Crow's Nest Preserve

Crow's Nest Preserve Crow’s Nest Preserve is a haven for many wild and wonderful creatures, including children! Learn more at www.natlands.org.

Crow’s Nest is composed of several 19th-century farms and the forests that have grown up around them. Most of the forests in this area were cut repeatedly in the 1800s to make charcoal to fuel iron-making furnaces and in the early 1900s for timber. Crow’s Nest is the gateway to the Hopewell Big Woods, a 73,000-acre expanse of forest that reaches north into Berks County. For decades, the preserve h

as hosted both after-school programs and a summer day camp to help combat the nature disconnect today’s kids face. The preserve includes a NaturePlayGround to encourage creative, unstructured play. Crow's Nest Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands.

The Large Lace-border Moth (Scopula limboundata), like most geometer moths, rests with its wings wide open. All the bett...
08/28/2026

The Large Lace-border Moth (Scopula limboundata), like most geometer moths, rests with its wings wide open. All the better to enjoy the lovely lace patterns!

📸: Bill Moses

The pristine French Creek runs through Crow’s Nest, flowing from French Creek State Park’s Hopewell Lake on its way to t...
08/21/2026

The pristine French Creek runs through Crow’s Nest, flowing from French Creek State Park’s Hopewell Lake on its way to the Schuylkill River. The preserve’s streamside forest helps protect the creek’s water quality. Our boardwalks allow visitors to explore the preserve safely even when creek water's rise or the land is puddled from heavy rains.

📸: Jill Sabre

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) is a native species that blooms in July and August. It is dioecious, with male and female...
08/14/2026

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) is a native species that blooms in July and August. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Both male and female plants are needed to produce fruit. Flowers provide nectar for native bees. Fertilized female flowers lead to large clusters of edible, sour, red berries which ripen in August. The berries provide a valuable food source for birds. Fall foliage is a rich red, crimson, and scarlet. Winged Sumac provides habitat for birds, bees, and wildlife.

📸: Cody Hudgens

Although camp has been over for almost two weeks now, I wanted to send out a special thank you to our summer staff (only...
08/13/2026

Although camp has been over for almost two weeks now, I wanted to send out a special thank you to our summer staff (only some of whom are pictured in this photo.) Camp couldn't happen without them!

Crow’s Nest is part of Hopewell Big Woods, a vast, unbroken forest about 114 square miles—almost the size of the City of...
08/07/2026

Crow’s Nest is part of Hopewell Big Woods, a vast, unbroken forest about 114 square miles—almost the size of the City of Philadelphia. Just next door, you’ll find French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, making Crow’s Nest part of one of the largest areas of protected land in the region.

📸: Dan Barringer

The End: Camp has now ended for the summer, and we wanted to give special recognition to our 8th graders, who have now a...
08/01/2026

The End: Camp has now ended for the summer, and we wanted to give special recognition to our 8th graders, who have now aged out of camp. It has been a pleasure to get to see these kids grow up, and we hope to see them back at the preserve often! (Photo: Pete Smyrl)

July 31: For the final day of 7th/8th grade camp, we talk about what goes into taking care of the preserve. The kids the...
08/01/2026

July 31: For the final day of 7th/8th grade camp, we talk about what goes into taking care of the preserve. The kids then completed a service project, building bog bridges over a muddy section of trail. (Photo: Elwood Harney)

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."~ M...
07/31/2026

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
~ Maya Angelou

📸: Mae Axelrod

July 30: Kayaking day on the Schuylkill! (Photo: Molly Smyrl)
07/31/2026

July 30: Kayaking day on the Schuylkill! (Photo: Molly Smyrl)

July 29: Today, we visited ChesLen Preserve. After a tour of the serpentine barrens, we went down to the Brandywine for ...
07/29/2026

July 29: Today, we visited ChesLen Preserve. After a tour of the serpentine barrens, we went down to the Brandywine for a swim. (Photo: Serena Hertzog)

Address

201 Piersol Road
Elverson, PA
19520

Telephone

+16102867955

Website

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