WeinbergMr. Robert MarshallMr. Chris EdwardsMs. Carla WhiteMs. Kathleen MayMs. Anna FalcoMr. John WilsonMr. Bruce McDowellMr. Harry FergusonMr. Steve WolfMr. Andrew McIlvaineDr. Scott FleischerMs. Kimberly WoodMrs. Maria McLeodMr. Abeo FolamiMr. Walter WoodMrs. Diane McManusMr. Michael FreedMr. George K. ZeislerHIKES IN THE WISSAHICKONTrail Ambassador HikesRegistration is required so that you can be informed of weather or other emergency cancellations. Walks are cancelledin heavy rain or thunder storms. Unless otherwise specified Trail Ambassador hikes use rocky, rugged trails that maybe wet and slippery. Please wear sturdy shoes or boots with socks. Long pants are recommended for protectionagainst occasional poison ivy and possible ticks. Bring water and a snack if desired. Children over seven are welcomeif accompanied by a responsible adult. Please email to Outreach Manager Sarah Marley at marley@fow.org with anyquestions. More information on p. 11.Orange Trail Hike with Merritt RhoadSunday, June 23 1-3:30 pmLearn a little bit more Wissahickon history and nature. Difficulty: Moderate. Distance: 4 miles along Forbidden Driveto Bell’s Mill Rd. and then along the Orange & White Trails to the Indian Statue with return to Northwestern Ave. alongForbidden Drive. Meet at Northwestern Ave. & Forbidden Drive.The Zip Line Site and Vicinity with Scott QuitelThursday, June 27 6:30-8:30 pmThere has been heated discussion recently of the pros and cons of a proposed zip line course within Wissahickon ValleyPark. Come explore the forest that was proposed for the zip line and consider the potential impacts to the area (positiveor negative) that could occur. We will also hike a section of the Yellow Trail. Meet in front of the Wigard Ave. house,just inside the park from Henry and Wigard Aves.Lovers Leap to Mom Rinker’s Rock with Scott QuitelThursday, July 11 6:30-8:30 pmCome hike parts of the Orange Trail, Yellow Trail, and an interesting side trail. Along the way, we will check out someinteresting summer ecology, pass twice beneath the historic arch of the Walnut Lane Bridge, and enjoy views from threeprominent, rocky overlooks. Hike will end by gazing west from the base of the Toleration Statue atop Mom Rinker’sRock. Meet at the trailhead near the intersection of Hortter Street and Park Line Drive.To the Top of Both Ridges with Bruce WagnerSaturday, August 17 9:30 am-12:30 pmThis will be a 3.5 mile stroll reaching both ridge tops (east and west). Leisurely pace, with some rocky trails upand down hills, but not terribly arduous. Children, accompanied by a responsible adult, are welcome so long as theycan manage themselves, the trails, the hills, and needs of other walkers. Wear sturdy boots or shoes. Dress for theweather. Bring at least one liter of water. Meet at The Cedars House at the upper end of Forbidden Drive andNorthwestern Ave.Horses & History with Diane GarveySaturday, August 24 1-3 pmWe will follow the White Trail on our return to the historic Monastery Mansion and Stables. Learn about horses in thepark, the history of the Monastery Mansion and Stables, and steps taken to protect the environment. Difficulty: briskpace along rough, steep terrain with stops to talk. Distance: 3 miles along the Orange Trail between Kitchen’s Lane andMount Airy Ave. Be prepared to scramble over rocky outcrops and logs. Children are welcome with adult supervision;dogs on leash are welcome. Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of Kitchen’s Lane in West Mt. Airy.Appalachian Mountain Club Delaware Valley Chapter www.amcdv.orgMondays. Wissahickon Gorge Wandering. Brisk-paced hike; distance is dependent on the conditions and speedof the group. Meet by Valley Green Inn at 6:30 pm. Bring water and a flashlight. Bad weather cancels. Leaders: ChristinaLawless (215-530-3883) or tinalawless@hotmail.com; Michael Lawless (215-836-2275); David Stein (215-508-5915) ordstein0857@yahoo.com. Thru August 26.Tuesdays. Tuesday Nights in the Wissahickon. Casual social hike through hills of Wissahickon Gorge. Bringwater and a flashlight or headlamp. Always an option for dinner following the hike. Meet at Bruno’s, at the corner ofGermantown and Northwestern Avenues, at 6:30 pm. Nasty weather will cancel the hike. Leaders: David Stein (215-499-9803 before 9 pm or dstein0857@yahoo.com); Pat Naismith (610-639-3670 before 9 pm or hikerbabepat@gmail.com).Thru August 27.Batona Hiking Club www.batonahikingclub.orgWednesday, July 10 Wissahickon Evening Hike. 6 miles. Depart from Allen’s Lane Train Station at 7 pm.(Chestnut Hill West Train arrives at 6:43.). A short walk from the meeting place in Chestnut Hill into the high trails of thepark rarely visited. Possibility for refreshments afterwards at a local establishment. Cost $1.00. Leader: Paul Piechoski,215-844-6190.Philaventures www.philaventures.orgLast Sunday of Month. Gay/Lesbian/TG Wissahickon Walk. Meet outside former Borders on GermantownAve. in Chestnut Hill at 1:45 pm on the last Sunday of the month. Return: approx. 