Natural Lands

First Friday Frolic
2025-12-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Meng Preserve, 226 Mine Hill Rd, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, 19473
Take a hike with Natural Lands. Together, we’ll get to know other outdoor-loving friends during one of the best seasons at the preserve. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, the trails offer a mix of challenges and rewards for all levels.
We’ll make a few stops along the way to point out preserve highlights and the land management strategies we use to enhance wildlife habitat and facilitate public use.
Meng Preserve is located within the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape, a place-based partnership administered by Natural Lands and funded in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Winter Wreath Workshops
2025-12-05 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-12-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-06 13:30 - 15:30 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085
Nothing brings warmth to a home in winter like a homemade wreath. Join Stoneleigh staff for a guided workshop to create your own festive wreath using fresh greens and other natural materials from Stoneleigh’s diverse plant collections.
We’ll provide the materials, detailed instructions, and guidance so that you can walk away with a gorgeous wreath fit for your front door. Please bring gloves, pruners, and a bit of creative energy. We recommend bringing a large box for transporting your new creation home.
This class will be held indoors at the Carriage House.

Heartsongs & Harvest: A Winter Potluck Concert
2025-12-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Crow’s Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, Pennsylvania, 19520
Join us at Crow’s Nest Preserve’s beautifully rustic barn for a special evening of music, food, and community. This cozy winter gathering will feature an intimate performance by Edie Carey, a Colorado-based singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice, heart-grabbing songs, and engaging presence. With her blend of folk, Americana, and thoughtful storytelling, Edie draws listeners in with songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.
We’ll be gathering in the preserve’s heated barn, a comfortable and welcoming space that offers the perfect setting for a house-concert-style show. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her music, Edie’s performances are known for creating a sense of connection, warmth, and authenticity. As much a part of her show as the music itself, Edie’s wry humor makes audiences feel as though they’ve just spent an evening with a very close friend.
We invite you to bring a dish to share and enjoy a potluck dinner with fellow guests before the concert.
“Edie Carey’s ‘The Veil’ is a direct hit to the solar plexus…jaw-dropping lyricism…” – The Independent
About the artist: Edie Carey has been touring internationally since 1999, singing alongside Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile and appearing on Public Radio International’s syndicated Mountain Stage as well as Cayamo, Telluride Bluegrass, and Newport Folk Festivals. Her lullaby project with award-winning songwriter Sarah Sample won Best Children’s Album in the 2015 Independent Music Awards, and she was a featured vocalist along with Lisa Loeb on the 2020 Grammy-Winning ensemble All the Ladies. Americana Highways called her 2022 solo studio release The Veil “one of the best of the year” and Basic Folk listed it as #4 on their “Top 10 of 2022” alongside Grammy-nominees Anais Mitchell and Aoife O’Donovan. In the fall of 2024, she released Lantern In The Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies, her 2nd duo album with Sarah Sample. Their first ever co-written song, “In My Arms,” recently won 2nd place in the Children’s category of the 2024 International Songwriting competition, along with Grammy nominees Fyütch and Lucy Kalantari.
courtesy of Edie Carey

Volunteer - Nurture Nature
2025-12-06 09:00 - 11:30 | Stroud Preserve, 454 North Creek Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania, 19382
Love nature and want to lend her a helping hand? Grab gloves and join fellow volunteers in removing invasives, nurturing native plants, or restoring habitat. Projects vary, but good fun (and dirt) is guaranteed! Natural Lands cares for more than 23,000 acres and 120 miles of trails, and we couldn’t do it without volunteers like you.
Volunteering with Natural Lands is a great way to learn more about the natural world, give your time to a great cause, and connect with enthusiastic, like-minded people.
The health and safety of staff and volunteers is our highest priority during this volunteer event. Please review “before you go” details.
Capacity is limited for this small-group event. If you sign-up, please show up. If you need to cancel, please let us know so another volunteer can attend. All are welcome, ages 12 and up. Minors age 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult and registered in the same transaction as their guardian.

