Living Within the Watershed: Enduring Floods in Germantown transports visitors into Philadelphia's historical landscape to understand how the city's past informs its future.

Two hundred sixty years ago, Philadelphia was defined by nearly 300 miles of free-flowing streams. By 1966, 87% of these waterways were transformed into underground sewers to manage stormwater, reduce waste and industrial pollutants exposure, and curb public health crises like typhoid and cholera. Today, this sewer infrastructure is increasingly strained by heavy rainfall and flooding driven by climate change, especially in the city's low-lying neighborhoods.

Located within the basin of the Wissahickon Valley and along the historic Wingohocking Watershed, parts of Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood are now among the most threatened areas in the country for urban flash flooding. Through oral history, historical photos, community films, green stormwater tools and science research, audiences will explore critical environmental challenges facing a Philadelphia neighborhood and what stakeholders are doing to address a climate change issue 150 years in the making.

Science Story Time

Have some fun with Academy educators and other young natural history fans during a very special science story time. Each week will feature a family-friendly science story and hands-on craft to try or live animal to meet.

Occurring monthly on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Dates:

May 10 and 11 I Know the River Loves Me By Maya Christina Gonzalez

Have some fun with Academy educators and other young natural history fans when we read "I Know the River Loves Me" By Maya Christina Gonzalez for science story time . Make a water hands-on craft to take home. Occurring on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

June 14 and 15 Rain! By Linda Ashman

Have some fun with Academy educators and other young natural history fans when we read “Rain!” By Linda Ashman for science story time . Make a water hands-on craft to take home. Occurring on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

August 23 and 24 & September 13 and 14 Water Can Be By Laura Purdie Salas

Have some fun with Academy educators and other young natural history fans when we read "Water Can Be" By Laura Purdie Salas for science story time. Meet a water animal from our Living Exhibits collection. Occurring on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Drop-in Science Workshops

Wandering the Watershed
Saturday, April 19, 2–4 p.m.

What is a watershed? How does your daily life impact the wildlife in nearby streams and rivers?

How does stormwater runoff affect an environment? Take a peek at the Academy’s Ichthyology Collection and learn what fish you can find here in the Delaware Valley.

For more information about this program, please contact Amy Hoyt, mediated experiences educator, at alp333@drexel.edu.