Great Escape: Leaming's Run Gardens

Kristen Facente accompanied seven garden and hummingbird enthusiasts to Leaming’s Run Gardens in Avalon, NJ for a guided tour and lunch. Our guide, Greg, was not only the entire gardening staff but also the son of the gardens’ owners. He knew each garden inside and out and shared his gardening secrets with us. During the walk, he also explained the history of the land and its original owners, and how it came to be in his family’s possession. While we sat in the shade and enjoyed his stories, hummingbirds darted around Cardinal Flowers not 10 feet in front of us. We learned that hummingbird feeders are actually very detrimental to the ‘hummers’ (for a number of reasons) and several of our group vowed to take their feeders down immediately! The gardens are also home to a wide variety of chickens and other fowl, which Greg breeds and cares for. After the tour, the group wandered on their own through the rest of the gardens. We enjoyed the gardens so much, by the time we sat down at Chef Ted’s Off-Shore Grill for lunch, everyone was starving! Lunch was very good, though, and worth the wait.

If you missed out on Leaming's Run Gardens, be sure to check the Briar Flyer or the schedule of events on www.briarbush.org for upcoming Great Escapes!

BBNC digs Philly!

BBNC has been featured on the website digphilly.com! The article features upcoming events, a little history and why BBNC is such a special place in the area.

Enjoy! (<-- That link will take you directly to our article.)

Earth Skills: July 28 - August 1

Monday: Water Day

Today we got to explore the aquatic world. Mark Fallon, Senior Naturalist, and Camp Aide Oceana led campers for a Briar Bush pond study in the morning, then traveled to nearby Baederwood Park to discover what lives in the headwaters of Tookany Creek. Finally, campers imitated the frogs, fish and other creatures they found by swimming and jumping in Crestmont Pool.

Some of the highlights: We caught and released frogs, tadpoles, backswimmers, a diving beetle, water striders, leeches, mayfly nymphs and daphnia at the pond. Campers used a key to identify organisms. In the creek, we found more (and bigger) water striders, which camper Robert nicknamed “skimmers.” We caught some small fish, and a large and small crayfish. We also found some natural clay deposits and learned that people can make bowls from natural materials. Campers played Nature Expedition in the creek and got points for finding creatures, helping each other and picking up trash. They lost points for going too far ahead or throwing rocks. The final score: 1,600 points!!!

Along the way, campers learned to identify Poison Ivy (and stay away from it!) and Jewelweed, a medicinal plant that can help stop the itching of bug bites and Poison Ivy. Mark also taught them about another risk of summer in the woods: yellow-jackets. These wasps nest in the ground and old logs. Campers learned that if anyone got stung, they should all run toward the nearest building or vehicle. This was a lesson that came in handy on Tuesday…

Tuesday: Shelter, Tools and Fire

Educator Jeff Moore used his extensive knowledge of Stone Age technology to show campers how to build a shelter out of woodland materials today. While in the woods at Briar Bush, camper Sammy found another shelter- a yellow-jacket nest! Because everyone had learned what to do, Sammy only got one sting and no one else was hurt – except maybe some of the ears of the other Briar Bush visitors when all the campers were yelling, “Bees! Run!”

Campers also got to see where many Stone Age people found shelter: in caves. Jeff led them through the Briar Bush replica cave and talked about why a cave makes such a great shelter and the earliest known art form: cave paintings. Campers did some of their own arts & crafts today, too: they made necklaces with slate pendants. Jake decided he would try to replace his tooth with his new slate pendant.

Things really heated up when Jeff showed campers how some Stone Age people made friction fires. The tinder was a bit too moist to get a flame, but Juan really got the knack of that fire bow! Charlie, John and Grant worked as a team to try to get their fire tools working. Elizabeth and Victoria found a cicada and told everyone all about them – those two know a lot about nature!

Wednesday: Wissahickon wandering and bugs galore!

Campers set out in the van with Mark to explore the Andorra section of Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park. We started with a bug hunt and found only two kinds of bugs in the ball field, but eight in the meadow thicket nearby. From the old burn area that had become a meadow, we could see the other side of the valley and all the campers knew that to find the creek, all we had to do was hike downhill.

Mark knew about another interesting Nature Center right nearby: Fairmount Park Commission’s Andorra Environmental Education Center, fondly known as “The Tree House.” Back when it was the home of the family that ran a large tree and shrub nursery on the grounds, the back porch actually had a huge chestnut growing right through the roof! The staff at the Tree House was very friendly and let all our campers look at the historic photos of the house when the tree still stood in the back porch.