Peace Present: Mini Wellness Retreat
2025-12-06 10:00 - 13:00 | Hildacy Preserve, 1031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, Pennsylvania, 19063
As the holiday season approaches, how can you find ways to stress less, enjoy more, and replace feeling overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude?
Take some time for yourself to find steadiness and ease at our mini wellness retreat at Hildacy Preserve.
During the session, Christina Fittipoldi will lead a gentle yoga movement, accessible for all, and breathwork practice to support self-awareness.
If weather permits, there will be time for exploration and reflection of the preserve. We will explore the beauty of Hildacy with a moving meditation connecting us to nature to soothe our souls.
Finish your morning with a sound bath with singing bowls played on and off the body for deep relaxation, and grounding offered by certified vibrational sound practitioner Mindie Hung. The singing bowls grant the mind the opportunity to disconnect to turn inward.
About our instructors:
Christina Fittipoldi: Completed a 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training in May 2015 and began teaching a wide variety of asana movement at multiple studios. Eager to dive deeper, she completed the 300-hour teacher training at Main Line Yoga Shala in December 2019 entitled “Agni Moksha.” She enjoys guiding students mindfully through safe and responsible movement using body and breath awareness, allowing students to journey within.
Mindie Hung: In 2017, she became a certified vibrational sound therapy practitioner with the Vibrational Sound Association after her own healing journey began while experiencing the power of sound healing. Since then she has had many clients report feeling a deeper sense of connection to self, feeling more relaxed, better sleep and overall well-being. Some benefits of sound healing include improved mental focus, reduced stress and anxiety as well as improved mood.

Volunteer - Care for Nature
2025-12-07 09:00 - 11:30 | Binky Lee Preserve, 1445 Pikeland Road, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, 19425
Love nature and want to lend her a helping hand? Grab gloves and join fellow volunteers in nurturing nature. Good fun (and dirt) is guaranteed! Natural Lands cares for more than 23,000 acres and 120 miles of trails, and we couldn’t do it without volunteers like you.
Volunteering with Natural Lands is a great way to learn more about the natural world, give your time to a great cause, and connect with enthusiastic, like-minded people.
The health and safety of staff and volunteers is our highest priority during this volunteer event. Please review “before you go” details.
Capacity is limited for this small-group event. If you sign-up, please show up. If you need to cancel, please let us know so another volunteer can attend. All are welcome, ages 12 and up. Minors ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult and registered in the same transaction with their guardian.

Outdoors Online: Science of Spiders
2025-12-09 18:30 - 19:30 | https://wp.natlands.org/event/spiders-online-2025-1209/
Join us for a fascinating webinar exploring the incredible world of spiders—their biology, behavior, and the vital roles they play in ecosystems.
Our partner, Julie Travaglini with Allegheny Land Trust, will explore how these often-misunderstood arachnids hunt, build webs, and contribute to natural pest control.
Whether a seasoned naturalist or just spider-curious, this session will deepen your appreciation for these eight-legged wonders.
Grab a warm drink, get cozy with a blanket, charge your laptop (or smartphone), and join the program via Zoom.
About the instructor:
Julie is the Senior Director of Education and Curriculum for Allegheny Land Trust’s. In her role, she creates hands-on STEM and place-based lessons for children and adults alike as well as providing state accredited professional development for educators.

Through the Wild Lens – Photo Contest at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary
2025-12-11 | Pennsylvania
Connect with the wonders of nature—and share the magic you see through your lens.
Natural Lands invites photographers of all skill levels to participate in the inaugural “Through the Wild Lens” photo contest, celebrating the beauty, biodiversity, and serenity of Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary in Easton, PA. Whether it’s a fleeting moment of wildlife, a quiet landscape, or a close-up marvel of the forest, we want to see what makes Mariton special to you.
What we’re seeking:
Submit a single, original photo that reflects your unique connection to Mariton. Categories may include (but aren’t limited to):

