Spearhead Project Earth

10/05/2026

One small cigarette butt. What happens when it ends up in our water?

Come explore that question at the Spearhead Project EarthS Learning Center!

We have four testing tanks: one with plastic bottles, one with tire material, one with cigarette butts, and a clean-water control tank for comparison.

Visitors can observe the tanks, examine samples under a microscope, and help test the water. Our goal is to make a real-life controlled experiment something you can explore firsthand, watching changes, asking questions, and comparing results over time.

Today, we’re highlighting the cigarette tank.

A discarded cigarette butt can release ni****ne, arsenic, metals, and chemicals left behind by burning to***co into the water. This can happen quickly: one study found that about half of the ni****ne released during its soaking experiment entered the water within just 27 minutes. How far and fast those chemicals spread depends on water movement and conditions.

How harmful can one butt be? In a laboratory study, water containing chemicals leached from approximately one smoked cigarette butt per liter killed half the fish tested over a 96-hour exposure. The amount of water and exposure conditions matter, but it shows why even small pieces of litter deserve attention.

Building on the work of many researchers before us, SPE is exploring this problem through hands-on learning. We’ll soon announce a unique approach that combines science, engineering, and art. Stay tuned!

Come explore, ask questions, and get a free SPE T-shirt for visiting, while supplies last!

Monday–Friday, 10 AM–2 PM
Off-hours visits available by special arrangement.

SPE Learning Center
10 N. Main St., Yardley, PA
Grist Mill building, bottom floor, left-side entrance

Find your way to connect with nature, and help make a difference.

10/03/2026

300 pounds of trash removed, live mural painting, and a beautiful day on the Delaware River!

This past Thursday, Spearhead Project Earth (SPE) welcomed Johnson & Johnson for a custom cleanup arranged just for their team. Together, we removed 300 pounds of trash from the Delaware River shorelines, and had a great time doing it!

The team finished the stretch we selected so quickly that we headed out for a boat ride afterward. We talked about the environment, what each of us can do to help, and the many ways people can connect with nature.

We also introduced our newly opened SPE Learning Center in Yardley, PA, and encouraged the team to come visit, explore, and find what inspires them!

Adding to the experience, the team watched artist Dan Koval and his team continue painting our truck mural by hand. Live painting will be an ongoing part of our events as the artwork continues to grow!

Thank you, J&J, for your energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm!

Want an experience like this for your company, school, organization, club, group, or family? Reach out and we’ll arrange a cleanup tailored to you! Our boating cleanup season ends at the end of October, so contact us soon. Land-based cleanups and educational activities continue year-round.

You can also visit our Learning Center at 10 N. Main St., Yardley, PA, in the Grist Mill building, bottom floor, left side entrance. Open business days, 10 AM–2 PM, or by appointment.

Get inspired. Connect with nature. Make a difference.

09/30/2026

Tomorrow, we’re taking the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) team out for a cleanup with Spearhead Project Earth, and we’re excited to get to work! The weather is looking great, and we’ve found a stretch of Delaware River shoreline that definitely needs some care.

Adding to the day’s activities, muralist Dan Koval will be painting our truck LIVE! He’ll continue the mural he started with us, giving our volunteers tomorrow a chance to watch the artwork come to life.

Want to organize a volunteer cleanup for your organization, school, company, club, group, or family? Let us know! We’ll arrange an outing tailored to your group.

Our boating cleanup season ends at the end of October, so reach out soon to schedule your group’s outing before the season wraps up. Land-based cleanups and educational activities continue all year long!

Together, we can make a visible difference in our local environment.

09/27/2026

FREE LIMITED-EDITION SPE LEARNING CENTER T-SHIRTS START TOMORROW!

Come visit the new Spearhead Project Earth (SPE) Learning Center in Yardley starting tomorrow, Monday, September 28, and be one of the first 20 visitors to receive a FREE limited-edition Learning Center T-shirt!

While you’re here, explore the Learning Center, see what we’re building, and discover ways you, your family, school, organization, or community group can use the space to learn, explore, collaborate, and take action.

Open business days: 10 AM–2 PM
Or visit by appointment.

10 N. Main Street, Grist Mill, Yardley, PA
Entrance I — left-side door of the building

Come say hello, check out the space, and grab your shirt. Only 20 available, and when they’re gone, they’re gone!

09/25/2026

FREE LIMITED-EDITION T-SHIRTS!

Just a reminder: starting Monday, September 28, the first 20 visitors to the new Spearhead Project Earth (SPE) Learning Center can receive one of our new limited-edition Learning Center T-shirts, FREE!

Come see what we’ve created, explore the Learning Center, and find out how you, your school, organization, community group, or family can use the space to learn, explore, collaborate, and take action.

We’re open business days from 10 AM–2 PM or by appointment.

10 N. Main Street, Grist Mill, Yardley, PA
Entrance I — left-side door of the building

Only 20 shirts are available. When they’re gone, they’re gone!

09/24/2026

FREE LIMITED-EDITION T-SHIRTS!

Starting this Monday, September 28, the first 20 people to visit the new Spearhead Project Earth (SPE) Learning Center will receive a FREE limited-edition Learning Center T-shirt!

When they’re gone, they’re gone!

While you’re here, come inside, explore the Center and discover what you, your family, school, group or organization can do here. The Learning Center is a place to learn, explore, collaborate, experiment and turn ideas into action.

Have an idea for your group? Come talk to us about it. We want to collaborate with our community and find new ways to use the space, equipment, outdoor environment and SPE team.

Open business days: 10 AM–2 PM, or by appointment

Spearhead Project Earth (SPE) Learning Center
10 N. Main Street, Grist Mill
Yardley, PA
Entrance through the left-side door of the building

Come see what’s possible, and get here early for your free limited-edition T-shirt!

09/19/2026

09/19/2026

Come and visit Spearhead Project Earth’s open house today at 10 N Main Street, Yardley, PA!

Learn about our location, our mission, and how you and your group can become part of it!

Come see our truck continue to be painted live, by hand, by the talented Muralist, Dan Koval.

Free gifts for visiting and signing up for our monthly newsletter.

See you there!

09/17/2026

WE’RE OPENING OUR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY!

For years, the Yardley Grist Mill has been the headquarters and home base of Spearhead Project Earth (SPE). It’s where we plan cleanups, organize volunteers, develop projects, collaborate and work on new ways to Educate, Give Back and Preserve.

Now, for the first time, we’re opening our space to the public!

Join us during Yardley Harvest Day for an Open House and introduction to the new Spearhead Project Earth Learning Center.

Saturday, September 19 | 10 AM–4 PM
10 N. Main St., Yardley, PA | Yardley Grist Mill
Bottom-floor side entrance

Come inside, meet the SPE team and discover what this new community resource can become.

We’ll have hands-on environmental activities, demonstrations, music, snacks and fun, opportunities to learn about volunteering and internships, and a chance to explore some of the science, equipment, tools and projects behind our work.

PLUS:
Live mural painting, by the talented Dan Koval and his team, on the SPE truck will continue throughout the day! Come watch the artwork take shape right in front of you.

And everyone who visits can pick up a FREE SPE gift!

Our Learning Center is being created for students, families, schools, community groups, organizations and curious people of all ages. Indoor learning, outdoor learning, environmental science, innovation, collaboration and hands-on experiences, all connected to the real world around us.

Have a school or group that could use the space? Have an idea for a program? Want to volunteer, collaborate or simply learn more?

Come in and talk with us.

This Open House is about introducing the community to the space, showing you what’s possible, and discovering what we can do with it together.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Educate. Give Back. Preserve.
spearheadprojectearth.org