Green space… not the graffiti that I see (but not as much as when I first moved to Philly!) There’s actually been some really neat murals going up around my neighborhood!! Very interesting pictures and discussions happen with the kids after we see some of them, because they are different…… I like them…
ANYWAYS…. green spaces as in GRASS!!!!! 
Do you frequent any green spaces or place that you love?
I’d love to hear where your family loves to visit. Would you share a comment?
Philadelphia and the surrounding area is FULL of environmental centers, parks and green space! Most environmental centers offer some sort of classes for homeschoolers. There are multiple ways for homeschoolers to explore whether it’s-
- already scheduled classes they offer and you just sign up
- organizing a group of friends together to schedule a field trip
- just wandering around the grounds and exploring the great outdoors here in Philly limits!!!
Plenty of options!!!
I have been working on this list for awhile and thought
I would share some of the ‘known’ to me places!
Pennypack Environmental Center
WHAT: On Verree Road at Pennypack Creek is a hidden gem called the Pennypack Environmental Center. The main center features a small, family-friendly learning center and library that shows both the natural history and the human history of the Pennypack Creek valley and Northeast Philadelphia. The center leads to the park’s nature trails. You can also find Verree House, a circa 1725 house built by one of the first settlers in the area and expanded by his descendants, who prospered by building water-powered mills on the Pennypack.
Multiple FREE and pay events/classes throughout the year for the youngest in your family to the oldest!!! Scheduled homeschool classes are offered regularly.
Visit the center and take a hike on the trails! (FREE!!)
WHERE: 8600 Verree Road Phila 19115
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out their Facebook Page; sign up for their email updates also.
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Wissahickon Environmental Center
WHAT: The Wissahickon Environmental Center is located in Northwest Philadelphia in Fairmount Park’s beautiful 1800-acre Wissahickon Valley. The outdoor classroom consists of field, forest, and stream habitat. The visitor center known as the Tree House features a native fish aquarium, touch exhibits and a naturalistic mural depicting the woodlands of the Wissahickon Valley. Environmental education classes are held at the center throughout the year.
Multiple FREE and pay events/classes throughout the year for the youngest in your family to the oldest!!! Homeschool classes can be scheduled.
Visit the center and take a hike on the trails! (FREE!!)
WHERE: 300 W Northwestern Ave Philadelphia 19128
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out their Facebook Page
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Fox Chase Farms
WHAT: Fox Chase Farm is a working educational farm located in Northeast Philadelphia. It is closed to the public except during public events, some are free.
Homeschool classes can be scheduled.
WHERE: FOX CHASE FARM 8500 Pine Road Philadelphia, PA 19111
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out Fox Chase Farm
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Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
WHAT: The Schuylkill Center inspires meaningful connections between people and nature. We use our forests and fields as a living laboratory to foster appreciation, deepen understanding, and encourage stewardship of the environment.
Check out their Schuylkill Saturdays for free family events, all ages are welcome.
Chose from some great classes to schedule a homeschool class for your group.
Visit the center and take a hike on the trails! (FREE!!)
WHERE: 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road Philadelphia, PA 19128
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click HERE
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Palmyra Cove Nature Center
WHAT: Palmyra Cove Nature Park’s 250 acres comprise upland forest, meadows, and wetlands, including the 125 acres the freshwater tidal cove after which the park is named. Passive activities allowed along the 9.5 miles of trails include wildlife watching, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and even geocaching. Our trails are also the perfect place to take an afternoon stroll or go for a run.
Classes are available to schedule.
If you have little ones, looks like a membership here would be a GREAT DEAL! They have Cove Caterpillars and Family Walks which are included in the membership cost!
WHERE: 1335 NJ-73, Palmyra, NJ 08065
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out their webpage
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Churchville Nature Center
WHAT: Founded in 1964 as the first nature center in Bucks County, CNC sits on almost 700 acres of wildlife habitat. Facilities include a visitor center housing interpretive exhibits, a gift shop and both indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing areas and 2 miles of nature trails. Stand surrounded by fluttering gems in our Janet V. Makiewicz Butterfly House, visit a re-created Lenape Indian Village or take a stroll through our Marlin D. Corn Wildlife Gardens.
