Conservation Education Center
Upcoming Events
We are happy to provide our regularly scheduled hikes along with special events. Please check back regularly for updates or follow us on social media for more frequent updates.
The Susquehanna Series
LAST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 7PM
Join us for presentations by local experts about different aspects of the Susquehanna River! Our fifth presentation will be Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 at the Waterman Center. Dan Rhodes, Education Coordinator at Bradford County Conservation District (BCCD), will be presenting American Eels in the Susquehanna River: Examining the Historical, Biological and Ecological importance of the Species. His presentation will highlight the cultural/culinary history of American eels along the Susquehanna for Native peoples and early colonial settlers, along with the basic biology of the fish, eel life cycles, ecological importance as a keystone species, threats it faces as a species and basic actions taken to try to re-establish American eels into the Susquehanna River and tributaries. Dan works with BCCD on restoring eel populations in the Susquehanna river and eels in the classroom initiative. Dan will be bringing a live American Eel to the presentation!
Sit with the Birds:
An Accessible Birding Event
Saturday, May 31st, 2025
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Are you interested in birds, but maybe a walk in the woods isn’t quite your style? Join Naturalist Michelle Knuepfer for an afternoon stationary birding event at the Waterman Center! This is a beginner-friendly birding event that is intentionally designed to be accessible to people with a variety of disabilities. No previous knowledge of birds is required; just bring your excitement to observe & learn about birds!
This program will take place between the parking lot and the field in front of the building. We will be observing birds around the field and parking lot, as well as birding by ear for birds that may be hanging out in the surrounding woods or down the hill. Some common species include: Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow, and American Robin, as well as a variety of warblers & sparrows in the surrounding fields.
While this event is scheduled to run from 1 pm until 3 pm, participants are welcome to stay for as little or as long as they wish. We will be compiling an eBird list for the entire duration. There will be a spotting scope available for participants who wish to get a particularly close-up view of any birds. Field guides will be available through the Waterman Center library. Five sets of loaner binoculars are available for participants, with a quick tutorial provided for anyone new to using binoculars.
This program is free for participants, with a suggested donation of $5 to support the Waterman Center. All ages are welcome.
Registration is required. Attendance will be capped at 20 participants.
Feel free to contact Michelle at programs@watermancenter.org or call the Waterman Center at (607) 625-2221 with any questions! In the event of adverse weather, registered participants will be notified by 3pm on Friday, the day before the event.
Facilities Notes:
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There are 2 accessible all-gender bathrooms available inside the building, which will be open during the program.
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Parking lot is paved & directly adjacent to the meeting area, with one section of sod cells (a type of permeable pavement made of a hard plastic grid filled in by dirt & grass). It includes 2 dedicated accessible parking spots, both of which are van accessible.
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Shade is available inside the building or at the green roof pavilion with a concrete base near the accessible parking spots. There is a larger pavilion near the field where the event is taking place that has picnic tables and a gravel floor.
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Surfaces: 35 foot concrete path from parking area to building front door, 24 foot grass path from end of parking area to wooden bleachers.
What to Bring:
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Sunscreen, water (bottled water may be available during the event)
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Lawn chair or picnic blanket (if preferred to wooden bleachers)
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Binoculars, if you have them (not required - just let us know if you need a loaner pair)
Description of Bleachers: wooden bleachers with 3 risers to sit on, with grass underneath and wood chips behind them between the bleachers and parking lot. The bottom riser is 16 inches high, the middle one 22 inches high, and the top one is 35 inches high. There are 2 foot rest board in between the risers: one level to the ground between the 1st and 2nd risers, and one at 16 inches high between the 2nd (middle) and third (top) riser.
Bird & Wildflower Walk
Saturday, June 7th, 2025
11:00am - 12:30pm
Binoculars are recommended but not required, as we will be birding by sight & by ear. Good shoes are highly recommended as trails can be muddy. This is a beginner-friendly event, and all ages are welcome. This event is free for Waterman Center members, and $5 for the general public.
This program will take place between the parking lot and the field in front of the building. We will be observing birds around the field and parking lot, as well as birding by ear for birds that may be hanging out in the surrounding woods or down the hill. Some common species include: Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Sparrow, and American Robin, as well as a variety of warblers & sparrows in the surrounding fields.
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Outdoor Yoga & Sound Bath
Saturday, June 7th, 2025
Saturday July 5th, 2025
Saturday August 2nd, 2025
10:00am
Join Ramona Lena for a mini yoga class at the center, then hike about a half mile into the woods to join Grace Antonakos for a sound bath in nature!
$15/person (50% proceeds to Waterman)
Register on our website or email Ramona:
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Ticket Pricing
General Public
Adult - $18
Children 12 and under - $12
Membership Pricing
Adult - $15
Children 12 and under - $10\
Children 2 and under FREE
Summer Raptors
Masters of Flight
Saturday, June 28th, 2025
Session 1 - 10:00am
Session 2 - 12:00pm
Imagine bald eagles cruising over the Susquehanna, turkey vultures catching thermals over your home, or a Cooper's hawk bombing your birdfeeder. Birds of prey are woven into the fabric of our lives in the Southern Tier! Even though a raptor sighting is an almost daily occurrence in our region, there is still a mystique to their fierce beauty that captivates our imaginations.
Cornell Raptors will present a live raptor show, teaching you about these Masters of Flight, their behavior, natural history, and conservation. After a short talk, you will have a chance to come a little closer and see the birds they present up close! Show times will be at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM and will last approximately one hour. Admission is free for children 2 years old and under. Please note in your registration form how many children under 2 are in your party. You may also indicate if we might be able to provide any accommodations that would make your experience more accessible. The Waterman Center Staff will do their very best to honor these requests, but unfortunately can't guarantee our ability to fulfill every request.