Landscape photography
Wildlife in action
Macro and detail photography
Environmental storytelling

Let your lens tell the story of Mariton’s wild, subtle, and serene spirit.
Showcase & Celebration:
Selected photographs will be featured in a special gallery exhibit at the Mariton Nature Center, online, and across our social media platforms. The overall winning photo will receive special recognition and will be framed and displayed at the Nature Center for a limited time.
We’ll celebrate with an Open House Showcase on March 18, 2026, where photographers, community members, and nature lovers are invited to enjoy the exhibit and connect with others inspired by the sanctuary.
Deadline to Submit: Friday, February 13, 2026
Questions? Contact Tianna Godsey at Natural Lands. Scroll down for a link to submit and more guidelines/details.
We can’t wait to see what you discover through your wild lens.
Submit your photo and be part of this unique celebration of Mariton’s natural beauty.
PLEASE NOTE: Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary is closed for controlled hunting from November 29 – December 11. We ask you to be respectful during this time. To learn more about why we allow hunting on our preserves, please visit our deer management page.

Volunteer - Care for Nature
2025-12-13 09:00 - 11:30 | Gwynedd Preserve, 640 Swedesford Road, North Wales, Pennsylvania, 19454

Home for the Holidays
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-13 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-12-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-14 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085
The gardens at Stoneleigh steal the show from spring to fall, but in wintertime, the warmth of the Main House beckons. During this exclusive holiday “open house,” explore the spectacular Tudor Revival-style mansion while it is decked with nature-inspired decorations.
Stroll through the home, indulge in seasonal beverages and tasty treats, and enjoy musical performances from local choirs, instrumentalists, and organists in a festive and cozy setting.
Can’t make it at this date/time? Find the rest of the scheduled tours below:

Saturday, December 13, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Saturday, December 13, 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Sunday, December 14, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday, December 14, 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Saturday, December 20, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday, December 21, 12:00 – 2:00 PM

Volunteer - Nurture Nature
2025-12-14 09:00 - 11:30 | Bryn Coed Preserve, Flint Road, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, 19425
Love nature and want to lend her a helping hand? Join fellow volunteers in removing invasives, nurturing native plants, or restoring habitat. Projects vary, but good fun (and dirt) is guaranteed! Natural Lands cares for more than 23,000 acres and 120 miles of trails, and we couldn’t do it without volunteers like you.
Volunteering with Natural Lands is a great way to learn more about the natural world, give your time to a great cause, and connect with enthusiastic, like-minded people.
The health and safety of staff and volunteers is our highest priority during this volunteer event. Please review “before you go” details.
Capacity is limited for this small-group event, and pre-registration is required. If you sign-up, please plan to participate. If you need to cancel, please let us know so another volunteer can attend. All are welcome, ages 12 and up. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Adult(s) and the Minor(s) for whom they are responsible, should register in the same transaction.

Volunteer - Give Back to Nature
2025-12-14 09:00 - 11:30 | ChesLen Preserve, 1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 19320
Love nature and want to lend her a helping hand? Grab gloves and join fellow volunteers in nurturing nature. Good fun (and dirt) is guaranteed! Natural Lands cares for more than 23,000 acres and 120 miles of trails, and we couldn’t do it without volunteers like you.
Volunteering with Natural Lands is a great way to learn more about the natural world, give your time to a great cause, and connect with enthusiastic, like-minded people.
The health and safety of staff and volunteers is our highest priority during this volunteer event. Please review “before you go” details.
Capacity is limited for this small-group event. If you sign-up, please show up. If you need to cancel, please let us know so another volunteer can attend. All are welcome, ages 12 and up. Minors ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult and registered in the same transaction with their guardians.

Sold Out - Home for the Holidays | Behind the Scenes Tour + Inspiration Explained
2025-12-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085
This event is sold out. Please join us at a future event.
Get a first-hand look at the magic behind Stoneleigh’s beloved holiday open house. Each year, Stoneleigh: a natural garden is transformed for the season, with beautiful, natural decorations crafted from materials gathered on-site.
For one day only, Natural Lands members are invited to an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour to see how our dedicated team brings the holiday spirit to life in the historical Main House.

