Fairmount Water Works

The Watershed is an Open Book
2019-06-18 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-06-25 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-07-02 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-07-09 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-07-16 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-07-23 15:15 - 17:00, 2019-07-30 15:15 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Mander Recreation Center, 2140 N. 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
New Early Literacy Program for 3-8 Year Olds and Their Caregivers!

Weekly workshops with a seasonal theme to help build reading readiness using “teachable” moments in your own neighborhood.
Great incentives for frequent attendance, such as backpacks loaded with things to help your child read, explore, and play in the outdoors!
Partners: Mander Recreation Center, Edward Gideon School, and the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center.
Supported by the William Penn Foundation.

The Watershed is an Open Book
2019-06-29 12:30 - 14:30, 2019-07-27 12:30 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States

Exploring Our Urban Watershed
2019-07-27 10:30 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Explore what lives in our waters and what indicators we use to determine the health of our waterways. You will collect water samples and discover some of the microscopic mysteries in the Schuylkill River. You will also learn what we do on land to protect our rivers and its wildlife. After the lesson, you will be able to take what you learned onto the river in a kayak! Kayak tours include instructions on how to kayak, so beginners are welcome.*
Program Schedule:
10:30am Meet at Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center
12:00pm Break for Lunch (provided by FWWIC)
12:30pm Leave FWWIC for Guided Walk on Schuylkill Banks
1:00pm Meet at Walnut Street Dock for Kayaking
2:30pm Return to Walnut Street Dock
The environmental education program is supported in part by a grant from the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation.
Learn more about Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center here.
Learn more about kayaking with Hidden River Outfitters here.
Getting to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is easy!
SEPTA Bus Routes that stop close to FWWIC are Routes 49, 43, 38 and 32.
Ride your bike or an Indego bike – there is bike parking at Lloyd Hall and an Indego bike station at the base of the Art Museum steps.
Parking is available in the two Art Museum parking lots.
*Children under age 8 are not permitted to kayak, but can still participate in the program at FWWIC. Participants age 8-12 must kayak in a tandem kayak with an adult.

This free program is geared towards families and young adults ages 12-18. Lunch will be provided. Seating is limited, therefore registration is required. You can register by emailing heather.saeger@srdc.net or by calling 215-309-5523 extension 103. All participants must sign a kayak waiver. Anyone under the age of 18 must also have a parent or guardian sign their kayak waiver. Download the kayak waiver here.

Exploring Our Urban Watershed - SOLD OUT
2019-08-17 10:30 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
SOLD OUT
Explore what lives in our waters and what indicators we use to determine the health of our waterways. You will collect water samples and discover some of the microscopic mysteries in the Schuylkill River. You will also learn what we do on land to protect our rivers and its wildlife. After the lesson, you will be able to take what you learned onto the river in a kayak! Kayak tours include instructions on how to kayak, so beginners are welcome.*
Program Schedule:
10:30am Meet at Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center
12:00pm Break for Lunch (provided by FWWIC)
12:30pm Leave FWWIC for Guided Walk on Schuylkill Banks
1:00pm Meet at Walnut Street Dock for Kayaking
2:30pm Return to Walnut Street Dock
The environmental education program is supported in part by a grant from the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation.
Learn more about Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center here.
Learn more about kayaking with Hidden River Outfitters here.
Getting to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is easy!
SEPTA Bus Routes that stop close to FWWIC are Routes 49, 43, 38 and 32.
Ride your bike or an Indego bike – there is bike parking at Lloyd Hall and an Indego bike station at the base of the Art Museum steps.
Parking is available in the two Art Museum parking lots.
*Children under age 8 are not permitted to kayak, but can still participate in the program at FWWIC. Participants age 8-12 must kayak in a tandem kayak with an adult.

This free program is geared towards families and young adults ages 12-18. Lunch will be provided. Seating is limited, therefore registration is required. You can register by emailing heather.saeger@srdc.net or by calling 215-309-5523 extension 103. All participants must sign a kayak waiver. Anyone under the age of 18 must also have a parent or guardian sign their kayak waiver. Download the kayak waiver here.

Delaware River Festival
2019-09-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Penn’s Landing, Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, 19106
So excited about this year’s Delaware River Festival!
At our table, show off your creativity and create river murals with watercolors.

The Watershed is an Open Book
2019-10-10 17:00 - 18:30 | Gideon Elementary School, 2817 W. Glenwood Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
A Hands-On Early Literacy Program for 5-8 Year Olds and Their Families!

Workshops with a seasonal theme to help build reading readiness using “teachable” moments in your own neighborhood.
Great incentives for frequent attendance, such as backpacks loaded with things to help your child read, explore, and play in the outdoors!
Partners: Gideon Elementary School & Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
Supported by the William Penn Foundation

4th Saturdays at the Water Works
2019-10-26 13:00 - 16:00, 2019-11-30 13:00 - 16:00, 2019-12-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States

Exploring Our Urban Watershed - River Days Event
2020-10-10 10:30 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Get to know the Schuylkill River from a brand new perspective!
In a program held outside the Fairmount Water Works, and on the water, participants will explore ways the native landscape and river waters served the Lenni Lenape people and continues to serve us today.

Complete a scavenger hunt of native plants used today in the City’s green infrastructure projects.
Imagining how the land may have looked when the Lenape occupied the land, create a mural of the landscape surrounding the Schuylkill River.
Examine life in a drop of river water

Following lunch (bring your own), we will hike along the Schuylkill Trail (about 1 mile) to the Walnut Street Dock where we will get in kayaks and onto the water!
Kayak tours include instructions on how to kayak, so beginners are welcome!
Program Schedule:

10:30am – Meet at the Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center
11:30am – Break for Lunch (bring your own)
12:00pm – Leave the Water Works for Guided Walk on Schuylkill Banks
1:00pm – Meet at Walnut Street Dock for Kayaking
2:30pm – Return to Walnut Street Dock and head back to the Water Works

The environmental education program is supported in part by a grant from the Alliance for Watershed Education and DEP.
Learn more about Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center.
Learn more about kayaking with Hidden River Outfitters.

