Friends of the Wissahickon

06/13/2026

Zoom in on your favorite spots in Wissahickon Valley Park...

The Biennial Photo Contest, in partnership with Wissahickon Trails and Woodmere Art Museum, is in full swing, and we want to see YOUR Wissahickon photographs.

Submit your landscapes, portraits, and wildlife photos here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b420f052a1fa4c629a3ecb25158fae08

The deadline to submit and enter the running for exciting prizes is October 15.

📸Sheryl Rose, Linda Elgart, Alex Schmidt-Lange, and Richard Gretzinger

06/12/2026

June is Members' Month at Friends of the Wissahickon! Your membership directly supports trail improvements, habitat restoration, and community programming that keep the Park both wild and accessible.

Become a part of our Wissahickon community today! https://fow.org/membership-donations/membership/?bbeml=tp-A3qQZqEDIEaS3rSwgeP0wQ.jnVFL2VF5xUWy8huQyZrLww.r_hK_7nZeakGNFWIv2OVuvw.lTj9_biKJdU63zfy8cFugJQ

Members enjoy exclusive event invitations, 20% off all merch, and 10% discounts at Valley Green Inn and Chestnut Hill Brewing, all while protecting 2,000 acres of natural refuge. This month, watch for special Member Appreciation events and exclusive gear offers!

📸Jeff Laughead

06/11/2026

📰Thanks for Running in the Wissahickon Trail Classic!

We had an absolute blast at the Wissahickon Trail Classic on Saturday! Nearly 500 runners came out to show their stuff and fundraise for the continued care of the park, and they looked darn good doing it! Check out some highlights from the morning below, courtesy of The Gray Lens Photography!

Find the print shop connected to the gallery, follow the simple and convenient steps to select and order prints. Use code: 10FORYOU for a 10% discount on your first print order.https://thegraylens.pixieset.com/wissahickontrailclassic2026/

More photos will be added to the gallery soon!

Congratulations to everyone who ran, and especially to our overall winners! You can check out the final results here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/161740 -658808;perpage:100

06/10/2026

Welcome back to 🦅🦊🐿️🦝🐞🐛

Today’s guest is the Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)!

Perched high above the canopy, this Great Crested Flycatcher stands out with its bright yellow belly and rusty tail before launching after passing insects.

This species has been observed lining its nest with shed snakeskins, which may give predators the impression that a snake is nearby.

Wissahickon Valley Park

Philadelphia, PA

Follow me for more great pictures of wildlife from around the world!

06/08/2026

Thanks for joining us for the Wissahickon Trail Classic!

This event is made possible by the support of our sponsors, Penn Beer Sales & Service, Chestnut Hill College, REI, Aqua, Manko Gold Katcher Fox LLP, Pursuit Physical Therapy, and our race partners Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Wissahickon Wanderers.

See how you shaped up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/161740/?_gl=1*1ufktqy*_ga*NDU2Njc4Mjg4LjE3ODA1MTA2MjQ.*_ga_QKEVS8BTWC*czE3ODA3OTk2ODkkbzMkZzAkdDE3ODA3OTk2ODkkajYwJGwwJGgw -658808;perpage:100

We can't wait to share more photos with you soon!

06/07/2026

Construction Bid Opportunity 📌

Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) is accepting bids via PennBid for a one-time contract for the construction of concrete curbing, bituminous sidewalks, and a mid-block crosswalk along a section of Harvey Street in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.

Visit our website to view the bid application schedule and register for the mandatory Pre-Bid Site Meeting. https://fow.org/harvey-street-construction-bid/

View more project information and apply via PennBid https://pennbid.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/237486

We encourage minority and women-owned businesses to apply!
Bids are due 7/10/26.

06/06/2026

We're out of office today...

Catch us in the park celebrating at the Wissahickon Trail Classic, where we'll be joined by more than 500 runners, benefiting the conservation of Wissahickon Valley Park.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible: Penn Beer Sales & Service, REI, Chestnut Hill College, Aqua, Manko Gold Katcher Fox LLP, Pursuit Physical Therapy, Wissahickon Wanderers, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

You can also find us rerouting a section of the Yellow Trail, cutting back overgrown vegetation, cleaning up litter, and supporting our beautiful hometown trails!

📸Kyle Kielinski

06/05/2026

You never have to explore alone - join us for a guided hike!

Leisurely Bird and Tree Walk on Forbidden Drive
📆Thursday, June 18 at 6 PM
📍Northwestern Ave & Forbidden Dr
🔗https://fow.org/event/leisurely-bird-and-tree-walk-on-forbidden-drive/

If you're a beginner hiker, looking for a relaxing walk, or interested in learning more about the birds and trees of the Wissahickon, this hike is perfect for you!

📸Chuck Uniatowski

06/05/2026

Don't forget to check for ticks after every visit to the park (and other forested areas or tall grasses!) Your resources for preventing ticks and tick-borne illnesses this summer: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/infectious-disease/vectorborne-diseases/tick-diseases/educational-materials

The 30 inches of snow that fell in the Philadelphia region and lingered on the ground for weeks swaddled ticks as snugly as bugs in an igloo. 🔗: https://ebx.sh/t1hdwy

06/04/2026

📰Friends of the Wissahickon's 2025 Annual Report
Behind the Scenery of Wissahickon Valley Park, a landscape whose beauty is only matched by its ecological vitality, are thousands of hours of invisible care.

The fallen tree that once stretched across the trail is gone.
In a familiar clearing, a grove of newly planted saplings now stands, each one carefully protected in wire.

While navigating a season of change, during Friends of the Wissahickon’s (FOW) search for our next permanent Executive Director in 2025, FOW’s incredible team of volunteers, board, and staff never wavered in their quiet care for Wissahickon Valley Park.

That steadiness, work done without fanfare and repeated day after day, is what allows the Wissahickon to feel both timeless and alive. It also positions us to evolve.

As we steer the organization into our second century of stewardship, we are investing in innovative models of care and deepening the ways our community can participate in shaping the park’s future.

Continue reading in our Annual Report:https://fow.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FINAL-2025-Annual-Report-web.pdf