Mark had one last trick up his sleeve, and drove the 20 minutes back toward Abington to Lorimer Park, where there was a big butterfly garden and a great creek to explore! Campers discover Yellow-Lined Salamanders, lots of Crane Fly Larvae, and Robert even spotted our first and only snake. No one believed him at first, and we went upstream for a bit to build dams and catch salamanders, but, sure enough, when we came back to the same spot, other campers started screaming! Mark identified the little snake as a baby Northern Water Snake, a non-venomous snake often killed because people think it is a Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin or other poisonous species. We finished the day with a dip in a deep poll of Pennypack creek. What an adventure!

Thursday: Clam Shell Knives and Animal Tracking

Campers got into the groove first thing in the morning by cutting grooves into clam shells. Making clam shell serrated knives was the order of the day. Jeff made three examples of prehistoric ulu knives still used by Eskimo and Inuit peoples today. After lunch, campers got their feet (and hands) dirty, learning about tracks that animals leave behind.

The absolute highlight of camp however, was roasting marshmallows over open flames. Campers selected their own sticks while taking a short foray around the center. For some strange reason, Grant’s marshmallows kept bursting into flames! Everyone seemed to love the sticky goo, except for Jeff, who had to clean up the bottoms of his sneakers after the campers left for the day.

Friday: Nature’s Shopping Trip and Stone Knapping

Stream crossings gone badly should have been the theme for this day’s activity. Campers took a trip to Peace Valley Nature Center and walked the outer trail loop. While taking White Oak Crossing, campers had to forge the stream, which had swelled due to a previous storm. Even though Jeff and Oceana helped campers “rock hop” across the stream, one at a time, and everyone got across safely, there were still two casualties.

Grant’s shoe became a raft and floated a hundred feet downstream before marooning itself on a sandbar. Charlie’s water bottle also jumped ship and is probably somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean by now. Too bad you didn’t put a note in the bottle, Charlie!

After lunch, Jeff showed how to use pressure flakers to shape and sharpen the edge of stones and campers practiced on small slate stones. Just before the end of camp, Jeff handed out pieces of obsidian glass and campers flaked the edges to make a Stone Age knife before going home.

Picture this!

BBNC photos are now available online! Follow the link below to find photos from 2008 summer camps.

summer camp pictures

Regal Moth Caterpillar

Yesterday afternoon, a neighbor stopped by with a fascinating creature - a regal moth caterpillar, also known as the hickory horned devil. These caterpillars are 12.5 - 14 cm in length, and as an adult moth have a wingspan of 9.5 - 15.5 cm. The caterpillar burrows for pupation, so it was a rare treat to see this since its size indicated that it was ready for that stage. *scroll down for pictures!*

*Please remember that Briar Bush is not licensed to accept injured or abandoned wildlife. If you find an animal that needs help, please contact one of the following centers:

AARK Wildlife Rehab. & Education Center, Inc.
107 Twining Bridge Road
Newtown, PA 18940
215-968-4963

Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Center
304 Port Royal Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-482-8217

A look back at 100 years: FOBB annual meeting and potluck

On Tuesday, September 9, gather with “Friends” to share a traditional potluck dinner and look back at the history of the Abington area. Members of the Old York Road Historical Society will provide photos, stories and more. Learn about Quaker couple, Everett and Florence Griscom, who moved to Abington in 1908 and shared their knowledge and love of nature with children and adults for over 50 years. See what Abington looked like when Willow Grove was a park with trees instead of a shopping mall. Following the presentation, you may choose to stay for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush and election of new board members. Please RSVP by August 26. Potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. at Briar Bush. The cost is $5/adult and $3/child under 10 – please bring a dish that serves 10 people. In order to accurately plan for the evening, please contact us to determine what type of dish to bring.

Watery Worlds - July 7-11

Nature was definitely in on the deal as Watery Worlds debuted at Briar Bush with a…splash…as campers completed experiments and craft projects learning about the water cycle. Nature did some teaching of its own, while dousing the campers with a thick coat of rain! The rest of the week was just as wet as campers explored the watershed of Baederwood Creek. The highlights of the day included catching salamanders and crayfish, and crawling through some adventurous tunnels. I could see the light bulbs pop on as students explored the concepts of watersheds, while getting a little wet of course. The exploration continued as Wednesday brought “Froggin’,” a definite camp favorite! Fauna big and small could not escape from our master “froggers.” On Thursday, the campers chased “Drippy” the raindrop on his path out to sea. Along the way, we visited Wissahickon Creek, the Schuylkill River and finally the Delaware River. Campers spent the whole day exploring a tidal habitat and all the incredible things it leaves behind. Finally, we ended the week by “searching for Drippy” at the Adventure Aquarium. The sharks were amazing and I even faced my fears and touched a jellyfish! The campers had an amazing and adventurous week filled with informative fun. I had a great time with all my water-loving campers and hope to be even wetter next year!

~Stephanie Sadlon, Curriculum Specialist/Environmental Educator

Help make our wishes come true!

