The Academy is open Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plan Your Visit

Nature At Noon

Event

Nature at Noon

Information

Dates

Location

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Reserve your Spot

Take a break from your desk and reconnect with the natural world—right in the middle of your workday. Join us for Nature at Noon, a new series of accessible lunchtime nature outings in and around Center City Philadelphia.

Nature at Noon is designed to bring joy, inclusion and curiosity to your lunch hour. These one-hour outdoor gatherings center accessibility, biodiversity, safety and connection — with programming that bridges science, art and community. Inspired by the work of In Color Birding Club, Feminist Bird Club, Philly Queer Birders, PCAS Adaptive Birders and Disability Pride PA’s Outdoors for Everyone series, Nature at Noon is for everyone — no experience needed, just curiosity and a desire to step outside.

Everyone is welcome — come as you are! We invite people of all backgrounds and abilities to join us, including disabled and neurodivergent nature-lovers and their support people. We will move at a pace that honors the needs of the group and invite you to share any access needs in advance so we can make your experience as enjoyable as possible.

We’ll use apps like iNaturalist and Merlin Bird ID to help identify the park’s biodiversity, and we encourage you to download the apps prior to the event, but it is not required. We will help you to navigate these tools if they are new for you. While we won’t explore every corner of the park or encounter every species, we will focus on some standout wildlife sure to spark your curiosity and wonder. Free Library birding backpacks and binoculars will be made available to everyone as supplies allow.

May Events

Fairmount Water Works and Boardwalk

May 28, 2026
Noon–1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at noon in front of Lloyd Hall public bathrooms located at 1 Boathouse Row, or you can plug this location into your map (39.968953, -75.184904).

Access Features:

  • Surface/Terrain: The park surface is composed of paved path, metal boardwalk, loose brick sections, and grassy areas.
  • Facilities: Public bathrooms and water fountains are located at Lloyd Hall.
  • Amenities: The area features some tree canopy shade and offers ample benches.
  • Parking: Free two-hour parking is available along Water Works Drive. Two disability parking spots are available.
  • Public Transportation: Bus Route 38 (0.3 miles from Art Museum to Lloyd Hall).
  • Weather Policy: If it is actively raining, the event will be postponed or canceled. Please check the Facebook event listing by 11 a.m. on the event day to confirm.

June Events

Schuylkill Banks Grays Ferry Crescent Trail

Thursday, June 11, 2026
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at the entrance to the Grays Ferry Crescent Trail at 1300 Schuylkill Ave., at the corner of Schuylkill Ave. And Wharton St. or you can plug this location into your map (39.939163, -75.203396). Our goal is to encounter breeding purple martins at the condo installed on the trail, but there are plenty of breeding birds to hear singing along this trail.

Access Features:

  • Surface/Terrain: Dirt and grass paths
  • Public Bathrooms: Bathroom trailer and an ADA accessible porta potty at Boat House. FDR Park welcome center near Pattison Ave and Ashburn Fields near the skate park.
  • Hydration: Two water stations at Boat House.
  • Parking: Located at 1500 Pattison Ave Philadelphia, PA 19145. You can enter park through either entrance off Pattison Ave. Park in the parking lot at the pickleball courts before you turn the corner for the skate park.
  • Public Transportation: Pattison Ave/NRG station Broad St. Line; 4 and 17 bus lines.
  • Weather: If it is actively raining, we will cancel the event by 8am that morning.

Bartram’s Garden

Thursday, June 25, 2026
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at the loop parking lot above the meadow, or you can plug this location into your map (39.933400, -75.211414). This location features a managed garden, a tidal waterfront, and a working farm -- excellent for breeding birds, dragonflies, butterflies, and hopefully clearwing moths at the Monarda/bee balm.

Access Features:

  • Surface/Terrain: gravel, dirt, and grass paths
  • Public Bathrooms: Bathrooms available.
  • Hydration: unavailable
  • Parking: Located at 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA.. Entrance via 54th St.
  • Public Transportation: 36 Trolley to 54th St.
  • Weather: If it is actively raining, we will cancel the event by 8am that morning.

July Events

Washington Ave. Green

Thursday, July 9, 2026
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at the Delaware River Trail by the Sheet Metal Workers Parking lot, or you can plug this location into your map ( 39.93104318212895, -75.14228289416971). This location features excellent habitat for Common Five-lined Skinks, and hosts Hackberry Trees where you can find the American Snout butterfly.

Access Features:

  • Surface/Terrain: Dirt and paved paths
  • Public Bathrooms: No bathroom available.
  • Hydration: None.
  • Parking: Located at 1301 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147. You can enter through the Sheet Metal Workers Association driveway and park there.
  • Public Transportation: 25 bus line.
  • Weather: If it is actively raining, we will cancel the event by 8am that morning.

Academy of Natural Sciences – The Art of Nature: Drawing from our Collections

Thursday, July 23, 2026
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at the Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th St. Entrance security desk. Bring your own art supplies, or use our tempera paint sticks, color pencils, markers, watercolor paper, and collage materials to recreate insects and birds from our collection. We will have a variety of native pinned insects and a variety of preserved birds from our collection. This event is for any level artist, and intended to inspire awe through close observation of native species we easily miss in the wild.

Access Features

  • Surface/Terrain: Elevator access to space.
  • Public Bathrooms and water fountains available.
  • Parking: Street parking available around Logan Circle and Race St.
  • Public Transportation: Bus Routes 32, 33, 38, 49, and Suburban Station.

Weather: If it is actively snowing, we will postpone or cancel the event. Please check our Facebook event listing by 11 a.m. on event day to confirm.

Related events