The Woodlands Wins 2018-2019 Barra Award

December 5, 2017

The Woodlands Wins 2018-2019 Barra Award for Exemplary Nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia Region

December 5, 2017 – Wayne, PA — The Barra Foundation has announced that The Woodlands is a recipient of a 2018-2019 Barra Award. The Woodlands joins 43 exceptional nonprofit organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region that will each receive $50,000 in grant funding. Barra Awardees are nominated by their peers in the social sector and are then invited to submit an application to the Foundation. The application questions focus on the organization’s leadership, performance and adaptability.

"It is an honor to be part of this exemplary list of awardees. The unrestricted funding that the Barra Award provides will allow us to continue to grow and serve our community better than ever."

- Jessica Baumert, Executive Director

In line with the Foundation’s mission to invest in innovation in the social sector, the Barra Awards provide unrestricted funding and introduce awardees to a diverse network of social sector leaders. “Without unrestricted capital, nonprofits have little margin for error or appetite for innovation. Through the Barra Awards we hope to provide organizations with some financial breathing room and their leaders with opportunities to learn from their peers—a diverse and inspiring network of entrepreneurial thinkers from across the nonprofit sector,” said Kristina Wahl, president of The Barra Foundation.

Since its 2013 inception, the Barra Awards has granted more than $6 million to area nonprofits. Awardees represent a range of nonprofits from the Arts and Culture, Education, and Health and Human Services sectors in the Greater Philadelphia region.

A full list of the 2018-2019 Barra Award winners is available here.

To learn more about the Barra Awards program, click here.

About The Barra Foundation: The Barra Foundation invests in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. Through its Catalyst Fund and Barra Awards, the Foundation provides approximately $4 million in annual grants that are focused on supporting innovation in and across the fields of Arts & Culture, Education, Health and Human Services.

About The Woodlands: The Woodlands’ 54-acre undulating landscape is at once a one-of-a-kind 18th-century English pleasure garden, 19th-century rural cemetery, and a modern green oasis for its neighbors in bustling University City and West Philadelphia. The Woodlands was designated a National Historic Landmark District in recognition of its unique history and rich resources. Actively used today, the cemetery, mansion, landscape, and programs are an educational resource for local school children, community residents, university students, as well as for a small, highly motivated cadre of scholars seeking further understanding of American architectural and botanical history, urban development, and the origin and growth of West Philadelphia.

Today, our mission is to enrich the lives of area residents and visitors by serving as a hub for activities and educational programs that interpret, celebrate and make available to the public The Woodlands’ historic buildings and tranquil green space.

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Toribird's Tips on Birding the Woodlands

October 31, 2017

I have loved birds since I was five years old! I am now fourteen and an intern for the Woodlands.

My talking parakeet gave me the nickname “Toribird”. Coincidentally, ‘Tori’ means ‘bird’ in Japanese!

In addition to The Woodlands, I also volunteer at a bird-banding station. I found a rare Black-headed Gull at John Heinz NWR, own a parakeet, and have participated in birding competitions. However, I'm not a total bird-brain. I am a nature photographer, pianist, and beginner singer. I enjoy writing stories that combine birds and music - my two passions.

Some notes on seasonal birding at the Woodlands:

Spring: Watch for migrating warblers, thrushes, and other songbirds. Swallows will arrive.

Summer: A rather dull time to bird. Look for breeding songbirds, and hummingbirds.

Fall: Look up! Migrating hawks, warblers, and nighthawks make Fall a fun season for birding.

Winter: Small songbirds such as sparrows and kinglets are fun to see. It is easy to see birds since the trees are leafless.

Sept. 27, 2017 Northern Rough-winged Swallows are plentiful at the Woodlands! However, they will soon migrate south, so catch them while you can. It is fun to watch these acrobats zip through the air as they chase insects.

The swallows are similar to the Chimney Swift, but swifts are gray, have shorter tails, and generally fly higher. Swifts will also soon fly south. But, when the acrobatic insectivores are gone, it will be time to watch for ducks, kinglets, and sparrows.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow photo by Toribird

Oct. 4, 2017 Hawks are awe-inspiring creatures. When they soar, they appear to be made of sun and wind. The great news is that hawks are easily seen at the Woodlands! The Woodlands are home to two hawk species: the Red-tailed Hawk and the Cooper's Hawk. The Cooper’s is seen in the forested area near the VA, and the Red-tail is seen in more open areas, generally near the house.

So how do you tell them apart? See the guide below.

Red-tailed Hawk: Overall chunky build. White belly, dark brown back, and rust-red tail. Band across the belly made of brown spots.

