Penn Wood Elementary School

Gifted Program

Stroud Preserve

     Stroud Preserve is a site for education and research.  Bequeathed by Dr. Morris Stroud, this large preserve when combined with the Susan Groome Harney Preserve provides 574 acres of rolling Chester County countryside. The properties are managed through Natural Lands Trust.

Students conduct tests on Taylor Run to determine water quality.

 Penn Wood uses this location to further our research and investigation of water quality. Students strive to evaluate factors which influence the health of a stream.  Taylor Run, a stream that carries effluent from the Borough of West Chester provides students with complex issues to consider.  Students take pH, dissolved oxygen, hardness, and turbidity.   Class one macro-invertebrates are used as indicators. Our students compare water conditions on this stream with Indian Run, a stream to the north that also flows into the East Branch of  Brandywine Creek.

    Stroud Preserve offers students a chance to study land use issues.  Students learn about farming techniques which minimize environmental impact. The watershed riparian research area showcases the harmony which can exist when responsible land use is based on strong stewardship.  The West Chester Area School District Gifted Program  is grateful to Stroud Preserve Manager, Erich Estes, for his guidance and support given to our staff and students, while Kristen Travers, Christina Medved, and Vivian Williams from the Stroud Research Center have opened many learning opportunities for our students.

TreeVitalize Project

Students receive instructions on planting techniques

Our students, parents and educators work with shovels and busy hands planting trees along three streams.

    An exciting project is taking place on the Stroud Preserve property.  Through a large grant and with the help of corporate supporters, The TreeVitalize program has made 5,000 trees available for planting.  The opportunity for our students to be involved with this project  allow then to gain hands on experience and a deeper understanding about conservation. Trees have been planted along Taylor Run and Mine Run with the attempt to replicate the hardwood forest that once shaded these streams hundreds of years ago.  What impact do trees have on aquatic environments? Which species of tree will be most beneficial and which size? Will these trees stabilize the banks of Taylor Run? Will these trees filter out  high levels of nitrates? Will the stream temperatures drop so that trout could survive?  Lots of questions for our students to investigate!  We look forward to helping the research being done while learning about being good stewards of the environment.

    Students spent time evaluating water quality on Taylor Run, a small stream which drains into the East Branch of the Brandywine. Taylor Run carries effluent from West Chester back to the Brandywine.  The water quality was remarkably good considering the impact on the stream. Of prime importance is stabilizing stream banks to minimize the silt load on the stream. 

The cycle of life as exhibited by young fish which were examined and released.

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