Take 5

See all the Virtual Visits!

Join our educators as they take you on a virtual visit to explore different aspects of Asbury Woods!

Animal Care 2022: Join our educators as they give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to care for the animals in our exhibit hall.
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Aquatic Habitats: Visitors to Asbury Woods often check out the aquatic habitats in the exhibit hall, but have you ever wondered what these underwater worlds look like from the perspective of the animals who live there? Our new submersible camera gives us a window into their lives. Join Director of Education and Community Programming Kelley Lang as she takes us on a tour of these underwater worlds.  
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Arborglyphs: Humans have been communicating with one another for thousands of years.  One form of communication can be found on trees around the world – Arborglyphs. Join Interpretive Naturalist Melissa as she introduces the history of arbor glyphs and how they affect the forests they are found in.
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Asbury Woods A-Z: Join Sarah as she explores the Asbury Woods property from A to Z. Discover some places or things that you may not know about Asbury Woods and print the A – Z Scavenger Hunt to use year-round during your adventures.
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Ash Trees: If you are a frequent visitor to our Greenway Trail, you’ve likely noticed some changes to the landscape near the boardwalk portion of that trail. Join Interpretive Naturalist Jessica as she takes you out on the trail to the area that was once a stand of Pumpkin Ash trees.  We’ll learn what happened to the trees there and how Asbury Woods is contributing to the restoration of the unique ecosystem surrounding our Greenway Trail.
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A Tour in the Microcosm: This Virtual Visit invites visitors to explore Asbury Woods through the lens of a handheld microscope. We will be learning about the unique features of some natural objects and seeing them in a whole new way with Kelley Lang, Director of Education and Community Programs. There’s so much to discover when we journey into the microcosm!
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Biomimicry: In this Virtual Visit, we’ll talk about biomimicry and how birds inspired airplane design. After learning about the science of flight, Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, challenges you to create paper airplanes with wings inspired by birds you see in your yard.
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Bugged by Beetles: As spring arrives, insects are becoming more active. One of the most recognizable insects is the ladybug. Learn more about how native ladybugs are beneficial and how their invasive cousins can leave us "bugged by beetles." 
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Capturing Backyard Wildlife Photos: Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano enjoys capturing photos of the wildlife that visit her backyard and sharing them with family and friends. Join Jessica as she shares some tips and tricks she’s learned over years of finding and documenting the many creatures.
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Create Your Own Backyard Bird Feeder: Learn to create a simple backyard bird feeder with Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano. 
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Cross County Skiing: Every season is perfect for recreation on the trails at Asbury Woods! Interpretive Naturalist Melissa loves to spend snowy days cross-country skiing.  Join her in this virtual visit to learn more about this fun wintertime activity and how you can give it a try at Asbury Woods.
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Earth Day 2022: Part of our mission at Asbury Woods is to inspire a greater connection to the natural world by protecting, managing, and interpreting our property. This Earth Day, we wanted to share some everyday actions that you can take to help protect the Earth.
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Eat Local! Join Jessica Stefano as she shares her passion for sourcing, growing, and raising local food! With the summer season upon us and farmers’ markets opening, Jessica walks us through why and how we can all participate in the local food movement in our latest Virtual Visit.
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Evaporation: Join Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, in this Virtual Visit as she demonstrates two evaporation experiments to show how evaporation helps recycle water through the water cycle. We'll also see how Asbury Woods uses evaporation each spring to create a delicious product.
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Explore the Asbury Woods Trail Cameras: We do not always see animals at Asbury Woods, but we know that a variety of species make use of the protected space in our community to find important habitat. This virtual visit uses one of our trail cams to give us peek at what the animals are doing at the Nature Center while we have been away, both during the day and at night. 
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 Fantastic Fungi: You’ve seen them growing in forests, fields, and probably in your own backyard, but how much do you know about mushrooms? Take a closer look into the fantastic world of fungi with Melissa in this virtual visit.
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Finnegan Draw-a-Long: Join Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano in her art room, where we’ll learn to draw one of Asbury Woods’ most recognizable faces, Finnegan the Ferret!  All you need is a pencil and paper, and you’ll be able to follow along with Jessica as she leads us through our latest Virtual Visit. 
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Geocaching for Beginners: Kelley Lang, Director of Education and Community Programs, leads a beginner’s guide to Geocaching at Asbury Woods. This outdoor recreation activity is perfect for people of all ages who want to head out and explore the world around them. 
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Going on a Micro Hike: Join Steve Wasiesky, MTSD Environmental Education Coordinator, as he goes on a micro hike! Let your fingers do the walking and take an inch-by-inch hike in your backyard to find out all the animals and plants that are living there.
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Go On a Nature Treasure Hunt: Join Kelley Lang, Director of Education and Community Programming, on a nature treasure hunt! This is a fun activity for all ages that can be done in your own backyard or on the trails at Asbury Woods. 