Learn more about Schuylkill Banks.
Getting to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is easy!

SEPTA Bus Routes that stop close to FWWIC are Routes 49, 43, 38 and 32.
Ride your bike or an Indego bike – there is bike parking at Lloyd Hall and an Indego bike station at the base of the Art Museum steps.
Parking is available in the two Art Museum parking lots.

This free program is geared towards families with older children. Minimum age is 12. (This program is not for children under 12 years of age.)
Program administrators and participants will follow the City of Philadelphia’s health and safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which includes small group size, social distancing, and wearing masks. Participants will be asked to complete a short questionnaire about recent exposure to COVID-19 and travel the morning of the program. Space is limited; therefore registration is required. All participants must sign a kayak waiver. Anyone under the age of 18 must also have a parent or guardian sign their kayak waiver. Download the kayak waiver here.

Exploring Our Urban Watershed
2021-05-29 10:30 - 15:00, 2021-07-17 10:30 - 15:30, 2021-09-04 10:30 - 15:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Join Fairmount Water Works and Schuylkill River Development Corporation in exploring the Schuylkill River in a program both on land and on the water!
We start at Fairmount Water Works and move through 3 hands-on activities: creating a mural of the historic Schuylkill River, examining microscopic life in a drop of river water and engaging in a native plant scavenger hunt.
After a brief lunch break (bring your own), we will hike down the Schuylkill River Trail (about 1 mile) to the Walnut Street Dock, where kayaks await. Hidden River Outfitters will give a brief orientation to paddling and then we’ll get into our kayaks and out on the river!
This program is geared towards families with youth ages 12 and up. (12 years is the minimum age allowed).
All participants must sign a kayak waiver, and participants aged 12-18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will need to sign the minor’s kayak waiver.
A bus will be available at Walnut Street to take participants back to FWW instead of walking back, if desired.
Space is limited; 18-person maximum. Advance registration required. Minimum age is 12.
In registering for this program, you agree to the following:

Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times.
Maintain six feet of distance between yourself and others not in your group.
Answer a set of questions regarding your COVID exposure the morning of the program. This can be done online.
Take a survey at the end of the program.

Email stacey.heffernan@phila.gov, Environmental Education Planner, FWWIC, for more information.

Watershed Wednesdays at the Fairmount Water Works
2021-07-28 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-08-04 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-08-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-08-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
We will get to know the Schuylkill River by exploring various watershed topics through hands on activities, games and art projects.
Suitable for ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Advance registration required.
Sign up for one session or sign up for them all!
All sessions are 10am-11:30am.
Email educator stacey.heffernan@phila.gov for more information.
July 28 – Life in a Drop of River Water: Use our iPad with a microscope attachment to discover the microscopic life in a sample of water taken from the Schuylkill River. Try to identify the little creatures and create drawings to take home.
August 4 – FWW Version of Gyotaku: Long ago, fishermen in Japan created gyotaku prints to record their prized catches and create art. Bring a white t-shirt for your printed fish creation! Learn about the different species of fish that call the Schuylkill River home.
August 11 – Plant Life in the City: We will randomly select varied sites to identify and compare the variety of plant life in a grassy area. Compare plants in a manicured area to plants that grow in a less managed site. Learn how to mount a plant to make an herbarium specimen to take home.
August 18 – Silt Island Plants and Animals: Learn to use binoculars and participate in a scavenger hunt on the Boardwalk. Discover all the different birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that live in our area. Bring a notebook from home and try your hand at nature journaling.
Photos will be taken of participants during this program for use by Fairmount Water Works and/or the Philadelphia Water Department. If you wish to opt out, please let us know before the program.

River Days 2021
2021-10-02 11:00 - 14:00 | The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
Enjoy hands-on activities for families throughout the day, plus a live performance conducted by the Cultural Heritage Fund Group, comprised of citizens of the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape tribe and presented by the Lenapehoking~Watershed, a place for water, art and culture.
Lenape performance/presentation starts at 1pm!
Space is limited, so be sure to secure a space for you and your family today!
Note:
Hurricane Ida is the second storm in recent FWW history that’s caused flooding of this magnitude. We understand that climate change is responsible for the intense storms we’ve experienced.
Due to extreme flooding at the Interpretive Center, this event will be held at The Discovery Center (, Phila., PA 19121).

Summer Splash Early Literacy Program
2022-07-09 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-07-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-07-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-08-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Join us for lively family expeditions at the Fairmount Water Works along the Schuylkill River on select Saturday mornings!
Explore the area with guided activities and continue the fun with take-home books and kits full of water-themed activities to do in your neighborhood.
Serving our neighboring neighborhoods: Brewerytown, Fairmount, Strawberry Mansion, Francisville, North Broad
Held on the following Saturday dates from 10am – 12pm: July 9, July 16, July 23, and August 6.
Pre-registration is suggested but not required.
Sign up for all 4 or individual sessions. Space is limited!

Honoring Our Past: Lenni Lenape Origins in Our Urban Watershed
2022-10-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Our River Days Program aims to honor and recognize the Lenni Lenape as the original shepherds of this region and provide community members with an opportunity to explore our watershed through games, hands on activities, and walking tours.

We’ll host the Aqua Marooned Game, lead a water quality testing activity, and wrap up the day with a Lenni Lenape land acknowledgement and interactive presentation.
No registration required.