5 pm. Walk at a focused pace, someups and downs, over uneven paths. Exit at midway break, if desired. A fun, talkative group of gay/lesbian/TG people wholike fresh air and occasional exercise. Leader: Andy B. (ABK121@hotmail.com).Check our website for updates • www.fow.orgBird lovers learned more about 125+ species ofbirds that migrate through the Wissahickon during springfrom expert birder and photographer Ruth Pfeffer at apresentation on May 15 at Valley Green Inn. This lecturewas part of FOW’s popular lecture series Valley Talks,sponsored by Valley Green Bank. Pfeffer is the ownerof Birding with Ruth and teaches courses for NorthPenn Continuing Education, the Morris Arboretum, andMontgomery County Community College. She has beenleading birding expeditions in the U.S. and abroad sincethe 1990s. Pfeffer led a birding hike to complement thispresentation on May 18.Trail Ambassador Sarah West leading a hike on geology in the Wissahickon.Friends of the Wissahickon • Summer 201315

Calendar OF EVENTS IN THE WISSAHICKONVOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESTHIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTHWissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) will lead a service project from 10 am to noon as part of their on-going reforestation activities. Details anddirections to the worksite posted on the WRV website (http://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org) at least one week prior to the event. For information and toRSVP, contact WRV at 215-951-0330 x2101 or wrv.info@rhd.org. Day of event, call Ron at 215-483-4348.EVERY TUESDAYFriends of the Wissahickon volunteers repair and build structures in the Wissahickon from 9 am to 1 pm. If you are handy with tools and like to build, contactFOW Volunteer Coordinator Eric Falk at falk@fow.org or 215-247-0417 x107.EVERY SATURDAYFriends of the Wissahickon leads a service project at various locations in the Park from 10 am to 2 pm, unless itis a holiday or there is inclement weather. Projects include trail maintenance, invasive weed removal, planting andclean-ups. For information, check the volunteer calendar at www.fow.org/volunteering/upcoming-workdays or contactVolunteer Coordinator Eric Falk falk@fow.org or 215-247-0417 x 107.FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTHWissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) will lead a service project from 10 am to noon as part oftheir on-going reforestation activities. Project details and directions to the worksite will be posted at www.wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org at least one week prior to the event. For information and to RSVP, contact WRV at215-951-0330 x2101 or wrv.info@rhd.org.Future calendar listingsfor the newsletter may beplaced by contacting theFriends of the Wissahickonat 215-247-0417 oroffice@fow.org.The Calendar of Events inthe Wissahickon mayalso be viewed on FOW’swebsite www.fow.org,which contains updateson our events, includingcancellations.RUNNING CLUBSEVERY THURSDAY— Friends of the Wissahickon Membership Form — YES, I/We want to help preserve and protect the Wissahickon.Membership Level $20 Limited Income/Students $45 Basic $75 Family $100 Contributing* $250 Sponsor* $500 Patron* Society of Generous Friends* $1000 $2500 $5000 $10,000 or above*Choice of: HatHISTORIC RITTENHOUSETOWNHistoric RittenhouseTown offers classes, workshops, and events for individuals andfamilies to learn about the craft of hand papermaking and other aspects of Coloniallife at the original Rittenhouse Family Homestead. RittenhouseTown is located onLincoln Drive at Rittenhouse Street. Summer Hours: Weekends, June-September12-4pm. For information on their programs call 215-438-5711, e-mail programs@rittenhousetown.org, or visit www.rittenhousetown.org.VAlley Green InnLocated on Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park. For more information: http://www.valleygreeninn.com.Yappy HourLast Tuesday of the Month. Benefits Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). 5-8 pm. 20% of Inn sales for the evening willbe donated to PAWS.Wissahickon Valley Watershed AssociationWVWA offers many public programs as part of its mission to protect the quality and beauty of the Wissahickon Creek andto enhance life in the Wissahickon Watershed. Located at 12 Morris Road, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information on theirprograms, visit www.wvwa.org.Tex Mex 5K Race for Open Space Wednesday, June 26 6:15pmA festive run followed by an award ceremony and Party Under the Stars. Capped at 1500 runners and the race sells out early.Inquire about our Green Ribbon Teams!Ice Cream Social at the Evans-Mumbower Mill Sunday, September 15 1-4pmAn afternoon filled with historic crafts, activities, live animal displays, music by the Now & Then Duet, and a tour of the Mill.Adults: $5, Children under 12: $3. Swedesford & Township Line Roads, Upper Gwynedd.Wissahickon Wanderers Trail Run. 4-5 miles. Starts 6:30 pm. at Valley Green Inn. For details call 215-849-9080 or visitwww.wanderersrunningclub.org.EVERY SATURDAYShawmont Running Club. Starts at the end of Forbidden Drive/Northwestern Ave. From