Home for the Holidays: An Evening of Music and Cheer with Les Canards Chantants
2025-12-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085
We are pleased to present Home for the Holidays: An Evening of Music and Cheer. We’ve transformed the spectacular Tudor Revival-style house at Stoneleigh: a natural garden with beautiful decorations crafted from natural materials gathered from the garden. This special evening offers the opportunity to see the house and its festive decor at night, aglow with the warmth of holiday cheer. The highlight of the event will be an inspiring musical performance by the acclaimed vocal ensemble Les Canards Chantants. There will be light bites and seasonal beverages. Celebrate this season with good food, good music, and good friends in an enchanting setting.
This event is for guests 21 years of age and older.
About the performers: Les Canards Chantants is an American solo-voice ensemble performing renaissance polyphony. The ensemble has been praised for their ‘elegant vocalism’ (Philadelphia Inquirer), ‘finely tuned vocals, robust singing, emotional flexibility, and sense of adventure’ (Broad Street Review), ‘brilliant and moving programming’ (Early Music America), and ‘liveliness and theatricality’ (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Founded in England in 2011 to explore the dramatic possibilities of the Venetian madrigal, Les Canards Chantants is now based in Philadelphia, where they have served as Ensemble in Residence at Glencairn Museum, and present concerts of renaissance polyphony at home and abroad. They have toured in the UK, Germany, and China, collaborated with such ensembles as Piffaro, Acronym, the Folger Consort, and Parthenia Viol Consort, and recently made their debut at the Indianapolis Early Music Festival. Co-directors Robin and Graham Bier both earned degrees in environmental studies as well as music. They share a deep love of nature that has inevitably led the group off the beaten path, from performing underground, to filming on the North York Moors, to plumbing the depths of renaissance music’s love affair with birds, animals, and even insects.

Website: www.lescanardschantants.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesCanardsChantants/
Instagram: @lescanardschantants
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lescanardschantants9770

Connect & Explore: Tri-State Bird Rescue
2025-12-19 18:30 - 19:30 | https://wp.natlands.org/event/connect-tristate-2025-1219/
Join our partners, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, for an informational portion of our unique ‘Connect & Explore’ opportunity.
If you’ve participated with us in our popular Mantis Meadow scavenger hunts, you don’t want to miss this Outdoors Online-style webinar. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at where our collected invasive mantis egg cases go—and how they help baby birds learn to hunt at Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, a Delaware-based nonprofit.
Founded in 1976 in response to devastating oil spills, Tri-State Bird has grown into a nationally recognized wildlife rehabilitation center. Since opening its full-time facility in 1982, and later expanding in 1989 and again in 2015, it has remained a cornerstone for wildlife rescue and education on the East Coast.
Today, the Frink Center for Wildlife houses cutting-edge surgical and research labs, outdoor aviaries and pools, and a specialized contaminated wildlife response center. With 80% of their patients impacted by human activity, Tri-State is deeply committed to public education—offering open houses, outreach programs, and resources aimed at preventing harm and inspiring appreciation for wild birds.
For nearly 50 years, the community has relied on Tri-State to help native birds heal, recover, and fly free once more. Come learn how your participation in local stewardship supports this life-saving mission.
Connect and explore with Natural Lands. Join us for this virtual webinar, and stay tuned for our upcoming spring events, where we will have the chance to tour Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research in-person. (Can anyone say, ‘field trip!’).

Volunteer - Undecorate the Main House
2025-12-23 08:30 - 12:00 | Stoneleigh: a natural garden, 1829 County Line Road, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085
Join us for a fun and festive morning as we “undecorate” the Main House after our Home for the Holidays event. Treats and music provided!
Meet at the Main House. This volunteer event will be held indoors.
Capacity is limited for this small-group event, and pre-registration is required. If you sign –up, please show up. If you need to cancel, please let us know so another volunteer can attend. Open to adults only.