Cooper's Hawk: Overall slender build. Gray back and orange-tan belly. Thin black-and-white stripes on tail.

Oct. 11, 2017 If I say CROWS, what comes to mind? Do you think of spooky Halloween decorations, or a swarm of black birds, or a crow picking at bones?

Though crows have a bad, scary reputation in our culture, they are actually fascinating birds! Crows, magpies, and jays make up the Corvid family. Corvids are some of the smartest birds, capable of making tools, solving multi-step puzzles, and recognizing individual faces!

The American Crow is common in Philadelphia, and can certainly be seen at the Woodlands!

Oct. 18, 2017 If I had to guess, I'd say you didn't like vultures. You might even be afraid of them. However, they are interesting, useful, lovable birds.

Contrary to some myths, vultures do not predict death. Since they eat animals that are already dead, they almost never kill. And if they did not clean up carrion, there would be dead, rotting animals everywhere!

Also, though their heads are rather ugly, vultures' plumage is sleek and elegant. The Black Vulture is especially striking with its all-black body and silvery-white wingtips. Wildlife rehabbers and zookeepers have even described vultures as sweet and shy. It's no wonder vultures are my favorite birds!

Nov. 1, 2017 As the seasons change, some birds migrate south and others arrive. One of these new arrivals is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. These birds are a bit smaller than sparrows. They are overall brown with darker stripes and yellow patches at the base their of tail (rump; hence their name), head, and flanks. You will likely see them in a Juniper (evergreen) tree, eating the berries. These adorable birds are common, and can make birding even more fun!

Nov. 8, 2017 Have you ever heard the term 'Invasive Species'? If you're not familiar with this term, an invasive species is an animal, plant, or other organism that has been introduced to a part of the world where it did not originally occur.

There are many invasive birds in the United States. Three of the most common are Rock Doves (pigeons), House Sparrows, and European Starlings. Due to that fact that invasive birds are typically quite common, they are a good group for beginner birders to learn.

Unfortunately, since invasive species are adaptable and numerous, they often out-compete native birds. For example, European Starlings are pushing Purple Martins, a bird native to the US, out of the martins' former nest sites.

Nov. 15, 2017 Tap. Tap-tap. Tap-tap-ta-trrrrrr. A woodpecker drumming on a tree may be a familiar sound for you. Woodpeckers, as a group, are common, and adapt easily to living near humans. You may have even had a woodpecker drum an your house!

The woodpecker group consists of birds that have woodpecker, sapsucker, or flicker in their names. For example, the Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicker are all types of woodpeckers (and they all can be seen in Philly!).

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has one of the worst names in the history of ornithology! Not only does its "red belly" consist of only a faint pink tint, it also has a far more obvious red stripe going from its forehead to its nape. This can cause confusion with the similarly-named but overall different-looking Red-headed Woodpecker.

If you want to attract a woodpecker to your front yard, try putting up a suet feeder. Suet and the feeder can be found at most pet and grocery stores.

Nov. 30, 2017 As the nights get longer and the wind colder, people may think that winter is a bad time for birdwatching. It is true that some birds leave the Mid-atlantic to spend the season farther south. However, there are many that summer in northern places like Canada, and spend the winter right here in Philly!

Ducks, kinglets, and sparrows are among those that winter in this area. Also, birds like the Blue Jay, American Robin, and Red-tailed Hawk, along with various types of woodpeckers, can be seen year-round at The Woodlands.

Finally, since most trees have lost their leaves, it is much easier to find all these winter treasures!

Dec. 13, 2017 If you hear the word 'robin', you probably think of spring, blossoms, and April showers. However, contrary to popular belief, robins can be seen in Philly year-round!

Robins are a good bird for beginner birders to learn as they are distinctive, common, and, as mentioned above, can be seen all year. The distinctive markings of robins consist of a brick-red breast, gray back, yellow bill, and a broken white ring around the eye. See if you can spot these markings on the picture below!

The robin's full common name is American Robin, and its scientific name is Turdus migratorius.

Jan. 3rd, 2018 Though you might not think it, gulls are not seen only at the ocean. Ring-billed Gulls are a common year-round Philly resident. They are often seen on the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, lakes, and even shopping center parking lots! The Schuylkill River can be seen from the Woodlands, especially in winter. Try to spot a gull next time you visit!

To know what to look for, see the Ring-bill photo below.

Jan. 24, 2018 With the Super Bowl coming up, everyone is talking about the Eagles. What better way to celebrate your team's victory than seeing a wild Bald Eagle? See the list below for good places to see our national bird and the mascot of Philly's football team.

