Manada Conservancy

In March of 1945, thirty people from the West Chester and Wilmington areas got together to listen to a man named Clayton Hoff talk about the Brandywine Creek. What they heard was alarming. In many spots the creek was little more than an open sewer, the result of wastewater being dumped into the stream with little or no treatment. In addition, thousands of tons of soil were being washed into the Brandywine--choking aquatic life and diminishing water quality. Recognizing that such threats would cause permanent damage, this group founded Brandywine Valley Association, the first small watershed association in America. BVA is now more than 800 members strong and is still working to protect the picturesque and productive Brandywine Creek.

Fair Hill Nature Center, operated by the Fair Hill Environmental Foundation Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to environmental education and fostering a connection between individuals and the natural world. Located in a historic fox hunting lodge within the 5,600-acre Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, the center serves over 7,500 visitors annually, including more than 5,200 public school students. The center promotes outdoor education and free-play as integral components for enhancing mental and physical health, reducing stress, and encouraging creativity among children. Through its varied programs and events, Fair Hill Nature Center aims to instill a lifelong appreciation for nature in the community and drive engagement in STEM fields. Generated from the website