The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education

http://www.schuylkillcenter.org
About

Since its incorporation in July 1965, The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (originally named Schuylkill Valley Nature Center) has been a regional and national leader in urban environmental education. As a not-for-profit institution, the Center began operation as one of the first environmental education facility located within the limits of a major metropolitan area in the country.
The organization's grounds, located on agricultural land that was farmed until the mid-1960's, has grown from the 11 acres originally gifted by the Center's Founders: Lawrence M. C. Smith, Mrs. Lawrence M. C. Smith, Mrs. Robert R. Meigs, and Henry H. H. Meigs. Under the direction of Richard James, the organization's founding Executive Director; the Center grew to encompass 340 acres of land - the largest privately-owned open space area within the city limits of Philadelphia - featuring a variety of habitats including woodlands, meadows, five teaching ponds and wetlands. In addition, four miles of hiking trails, public programs for all ages, school programs for K-graduate level students, and teacher workshops attract a multitude of visitors to the Center.
Originally operating out of River House, a historic summer home once a part of the Center's property, the organization now occupies the main Education Building. The entire Education Building houses laboratories, classrooms, an interactive children's exhibit (Discovery Center), a bookstore, an auditorium, staff offices, and the K-8th grade Green Woods Charter School. In addition, the Center's grounds contain a pavilion, environmental art trail, native plant nursery, and various ecological restoration sites. Located on the eastern side of the property is the Center's Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, which treats injured, orphaned, and sick native wildlife and provides wildlife education community programs.
In 2000, the Center adopted its Facilities Master Plan. This document was developed by Andropogon Associates, Ltd. and provides a framework for translating the Center's mission into a coherent physical plan in order to enhance the organization's educational programming.
Today, the Center continues to provide a high level of environmental education to the surrounding communities through its four interrelated departments: Education, Land Restoration, Wildlife Rehabilitation, and Environmental Art.