Berks Nature

Hello Summer and Happy Summer Solstice to all!

☀ Hoping you fill this longest day of the year with plenty of summer smiles and outdoor adventures soaking in the sun ☀

In our beautiful, diverse country we are blessed to celebrate two independence days: one on July 4th to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the other on June 19th to celebrate the long awaited liberation of slaves in Texas (though the Emancipation Proclamation had gone into effect two years earlier in 1863).

Today we celebrate Juneteenth: a testament to the unyielding spirit and resilience of Black people and the bravery of people of all racial groups who fought to end slavery.

School is OUT and summer is officially ON at The Nature Place!

Eco-Campers returned to campus this week to kick off another summer of fun, friendship, and outdoor adventure!

Are you still looking for a summer camp? Limited spots are still available for our Eco-Camp at The Nature Place in Reading and Kaercher Creek Park outside of Hamburg!
Enroll your child at: https://support.berksnature.org/events

Small monthly gifts. Deep local impact.

One-time gifts make an immediate difference—but our land, water, and educational programs need protection every single month.

https://bit.ly/rootkeeper

Become a Berks Nature Root Keeper and protect land, water, and education – every month, all year long.

🎉🎓 HAPPY GRADUATION TO THE 2026 BERKS NATURE AMBASSADORS! 🎓🎉

Every year we are humbled by the passion of these community members who find the time, energy, and dedication to become Ambassadors not just for Berks Nature's mission, but for this incredible ecosystem we call home.

Welcome to the team - we can't wait to feel your impact!

Last reminder!
Sign up for our advocacy workshop tomorrow at Berks Nature to learn about all the ways we can protect our watersheds!
bit.ly/AdvWorkshop62

Time is a thief and suddenly today we find ourselves on the last day of Preschool... But we are so grateful for every day we get to spend with these bright minds and generous hearts. Onward and upward for our graduates of the Nature Preschool and happy summer to all! 🎓☀️🎉

It’s a saying with which most gardeners are familiar; if a plant is misbehaving in your bed, it’s not a bad plant, it’s just growing in the wrong place. Turns out, the same rules apply to native gardening!

Read on to learn what Holly and Suzanne did after a beloved native plant began acting out >> https://berksnature.org/right-plant-right-place/

Today is National Endangered Species Day, which is a good reminder to think about the wildlife that we share with Berks County.

Wetlands and grasslands are some of the most important habitats, but they’re also some of the most at risk. Practices like improper development, intensive farming, drainage, pesticide runoff, invasive plants, and a lack of restoration are slowly taking away what makes them so special.

As we lose our native plants, we also lose the animals that depend on them. Species like the northern bog turtle, upland sandpiper, short-eared owl, northern goshawk, and black-crowned night heron are all locally endangered species that rely on these habitats to survive.

Native habitats are worth taking care of. Let’s keep looking out for the wildlife and natural spaces that make Berks County feel like home!