True to Our Nature
Talking Stick Learning Center is pleased to announce our new partnership with and relocation to Awbury Arboretum, a 55 acre parkland in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, beginning in the fall of 2013. We feel that with our move to Awbury Arboretum, Talking Stick is more aligned with our core principles: emphasizing experiential learning, celebrating collaboration, and providing educational opportunities for homeschooling families in Philadelphia.
Outdoor play has always been a priority at Talking Stick. The very real benefits of time spent in nature have been well documented. At Awbury Arboretum our natural environment has expanded and grown to 55 acres of meadows, fields, woodlands, wetlands, organic gardens, a pond, orchards, trails, owls, foxes, bullfrogs, and more. Our young people also benefit from our staff of experienced facilitators and naturalists who have been trained in the Talking Stick philosophy of learner-led education.
The Day Program will be located in a brand new building with a teaching kitchen, garden boxes, and the natural world as their playground. 4 - 10 year olds will spend time every day doing what they do best: discovering, digging, climbing, collecting, building, growing, observing, balancing, and exploring with all five senses.
Our programs for 10-15 year olds will be located in the historic Cope House. There, at the heart of Awbury Arboretum, young people will have opportunities to try nature journaling, studying dragonflies, identifying songbirds, investigating pond life, creating found-object art, tromping down trails, and musing on clouds.
We are all thrilled to be getting back to our roots in NW Philly, and moving into our new home at Awbury Arboretum. This is a new chapter in our story, one filled with rich opportunities for new programs and new connections.
