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.

Academy of Natural Sciences – The Art of Nature: Drawing from our Collections
March 5, 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, including a Painted Bunting, Purple Martin, Cecropia Moth, Mourning Cloak, and other fabulous woodpeckers, small birds, dragonflies, and beetles. 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.

Penn Treaty Park
March 19, 2026
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at Penn Treaty Park at 1301 N Beach St., or you can plug this location into your map (39.966622773370474, -75.12851468358387). This is a great park with lots of history, a famous Elm Tree “relative,” great views of the river, and we will explore Lenni Lenape names for birds and wildlife.

Access Features

• Surface/Terrain: paved sidewalk path, curb cuts from parking lot to walkways
• Public Bathrooms: Not available.
• The area features some tree canopy shade and offers ample benches.
• Parking: Free, accessible parking is available alongside the park entrance on Beach Street. Additional free parking is available on E Columbia Ave across N Delaware Ave. Access Aisles not available within the parking lot or along Beach St.
• Public Transportation: Bus Routes 43
• Weather: If it is actively raining, we will postpone or cancel the event. Please check our Facebook event listing by 11 a.m. on event day to confirm.