2021-2022:

Science History Museum

We visited the exhibit "Downstream" and learned about over 200 years of water usage and protection in the Philadelphia area.

Philadelphia Salvage

In this tour of Philadelphia Salvage's wood shop, we heard about the environmental benefits of using reclaimed materials, learned about a few custom projects, and enjoyed a rare chance to use a torch on wood.

Falconer (Raptor Jawns)

A certified falconer told us about her birds of prey, fielded many questions, and shared about her fascinating path to falconry.

Harpsichord Maker

We visited a local harpsichord maker and learned about the unusual history of this instrument, how pianos work differently, and why this man loves making harpsichords so much!

Reading Public Museum

Who knew that that this museum has an Egyptian mummy, a 4000-year-old funerary barge, interactive exhibits, and a planetarium? We now do.

Painting Workshop

A Swarthmore College professor showed us original frescoes, told us a bit about their history, and shared about the fascinating history of pigments. We also learned about the science and skill behind making paint and had the chance to mix our own egg tempera.

Galanthus Gala

Two Chester County gardeners opened our eyes to the many varieties of this wondrous genus of plant. A few snowdrops dedicated their lives to science and we learned better how bulb plants work. 

Bookbinding Workshop

We joined the co-founder of Peg and Awl in her beautiful West Chester workshop. She told us how she learned to bind books by hand and we enjoyed trying to use all the special lingo—"folio," "signature," and "kettle stitch"—while stitching our own books together.

Wild Food + Foraging Walk 

Plants have powers and we were lucky enough to learn about a few from horticulture educator, Alyssa Schimmel, on a drizzly day in May.

2022-2023:

Jewelry Making Workshop 

Shark teeth, stones, and preserved plants... who knew these were the ingredients of jewelry? Field Co-op parent, Michelle West, led us in a hands-on outdoor workshop.  

Gamelin Workshop

There is no such thing as a soloist in gamelan, the Indonesian percussion music we (collectively) tried out during Professor Tom Whitman's amazing workshop. 

Rough & Tumble Historical Association

Steam engines are alive and well in one corner of PA. We learned about old machines, lanterns, trains, lathes, compressors that still work and got to see a few in action, thanks to our marvelous guides Kathleen and Tom. 

Hyperboloid Workshop

Ever make a curved object using only straight lines? A mathematician parent showed us how... hyperboloids! (Also, we ate doughnuts...)

Wagner Free Institute 

We enjoyed a talk on evolution in the lecture hall and then a scavenger hunt among some old and unusual finds at this amazing museum, a local treasure.

Shelter Building

With the guidance of local educator Kelly Dillon, we met in the woods and first learned to draw listening maps, then worked in teams to create shelters.  

Philadelphia Orchestra Open Rehearsal

We watched The Philadelphia Orchestra at work in rehearsal, observing firsthand the artistic collaboration between a world-class conductor and amazing musicians.

National Constitution Center

We saw an inspired performance about our nation's founding and stood face to face with the Constitution's signers (or statues of them that were shockingly life-like!)  

Leveling the Playing Field

We sorted donations at Leveling the Playing Field, an organization dedicated to expanding access to youth sports and recreation programs.

Industrial Repair Center (Chalmers and Kubeck)

We got a rare glimpse inside an industrial maintenance and respair shop where we saw how repairs are done on large pieces of equipment, from the water filters that keep nuclear power plants running to the gear boxes that turn boat propellers.

Seven Stars Dairy

This local dairy has a little over 100 cows and we were able to ask well over 100 questions to our friendly guide, Ryan, who answered each and every one. 

Pennsylvania Hospital

We visited a 19th century operating theater and learned about the history of Pennsylvania Hospital, built in 1751 to care for the "sick poor and insane."

Herr's Factory Tour

We saw the speed with which half a million potatoes turn into thousands of pounds of chips each hour. So many machines and so so SO many chips (and pretzles!)  

Howell Living History Farm

We learned about maple sugaring, its history and practice, in this well-run, hands-on, workshop.  

Pennsbury Manor

A guided visit to William Penn's house gave us a glimpse of Penn's life, a peak into 17th c. medicine, and the chance to try our hands at writing with quill pens.

Heinz National Wildlife Preserve

We made homes for native bees and explored this urban wildlife preserve together on one of the first warming days of spring.

Orienteering Workshop

"Fight," we learned, means "dense vegetation" or "brambles best avoided." That is, if you are orienteering. A volunteer from the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association opened up the wide world of map reading and woods exploration for us at Ridley Creek State Park. 

Archeology Workshops

We stepped into the past and had the chance to participate in hands-on archeology workshops at Newlin Grist Mill, a local mill, estabilshed in 1704.

The Clay Studio

We enjoyed working with clay in a gorgeous new building that provides studios and exhibition space to local artists.

The Wetlands Institute

Our eyes were opened to the beauty, vitality, and great importance of salt mashes at The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. We learned about birds, mussels, fiddler crabs, horseshoe crabs, the magnifient properties of mud, and more through hands-on activities and exploration. 

Wharton Esherick Studio & Home 

We were mesmerized by what craft plus imagination plus wood can make on this tour of a local treasure and National Historic Landmark for Architecture, the home and studio of Wharton Esherick.