Thanks to the climate crisis, we’re guaranteed hotter and wetter weather in the years to come. We’re used to our humid summers in Philly—but hotter and more humid? How are we all going to cope with that? When we cool our indoor spaces with air conditioners, we’re basically pushing the heat and moisture outside, making the outdoors even more uncomfortable. Using AC also means we use more electricity, meaning more greenhouse gases from the power plant.
So, how do we keep our cool? It’s time to think outside the (AC) box.
Fans
Fans blow the sweat off your skin, making you feel more comfortable. Whether it’s a folding fan you pull out of your purse at Suburban Station, a table fan, a floor fan or a ceiling fan, they all make you feel less hot—and use a lot less electricity than an AC unit. When you run a fan for an hour, you use about 50 watt-hours. When you run an AC for an hour, you use about 500 watt-hours, 10 times as much. We’re billed for electricity use in kilowatt-hours (kWh), or 1,000 watt-hours. Do the math. Since fans evaporate moisture and don’t lower a room’s temperature, you only need to keep the fans on when you’re in the room.
Follow (and block) the sun
The sun’s radiation heats up our homes. This is nice in the winter, but not in August. We need to block the sun from entering our homes as much as possible.
If you don’t already have drapes or blinds on your sunny windows, one quick way is with a tension rod and a quick hem to any light-colored fabric. In the mornings, I bring in the cool air via my living room windows, keeping the kitchen window and curtains closed to block the sun. In the late afternoon, I’ve got the kitchen window open and the front windows closed and darkened. After dark and on cloudy days, both sides are open, offering a refreshing cross breeze.
If you have a window fan, after dark is when you prop them in open windows and draw in the cooler air. Consider installing window film, or if you own a row house, white coating your roof. These affordable options block the sun and keep you cooler.
Still feeling too hot? Mist your shirt and your head with a little water and sit under a ceiling fan. Again, evaporation at work.
Do something else
If your second-floor bedroom feels too hot, camp out on the first floor.
If your first floor feels too hot, find a project in the basement. Or wash dishes with cold water. When I rinse my cereal bowls with cool water, I feel my mind cool a little as well.
As for food, cool meals rich in water content are best. Consider cooking in the cooler, early morning hours and eating more vegetables and fruit salads.
Don’t be stoic
And if you must use the AC to keep your cool, I’ve learned that it’s not a case of either AC or a fan. I can keep the AC at a higher temperature (meaning it uses fewer kWh) and spin the fans in the occupied space to remain comfortable.
Give it a try. July was plastic-free month. Why not make August Freon-free?
Adventurers take a break from the city and go offshore in kayaks and rowboats along the Schuylkill River
Kids can’t get enough of the Squirrel Scramble’s rope netting– part of Morris Arboretum’s Tree Adventure exhibition.
Birders at Hawk Watch can glimpse Red-Tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles.
Hikers explore the physical remains of what was once a trolley network, including massive stone tunnels and bridges.
By Alexandra W. Jones
If you’re thinking that this summer might be a great time to escape from Philadelphia’s city streets and explore the outdoors, this is the list for you. The Philly area has tons of nature havens that can serve as the perfect getaway from your metropolitan life. Whether you like to camp, bike or simply enjoy the outdoors, there’s a great location for an adventure closeby. So strap on a pair of comfortable shoes, slather on some sunscreen and see how many of these little pockets of fresh air you can check off.