Evening Embers, Winter Whispers: Wolf Moon Wander
2026-01-02 17:00 - 19:00 | ChesLen Preserve, 1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 19320
Celebrate the stillness of winter and the glow of the Wolf Moon with a guided sunset stroll through the quiet beauty of ChesLen Preserve. As the last light of day fades and the full moon rises, we’ll meander the trails listening for winter’s whispers in the hush of the season.
Gather afterward around a warm fire at the pavilion to enjoy camaraderie, hot cocoa, and cookies. It’s a perfect moment to pause, reflect, and welcome the new year with warmth and wonder.
Dress warmly and prepare to experience nature in one of its quietest, most magical moods.
Optional: Bring a UV or blacklight flashlight to discover what might glow after dark—and don’t forget to log your findings on iNaturalist to support community science.

Through the Wild Lens – Photo Contest at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary
2026-01-08 | Pennsylvania
Connect with the wonders of nature—and share the magic you see through your lens.
Natural Lands invites photographers of all skill levels to participate in the inaugural “Through the Wild Lens” photo contest, celebrating the beauty, biodiversity, and serenity of Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary in Easton, PA. Whether it’s a fleeting moment of wildlife, a quiet landscape, or a close-up marvel of the forest, we want to see what makes Mariton special to you.
What we’re seeking:
Submit a single, original photo that reflects your unique connection to Mariton. Categories may include (but aren’t limited to):

Landscape photography
Wildlife in action
Macro and detail photography
Environmental storytelling

Let your lens tell the story of Mariton’s wild, subtle, and serene spirit.
Showcase & Celebration:
Selected photographs will be featured in a special gallery exhibit at the Mariton Nature Center, online, and across our social media platforms. The overall winning photo will receive special recognition and will be framed and displayed at the Nature Center for a limited time.
We’ll celebrate with an Open House Showcase on March 18, 2026, where photographers, community members, and nature lovers are invited to enjoy the exhibit and connect with others inspired by the sanctuary.
Deadline to Submit: Friday, February 13, 2026
Questions? Contact Tianna Godsey at Natural Lands. Scroll down for a link to submit and more guidelines/details.
We can’t wait to see what you discover through your wild lens.
Submit your photo and be part of this unique celebration of Mariton’s natural beauty.

Through the Wild Lens – Photo Contest at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary: Deadline for Submissions
2026-02-13 | Pennsylvania
Don’t miss the chance to submit to our inaugural Through the Wild Lens – Photo Contest at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary! Today is the final day.
Connect with the wonders of nature—and share the magic you see through your lens.
Natural Lands invites photographers of all skill levels to participate in the inaugural “Through the Wild Lens” photo contest, celebrating the beauty, biodiversity, and serenity of Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary in Easton, PA. Whether it’s a fleeting moment of wildlife, a quiet landscape, or a close-up marvel of the forest, we want to see what makes Mariton special to you.
What we’re seeking:
Submit a single, original photo that reflects your unique connection to Mariton. Categories may include (but aren’t limited to):

Landscape photography
Wildlife in action
Macro and detail photography
Environmental storytelling

Let your lens tell the story of Mariton’s wild, subtle, and serene spirit.
Showcase & Celebration:
Selected photographs will be featured in a special gallery exhibit at the Mariton Nature Center, online, and across our social media platforms. The overall winning photo will receive special recognition and will be framed and displayed at the Nature Center for a limited time.
We’ll celebrate with an Open House Showcase on March 18, 2026, where photographers, community members, and nature lovers are invited to enjoy the exhibit and connect with others inspired by the sanctuary.
Deadline to Submit: Friday, February 13, 2026
Questions? Contact Tianna Godsey at Natural Lands. Scroll down for a link to submit and more guidelines/details.
We can’t wait to see what you discover through your wild lens.
Submit your photo and be part of this unique celebration of Mariton’s natural beauty.
