Welcome to Dove Tales, an informative e-blast to our most ardent PVNC supporters.  Here you’ll find links to upcoming programs, volunteer and membership news, and updates on projects. We hope this provides the resources you need to stay informed and engaged!

Director's Note

Dear Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center,

Summer is in full swing here at Peace Valley Nature Center, and with it comes the energy and excitement of growth, reflection, and connection. I’m thrilled to share a few updates and highlights from what’s been a very active season.

First, we are making steady progress on much-needed building improvements. While access to some parts of the center has been limited, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure our facility can serve the community for decades to come. These upgrades are part of our broader commitment to creating a more welcoming, accessible, and functional space for visitors of all ages.

We're also deeply grateful to Kimberton Whole Foods in Ottsville for selecting Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center as their July Round Up at the Register partner. Shoppers can round up their purchases all month long to support our mission—and Kimberton will generously match donations. It’s an easy way to give back while shopping local!

In the meantime, our upcoming programs continue to offer something for everyone. We invite you to join us and share the joy of learning and exploring in nature.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to share that we’ve begun the process of developing a strategic and operational plan that will guide us into the next chapter of our work. This planning effort will help us continue to connect people with nature in meaningful, lasting ways—for the next 50 years and beyond.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Peace Valley Nature Center. Your generosity and involvement ensure we can continue to protect wildlife, educate future stewards, and foster deep connections with the natural world.

With gratitude,
Kelly Joslin
Director/Naturalist

Rain Garden & Bird Blind Update – Summer 2025

We’re excited to share the latest progress on the rain garden and bird blind at Peace Valley Nature Center! Thanks to the hard work of our team, volunteers, and Schumacher Landscape Design & Build, over 2,200 native plants have been installed in the newly designed rain garden, creating essential habitat for pollinators and improving stormwater management near the trail entrance.

Volunteers have been instrumental in helping to keep invasive weeds in check as the new plantings take root and begin to flourish. While habitat restoration in the surrounding area will continue throughout the summer, we’re thrilled to announce that the bird blind is officially open!

We look forward to welcoming visitors to this peaceful new space, perfect for observing birds and wildlife up close. Thank you to everyone who has supported this project!

If you’d like to support these efforts, we’d love your help! Click here to donate!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

There’s no better time than summer to explore the wonders of the natural world at Peace Valley Nature Center. Our programs offer something for everyone! Seasonal highlights below, but be sure to visit our calendar of events to discover more! 

VOLUNTEER NOTES

Celebrating Our 2024 Volunteers: The Heart of Peace Valley

As we look back on 2024, we’re deeply grateful for the more than 140 volunteers who gave their time, talent, and heart to Peace Valley Nature Center. From trail work and garden care to education programs and special events, our volunteers contributed 4,860 hours to help our mission thrive.

Often working behind the scenes, they pulled invasives, guided young explorers, supported fundraising, and created a welcoming space for all. In June, we celebrated their efforts at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Gathering, recognizing both longtime contributors and new team members.

Volunteers are the roots that keep Peace Valley grounded and growing. Whether you served one shift or one hundred, thank you for making a difference. We’re honored to have you in our community and excited to continue this journey together.

Introducing the Bucks County Parks Volunteer Alliance!

Last week, the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation launched the Bucks County Parks Volunteer Alliance. This volunteer program is dedicated to improving the County's parks for the benefit of all. The program has volunteer opportunities at every park across the County, for all skills and abilities. 

The Alliance will host volunteer opportunities across Bucks County throughout July. We welcome you to come out, help improve your parks, and learn more about the program!

For more information: News Flash • Parks Department Launches Countywide Volunteer

For event information and signups, visit: www.buckscounty.gov/ParksVolunteer

Welcome New & Returning Members!

Memberships for and donations to the Friends of PVNC provide funds for our environmental education program mission. We are fortunate to have a community that provides financial and volunteer support and look forward to your continued participation.

As dusk settles over Bucks County, bats take to the skies—silent, swift, and essential. These often-misunderstood mammals play a critical role in controlling insect populations and keeping our ecosystems healthy. Yet many local species face serious threats from habitat loss and disease.

From the Big Brown Bat to the elusive Hoary Bat, discover who’s flying overhead, where to see them, and how you can help protect these nighttime heroes.

Read the full blog to explore Bucks County’s bats and what you can do to support them.

PEACE VALLEY NATURE CENTER

(215) 348-6270

170 N. Chapman Rd.

Doylestown, PA  18901

40.3400° N, 75.1717° W

Trails open daily, dawn to dusk 

VISITOR CENTER CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS