Conservation Education Center
Upcoming Events
Our river cruises and boat trips to Hiawatha Island are back! Use the calendar below to select your desired date and time. Also take a look through our regularly scheduled hikes and special events to plan your next outing. Please check back regularly for updates or follow us on social media for more frequent updates. Registration links can be found on the calendar or by scrolling through our event descriptions below.
River Cruises Are Back This Summer!!!
Tickets are on Sale for Cruises June-July
August Dates Coming Soon!
Come join the tradition of celebrating summer on the Susquehanna River and Hiawatha Island! Choose between morning or evening wildlife cruises or an afternoon excursion to Hiawatha Island for a historical tour. Don't miss your chance to enjoy one of these unique experiences while supporting conservation of this unique ecosystem!
Our boat is a 24-foot pontoon boat with a capacity of ten guests and two crew. Cruises depart from our landing on the western end of Marshland Road. Our property's entrance is the next driveway on the left after the Town of Owego boat launch and has a "Waterman Center Hiawatha Island and River Front Park" signpost. It can be easy to miss, so often the easiest way to get there is to copy these coordinates into your GPS choice: 42.083484, -76.202858 or search "Waterman Conservation Education Center Boat Launch" in google maps.
Choose Your Cruise Below!
(You might need to choose from "other dates" under the "Time and Location" heading)
Small Mammal Hike with Marty Borko
At the Waterman Center
Saturday, July 11th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Have you ever heard a tiny rustling of leaves, heard a squeak, or seen a tunnel in the snow while out on a hike in the woods? Join local naturalist Marty Borko to learn all about our local small mammals! From voles to shrews to mice and more, small mammals are often misunderstood but essential members of the ecosystem, living largely unseen by humans.
Registration is required and limited to 20 participants.
Location information:
Waterman Conservation Education Center
403 Hilton Rd Apalachin, NY 13732
Saturday, July 11th at 10am
This program is FREE for Waterman Center members, with a suggested $5 donation for non-members or become a member of the Waterman Center.
Moth Night 2026
with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and the Naturalists' Club of Broome County
Saturday, July 18th OR July 25th
from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
at the Waterman Center
Join the Waterman Center, the Naturalists' Club of Broome County, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County for a Moth Night as part of National Moth Week, from 8-11pm on Saturday, July 18th! We plan to have multiple light stations with sheets set up for once it gets dark. Different moths arrive at different times so plan to stay awhile. We hope to have stations up from 8pm until 11pm. Threat of rain or light rain can increase moth activity, but the event will be cancelled if there is a thunderstorm or very windy conditions.
Display and educational materials will be available. Come with questions and local moth expert, Colleen Wolpert, will do her best to answer them. Please register and you will receive information about what not to wear, including bug spray. PLEASE DO NOT WEAR BUG REPELLENT TO THIS EVENT. We want to attract moths, not repel or kill them.
We hope you can join us and be a part of this citizen science event!
UPDATE: Due to overwhelming interest, registration is closed for the July 18th session. We will have a second session on Saturday, July 25th at the same time.
This program is a FREE event, with a suggested $5 donation to the Waterman Center for hosting the event.
Stationary Birding at Brick Pond
At the Waterman Center
Saturday, July 25th 10:00am - 12:00pm
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Are you interested in birds? Is a long walk or hike not accessible for you? Are you curious to learn what stationary birding is? Join Naturalist Michelle Knuepfer for an afternoon of stationary birding at the Waterman Center’s new wheelchair-accessible observation platform at Brick Pond!
This beginner-friendly event is designed to be accessible for people with various disabilities; nondisabled people are welcome to attend as well. No previous knowledge is required. Just bring your excitement to observe and learn about birds!
When: Saturday, July 25th, 2026, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Participants do not need to stay for the entire time.
Where: Brick Pond, 546 East Front Street, Owego, N.Y.
More information below.
How to Register: Click the registration button below.
Maximum attendance: 15 participants.
Cost: FREE, with a suggested donation of $5.
See registration page linked below for full site and event details.