As a non-profit organization, "luxury items" often fall to the bottom of our purchasing list, and it is through the help of our Friends and other supporters that we are able to get some of the items we want or need. Here is the most recent "wish list" of items that could help our programs and daily operations at Briar Bush:

• Umbrella stand
• Baby changing table for the restroom
• Most recent version of Quickbooks software
• Large plastic exercise wheel for the chinchilla
• Butterfly/insect nets
• Super glue
• Toddler-sized tables with chairs (2-3 sets)
• Toddler-sized step stool
• Collapsible stool with railing (for getting into BBNC van)
• Camera tripod
• A level for building exhibits
  

Remember that as a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation to us will be tax-deductible.

Critter Care - June 23-27

I don’t know who had more fun this week – the campers or myself and the Camp Aides! Animals are my first love, so I was very excited to spend an entire week with 12 3^rd-6^th graders who shared my passion. Over the week, I hoped to show the campers how much fun “working” with animals can be, drive home the difference between pets and wild animals and, of course, give them a great nature-based summer camp experience.

On the first day, the campers, Camp Aides Phil and Sophia, and I introduced ourselves and shared stories about our pets. Some of the campers told of their desire to work with animals “when they grow up.” We also met all of the Briar Bush animals and learned about their histories. A guest speaker from the Schuykill Wildlife Rehabilitation Center spoke with the children about the difficult but rewarding job of rehabilitating injured or abandoned wild animals. He brought four non-releasable birds of prey, including an Eastern Screech Owl and a Black Vulture, which we were able to view up close. The campers impressed me with their previous knowledge and deep interest as they asked appropriate questions and remained calm around the excited wild birds. After lunch, we visited the Perkiomenville SPCA, which houses unwanted or confiscated dogs, cats, small mammals and large animals such as horses and sheep. Many of the campers had brought donations of towels, canned food, newspapers and toys for the animals and it was obvious that the SPCA staff was grateful. Even though some of the animals’ stories were very sad, the campers remained upbeat and excited because they understood that the hard work of the SPCA staff helps pets have a second chance. Our tour guide impressed upon the children the fact that they should always do the research before getting a pet – something that we advocate at Briar Bush as well.

Tuesday was spent at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. We began with a behind-the-scenes tour of their Live Animal Center, home to over 100 animals. The campers saw volunteers feeding, cleaning and providing enrichment for the animals and asked how old they had to be to volunteer there! Again, our tour guide was impressed by the campers’ knowledge and interest. During lunch we chatted about why so many unwanted pets end up in places like the Academy and which ones were our favorites. Then, we toured the rest of the museum – the campers sifted for shark teeth at “Outside In,” crawled and walked like dinosaurs, and watched butterflies hatch and land on them in the Butterfly House.

n Wednesday, campers met a zookeeper and learned how to care for exotic species at the Elmwood Park Zoo. Our speaker asked the campers to act out animal injuries and then think like a veterinarian to diagnose ailments. She gave everyone a list of which animals make the “best” and “worst” pets – they got a kick out of the fact that many of their campers pets were listed under the “proceed with caution” heading. I allowed the campers to explore the zoo at their own pace (as long as they could see one of the three adults) and they really took their time, read the posted information and asked pointed questions about many of the animals. The favorite exhibit by far was the prairie dogs and the campers were fascinated to learn that wild ferrets feed almost exclusively on the little rodents. Our afternoon visit to the pool was refreshing and fun for everyone.

After three days of structured programs, we spent our entire visit to the Adventure Aquarium exploring on our own. If you have never been to the Adventure Aquarium, I highly recommend it – it is a darn cool place! Campers touched sharks, rays and jellyfish, talked with scuba divers through a foot of glass, and learned that hippos are graceful swimmers. The campers impressed me again with their ability to see the sights while staying together as a group. Back at Briar Bush, we got our hands and feet very dirty as we completed a pond study. Based on the insects that the campers found living in the pond, they decided that it is a healthy ecosystem with good water quality. They were as interested in the insects and snails they caught as the frogs and tadpoles.

On the last day, campers put into practice everything they had learned over the week as they took care of Briar Bush’s resident animals. We divided into groups for a little competition – which group could work together as a team to first decide what each of their animals needed in terms of daily care and then provide it for them? In the end, it was a three way tie – each group went above and beyond anything I had imagined and I told them any one of them could help with animal care any time they wanted! They truly had fun and took pride in providing excellent care for their favorite Briar Bush critters. In the afternoon, we built stick forts in the woods for animals to use as temporary shelters and talked about other ways to help local wild animals. We ended the week with a trip to the pool, lots of hugs and promises to come visit the Briar Bush animals again.

~Kristen Facente, Summer Camp Coordinator/Environmental Educator