The Great Valley Nature Center
Approved Programs for PA EITC
Introduction to Great Valley Nature Center
The Great Valley Nature Center is now in its 41st year of providing southeastern Pennsylvania
school districts with quality environmental education programs. As a result, the organization has
a strong reputation for delivering school and adventure programs, outdoor enviro-school,
internship opportunities, leadership academies, special events and special needs internships to
schools (Pre-K through High School). Programs are PA State standard-based and enhance
science and history curricula while increasing awareness and appreciation for the natural
environment. GVNC’s unique hands-on presentations are delivered locally throughout Chester
County, as well as in the surrounding region, including Philadelphia. Schools can participate in
programs by coming to our 10.5 acre location or by hosting one of our traveling outreach
presentations.
GVNC Mission Statement
Great Valley Nature Center, through environmental education programs and outdoor recreational
experiences, fosters an appreciation and understanding of the natural world and promotes a sense
of responsibility for its care.
Organizational History
Since its November 1974 incorporation, Great Valley Nature Center has provided Chester
County communities and additional four counties of the Greater Philadelphia region with
environmental education opportunities.
A colonial-era fieldstone bank barn, renovated in 1986 and 2001, serves as the education
building. A converted farmhouse provides administrative, teaching and meeting space. The
Nature Center’s 10.5 acre site includes a stream, a pond, a wetland, field, and woodland habitats.
Other features include a replica Native American Lenape village, a Pennsylvania wildflower
garden, a springhouse that predates the barn, and a maple sugar house. GVNC is also home to
one of southeastern Pennsylvania’s live Birds of Prey Centers. This unique facility houses 17
permanently injured and non-releasable birds of prey including a Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcons,
Great Horned Owls as well as a variety of other raptors.
Great Valley Nature Center annually serves more than 35,000 participants (most of whom are
children in pre or elementary school) primarily throughout the communities of Chester County
but also the Greater Philadelphia region. The majority of the participants receive environmental
education instruction either at the Nature Center or at off-site locations that include public,
parochial and independent schools, scout camps, daycare centers, retirement communities and
other facilities. Students range in age from preschoolers to high school seniors and come from
diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The Nature Center also offers programs and volunteer
work training projects for individuals with special needs. Full-time educators, part-time help and
a core of more than 40 volunteers teach GVNC programs.
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EITC Approved Programs
The Great Valley Nature Center offers four “innovative educational programs” approved by the
PA Department of Community and Economic Development. GVNC receives contributions as an
approved Education Improvement Organization (EIO). The follow are descriptions of the
approved programs that can receive contributions through the State’s PA EITC Program:
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Bird of Prey Programming
Maple Sugaring for Schools
Water Quality Programs
Outdoor Adventure Programming and Residential Enviro-School
Bird of Prey Programming
The Center hosts one of southeastern Pennsylvania’s live bird of prey centers which are used to
educate more than 20,000 students and visitors each year. Species which students can have an
up-close contact with include the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned
Owl and others. Utilization of the birds allows us to educate students regarding specialized
topics relevant to our state and the nation including endangered species, avian migration,
environmental issues such as toxic pesticides and habitat loss. Our Bird of Prey program meets
PA EE Standards 4.3, 4.5, 4.7/SAS EE 4.1, 4.5, PA ST 3.3/SAS STE 3.1A.
Students learn first-hand how these animals became injured and learn ways to help their wild
counterparts. Students learn the impact of pesticides, illegal hunting, impact of habitat loss, and
injuries caused by automobiles. Using live animals, the physical and behavioral characteristics
are pointed out on each species to familiarize students how each species survives in the wild.
Students walk away with an understanding of why different species have certain adaptations,
their niche in the environment, and the impact humans can and do have on each individual
species lives. Additional goals of the program experience is to instruct students how to observe
animals in the wild, ways to “help” their survival, such as building bird boxes, recycling,
reducing chemical use and to become politically active.
Maple Sugaring for Schools
During the winter months GVNC presents an education program focusing on the Maple Sugaring
Process. The 60-90 minute program is designed for grades 1-12. This program meets PA EE 4.2,
4.4, 4.8/SAS EE 4.3, 4.4, 4.5: SAS STE 3.4B: PA H 8.1/SAS H 8.2, 8.3.