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Grandmother Tree: With 205 acres to explore at Asbury Woods, you are sure to find some unique places as you adventure. A favorite spot for many visitors is the Big Maple, known affectionately as the Grandmother Tree, located on the Greenway Trail. How long has this tree been watching over the trails? Find out in this Asbury Woods Virtual Visit.
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How to Nature Journal: In this three-part Virtual Visit, we return to the backyard with Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano to learn about the art and practice of Nature Journaling. In Part One (0:00:42), Jessica will share some interesting facts about why we might want to start nature journaling and will give us the basics of getting started. In Part Two (0:03:26), we’ll head out to the field to talk about the kinds of things we might include in our nature journal while observing the world around us. And finally, in Part Three (0:07:42) we’ll add some finishing touches to our nature journal to make it our own. Grab some paper and a pencil and join us as for this fun and creative Virtual Visit!
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How to Use a Compass: Melissa Goodwill, Education, and Program Coordinator, explains how to use a compass. Orienteering is the sport of navigation and a fun way to exercise your body and mind as you enjoy the outdoors. It's a sport for everyone, and beginners are always welcome.
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In the Tall Tall Grass: Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, reads the book In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming and talks about exploring our own backyards to discover the creatures that are hidden in the grass and under logs.
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Invasive Plants in Your Backyard: Join Sydney Fitch, Program Assistant, as she tours her own backyard and identifies some non-native plant species, and suggests some native alternatives.
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Lunchtime with the Animals: Are you curious about what some of the animals that call Asbury Woods home eat for lunch? Melissa Goodwill, Education and Program Coordinator, took a video of lunchtime feedings with a few animals at the Nature Center. This video is meant for an audience that understands our animals are carnivores and omnivores and naturally need to eat other animals as part of a healthy diet.
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Mad Science: It’s a perfect time to get outside and do some fun science experiments! Join the zany Dr. Goodwill for a fun-filled tutorial on how to complete 3 different science experiments that are great for any age. Do you have a favorite science experiment? Share a photo of your experiment on social media!
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Make Your Own Trail Signs: Kelley Lang, Director of Education and Community Programming, introduces a fun outdoor activity that is appropriate for upper elementary-aged children to complete with adult help or something middle school kids can do with just a little guidance. The Trail Signs Scavenger Hunt uses objects readily found in nature and can be completed in a variety of outdoor spaces – backyards, neighborhoods, or nearby trails. Best of all, it is a fun way to interact with friends, even when we cannot play together.
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Nature Apps: Join Asbury Woods educator Sarah and her sister Rachel as they explore the swamps, fields, and gardens around the Andrew J. O’Conner Nature Center using some of their favorite apps. A list of the apps used in the video can be found below. Click "Nature Exploration Apps"
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Nature Inspired Mother's Day Card: With Mother’s Day around the corner, Environmental Educator Jessica invites us back to her house to share three nature-iffy Mother’s Day card ideas. With just a few supplies and a little guidance, adults and kids alike can create a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Join us for this Virtual Visit to create a card that your mom will love!
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Nature Jobs: Scientists study many different parts of nature as their job.  Join Miss Melissa as she explores some of these nature-related jobs and what the scientists who study them are called.
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Off the Beaten Path: Join Executive Director Jennifer Farrar and her son James as she explores the Wetland Loop at Brown's Farm. She takes a small hike along this often overlooked trail and uses the iNaturalist Seek app to identify some plant species found in the wetland areas. The app Jennifer used is Seek by iNaturalist. Take your nature knowledge up a notch with Seek! Use the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals all around you. To learn more and to download this free app click here https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
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Our Green Roof: Winter, spring, summer, or fall, the green roof is always hard at work for Asbury Woods. Learn more about how the special features of the green roof make it more than a simple covering for the Nature Center on this virtual visit.
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Pennsylvania Snakes: Join Melissa Goodwill, Education, and Program Coordinator, for an introduction to snakes found in Pennsylvania, ways to identify venomous and non-venomous snakes, and the importance of this reptile.
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Plant Growth: In this Virtual Visit, we’ll learn how plants grow and make their own food through photosynthesis. Many root vegetables, herbs, and some fruits can be grown from cuttings that would otherwise be thrown away. We’ll show how to do this with five different plants.
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Pretty Pollinators: Join us as we take a virtual trip back to Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano’s backyard for our latest Virtual Visit. During this visit, Jessica will introduce us to some special creatures that pollinate the plants in her backyard and will share some ways that we can help our pollinator friends stay safe and healthy. 
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QR Code Quest: Are you looking for a safe and fun outdoor activity for you or your family to enjoy? Using QR Codes, Asbury Woods has created a puzzle for you to solve as you explore the trails in search of the nine plaques with the clues. Learn more about this activity from Melissa Goodwill, Education and Program Coordinator.