▭ Bartram’s Garden
Located in West Philadelphia, the 45-acre Bartram’s Garden has eight acres of trails on which you can discover a wide variety of trees and plants. Opened in 2017, a 1.1.-mile trail segment called Bartram’s Mile connects to the Schuylkill River Trail, which winds through the garden and is perfect for bikers, walkers and runners alike. | Hours: Garden is open sunrise to sunset; Welcome Center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends | Cost: Free admission; Garden tours are $12 for non-member adults and $10 for non-member youths and seniors | Location: 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard
▭ Bellmawr Lake
You can’t beat this lake’s proximity—it’s less than 30 minutes from Center City. The two-acre, man-made swimming hole has sand and a 100-foot water slide. Land activities include beach volleyball, horseshoes, picnicking and mini golf. | Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Cost: Adults 12 and over pay $11 on weekdays and $13 on weekends; Children 2 to 11 pay $9 on weekdays and $10 on weekends | Location: 850 Creek Rd, Bellmawr, NJ
▭ Beltzville State Park
A two hours’ drive from Center City, this 3,000-acre state park is located in the foothills of the Poconos. Chief among its attractions is a 525-foot sand beach. Visitors are welcome to take a dip, paddle canoes or kayak, though the beach isn’t attended by lifeguards. Birders can spot waterfowl and other species in nearby forests. There are also plenty of trails to explore. | Hours: 8:00 a.m. to sunset | Cost: Free | Location: 2950 Pohopoco Dr, Lehighton, PA
▭ Boxers Trail
If you’re searching for a well-reviewed trail in the midst of Fairmount, look no further. Runners and cyclists alike can enjoy the 3.5-mile-long loop, which swivels past the historic Smith Memorial Playground, several historic mansions, and the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. It gets its name because boxers like the legendary Joe Frazier used it as a running path. | Hours: Sunrise to Sunset | Cost: Free
▭Cape Henlopen State Park
A short walk from the beach in Cape May, Cape Henlopen has a unique campground—one that rests among pine-covered sand dunes. Grab yourself a walk-in tent site next to the Walking Dunes Trail or rent one of its 12 camping cabins that share a communal bath house. Its beaches offer visitors everything from ocean swimming and boating to kayaking, fishing, clamming and wind-surfing. Additionally, the park’s trails are a great excuse to hike and bike. | Hours: 8 a.m. until sunset | Cost: $35 per night for tent camping | Location: 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive Lewes, DE
▭ Cherry Springs State Park
At 250 miles from Center City, this is the farthest spot on our list. But if you are seeking a night sky where the constellations are not lost in visual pollution, Cherry Springs State Park is worth the road trip. Known to be one of the best places in the country to see stars, this park, surrounded by the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest, is remote and dark. There are 30 campsites available at the park—fire rings included. It also boasts trails for hiking and biking. | Hours: Open 24 hours | Cost: Free | Location:4639 Cherry Springs Road Coudersport, PA
▭ Cobbs Creek Trail
This paved and shady trail runs 3.7 miles from 63rd Street Station to 70th Street. It winds through playgrounds, the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center, the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery and several tennis courts. You don’t have to cross many roads to complete it, making it ideal for families with children. | Open 24 hours | Cost: Free | Location: 63rd and Market streets
▭ Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Another Poconos-area favorite is this 70,000-acre park. Visitors can see waterfalls, enjoy swimming holes and observe Native American archaeological sites. It’s also a great place for camping and hiking. Raymondskill Falls, Pennsylvania’s tallest waterfall at 150 feet, can be seen from a trail that’s only 0.3 miles long. Its beaches are not only a great place to swim, but to lounge, picnic and boat, too. | Hours: Day-use areas are open from sunrise to sunset | Cost: $2-10 for amenity fees | Location: River Road Off Route 209 Bushkill , PA
▭ Fairmount Park
There’s plenty of room for all sorts of fun across Fairmount Park’s 2,050 acres. In addition to biking, walking and running, the park boasts picnicking grounds, basketball courts and an equestrian center. Hike up to Belmont Plateau if you’re looking for a view of the city skyline and a patch of grass from which to enjoy it. More into history? Take a walk down the Trolley Trail, which follows the course of an old trolley that ran through Fairmount in the early 20th century. Or explore the “Charms” of Fairmount—six historic houses that offer a glimpse into life just before and after the American Revolution. | Hours: Open sunrise to sunset; Tour times for the Charms may vary | Cost: Free; Charms tours cost $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and kids ages 13-17 | Location: Northwest Philadelphia
