2025 Honorees of Smith Memorial Playground

Michael Burch

Michael Burch has been a science educator for over forty years and prides himself on educating the young people he comes in contact with, encouraging them to further their education and serve their community. Mr. Burch received an undergraduate degree from Cheyney University in 1981, with a B.A. in Earth & Space Science, later he earned his graduate degree from Temple University in 1984 with a Master’s in Science Education. Michael Burch began his science career at the Academy of Natural Sciences working in the Department of Invertebrate Paleontology. Moving on from the Academy Mr. Burch became a lifelong educator spending more than ten years as the Department head of Science at Saint Gabriel’s Hall School. It is during this time that Mr. Burch began teaching Astronomy and Earth Science at Delaware County Community College as a part-time Adjunct Instructor. Michael spent 20 years teaching at DCCC.


In 1993, Burch began a full-time position as manager of the PACTS Program at the Franklin Institute Science Museum. The PACTS project was a program dedicated to introducing science concepts and career opportunities to Middle and High school students. In early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Burch ended a 27-year career as the Director of Youth Programs at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, working chiefly with the Partnership for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science Program (PACTS)

Seeing a need to help residents of Parkside keep informed on the many activities, events, and programs coming to the area. Mr. Burch created the Viola Street newsletter, which has now evolved into the Parkside Journal. The Parkside Journal is an award-winning free quarterly newspaper published to share the rich diversity of opportunities that exist in the Parkside area and beyond. Mr. Burch is very proud of the fact that the Parkside Journal recently reached its tenth year of continuous publication.


As a Community organizer, Mr. Burch has served on several community boards in the area. More recently Mr. Burch worked as a consultant for the Shofuso Japanese House & Garden in East Fairmount Park as their community relations partner to the Parkside community. Burch is also an active member of the Please Touch Museum’s Community Advisory Board and is active on several other boards and committees in the area. Mr. Burch also maintains a close working relationship with the Fairmount Park Conservancy. He frequently partners with them to give public historical tours of the Parkside community. Not to limit himself to just the Parkside region Mr. Burch currently works for the History Hunters program as an Educational Tour Guide in conjunction with the Historic Germantown Organization. For Historic Germantown, Mr. Burch serves on their curriculum development committee assisting in creating new science-related programming for elementary school children from the Philadelphia School District.


Mr. Burch has an interest in living, working, and playing in and around nature. He enjoys spending time riding his bike or hiking through beautiful Fairmount Park, just as he did as a youth growing up in Parkside.


Michael Burch is a dedicated member of the Parkside community. He works hard to ensure underserved residents are represented in city initiatives.