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Rabbit's Spring Adventure:  Join Asbury Woods educator Sarah in this Virtual Visit while she reads the book Rabbit’s Spring Adventure by Anita Loughrey and Daniel Howarth. We’ll meet Oliver, Asbury Woods’ Netherlands Dwarf Rabbit, and see him explore outside. We’ll also give you some information about what to do if you find baby rabbits in your yard this spring.
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Skunk Cabbage: In this Virtual Visit, Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano takes you on a tour of her backyard in search of skunk cabbage. Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as skunk cabbage or eastern skunk cabbage, is a low-growing plant that grows in wetlands and moist hill slopes of eastern North America. Bruised leaves present a fragrance reminiscent of skunk.
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Snow Science: Our Asbury Woods mad scientist, "Dr. Goodwill," has been busy this winter experimenting with all things snow and ice! She has picked her three favorite experiments to share with you that you can try at home before this winter is over.
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Swirl by Swirl: Join Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, as she reads a Swirl by Swirl, Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman, and leads a craft activity inspired by spirals you can find in nature. 
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Terrific Turkey Vultures: All of us at Asbury Woods love welcoming back all of the migratory birds that return to our region this time of year! Environmental Educator Jessica and her daughter Charlotte invite you back to their house to shine the Virtual Visit spotlight on a migratory bird that is often forgotten and misunderstood when celebrating the spring migration. If you love stories where the underdog becomes the hero, join us for this Virtual Visit about the Terrific Turkey Vulture!
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The Magic of Lightning Bugs: Lightning Bug or Firefly? Either way, you say it, these beetles light up the evening all summer long. Join Melissa Goodwill as she shares fun facts and the science behind this dazzling summer bug.
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Trail Etiquette for Dogs: Join Interpretive Naturalist Jessica as she goes over some dog etiquette and safety tips to follow while walking your furry friends out on the trails.
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Tree Draw Along: With April showers in the forecast, Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano invites you into her home for an indoor Virtual Visit. Grab some paper and a pencil and join Jessica as she leads us through the step-by-step process of drawing a tree. 
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Vermicomposting and Storytime: Join Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, as she gives you a virtual tour of the Asbury Woods vermicomposting program and reads Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer.
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Vernal Pools: Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide a habitat for distinctive plants and animals. Environmental Educator Jessica Stefano shows you a vernal pool found in her backyard and facts about salamanders.
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Waiting for Wings: In this Virtual Visit, we will read Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert and learn about the cecropia moth. We'll make a butterfly using a coffee filter. For the craft, you will need coffee filters, markers, water or rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs or a spray bottle, and clothespins. 
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Water Quality Test: How healthy are our local waterways, and how can we tell? Join Melissa Goodwill, Education, and Program Coordinator, as she takes you to Walnut Creek and shares with you a truly unique way to determine water quality.
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What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? Join Sarah Lewis, School Programs Manager, In this Virtual Visit, where we’ll learn how different animals use their eyes, ears, noses, and other body parts in the book What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Then we’ll draw or color different animal parts to use in a game creating imaginary animals. You can draw and color the animal parts yourself or use the coloring page we created. This animal mix-up game was inspired by the book Remarkable Animals by Tony Meeuwissen.
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What's Under the Log? What's under that log? Join Melissa Goodwill, Education and Program Coordinator, as she explores different micro-habitats found under, within, and around fallen logs and the animals that rely on them and how to safely and respectfully participate in this activity on your own.
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Wild Edibles: Did you know that some of the most common and recognizable “weeds” are actually edible? Take a virtual trip to Jessica Stefano's backyard where she’ll introduce us to a few wild edibles that she enjoys collecting and eating this time of year. We’ll also try some easily identified wild edibles in a recipe that can be made either sweet or savory. If you’ve ever been curious about wild edibles but weren’t sure where to start, this is the virtual visit for you!
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Wildflower Walk: Take a walk along the Greenway Trail at Asbury Woods with Melissa Goodwill, Education and Program Coordinator. Learn about the wildflowers that grow along the trail and how to identify them.
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Wildlife at Night: When the sun goes down, many unique creatures are waking up to enjoy the natural world at night. Join Melissa Goodwill as she introduces you to a few of these creatures and shares some fun facts and benefits of nocturnal animals you may find in your own backyard.
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Winter Birdwatching: Join Jessica to learn about species you will see in our area, citizen science projects to join, and how to attract birds to your yard.
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Wonderful Wetlands: Wetlands are very unique habitats that provide homes for many different plants and animals. That’s not all they do, though. They also provide many benefits to nature and humans. Join Melissa Goodwill as she explores the different types of wetlands and all of the wonderful things they do for the planet.
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Zero Waste: Can you help change the world using only your lunch? In this Asbury Woods Virtual Visit, we’ll share some eye-opening facts about our trash production, what it means for our planet, and how you can help solve the problem by making better choices when packing your lunch.
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