▭ FDR Park
This South Philadelphia park, which was originally built on reclaimed marshlands, offers trails for walking, running and biking. Today, it’s full of fields and lakes and offers great views of the city skyline, Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field. The park also boasts a golf course, tennis courts, skateparks and lakes for fishing. | Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Cost: Park entry is free, prices for sporting activities vary | Location: 1500 Pattison Avenue
▭ French Creek State Park
This 7,730-acre state park, which has more than 35 miles of trails, makes up the biggest stretch of forests between Washington, D.C., and New York City, and it is perfect for your hiking, swimming, fishing and biking needs. You can stay the night in a yurt that has a fridge and a cook top or a cabin outfitted with modern amenities. Its campground has 200 camping sites, approximately 60 of which have electric power. Visitors can also refresh themselves at the swimming pool by Hopewell Lake during daytime hours. | Hours: sunrise to sunset | Cost: Starting at $15 per night for PA residents; starting at $20 per night for non-residents | Location: 843 Park Road Elverson, PA
▭ John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
It’s a green sanctuary near the Philadelphia Airport. John Heinz boasts more than 10 miles of hiking trails, complete with observation platforms where visitors can witness the wildlife of the freshwater Tinicum Marsh. The refuge supports birds as well as mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects and plants. Visitors can kayak and canoe along a 4.5-mile section of Darby Creek that winds through the marsh, and biking is permitted in select areas. | Hours: Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset; Visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Cost: Free | Location: 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard
▭ Linvilla Orchards Swim Clubs
For some classic summer fun, join the swim clubs in Linvilla Orchards. Linvilla Orchards, a 300-acre family farm just outside of Media, PA, is home to two swim clubs: Hidden Hollow and Knowlton. Every member has access to the facilities of both clubs. Located right on the farm, each club boasts perfect grounds for swimming, sunbathing, picnics and poolside parties—which the clubs host for members and nonmembers alike. Swimming lessons are taught at both, and each club has their own swimming and diving teams that any member under 18 is welcome to join. | Hours: 12 to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekends | Cost: Primary membership $300, additional $175 per family member. Infants are free; discounts for toddlers and senior citizens | Location: 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media, PA
▭ Morris Arboretum
With miles of paved and unpaved trails, the Morris Arboretum is the perfect place to go for a hike and to learn about plants—it has more than 2,600 kinds growing in its living collection. It also has several family-friendly exhibits, including “Out on a Limb,” an elevated canopy 50 feet above ground that allows visitors to look down as they climb across rope netting. There’s also the “Railway Garden,” in which visitors can observe model trains as they chug along a quarter mile of track past miniature replicas of well-known Philly buildings. | Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Cost: $20 for non-member adults; $10 for non-member students and kids ages 3-17 | Location: 100 E. Northwestern Avenue
▭ Parvin State Park
Located at the edge of the Pine Barrens in southwestern New Jersey, Parvin State Park is only an hour away from the edge of the city. A popular birding spot, the park is home to 180 different bird species and a variety of endangered flora and fauna. Visitors can camp in tents or cabins, and groups can reserve large campsites and picnic areas. Visitors looking to beat the summer heat can jump into the lifeguarded swimming beach Parvin Grove, situated along Parvin Lake, from Memorial Day until Labor Day. | Cost: $2 entry fee, prices for camping vary | Hours: Sunrise to Sunset | Location: 701 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove Township, NJ 08318
▭ Pennypack Park
