Overbrook Environmental Education Center

We are excited to announce our next EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Lead Safety Certification Training will be held Monday, June 29th, 2026.

Learned in this certification class are lead-safety measures necessary to protect inhabitants during renovation, repair, and painting projects in pre-1978 housing and in pre-1978 child-occupied facilities, such as daycare centers, where lead-based paint will be disturbed by the work. This is a full 8-hour day class: both instructional and demonstration.

This comprehensive session will equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to carry out projects safely, efficiently, and in compliance with EPA regulations. Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to refresh your expertise, this training will cover best practices in surface preparation, restoration techniques, and safe handling of lead-based materials to protect both workers and occupants.

After the class, attendees are offered a written exam based on instruction presented in class. Upon successful completion of the exam, students will receive certification. The certification training costs $295 (all books and materials are included).

Seating is limited. Please call (215) 879-7770 or email us [email protected] for registration details.

The application for our 2026 Philly Green Ambassador Corps is open now through June 24th! The 5-week program will run from July 6 to August 6.

PGA Corps members are compensated and trained to provide and present service projects related to water quality safety, climate adaptation, emergency preparedness, domestic toxins, neighborhood beautification, environmental justice, healthy homes, and more. See more program details on the flyer above.

Scan the QR code, use the link in our bio, or go to https://forms.gle/hmw69mi73AvDhNJz9 to submit your application.

The PGA Corps program is managed by the Overbrook Environmental Education Center and supported by the American Rivers Foundation to provide young professionals with environmental justice field experience and classroom training.

Questions? Call Overbrook Environmental Education Center (215) 879-7770 or email [email protected].

Nutrition class recipes are here for June! Join us as we learn four new summertime recipes. Learn to cook healthy meals, pick up kitchen tips, and cook in community.

These classes are free, fun, and open to everyone! No registration required.

Alleyways are a vital part of a community’s overall quality of life. Although upkeep for the City’s alleyway system is the sole responsibility of property owners, the City of Philadelphia is now providing limited alleyway cleaning services that are requested formally through the below program form.

Just one more way that Mayor Parker is making Philadelphia safer, cleaner, and greener for all!

EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT

- Each alley is limited to one cleaning per year
- Limited to City of Phila residents ONLY
- Limited to alleyways ONLY within the City of Philadelphia ONLY
- No duplicate block requests will be accepted in the same calendar year (regardless of how many requests are submitted)

Click on the link in our bio, or go to officeofcleanandgreen.org/alleyways

The Overbrook Environmental Education Center recently teamed up with SLA Beeber High School, American Rivers, Villanova University, and Mini Studio Video to launch a “Photovoice” project. This participatory research initiative empowered SLA Beeber seniors to document their community’s relationship with water through the lens of a camera.

Led by science teacher Melanie Snier, nearly 50 students explored Morris Park to photograph Indian Creek. Guided by retired Philadelphia Water Department engineer Drew Brown, the students learned about the creek’s history and “daylighting” while using their phone cameras to practice visual literacy. Their goal was to capture images that told a story about local water quality and natural systems. A week later, back in the classroom, the young scholars analyzed their work using the “SHOWeD” method—a framework designed to help them identify community conditions, understand their root causes, and advocate for social change.

Nutrition classes are here for the month of May! Join us as we learn four new springtime recipes. Learn to cook healthy meals, pick up kitchen tips, and cook in community.

These classes are free, fun, and open to everyone! No registration required.

On Saturday April 11th, the Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) joined forces with the city-wide Philly Spring Cleanup to transform the 300 block of N. 61st Street! We were thrilled to partner with community leader Elaine Wells and Global Thinking Initiatives, the Wynnebrook TCB crew, Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and a fantastic group of local volunteers. Together, we tackled heavy-duty contractor waste, demolition debris, and cleared out two vacant lots filled with illegally dumped materials.

A huge shoutout to CLIP for handling the heavy lifting and to everyone who “showed up and showed out” to make a difference! To visually learn more about this event, swipe through the following pictures to see the incredible before-and-after transformations.

Note: Elaine Wells also serves on the OEEC’s Community Advisory Board for Illegal Dumping Reduction, working alongside SEAMAAC and the PHL Office of Clean & Green Initiatives.

Congratulations to the Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) for receiving the 2026 PA Brownfields Keystone Award! Established in 2002 by the nonprofit JASTECH, the OEEC has long championed sustainability and public health in Philadelphia. The OEEC’s latest venture, "Overbrook Farmacy & NatureWorks" at 6122–6150 Lancaster Avenue, is a national model for community-led brownfield redevelopment. By transforming a former scrapyard and quarry into a "living laboratory," the project integrates green infrastructure with environmental education to boost climate resilience. Following a rigorous EPA-funded cleanup that removed over 1,800 tons of debris and lead-impacted soil, the site received final Act 2 regulatory approval in late 2025. With the land now safe for public use, and site construction is set to begin in the third quarter of 2026.

Join the Overbrook Environmental Education Center and Global Thinking Initiatives on Saturday April 11th for our Philly Spring Cleanup Day.

We will clean up litter and illegally dumped materials on the 300 Block of N 61st Street, and the vacant lot at 352 N. 61st Street.

🕰️When? — Saturday, April 11th at 8:00 – 10:00 AM

📍Where? — 346 N 61st Street Phila. Pa 19139

🌎 Why? — Let’s kick off the Spring season as we clean the block and clear some lots, together!