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.

Penn Treaty Park
December 4, 2025
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.

Discovery Center at East Park Reservoir
December 11, 2025
Noon-1 p.m.

For this one-hour outing, we will meet at the parking lot of the Discovery Center at 3401 Reservoir Dr., or you can plug this location into your map (39.98197397151752, -75.1915637320782). This location features an indoor space excellent for viewing ducks and other waterfowl on the reservoir.

Access Features

• Surface/Terrain: The paved walkway up to the entrance is ADA accessible. The trail is wide and grass covered, with a section of mulch at the beginning of the trail and a somewhat steep entrance. The trail is flat otherwise, but there may be tree roots and other natural items on the path. The water walk has a lip of 1 to 2 inches from the ground to the dock ramp and one step.
• Public Bathrooms and water fountains located inside the center.
• The area features an indoor heated space and trail that hugs the reservoir.
• Parking: The parking lot is gravel, with two van accessible parking spots.
• Public Transportation: Route 32 Bus: 33rd St. and Oxford St. (4 minute walk; 0.2 miles); Route 3 Bus: 33rd St. and Cecil B. Moore Ave. (5 minute walk; 0.3 miles)
• 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.