Students arrive at the Center and have a hands-on learning experience about the natural and
cultural importance of the maple sugaring industry in Pennsylvania. This unique and
comprehensive program is comprised of tree tapping, ID, and biology lessons, Native American
lessons, exploration of colonial history of maple sugaring and a visit to a working maple sugar
house. Students begin the experience by learning important facts about the biology of a maple
sugar tree. The process of photosynthesis is discussed, as well as instruction on how to identify
some local Pennsylvania trees.
Once they are familiarized with tree biology, they learn how to use an auger to tap a tree. A sap
bucket is placed on a tree to collect sap. Students then move 40 gallons of sap, representing how
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much sap is needed to make one gallon of maple syrup. Sap is then cooked over an evaporated
pan in our Maple Sugar Shack. Students learn the process of syrup making and then participate
in taste testing genuine maple syrup versus store bought “corn maple syrup”.
The program also incorporates historical elements of making maple syrup. Students learn how
the Lenni Lenape, Native Americans that lived in this area 500 years ago, made maple syrup.
History continues with the ways early colonists made syrup, where students actually participate
in taping trees, making spiles, and other hands on early colonial methods.
Water Quality Programs for Schools
GVNC offers students in grades 4-12 programs in water quality analysis: Pond Study, Stream
Study, and Watersheds. These programs meet the following curriculum standards: PA EE 4.1,
4.3, 4.6, 4.7, SAS EE 4.2, 4.5, PA ST 3.3 SAS STE 3.1A.
These comprehensive programs focus on the biotic and chemical compositions of our local
waterways. Topics such as food chains and communities, water quality, and the importance of
watersheds are discussed. Through hands-on participation students sample these waterways
using various chemical and biotic collecting methods. Chemical tests utilized include pH,
Dissolved Oxygen, Phosphates, Nitrates, and Carbon Dioxide. Students are instructed how to
use each chemical testing kit, and proceed to collect and record data. After testing is completed
each student receives nets, strainers, buckets and other collecting devices to physically collect
living organisms, the majority of which are macro-invertebrates. Students learn how to use key
identification guides to identify and record all species collected.
Once chemical and biotic collection is completed by the students, a thorough analysis of results
is performed with the students by GVNC instructors. Students learn what each chemical test
results mean to the overall health of the stream, and connections are made concerning the impact
their own actions have on the environmental health of the waterway.
Outdoor Adventure Programming and Residential Enviro-School
For more than 10 years, GVNC has offered a comprehensive menu of experiences designed to
submerse students in cross-curricular environmental education. During these full-day or multiday programs, students experience the outdoor environment while hiking up a mountain,
canoeing a local waterway or participating in a water chemistry analysis. These PA State
standard-based programs are multi-disciplinary ensuring that students cover subjects that are
taught during the school day. Standards include: PA EE 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6. 4.7
Canoe Trip for Monitoring Water Quality: Students spend the day canoeing on the
Schuylkill River. During the day they learn about the history of the river, as well as assess the
water quality by performing chemical and biological testing (see above description).
Hawk Mountain Hike: Students participate in a live bird of prey program followed by a
naturalist-led trip to Hawk Mountain. Students learn to identify raptors and also learn about
environmental factors that impact raptors in their natural environment.
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Residential Outdoor Environ-School: Students are immersed in a three day overnight
trip where teachers from GVNC provide lessons on ecology, biology, and PA history designed to
fit academic standards.
GVNC is an amazing local resource for our schools and for families with children of all ages.
These pre-approved EITC Programs provide schools with an environment and with tools to teach
children of all ages about the natural environment. Without these programs schools would not be
able to offer students hands on, educational experiences.
In 2013 the Nature Center received the following awards:
 Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce – “Community Betterment Award”
 Great Valley Chamber of Commerce – “Non Profit of the Year”
 Phoenixville Community Health Foundation – “Striving to make Phoenixville a Better
Place”
 Deveraux School – Students Living with Autism; Training Honorship Award”
 Pennsylvania State Senate – “Service Recognition Award”
 Pennsylvania House of Representatives – “Recognition Citation”
Great Valley Nature Center
P.O. Box 82, 4251 State Road
Devault, PA 19432
PH: 610.935.9777
E: [email protected]
W: www.gvnc.org