Sean Bradley, Staff

Over summer vacation, I worked as an educator at the Wissahickon Environmental Center in Wissahickon Valley Park. One of my favorite experiences from the job was participating in a week-long Ecology Camp in August. Founded by Tony Croasdale and Susan Haidar, my supervisors,, this educational camp is for children ages 11-14. We visited and learned about a different type of ecosystem found in the Delaware Valley each day. For this article, I will share my memories from this fun week.

On day one, we visited Dixon Meadow Preserve in Lafayette Hill, PA. There, we took a tour led by wildlife photographer Troy Bynum. On the tour, we saw some cool things including a European hornet, a Carolina mantis egg capsule and a beautiful, male blue grosbeak. Bynum informed us that a pair of blue grosbeaks bred here over the summer. Additionally, we saw two bobolinks fly over before leaving. 

European Hornet, via Sean Bradley

On day two, we visited Whitesbog Village, a cranberry farm in the Pine Barrens of NJ. This place is historically significant because in 1916, agricultural specialist, Elizabeth White, developed the world’s first cultivated blueberry. Today, many of her testing fields remain. There, we went on a guided tour of the farm and testing fields. Additionally, we saw plants and wildlife, including Virginia meadow beauties, a Fowler’s toad, an eastern musk turtle and a Tersa sphinx moth caterpillar.

Virginia Meadow Beauty, via Sean Bradley

On day three, we visited The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ to learn about the wildlife in the bay and in the surrounding marsh. There, with guided assistance, we got to go in the bay wearing waders to catch marine invertebrates using a seine net. Some invertebrates that were caught and released included Atlantic blue crabs and glass shrimps. Afterwards, we went on a guided walk through the marsh. Along the way, we saw laughing gulls and fiddler crabs. Lastly, before leaving, we explored the aquarium in the nature center.

On day four, we visited Tannersville Cranberry Bog in Tannersville, PA, which is unique for being the southernmost boreal bog east of the Mississippi. The bog formed from retreating glaciers about 13,000 years ago. Its unique distinction allows it to be home to many boreal plants like tamarack and black spruce, as well as cool plants like the carnivorous purple pitcher plant. Additionally, we saw an amazing diversity of fungi on the hike to and from the bog. While leaving, we saw a broad-winged hawk land on a telephone wire.

Tamarack and Black Spruce growing in the bog, Via Sean Bradley

Finally, on day five, we visited John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, which is the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. There, we explored the woods and wetlands and saw cool things like swamp rose mallow. Afterwards, we headed back and thus concluded Ecology Camp.

Swamp Rose Mallow, via Sean Bradley

It has been a pleasure sharing this article with you, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.