Booking Information

Group visits must be booked at least four weeks in advance.  Schools and youth organizations may be most interested in our half-day field trip options, while family or adult groups may prefer a one-hour group tour.  

Costs listed below are applicable for groups of 10 participants or more. Smaller groups pay the 10-person minimum. Groups are welcome to schedule self-guided visits to the Nature Center at no cost.

Visits for schools and youth organizations require at least one (1) chaperone per ten (10) learners. One (1) chaperone per every five (5) learners will receive complimentary registration.

Schools and other groups booking a Field Trip, please use this form.

Groups booking a Guided Hike or PARC Tour, please use this form.

Powdermill Field Trips

See Like a Scientist 

$10 per student 
Recommended for grades 3-5. 
Best for groups of 50 or more learners.

Hone your observation skills and learn to see like a scientist. Participate in a guided stream study in Powdermill Run and observe macroinvertebrates. Build skills in a forest exploration. Learn to notice animal adaptations and characteristics through learner-led games and activities. This 4-hour program includes 2.5 hours of naturalist-led activities, 1 hour of chaperone-led activities, and a 30-minute lunch break. 

Ready for Envirothon* 

$10 per student 
Recommended for grades 9-12. 
Best for groups of up to 50 learners.

Get ready for the Pennsylvania Envirothon with hands-on outdoor experience! Spend the day exploring Powdermill to build critical-thinking skills for the environmental challenge. Visit the Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) to practice bird identification and see Pennsylvania birds up close. Meet researchers to learn about real-world ecology and conservation in our region. Hike Powdermill’s wooded trails to learn about forest dynamics and practice tree identification. This 4-hour program includes 3.5 hours of naturalist-led activities and a 30-minute lunch break. 

*PARC visits are available during migration season (April/May and August/September/October). Arrival before 10 a.m. recommended.  

Meaningful Watershed Education Experience 

$10 per student 
Recommended for grades 6-8, 9-12. 
Best for groups of up to 50 learners.

Learn about watersheds and take action to protect them with this program developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Get outdoor field experience as you learn how Powdermill scientists monitor waterways and assess stream health. Help collect data and use the evidence to better understand environmental issues affecting our waterways. Work together to create a plan of action to protect Powdermill’s watershed.  This 4-hour program includes 3.5 hours of naturalist-led activities and a 30-minute lunch break. 

All About Birds* 

$10 per student 
Recommended for grades 3-5, 6-8. 
Best for groups of up to 50 learners. 

Learn all about birds from the experts at Powdermill! Take a tour of the Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) to see how scientists study the biology of birds, plus learn about bird banding and migration tracking. Explore the trails to search for birds and put your new avian knowledge to use with fun games. This 4-hour program includes 3.5 hours of naturalist-led activities and a 30-minute lunch break.     

*PARC visits are available during migration season (April/May and September/October). Arrival before 10 a.m. recommended.