Artist Day
2024-02-24 | Great Marsh Institute, 28 MOORES RD, Elverson, PA, 19520, United States
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Saturday, February 24th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Woodcock (and Rail) Sit
2024-03-10 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Due to the inclement weather predicted, we have rescheduled this event for Sunday, March 10th. We apologize for any inconvenience!
The Great Marsh Institute will host its first Woodcock (and Rail) Sit on Sunday, March 10th!
Come join us to enjoy an evening to observe one of the highlights of early spring migration. American Woodcock will be showing off their dazzling mating displays. Oh, and a good possibility of singing Virginia Rails as well!
American Woodcock are known for their elaborate courtship displays. Males will venture out into open areas after sunset and set up a display area. Birds will initially call out with their “peent” calls to announce their presence to other Woodcock. Males will then take flight circling up to 100 meters high with a combination of specialized wings creating a twittering sound as well as vocal chirping. Birds then descend in a rapid circling motion to land in the exact spot they started from. Displays can last as long as 30 minutes.
Please arrive promptly and bring a chair so you can relax and see the show! RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to attend.
$5 Suggested Donation. Donate through Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-03-17 08:00 - 11:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, March 17th at 8:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-03-24
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Sunday, March 24th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Nature Walk
2024-04-07 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-04-20 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-04-28 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-05 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-18 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-26 16:00 - 18:00
Join Diana Cormack, a PA Master Naturalist, for a nature walk around the Great Marsh. We’ll look for spring wildflowers, identify native and non-native species and discuss their impact on this unique habitat. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Great Marsh Mud Mosey
2024-04-13
Welcome to the First Annual Great Marsh Mud Mosey which feature a 5Kish run throughout a very unique private property in Northern Chester County. The race proceeds will be donated to the Great Marsh Institute and ChesCo Search Dogs.
Click the link below for registration and more info!
https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Elverson/GreatMarshMudMosey

Bird Walk
2024-04-14 07:00 - 10:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, April 14th at 7:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-04-21
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Sunday, April 21st the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Wetland Soils 101
2024-04-27 16:00 - 18:00
Join Professional Wetland Scientist, Scott Bush, for a discussion on wetland soils of the Great Marsh. Come learn some basic information on soils and some specifics about the upland and wetland soils in and around the Great Marsh. Following a classroom discussion, join Scott on a walk of the Great Marsh to examine the various upland and wetland soils present and learn the common field indicators used to identify wetland soils. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-05-11
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Saturday, May 11th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-05-19 07:00 - 10:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, May 19th at 7:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-06-09
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Sunday, June 9th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-06-23 08:00 - 11:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, June 23rd at 8:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-07-27 08:00 - 11:00
Please note that this month’s walk is on a Saturday rather than our usual Sunday slot
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Saturday, July 27th at 8:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-08-11 06:00 - 20:00
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Sunday, August 11th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-08-18 08:00 - 11:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, August 18th at 8:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Great Marsh Bat and Bug Night
2024-08-31 19:00 - 21:00
Title: Great Marsh Bat and Bug Night
Date: August 31
Time: 7:00 PM
Description: Get a taste of the night life at the Great Marsh. Insects such as moths and caddisflies wake up when the sun sets. And where there are insects, other critters like bats show up to eat them. We will lure nocturnal insects in to observe and document them while we also keep track of and learn about bats flying above us. Bring a flashlight. Dress for buggy conditions and uneven natural surfaces. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Artist Day
2024-09-07
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Saturday, September 7th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.

Great Marsh Surf and Turf Mini Blitz
2024-09-21 13:00 - 16:00
Date: September 21
Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Description: Take a closer look at the smaller critters of the Great Marsh, both aquatic and terrestrial, as we attempt to document as many species as possible. We will walk through the Marshlands using dip nets to sample aquatic life and sweep nets to catch and photograph the critters of the meadows. Dress for buggy conditions and uneven natural surfaces, some of them soggy. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Bird Walk
2024-09-22 08:00 - 11:00
Come join us at The Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, September 22nd at 8:00 AM for our monthly bird walk. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org. This will help us to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via our Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

6th Annual Work Party
2024-09-28 - 2024-09-29
Join us September 28th or 29th for our 6th annual work party cleaning up the trails around the Great Marsh. Please bring your own tools (clippers, weedwackers, chainsaws and/or hedge trimmers etc) and RSVP for a time slot at: lori@greatmarshinstitute.org
The time slots are as follows:
September 28: 8am-Noon
September 28: Noon-4pm
September 29: 8am-Noon
September 29: Noon-4pm
Thanks for your help in advance.

Nature Walk
2024-09-29 16:00 - 18:00
Join us at Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, September 29th at 4pm for a Nature Walk with PA Master Naturalist, Diana Cormack. Grasses are interesting this time of year so we’ll look for different species. Please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to attend.

