Great Valley Nature Center

History:

A colonial-era fieldstone bank barn, renovated in 1986 and 2001, serves as the education building. A nearby two-storied springhouse probably predates the barn. The Nature Center's 10.5 acres provide several natural areas for field study that include a stream, pond, wetland, field and woodland habitats. Also features is a Bird of Prey Center, replica Native American Lenape village, a Pennsylvania wildlflower garden, and a maple sugar house.

Great Valley Nature Center has offered quality environmental education programs since 1974. Our programs reach over 40,000 students per year. We offer an extensive array of on-site and off-site environmentally based programs that are designed for preschoolers through seniors, including individuals with special needs.

Arnold Bartschi (owner of Swiss Pines, an adjacent botanical garden) provided the land and start-up operating support to establish a nature center. The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Dr. & Mrs. Clarkson Wentz and the initial executive director, John Christie, were instrumental in developing the gift into a functioning environmental education organization.