Lenape Village classes are available to schedule.
Membership levels look like a good deal!
WHERE: 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville, PA 18966
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click Churchville Nature Center
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Bartram’s Garden
WHAT: Bartram’s Garden is a 45-acre National Historic Landmark, operated by the John Bartram Association in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. It is a destination, an outdoor classroom and living laboratory. Visits are free!
Join as a member to participate in their monthly Little Explorers program for ages 2-4 and Homeschooler Days for ages 5-13. This is a great deal!
WHERE: 5400 LINDBERGH BLVD. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19143
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out their website
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Tyler Arboretum
WHAT: Located in the heart of Delaware County, PA, Tyler Arboretum is a place of natural beauty and history dating back to the time of William Penn. Today, Tyler serves the Greater Philadelphia region through horticulture, education, and the preservation of natural lands. It encompasses 650 acres of renowned plant collections, heritage and champion trees, historic buildings and 17 miles of hiking trails through woodlands, wetlands and meadows. The Arboretum is open to the public 362 days a year.
Tyler offers a homeschool class every Tuesday of the month. A discounted rate is available for members.
WHERE: 515 Painter Road, Media, PA 19063
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click HERE
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Cobbs Creek Environmental Center
WHAT: 850-acre Cobb’s Creek Park in West Philadelphia. It’s the largest environmental center in Philadelphia, and features a lab, classroom, exhibit and meeting room, bird feeders and gardens. The center is located along the Cobb’s Creek Trail. Visitors can learn about and experience a variety of habitats including the aquatic life, meadows and wetlands. Follow the trail south through forests and over bridges in and out of Delaware County for a great escape from the city. The center is very accesible from SEPTA bus routes and the Market-Frankford Line.
WHERE: 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19143
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click here for FACEBOOK
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John Heinz at Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge
WHAT: America’s First Urban Refuge was established in 1972 for the purpose of preserving, restoring, and developing the natural area known as Tinicum Marsh and promoting environmental education. Great (free!) year round programs and homeschool days!
WHERE: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click HERE
Here’s a link to a past post here on the blog — a review of John Heinz by a homeschool gal!
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Silver Lake Nature Center
WHAT: Visiting Silver Lake Nature Center, a 235-acre “natural treasure” in the heart of the southern portion of Bucks County, is an experience to be savored, not rushed. It’s a place where lush foliage, accessible wetlands and rich woodlands abound. The grounds have about 4.5 miles of Nature Trails routed through or near the various habitats, which include: Coastal Plain woodlands, Lake, Marshes, Fields, Wet Meadows, and an Unglaciated Bog.
This part sounds like great fun: Natural Play Area for Kids
This natural area is a place where children are encouraged to get off the trail and use their creativity. Many children today have lost contact with nature. This one acre plot is fair game for exploration as they get to explore “off-Trail,” play in our sandbox/fossil pit, build a log shelter, poke around in the stream, look under logs and rocks, balance themselves on a log, and much more. Come explore this beautiful, fun place!
Silver Lake offers 3 8-week long homeschool sessions to chose from and classes are available to schedule.
Visit the center and take a hike on the trails! (FREE!!)
WHERE: 1306 Bath Road Bristol, PA 19007
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click HERE
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Chanticleer
WHAT: Within 30 minutes of Philadelphia, Chanticleer is one of the great gardens of the region. Once the Rosengarten estate, today’s Chanticleer is a colorful, contemporary garden within a historic setting. The Chanticleer Foundation owns 47 acres, 35 of which are open to the public. The remaining acreage is in agriculture, woodland, service areas, and staff housing. The main path is just under a mile in length.
Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am until 5pm, March thru November. Children 12 and under are FREE! A season pass here may be a great deal (depending on how many big kids you have) !
WHERE: 786 Church Road Wayne, PA 19087
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check out their website
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Here are some other sites to check out:
Fort Washington State Park
The Fairmount Park system: Take a bike ride, a hike or a picnic, this great park system gives families the opportunity to “get out of the city” while they’re still in it. The Pennypack Trail, Wissahickon Valley Park, Delaware River Waterfront and Fairmount Park
Check out this site: Nature PHL for a database of parks and events around Philadelphia!
or Go Philly Go for another listing.
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Here are some more “get outdoors” opportunities
for you and yours:
Water Tower Play Group:
EVENT: Homeschool get together to play!
WHERE: Water Tower Recreation Center 209 E. Hartwell Lane Philadelphia PA, 19118
Outside if nice weather, in the gym during cold or rainy weather.
WHEN: every Friday, 2-4 pm
COST: FREE!!!!
AGES: all ages welcome
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Charlotte Mason Nature Study Group
WHAT: Mainly, our time will be spent walking around, exploring and discovering things in nature. Just letting the kids play too, but also indirectly teaching them to observe and study nature.
For the children 5/6 and up, I’ll do a quick object lesson and we’ll discuss aspects of the lesson. (Younger children will be there, but no pressure for them to pay attention or answer questions.)
Bring water, a snack, something for collecting nature objects if you want to take them home for further study.
WHEN: Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30
WHERE: varying locations
COST: FREE!!!!
AGES: all ages welcome
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please email Liz Wann at wann.elizabeth@gmail.com to get on the email list for weekly reminders and locations.
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EDGE (Exploring and Discovering God’s Earth)
WHAT: We ❤ Nature! Join EDGE Nature Group for fresh-air adventures as we explore God’s awesome creation. Have fun, investigate nature and build friendships with other homeschool families. Kids will have lots of opportunities to get loud, get messy and learn through play. A short nature lesson is presented each week.
WHEN: We meet rain or shine, every other Wednesday, from September through May.
WHERE: In an effort to give kids a wide range of outdoor experiences, we have several meeting locations that we rotate through in the Wissahickon area. EDGE has been meeting for about 2 years now. We typically meet to explore along the Wissahickon.
COST: FREE!!!!
AGES: all ages welcome
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please email Andrea Havens: edgenaturegroup@gmail.com to get on a weekly location email.
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Science at Lardner’s Point
WHEN: Bi-weekly classes or schedule your own!
WHERE: Lardner’s Point 5202 Levick St, Philadelphia, PA 19135
COST: $10 per child, multiple children discount
AGES: K-5th grade
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jessica Glick jessicasuzieq@gmail.com 717.368.6910
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If you are looking for some other
play groups search for:
tinkergarten.com (18 months – 8 years)
Free Forest School for All Philly (0-6 years)
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Here are some farm type places to check out:
Fayre Hollow Farm
WHAT: Fayre Hollow Farm is a small private barn providing individualized attention for all levels of riders. Kids and beginning adults taught grooming and horse care in addition to riding. Our horses are fabulous 🙂 They do offer homeschool classes! (Mondays and Tuesdays, there is room on Tuesday early afternoon. It’s $25/student or $20 each if siblings sharing a class.)
WHERE: 531 Ridge Rd Vincentown, New Jersey 08088
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Check Facebook
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Howell Living History Farm
WHAT: Today the Farm exists in its rural setting as both an example of farming as it was practiced in New Jersey in the period 1890-1910 and as a landscape where one can find the remnants of over 250 years of farming practice and life. Multiple class trips are offered to be scheduled!
FarmHands is a 3 hour long program for children 6-9 years old or 10-12 years old.
The Hatchery is a weekday morning program for children 3-5 years old.
Summer camp is available too!
WHERE: 70 Woodens Ln. Lambertville, NJ 08530
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click HERE
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WHERE: George Washington High School 
