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Dear Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center,
As we wrap up December 2025 at Peace Valley Nature Center, we’re grateful for a year filled with progress, community support, and meaningful connections to the natural world. From restoring habitats along the Mini Loop Trail to expanding our educational programs and welcoming thousands of visitors, 2025 has been a year of growth and renewed energy. And there’s even more to look forward to—2026 will bring exciting changes, new activities, and fresh ways to explore and engage with the Center. Stay tuned as we continue building momentum and enhancing the experiences that make Peace Valley such a special place for our community.
We’ll see you on the trails soon, Peace Valley Nature Center Staff & The Friends of PVNC
Shop Local, Support Nature!
Visit the Sunflower Shop at Peace Valley
Looking for meaningful, nature-inspired gifts this holiday season? Be sure to stop by the Sunflower Shop at Peace Valley Nature Center! Your purchases directly support our trails, wildlife habitat, and year-round programs—all while delighting the nature lovers in your life.
We’re fully stocked for the season, with unique, handpicked items you won’t find anywhere else:
Unique Finds This Season
✒️ Handcrafted fountain pens
💍 Jewelry and decorative gift boxes
🌿 PVNC swag — decals, chocolates, hoodies, and long-sleeved shirts
📚 Books, puzzles, & stocking stuffers
🐦 Bird feeders, garden flags, & more
Whether you're shopping for kids, adults, birders, hikers, or someone who simply loves nature, there’s something for everyone at the Sunflower Shop.
Come explore, find the perfect gift, and support the Nature Center with every purchase. Shop local. Shop nature. Shop PVNC.
Ever Wonder About . . .
We’re excited to debut our new I Wonder discovery series during Nature Discovery Day on December 30! This ongoing program invites visitors of all ages to explore nature with curiosity, questions, and hands-on challenges throughout the year.
Our first challenge encourages participants to look closely at our waterfowl diorama and discover the “divers and dabblers” that call Peace Valley home. Take the challenge, earn a prize, and keep wondering about nature as you explore the world around you.
Let curiosity lead the way—your next nature question is waiting!
Program Highlights - December 2025
There’s no better place to explore the wonders of the natural world than at Peace Valley Nature Center. Our programs offer something for everyone! Monthly highlights below, but be sure to visit our calendar of events to discover more! Most programs require advance registration and space is limited — watch for sign-up links on our webpage, social media, or below.
Program
Date
Description
Knit & Crochet Circle
Sun, 12/14 1-3pm
Open session that combines the calming benefits of fiber arts with the restorative power of nature.
Join us for a hike to celebrate the promise of longer days. Advance registration required.
Nature Discovery Day: Winter Birds
Tues, 12/30 1-4pm
A family-friendly day of exploring winter birds through observation, creativity, and play.
Volunteer Notes
New Roots, New Hope on the Mini Loop Trail
One of our major ongoing restoration efforts is focused along the Mini Loop Trail—an area once dominated by native Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). When the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) arrived, it devastated the stand and left the canopy virtually empty. The loss of these trees not only removed important food and shelter for wildlife, but also opened space and sunlight that allowed invasive shrubs—primarily Privet (Ligustrum spp.)—to spread rapidly.
In spring 2025, volunteers began restoring the site by removing Privet and other invasive plants to make room for native species that can once again support local wildlife. Thanks to materials provided through a GIANT grant, volunteers planted more than 75 native trees in fall 2025, including Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii), Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), and Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis).
Invasive plant removal will continue through the winter, and in spring 2026 we will begin planting native understory trees and shrubs to help rebuild a healthy, resilient forest community.
As you consider your end-of-year giving, we hope you’ll remember Peace Valley Nature Center.
Your support helps protect our trails, care for our wildlife habitats, and provide meaningful nature programs for all ages. Every gift—large or small—directly strengthens the place you love and ensures it remains a sanctuary for our community and local wildlife all year long.
Thank you for being part of the Peace Valley family and for helping us continue our mission into the year ahead.
Note: We will be closed Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1.
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
The Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, activities, and facilities. The official registration information of the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center, Inc. may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling (800) 732-0999.
Bucks County Commissioners:
Robert J. Harvey Jr., Chair; Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW, Vice-chair, & Gene DiGirolamo