The Woodlands: Bald Eagles have been seen at the Woodlands, though they are not as common as some other birds. Since they eat fish, they are usually seen flying over the Schuylkill River. They can be seen year-round.

Conowingo Dam (Maryland): There is a guarantee of seeing eagles here - if you go in the winter. The eagles love to hunt the stunned fish that come through the dam.

John Heinz at Tinicum: There is a resident, breeding pair of Bald Eagles here that can be seen year-round.

Feb. 28, 2018 Spring is just around the corner, and the weather seems to agree! For birding, this means spring migration! Two main groups of birds that pass through Philly is spring are warblers and shorebirds.

WARBLERS: small, often colorful insect-eating birds. Learning songs is helpful for identifying warblers high up in leafy trees. Yellow-rumped Warblers are winter birds for Philly, but most others pass though in spring and fall.

SHOREBIRDS: small to medium long-legged birds. They are often gray or brown, but cute despite dull color. They can be seen at the beach, on the shores of ponds, and on mudflats along rivers. Some stay year-round, but most migrate.

March 14, 2018 So you're watching a movie set in Alaska's wilderness. A Bald Eagle soars overhead, and you hear its majestic scream - "Kreeaa-kaa!"

Except... that's not really the sound that eagles make. The stereotypical hawk or eagle sound is the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk. This sound is used in place of the true eagle call for a good reason - Bald Eagles sound like hoarse chickens. To hear a recording of an eagle, click here: https://www.xeno-canto.org/explore?query=Bald+Eagle

April 11, 2018 Spring migration is a wonderful whirlwind of color, sound, and diversity. Many birds can only be seen in Philly during the spring and fall - they spend the summer farther north, like in Canada, and the winter farther south, in Florida or the Bahamas. One of these birds is the Blackpoll Warbler.

Blackpolls are known for their amazing flight from boreal forest in Alaska and Canada to South America. Some birds fly nonstop over the ocean! The blackpoll is not alone, however. Thrushes, orioles, and swifts also make incredible yearly journeys. Some shorebirds even make it to Argentina!

If you've been considering going on a birdwalk, now is the time! This display comes only once a year, so grab it while you can!

May 1, 2018 With the warmer weather comes a feathered cornucopia of color and activity! Let's take a closer look at the bird species and bird activity that we can expect to see in the next few weeks.

First of all, spring migration is nearing its peak! This means that many birds such as warblers, thrushes, and shorebirds are passing through Philly on their way to more northern regions. Also, birds like swallows and the Chimney Swift, to name a few, will return to breed right here.

Also, year-round residents like sparrows, finches, and woodpeckers are beginning to build nests. If you see a bird carrying grass, twine, or something similar, rest assured that it is busy constructing a safe home for its babies.

So head to the Woodlands, and see what springtime activity you can spot!

Jessie Wilcox Smith & The Red Rose Girls

October 25, 2017

As part of our Halloween celebrations this year we're focusing on some of the incredible women who are buried here at The Woodlands. Curio Theater Company is bringing to life the stories of five "Wicked Women of The Woodlands" by exploring what it meant to be an independent, courageous, and defiant woman in the Victorian era. Read on to learn about one of the most extraordinary women buried here, a Philadelphia Illustrator, Jessie Wilcox Smith.

Jessie_Willcox_Smith,_photograph_estimate_1880-1910.jpg

Jessie Willcox Smith was born on September 6, 1863 in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia to Henry Smith and Katherine DeWitt Willcox Smith. She taught as a kindergarten teacher until 1883, when she sat in on a cousin’s art lesson and became an artist at the age of 20. She is considered to be "one of the greatest pure illustrators" and has been a significant influence to generations of illustrators who came after.

Smith established herself as an artist in Philadelphia but soon gained national fame. In 1884, Smith attended the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, now Moore College of Art and Design. In 1885, she attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Thomas Eakins and Cecilia Beaux and graduated in 1888. In 1894, Smith enrolled in classes taught by Howard Pyle, often considered the father of American illustration, at Drexel University. Almost half of Pyle’s students were women. Pyle’s belief in the equality of men and women was central to his teaching, and Smith would later state that working with Pyle swept away "all the cobwebs and confusions that so beset the path of the art-student." Smith was strongly influenced by Pyle’s illustration technique, including the romantic idealism that became characteristic of her own artwork. After graduating from Drexel University, Smith studied at the Brandywine School under Pyle. Unlike most of her male peers who moved to New York to pursue careers in illustration, many of the women that graduated from Drexel University and the Brandywine School stayed in Philadelphia to pursue their careers. Some of these women remained close friends after graduation and became associated with a sense of community that fostered a gentle, naturalistic, and romantic art style among the individual artists. The women that graduated from the Brandywine School became known as “the Brandywine Girls,” and later, Jessie Willcox Smith would join two fellow artists as a lifelong peer, housemate, and friend.

Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical Society.

Jessie Willcox Smith, Violet Oakley, and Elizabeth Shippen Green shared an apartment on 1523 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia where they lived and worked. According to Patricia Likos, “the combination of these conventionally fine ladies and their unusual living arrangements made them local curiosities and provided them with a great deal of unrequested publicity.” In 1902, the women moved from Philadelphia to the Red Rose Inn, a country estate of several buildings that were separated by gardens and surrounded by trellises near Bryn Mawr, PA. Many newspapers and journals documented the artists’ move from 1523 Chestnut Street. Critics said that it was risky for the women to distance themselves from the city and from publishers, but others argued that the natural beauty of the country would be a “mental tonic” and serve as inspiration to the illustrators. Despite their new residence, the women’s popularity and renown continued to grow. Fans and tabloids became fascinated with the three successful and enigmatic artists, lovingly dubbing them “The Red Rose Girls.” In 1905, the Red Rose Inn property was sold and the women moved to a farmhouse that was remodeled for them by Frank Miles Day along Cresheim Creek in West Mount Airy. It was called “Cogslea,” ‘Cogs’ being an acronym for the surnames of Oakley, Green, Smith, and Henrietta Cozens, who had lived at the Red Rose Inn as a housekeeper and friend, and ‘lea’ describing the slope of the hill of the estate. Eventually, Green of the Red Rose Girls got married and moved from Cogslea, but the Red Rose Girls lived and worked together until 1911 and remained friends for the rest of their lives. Later in her life, Willcox bought a section of Cogslea and called it “Cogshill.” She lived there until her death in 1935.

All three of the Red Rose Girls achieved a great deal of commercial success, though Jessie Willcox Smith was perhaps the most commercially successful and was known as “the mint” among the housemates at Cogslea. Before studying under Howard Pyle, Smith found work at Ladies’ Home Journal. She later designed every cover of “Good Housekeeping” for 15 consecutive years, illustrated best-selling versions of Little Women, and illustrated covers for many magazines and books, including Harper’s, McClure’s, Scribner’s, A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, Mother Goose, The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, and The Seven Ages of Childhood by Carolyn Wells. The Golden Age of American Illustration opened up new opportunities for women artists, and Smith’s success stemmed in part from a changing attitude towards women in the art world. Christine Huber writes that “women artists wanted to be equal to men; however, they did not want to become men, or give up traditional womanly virtues— selflessness, beauty and charm, motherhood, devotion to others and gentleness.” These womanly qualities were prized by publishers, and illustration was considered a very feminine craft because it required the “insight and patience that was part of a woman’s “temperamental equipment’” One writer described the Red Rose Girls as “lovely echoes of their clever and beautiful work."

To promote their artwork and expand their audience, the Red Rose Girls became involved with the Plastic Club, the oldest women’s art club in the country, founded in 1897. Smith, Oakley, and Green were all members of the Plastic Club, and all served on the Committee of Designs and Posters, which Jessie Willcox Smith chaired for three years.

It was not unusual for women art students to share an apartment, which was often called “baching it” or “a Boston marriage,” but the Red Rose girls certainly developed an exceptional friendship centered around their artwork. They not only lived together, but spent almost every day together, and often collaborated on artwork— Smith and Green illustrated the Bryn Mawr College Calendar together, and all three of the Red Rose Girls designed the poster for a joint Plastic Club Exhibition in 1902. Their working relationship was called “an experiment,” “a partnership,” “a school,” “a colony,” “a community,” or “an art center,” by newspapers, and even now, many aspects of Jessie Willcox Smith’s are unknown, but it is clear that the Red Rose Girls drew a great deal of happiness and inspiration from one another, and in turn, forged their ways in the art world and influenced the future of American illustration.

Jessie Willcox Smith died on May 3, 1935 at Cogshill and was buried at The Woodlands Cemetery. Jessie Willcox Smith defined the Golden Age of American Illustration and paved the way for artists to come. Years later, her artwork continues to evoke a sense of peace and romanticism, and so her burial place at the Woodlands, surrounded by historic and natural beauty, seems especially fitting to remember her by. She can be visited at the Woodlands Cemetery in Section F, Lot #220.