Established in 1905, Pennypack boasts 1,600 acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The park has playgrounds, hiking and biking trails and a small educational environmental center on Verree Road. Walk along Pennypack Creek, a tributary to the Delaware River, and see how many snakes, turtles and frogs you can find. On Wednesdays, you can also stop by the Ed Kelly Amphitheater for a free concert, often by a tribute band—7:30 p.m. is the usual start time. | Hours: Sunrise to sunset | Cost: Free | Location: 8500 Pine Road
▭ Quarry Swim Club
Finally, a quarry you’re allowed to swim in! Located in Hopewell, New Jersey, the Quarry Swim Club has been welcoming waterbugs for the last 100 years. It stopped operating as a rock quarry in 1916, and underground springs pump water into the hole, which is about 55 feet deep. It officially became a swim club in 1928 and has since added other amenities like an in-ground swimming pool, dressing rooms and a snack shack. | Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends | Cost: Passes for six visits for $102 for ages 13 & older; $78 for ages 6 – 12; and $54 for ages 5 & under | Location: 180 Crusher Road Hopewell, New Jersey
▭ Rail Park
Established on what used to be two elevated railroad lines, The Rail Park in Chinatown is similar to the High Line in New York City. One day, the park will stretch for three miles, connecting 10 neighborhoods and 50 city blocks. For now, however, only a quarter mile of the park has been completed and opened to the public. It’s pet friendly, wheelchair accessible and offers amazing skyline views. | Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Cost: Free | Location: Steps at 1120 Callowhill Street; Wheelchair accessible entrance at the intersection of Broad and Noble Streets
▭ Schuylkill River Trail
Everyone who’s seen the Schuylkill River trail has made a mental note to bike it one day. Take a day to actually do so this summer. It winds from Center City, throughValley Forge National Historical Park in Montgomery County to Parkerford, PA. It even has a “boardwalk” section that extends over the Schuylkill River, giving you a great view of the city skyline. The trail is ideal for walks and runs, too, and weaves beside historic Philly landmarks like Boathouse Row, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Fairmount Water Works. | Open 24 hours | Cost: Free | Location: 2501 Walnut Street
▭ Tacony Creek Park
Located in the Northeast, this Philadelphia watershed park boasts 300 acres of streamside and woodland park habitat. A 3.2 mile paved trail runs the entire length of the park, where visitors can walk, run, or bike as they admire the many kinds of birds, flowers and trees that inhabit the park. Visitors can access the park by 10 neighborhood gateways in Frankford, Olney, Lawncrest, Feltonville, Northwood, and Juniata.| Cost: Free | Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
▭ Wharton State Forest & Atsion Lake
About an hour outside of Philadelphia, you’ll find Atsion Lake in Wharton State Forest. It’s a popular swimming spot with lifeguards on duty. The 100-acre lake is surrounded by picnic areas, playgrounds, barbeque grills and concession stands. A half mile away, visitors can rent canoes and kayaks at Pinelands Adventures. There are also wheelchair-accessible nature trails. And if you’d like to make a weekend out of it, the park hosts around 50 lakeside tent and trailer sites as well as other camping amenities. | Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Cost:$5/$10 per car during the week and $10/$20 per car on weekends | Location: 715 Rt. 206, Shamong, NJ
▭ Wissahickon Valley Park
This park has more than 50 miles of hiking trails, five of which can be found on “Forbidden Drive”—a flat, gravel trail that runs alongside the Wissahickon Creek. Bikers, hikers and horseback riders enjoy this trail together. It leads to the historic Valley Green Inn, built in the 19th century, and now operates as a restaurant. The park is also designated an “Important Birding Area” by the National Audubon Society. Owls, woodpeckers, nuthatches and blue jays are among the birds frequently spotted here. | Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Cost: Free | Location: Valley Green Road
▭ Worlds End State Park
Tucked inside Loyalsock State Forest is Worlds End State Park—a great place to photograph and explore mountains and streams. The park also has camping amenities and more than 20 miles of hiking trails, including a geology trail that takes visitors down a path where they can observe various rock formations. | Hours: Sunrise to sunset | Cost: Free | Location: 82 Cabin Bridge Road Forksville, PA
Playworks designed an online toolkit, Recess Labs, for educators to use to improve their classroom and playground climate. Here are a few Recess Labs tips for better play:
1 Get adults in the game
Oftentimes adults see recess as a time for them to check out. But research shows that adult participation can strengthen rapport with the students and model behavior the students may not get to see at home.