the 2nd Saturday in May through the2nd Saturday in October we start at 7:30 am. From the 3rd Saturday in October through the 1st Saturday in May we start at 8am. Distances are at the discretion of runners. All levels welcome. Emphasis is on fun! www.shawmontrunningclub.com. Please keep the premium anduse the entire membership fee for the Park.FRIENDS OF THEWISSAHICKONHike with Susan Charkes,author of Outdoors withKids PhiladelphiaThursday, July 13 2pmWissahickon Environmental Center300 Northwestern AvenueSee p. 3Annual Ice Cream SocialWednesday, August 213 to 6pm8708 Germantown Ave.See p. 13 T-Shirt (circle size)Children: S M LRed Bird: Women S M • Adult L XLWarbler & Map: Adult M L XL XXLName______________________________________________________________________________________________WISSAHICKON ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERUnless noted, programs are FREE, begin at the Tree House & last 90 minutes. Pre-registration isrequired for all programs. Space is limited, so register early. For information and registration, pleasecall 215.685.9285 or email WEC@phila.gov.Firefly FireworksWednesday, July 37:30-9pmLearn more about our state insect, the firefly, also known as lightning bugs. Learn about thedifferences between male and female fireflies and join us for a fun game that teaches about theflashing patterns unique to each species. All ages welcomeAppalachian Mountain Club HikeSaturday July 132-3pmJoin Susan Charkes, author of Outdoors with Kids Philadelphia and AMC’s Best Day Hikes NearPhiladelphia, for a guided 2 mile hike in the Wissahickon. Families will also learn about the work doneat the WEC and the efforts of FOW to repair trails and the Tree House.Triple Play Monday Afternoons3 Mondays: July 8, 15, 22 1- 4 pmBeat the heat at the Tree House with three afternoons of fun for children ages 8 to 12. This seriesoffers a day of Fishing, Nature Crafts, and Creek Exploration. Register by July 5th.$25per day per child/$60 for all three Mondays.Family CampfireSaturday August 37:30-9pmSpend an evening around the campfire, roast marshmallows, share stories and songs. All AgesFamily Nature HuntSaturday August 10 10 -2pmExplore the new trails of the Andorra Natural Area while completing the challenge of this family naturehunt. Bring your magnifying glass and your nature detective hats! All Ages.Night Time GeocachingSaturday, August 24 8-10pmStop at the Tree House to pick up your coordinates. When you’ve completed your hunt hang outby the fire, share cache stories and enjoy some S’mores. Geared towards people with Geocachingexperience. First time? Come at 7:45 for a crash course! Ages 8 and up.Family Creek ExplorationSaturday September 14 1-3 pmGet knee deep and explore life in the Wissahickon Creek. Using the creek as a laboratory, we willsearch under rocks for aquatic life and discover how these critters can help us determine the healthof the stream. Come prepared to get your feet wet! Age 6 and up.Thursday TotsJuly 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 1-2 pmBring your little ones for an hour of discover at the Tree house. Each month we will explore a newtopic that celebrates the season. Ages 3-5. Parents stay with their child. Suggested donation: $5per session. Please register at least one week prior to the program. Cicadas (July 11); Mud (Aug. 8);Turtles (Sept. 12).The Tree House is Open the 2nd Saturday of Every Month! 10am-4pmCheck our website for updates www.fow.orgAnd Join us on facebook and twitterAll new members receive a map of the Wissahickon Valley. LimitedIncome/Student members receive invitations to all events and ourquarterly newsletter. Basic members receive invitations to all events; ourquarterly newsletter, and membership card with discounts for meals atValley Green Inn (in the park) and FOW merchandise. Family membersreceive all benefits of Basic membership plus choice of two kids tees(S [6-8], M [10-12], L [14-16] ). Contributing members and above ($100or more) receive all benefits of Basic membership plus choice of hat orT-shirt (M, L, XL).Method of Payment Check Enclosed(payable to the Friends of the Wissahickon)Street______________________________________________________________________________________________ Charge myCity____________________________________________ State___________________Zip Code_____________________ VISA Mastercard AmX DiscoverPhone (Home) ____________________ (Work) _______________________ E-mail______________________________Card Number__________________________I also want to help the Friends of the Wissahickon with:Expiration Date________________________ Membership Community Outreach Trail Repair Clean-Up WildlifeSignature________________________________ Fundraising Reforestation Structures Repair Education Vine RemovalPlease return to: 8708 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 • tel 215-247-0417 • office@fow.org • www.fow.orgContributions to the Friends are tax deductible as permitted by current laws.The official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll free, within Pennsylvania (800) 732-0999.