Pennsylvania congregation launches bird education and nature journaling with UTO grant

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, launched Sproutsiders, a nature education initiative funded by a $49,000 grant from The Episcopal Church's United Thank Offering. The project, building on the congregation's earlier Sprout Reach ministry, partners with the Green Valleys Watershed Association to develop a nature journaling curriculum for community events and summer youth programs. The curriculum emphasizes observational skills—recording time, temperature, location, and wildlife observations—and incorporates STEM programming. St. Peter's will install smart cameras on bird feeders and birdhouses in its garden to allow public online viewing of local wildlife. The church also plans to create a "bug garden" on its property to bring nature education closer to neighbors. Ashley Solo, a ministry leader, explained the goal: "making nature accessible to people, especially people who might not have access to it." The initial Sprout Reach pilot, funded with $14,000 from the Diocese of Pennsylvania and local Episcopal Church Women, received encouraging community response. Sproutsiders is expected to be incorporated into two local youth camp programs in 2027 and showcased at Phoenixville conservation events including Floctoberfest. The grant was one of 25 UTO-funded projects announced in June totaling nearly $1 million.

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Source: Episcopal News Service — https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/08/24/pennsylvania-ministry-promotes-love-of-nature-with-journaling-curriculum-backed-by-uto-grant/