Community Who Cares: McKaig Nature Education Center

Community Who Cares is an ongoing series spotlighting the organizations doing good work right here in our area, the ones you might drive past every day without realizing the impact they have.

This time, that spotlight lands on McKaig Nature Education Center, 95 acres of old growth forest just a half mile from the King of Prussia Mall, tucked behind Roberts Elementary School.

McKaig dates back to 1964, though the park itself didn’t officially open to the public until the early 1970s. Today it is home to 3.25 miles of trails, meandering streams and abundant wildlife.

In addition to offering peace and solitude to those who visit, McKaig hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year – both in the daytime and the evening!  One of McKaig’s most popular event series is the full moon hike, held most months through the winter with no flashlights, just moonlight and the sound of an owl or a distant coyote. Close behind is the bat viewing, featuring a short talk from a PhD bat scientist followed by a hike to McKaig Pond at sunset to watch the bats feed. The park is also one of the best dark sky spots in the area, since it borders the lightless St. David’s Golf Club, making it the perfect place for meteor shower viewings like the Perseids and the upcoming Geminids in December.

This year, in honor of the 250th anniversary, McKaig added history hikes tracing the route General Washington’s army marched past the park on its way to winter at Valley Forge in 1777. Fall brings ghost stories and s’mores around a bonfire, a short night hike for kids, and a full moon trick-or-treat hike. In March, a St. Patrick’s Day orienteering event sends families searching the woods for a cast iron pot filled with gold coins. And every fall, McKaig hosts its 5K Trail Race, now in its 11th year, along with a one-mile walk, kids’ fun runs, a chili cook-off and a 12-hour timed run.

McKaig also works directly with local businesses, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and other organizations looking for a hands-on day outdoors, from tree planting to guided history hikes to team-building exercises.

A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit conservancy, McKaig relies on donations, memberships and user-fees rather than tax funding, with occasional grants and support from Upper Merion Township to fill in the gaps. Donations are gratefully received via their website.

www.enjoymckaig.org/