Berks Nature/The Nature Place — Local services in Reading

Located on St. Bernadine Street adjacent to Alvernia University, The Nature Place can be easily found inside Angelica Park. This unique new building was opened in the fall of 2017 and it houses the headquarters of Berks Nature. This non-profit organization has been operating in Berks County since 1974. The parking was free. After parking my car I explored The Nature Play Zone. This section is set up for children. The kids enjoy the water pump. Next stop was the outside of the Nature Place. The flowers attract different bees. I have never seen a green bee before today. After that I went into the build and was warned that there were turtles running around. They were two on the loose but being watched by the staff. The turtles were so cute (see pictures). After that I was given a brief tour of the building. I saw the “bird glass”, classrooms, and the gift shop. After the tour I went outside and explored the beautiful grounds. There are trails which offer a close up with nature. There is also a teaching garden. Berks Nature offers its Eco-Camp for children. It has different programs for various age levels of children, very impressive indeed. I wish I live closer. I’d be there every day except Sunday and Mondays because...

The natural play area was a hit for my four-year-old daughter and my ten-year-old son. They loved climbing on the logs and rocks. They made a dam in the creek bed and pumped water in it to see if it would hold. They also floated leaves down the "creek." The also had contests building the highest tower out of the wood sections. They do a great job encouraging outdoor exploration. The inside lobby was good with a telescope with slides and craft supplies to make their weekly theme. We had a great time and didn't even...

Awesome place to hike for some alone time or with the family and friends! They offer guided hikes for toddlers (and parents of course) and for families/ people of all ages! It is in a very beautiful area with many different trails. The people who run the place are all very knowledgeable about the area, i.e. different plants and animals and are a very good source of information! They are also very welcoming to anyone who wants to learn. My family and I...