Written by: Eva Karlen

Halloween Family Fun Day Activity Line Up and Schedule

October 17, 2017

We're throwing a free Neighborhood Halloween Party!!
Read on for the full line up of the day's activities. There's something for everyone at this free community event! All activities ongoing throughout event unless otherwise indicated.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Take a walk through the cemetery and visit some of our most famous residents. Visit the grave of Dentist Thomas Evans and hang with students from Penn Dental, make nurses hats at Civil War Nurse Emily Bliss Souder's grave, and turn oak leaves into creatures at the grave of cemetery founder, Eli K. Price. Along the way brave mummy making at the Center Circle receiving vault.

A "Mini Mütter Museum"
There will be specimens you can touch, a life size giant for you to compare your own size to, bone games, a forensic kit, a nineteenth century amputation kit and more! Staff of the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia will be here to share their knowledge with you. NEW THIS YEAR - a Philly Touch Tours experience at 2:00PM.

All Hallow's Read Philadelphia Spooky Book Swap!
We’re conjuring up the fun again this year and you’re invited. Little ones and grown-ups too! Books about monsters, pumpkins, goblins and ghosts, fall books, harvest books and seasonal reads will be hidden throughout the cemetery in age-appropriate sections. The book hunt is on!

Civil War Medical Walking Tours: Leaving from the Hamilton Mansion at 1:00PM
What do an amputee Confederate officer, a woman who served as a nurse at Gettysburg, and a physician who gave his soldier-patients shock therapy have in common? They are all buried at The Woodlands along with others who shaped or represent the medical world of the Civil War. Join Robert Hicks, Director of the Mütter Museum, for a walking tour to introduce some of these interesting people. Expect some mild up and down-hill walking.

Birding Walks with Tori Bird at 12:30PM and 2:00PM
Explore our resident birds with Tori Bird! Walks last about 20 minutes and will take place on the paved road and some brick paths. When not leading the bird walks, she'll be showing you how to make your own bird feeder with pine cones and peanut butter. To get you excited for our Halloween Bird Walks, here is a Halloween edition Toribird tip:

"If I say CROWS, what comes to mind? Do you think of spooky Halloween decorations, or a swarm of black birds, or a crow picking at bones? Though crows have a bad, scary reputation in our culture, they are actually fascinating birds! Crows, magpies, and jays make up the Corvid family. Corvids are some of the smartest birds, capable of making tools, solving multi-step puzzles, and recognizing individual faces! The American Crow is common in Philadelphia, and can certainly be seen at the Woodlands! Good Birding!"

Spooky Bike Parade
Parade begins at the Hamilton Mansion at 2:30PM
Bike decorating happening throughout

Bring a decked out bicycle, or decorate your ride right here at The Woodlands! We'll have supplies available for you to turn your bike into a spooky Halloween transport vehicle. Hop on your bike for a derby roll through the cemetery with members of the Neighborhood Bike Works Youth Council!

This event is free and open to the public.

Please note: There will be no vehicular traffic or parking allowed on the grounds for this event. Please see the Visit page of our website for more information about transit options. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. Walking, biking, and use of public transportation are highly recommended.

Thank you to our event partners:

Nature Night Connection: Permanent Resident George Clinton Leib and his Batty Discovery

August 16, 2017

With Nature Nights: Bat & Moth Night on the horizon, we want to highlight the connection between bats and The Woodlands. Clinton Leib, discoverer of the bat species Myotis Leibii is buried at The Woodlands. This was uncovered through the research done by a group of Masterman High School AP US History Students a few years ago.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1809, George Clinton Leib was a graduate of Norwich University and graduate of University of Pennsylvania. In addition to being a doctor, he was a naturalist, leading member of the Academy of Natural Sciences (a nature night partner!), ornithologist, and researcher for the National Institute for the Promotion of Science. Despite this great work and the discovery of the Myotis Leibii (also known as the Eastern Small-Footed Bat), he was a 44-year resident at the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane. Although George Leib spent most of his life institutionalized, the students found many documents about him, including many of his published works.

Learn more about Leib’s discovery, the Myotis Leibii, also know as the Eastern Small-Footed Bat here.

Nature Nights: Bat & Moth Night
Thursday, August 17th
6PM - 10PM

Pack a picnic and grab your flashlight to explore nature at The Woodlands after dark. Craft away with University City Arts League, snack on your favorite summer flavors from Lil' Pop Shop, and learn about Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story with author Anna Forrester. The Academy of Natural Sciences will be showing off unique species from their collections and ID-ing the moths who call The Woodlands home. Activities will be happening throughout the evening pending available light.

Scientists from the Sewall Lab of Temple University will be leading the Bat Walk at 8:30PM. Don't miss the chance to walk through The Woodlands to find our night-time flyers! Get excited with this video of Bats eating Moths!

Reminder: Bats and Moths don't start to fly until dusk, so for the best viewing, plan to stay out a little late!