Arts at the Great Marsh
2024-10-05 11:00 - 16:00
Join Great Marsh Institute for our fourth annual Arts at the Great Marsh.
WHEN: Saturday, October 5th, 2024* – 11 AM – 4 PM
*Rain Date: Sunday, October 6th, same time
WHERE: Great Marsh Institute, 28 Moores Road, Elverson PA, 19520
Founded by GMI Administrative Assistant and Dance Artist, Mijka Smith, Arts at the Great Marsh works to expand environmental awareness and education through art.
FREE to the public, this year’s event will feature live music by Philadelphia-based group, BORBS, as well as the historic Ringgold Band of Reading, PA. Members of GMI’s Science Advisory Board will offer educational talks on the flora and fauna of the Great Marsh, including An Introduction to the Avian Sound Studies with Mike Coulter and Herping the Great Marsh with Bernard Brown. Epicurean Garage’s Food Truck will be on site serving delicious meals on the go.
See presentation descriptions and participating vendors below.
Online Program: ATGM 2024 Program

Live Performances & Lectures
Yoga Demonstration with Solstice Yoga Shala (12-12:30 PM– The Stage)
We brought yoga to the heart of Morgantown in 2009. Community, yoga, and mindful living are at the heart of what we do here. Shala is a Sanskrit word meaning “home” or “space” where we invite the community to gather, practice, learn, and grow. With regularly scheduled yoga and meditation classes 7 days a week, and monthly specialty classes; Yin Yoga, 108 Sun Salutations, Sound Immersion, Qigong and more. Our mission is to make yoga accessible to all, and to send students home feeling better than they did upon arriving at the studio. We invite you to try a complimentary class by dropping into any regularly scheduled class or signing up ahead of time using coupon code FIRSTFREE. Ask us about our ‘Pay From The Heart’ initiative!
Connect with us online: www.solsticeyogashala.com
On Facebook: Solstice Yoga Shala
On Instagram: @solsticeyogashala
Via email: admin@solsticeyogashala.com

Live Music with BORBS (1:30-2 PM– The Stage)
BORBS is an ensemble of improvising musicians inspired by the awe of nature.
www.peoplesmusicsupply.org
Follow @borbsband and @peoplesmusicsupply on social media

Live Music with The Ringgold Band (2-4 PM – The Stage)
The historic Ringgold Band, located in Reading, PA, is one of America’s first community bands. Ever since its formation in 1852, the band has continued a longstanding tradition of providing southeastern Pennsylvania with fine musical entertainment.
www.ringgoldband.com

Herping the Great Marsh with Bernard Brown (11:30 AM – 12 PM – Nature Center)
The Great Marsh is crawling with snakes, turtles, frogs, and salamanders, but they can be hard to observe over hundreds of acres of muck and vegetation. Learn about efforts to study the Great Marsh’s herpetological diversity.

An Introduction to the Avian Sound Studies at The Great Marsh with Mike Coulter (1:30-2 PM – Nature Center)
Over the past five years, Mike Coulter has been deploying Autonomous Recording Units (ARU’s) throughout The Great Marsh in an effort to better understand the presence and distribution of often difficult to observe marsh bird species. This will be an introduction to the purpose, equipment, processes, and results thus far in this continuing long-term project.

Great Marsh History from ice age tundra, mastodons, and permafrost to a warm peatland with groundwater springs and turtles with Dorothy Merritts and Robert Walter (12:30-1 PM – Nature Center)
Professors Dorothy Merritts and Robert Walter of Franklin and Marshall College will talk about how the Great Marsh formed at the end of the cold period of the Last Full Glacial episode about 12,000 years ago. They’ll discuss the shift with warming since then from permafrost (frozen ground), tundra, wooly mammoths and mastodons to wet meadows surrounded by forested hillslopes filled with elk, deer, bears, and humans. Today Great Marsh is a rare vestige of what much of the region’s valley bottoms looked like until about 1700 AD, when European settlers began clearing forests, building dams for water power, and altering most of the mid-Atlantic landscape–especially wetlands. The story-telling will include time to look at actual samples of marsh soil that are thousands of years old and contain fossil seeds from early marsh plants.
Participating Vendors
Davis Witmer Visual Arts
Offering pen and ink sketches and prints.
daviswit.wixsite.com/doodlevis
Follow @doodlevis on social media

Epicurean Garage
Food truck offering delicious meals on the go.
www.epicureangarage.com

Nature Walk
2024-10-06 09:00 - 11:00
Join us at Great Marsh Institute on Sunday, October 6th at 9am for a Nature Walk with PA Master Naturalist, Diana Cormack. We’ll look for nuts and seeds, maybe we can find some beech nuts. RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to attend.

Artist Day
2024-10-13
Calling all photographers, painters, and artists! Sunday, October 13th the Great Marsh will be open dawn to dusk for all interested artists. Take a self-guided tour to paint, take photos, and enjoy the property.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org with your name and the time you plan to arrive. Check-in will be at the Farm House.
This event is free of charge but we humbly ask for a suggested donation of $20. Donate through our Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.
