Community programs

Upcoming Programs

Book Club at the Conservancy

The Conservancy is hosting its first ever book club with guide Donna Usavage! The book club will focus on nature-based fiction and non-fiction works. All meetings are at the Conservancy headquarters (either indoors or outdoors) unless otherwise specified. 

Contact our Outreach Coordinator, Samantha, to get signed-up!

Date & Time: Meetings at 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of every month
Location: Conservancy headquarters (1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville)
Guide: Donna Usavage

Lawn to Garden Workshop

Learn about the many benefits of native plants and the harmful environmental impacts of “lawn culture.” Different methods and tips for reducing lawn area and increasing native garden area on your property will be discussed along with garden design and plant selection. Participants can choose to receive a native plant package with their registration for a fee or register for free without a plant package.

Date: Thursday, April 18th
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: New Hanover Township Building - 2943 N. Charlotte St, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Cost: $35.00 (registration w/ plant package) or free (registration w/ out plant package)

Rain barrel workshops

Rain barrels are a convenient water collection system, allowing you to save rainwater from your downspout for a variety of uses: watering plants, cleaning yard equipment or filling up your swimming pool. This sustainable solution is a win-win, minimizing household water consumption while decreasing stormwater runoff! All of the necessary supplies for making the rain barrel will be provided and our Director of Conservation will lead you through the step-by-step process of putting your rain barrel together. Participants will leave with a completed rain barrel that is ready to be installed and collect stormwater on their property!

Rain Barrel Workshop at the Native Plant Sale
Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
Location: Dragonfly Farm at Jacob Reiff Park - 775 Quarry Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Cost: $60.00

Perkiomen Township Rain Barrel Workshop
Date: Thursday, July 11th
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Perkiomen Township Building - 1 Trappe Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Cost: $30.00

Butterfly Garden Tour

Take a walk with our Conservation Coordinator, Jeff, to tour the newly installed butterfly gardens at Reiff Park! Learn about what species were planted, why they were selected, and which local butterfly species the gardens support. This is a free event held during our Native Plant Sale, but please register as space is limited! Please meet Jeff by the greenhouses to start your Butterfly Garden Tour journey.

Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Dragonfly Farm @ Jacob Reiff Park - 775 Quarry Rd., Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Jeff Cocci, PWC’s Conservation Coordinator
Cost: Free

Plant Walk @ the Plant Sale

Join one of our wonderful native plant experts, Kathy Salisbury, on a stroll around Jacob Reiff Park to spot beautiful botanicals, towering trees, and everything in between! With over 15,000 native perennials planted at Reiff Park since 2021, participants are sure in for a wonderous walk! This is a free event held during our Native Plant Sale, but please register as space is limited! Please meet Kathy by the greenhouses to begin your Plant Walk journey.

Date: Sunday, May 12th
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Dragonfly Farm @ Jacob Reiff Park - 775 Quarry Rd., Harleysville, PA 19438
Guide: Kathy Salisbury, Director of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University
Cost: Free

Hypertufa Planter Workshop

Make a hypertufa planter for your yard! Join the Conservancy at Hatfield Township’s Plant Exchange to make your very own planter. Hypertufa is a manmade rock formed from coconut coir, perlite, and Portland cement. Hypertufa is popular for making garden ornaments and planting containers because it is much lighter weight compared to concrete, but still offers the rustic and natural look of stone. All of the necessary supplies for making the planter, with the exception of the planters molds, will be provided and our Conservation Staff will lead you through the steps of making your planter.

Date: Saturday, May 18th
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: School Road Park - 1619 School Rd., Hatfield, PA 19440
Guide: Jeff Cocci, PWC’s Conservation Coordinator
Cost: $20.00

Rain Garden workshop

Learn all about rain gardens and their many benefits! Different methods to manage stormwater runoff on your property will be discussed along with a step-by-step process of installing and maintaining a rain garden. Participants will receive 3 native perennials during the workshop!

Date: May 30th
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Perkiomen Township Building - 1 Trappe Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426
Guide: Jessie Kemper, PWC’s Director of Conservation
Cost: $15.00

2024 Wildflower walks

Time: 9:30 am - 12 noon
Guide: Link Davis
Cost: No Registration or Fee

April 20   Perkiomen Trail @ Spring Mount - Spring Mt. Ski Slope.  Meet @ parking lot 40.273699, -75.454854

May 18   Fern Avenue, Evansburg State Park, Parking lot at intersection of Fern Avenue and Ridge Pike.  Meet @ 40.169258, -75.426943

June 22   Fulshaw Craeg, 124 King Road, Green Lane, PA 18054   Meet on King Road @ 40.337673, -75.419428 

July 20   Mill Hill   1025-1087 Ziegler Rd, Palm, PA 18070   Meet @ parking lot 40.4258, -75.52128

NO AUGUST

Sep 21   White's Mill Preserve, Whites Mill Road, Salford Township, Green Lane, PA 18054   40.35567, -75.40559

Oct 19   Meng Preserve, 226 Mine Hill Rd Schwenksville, PA 19473   40.26372, -75.48623

Interested in getting more involved and learning about our local environment? Check out our Volunteer Training Program!

Thank you to our Out & About Exploration Series Sponsors!