The Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation announces two ribbon-cutting events to celebrate the opening of “Seeds & Bees” at Wyck and “The Hive” at Johnson House – two new literacy-rich installations for local children and their caregivers. These new installations join The Nest at Cliveden, which opened in August 2023, as playful learning opportunities for children and families as they go about their daily lives in the Germantown/Mt. Airy community.
The first event will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 10 am on the grounds of Wyck at 6026 Germantown Ave., during the Philadelphia Honey Festival. The second event will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 1 pm on the grounds of Johnson House at 6306 Germantown Ave. Both events will include speakers, games, music, snacks, book giveaways, and children’s activities. Members of the media and of the general public are invited to attend. Detailed programs are below.
These installations were created through the Literacy Rich Neighborhood Initiative (LRNI), a program of Mt. Airy CDC funded by a grant from the William Penn Foundation and supported by State Senator Art Haywood, who is a longtime advocate for early childhood literacy. LRNI advances the aims of the citywide grade-level reading campaign spearheaded by Read by 4th, with the goal of getting every child in Philadelphia reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade.
“We are proud to introduce these fun and educational installations for the community’s use at our neighborhood’s beloved historic sites,” noted Philip Dawson, Executive Director of Mt. Airy CDC. “Thanks to the support of our generous funders and partners, Mt. Airy CDC was able to facilitate a resident-driven process that has produced these engaging new habitats for playful learning.”
The purpose of LRNI is to create opportunities for families with young children to interact with reading resources, playful learning installations, programming, and signage that stimulate adult-child dialogue and literacy skill-building during daily travels in the Mt. Airy and Germantown neighborhoods. Seeds & Bees and The Hive–which were created in partnership with Interpret Green, KSS Architects, Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network, Watchdog, Weston Design & Fabrication Studio, and Drexel University–represent the second and third of these installations in the community.
The design of both Seeds & Bees and The Hive is inspired by beehives, which symbolize strength, harmony, and community. Both designs incorporate a variety of playful learning activities that reflect the rich history of their sites and the neighborhood. The installations include Little Free Libraries, multiple seating options, I-Spy elements, story starters, a weather wheel station, word games, an audio story station, and much more. Being outdoors stimulates children’s imaginations and creativity. The natural environments surrounding Seeds & Bees and The Hive, as well as the engaging activities within, contribute to children’s increased curiosity, vocabulary, critical thinking, observational skills, and expanded empathy for others.
In their locations at Wyck and Johnson House, these installations will serve the
Germantown/Mt. Airy communities throughout the year, with special support for Mt. Airy CDC’s Summer Reading Camp at Holman Field. The historic sites will also integrate the installations into their community programming. Together with The Nest, Seeds & Bees and The Hive will serve as wonderful local destinations that are safe, joyful, educational, and beautiful.
About Mt. Airy CDC: Founded in 1980, Mt. Airy CDC has a mission to preserve, empower, and enrich a vibrant and diverse Mt. Airy neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia. The organization provides housing counseling and financial literacy services, hosts free community events, promotes small businesses, advances thoughtful real estate development, and administers programs for children’s literacy. The successful Go Mt. Airy! campaign engages residents and visitors in shopping and dining local. Please visit our website at www.mtairycdc.org to learn more about Mt. Airy CDC and how you can support its community efforts. Follow us on Facebook at @mtairycdc and on Instagram at @gomtairy.
About Johnson House: The mission at Johnson House Historic Site is to stand as a beacon of change and inspiration. Rooted in their history as an Underground Railroad stop and historic house museum, they proudly represent the enduring impact of everyday people who have made a difference in their communities and beyond. The Johnson House achieves its mission by offering interactive educational opportunities, fostering community initiatives, and diligently preserving the historical integrity of the house, grounds, and outlier buildings. Built in 1768 by John Johnson for his son John Johnson Jr., the house stands as a testament to the resilience of a Quaker family who farmed the land, ran a thriving tannery business, and fought for the abolitionist cause.
About Wyck: The mission of the Wyck Association is to preserve and interpret Wyck, one of America’s most authentic historic sites, to engage learners of all ages, and to strengthen our neighboring community. Wyck is a National Historic Landmark house, garden, and farm in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia that served as the ancestral home to one Philadelphia family for nine generations (1690-1973) within the 2.5-acre, centuries-old site.
September 7 Ribbon-Cutting Program at Wyck 10:00 am-12:00 pm (Philadelphia Honey Festival 10:00 am-4:00 pm):
10:00 am – 10:45 am Speakers & Ribbon Cutting with Emcee Roberta Frempong, Mt. Airy CDC
Speakers:
- Philip Dawson, Mt. Airy CDC Executive Director
- Joshua Peskin, Mt. Airy CDC Board President
- Representative of State Senator Art Haywood
- Kim Staub, Wyck Executive Director
- Amanda Charles, William Penn Foundation
- Craig Johnson, Interpret Green
- Cyn King, Community Liaison
10:45 am Open Hive Talk at the Apiary
11:30 am Guided Children’s Activities at Seeds & Bees
September 21 Ribbon-Cutting Program at Johnson House:
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Speakers & Ribbon Cutting with Emcee Roberta Frempong, Mt. Airy CDC
Speakers:
- Philip Dawson, Mt. Airy CDC Executive Director
- Joshua Peskin, Mt. Airy CDC Board President
- Representative of State Senator Art Haywood
- Cornelia Swinson, Johnson House Executive Director
- Amanda Charles, William Penn Foundation
- Craig Johnson, Interpret Green
- Destiny McKinney, Johnson House/Holman Camp Parent
1:45 pm – 4:00 pm Activities: Tours of The Hive and Playful Learning Elements, Giveaways, Snacks and Drinks, and more!