Actively play games with the students, don’t just yell from the sidelines
Let kids see you make mistakes, it builds trust
Check in with kids on the sidelines who may be feeling excluded
Plan ahead to have a variety of games for kids with different skills and interests
Introduce games with a line, like foursquare, so other kids can feel they can jump in
Help the children to choose teams by using shoe colors or counting off, never with a “team captain”
2 Positive Language
Simple positive phrases like “you’re a natural,” and “nice try,” build an environment of acceptance and respect that can translate to the classroom.
Model positive language, and encourage children who have stepped out of their comfort zones
Acknowledge good behavior and affirm students who follow direction
Give lots of high fives
3 Conflict Resolution
Giving students the resources to solve conflicts on their own gives teaches them important skills, and gives them a sense of responsibility. Recess labs offers 4 different tools for conflict resolution.
Rock, Paper, Scissors, for intervening before small conflicts escalate
I-Messages, or I-statements, like “I feel __ when you __,” allow children to name their feelings instead of pointing fingers
Make a “Peace Path,” a visible path on a playground, or wall that allow children to walk through their feelings step by step.
Appoint student “Conflict Managers,” equipping the student’s peers to be classroom leaders so students can resolve issues without “tattling” to a teacher.
I am in awe of your enthusiasm, optimism and relentless quest for justice. When I work with you, I am reminded of my own feelings, at the age of 16 in 1969. It was the dawn of the environmental movement. I made a commitment the next spring—the first Earth Day—to a lifetime of work for justice and environmental stewardship.
Early in my career I worried, as many of you do now, about the fate of the country. In my day the president was Richard Nixon, and we were not so sure we would survive him. We did, and so will you survive the current president, and you will be better for it.
I also worried about the fate of the planet. While crossing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the PATCO High Speed Line, I looked down on the City of Philadelphia, thinking it was once wilderness. I envisioned William Penn sailing up the river seeing the wilderness, envisioning the city he would call Philadelphia. In a flash, I realized humanity is but a passing phase, and as sure as the grass grows in the cracks of the sidewalk, Philadelphia will one day be covered in vines, consumed by the wilderness from which it came.
I understood then that we can alter nature, but we cannot destroy that of which we are a part. However, we can, in our ignorance, eliminate hundreds of species—including ourselves.
I found an odd sense of contentment that my job—our job—is to work together to save humanity.
After doing this for close to 50 years, I understand that, even though you are just starting up, you might feel anxious or overwhelmed at times. But I want you to know that I remain more than hopeful. I am enthusiastically optimistic for our future.
Here are some tips I’ve learned, and I pass them along in the hopes that you will find some truth in them.
Take care of yourself so you can take care of others. There is a difference between self-interest and selfish interest. I have found that being clear about my self-interest is a source of power. Paramount in this work is to understand and respect the interest of those with whom I disagree and sometimes consider the “opposition.”
Always work in teams and have a good time. The great American myth is that one person saves the world, and it is never true. Someone may get the credit, but success is always the work of many. We must not only work together, we should enjoy ourselves in the process and party together as hard as we work.
Decide what your work is based on your interests, and define your victories. The work to save the planet is not a marathon, it is a relay race, and the scope of what needs to be done can be overwhelming. My process is to pick and understand an issue and decide what a victory looks like. I then define what needs to get done and organize people to make it happen, one project at time. I always work to build on what others have done and leave so it can be passed on to those who follow.
Pace yourself, be patient and don’t quit. We need to approach the work with intent and perseverance to succeed. Some projects take weeks, others take years. Be steady.
So, Millennials, take care of yourselves so you can take care of each other. Working together for justice and sustainability, let’s make it happen, one step at a time. Let’s plan to be successful, enjoy the work, celebrate our victories and remain steadfast and diligent. It’s the job of a lifetime.
Maurice Sampson is the Eastern Pennsylvania director of Clean Water Action, and an environmental activist for nearly fifty years.
Grid Magazine 