2025-26 Youth Events

South Central Pennsylvania Young Birders Club meetings are scheduled for youth at AAS Chapter Meetings (monthly on 3rd Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30). There will also be additional events planned for South Central Pennsylvania Young Birders Club members and other young birders who are interested. January and February meetings are conducted online.

A parent/guardian are recommended to attend all field trips and club meetings with participants under the age of 15.

Binoculars are provided for all field trips.

For more information or to register for field trips contact youth@appalachianaudubon.org

Meeting location: Christ Presbyterian Church

421 Deerfield Road

Camp Hill, PA 17011

Park in the lot at the far end of the church.


South Central Pennsylvania Young Birders Club Field Trips


September 2025

Birding at Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve

When: Saturday, September 6, 9:00 - 10:30 am

Where: 110 Sample Bridge Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Description: This former golf course is a perfect habitat to catch our migratory birds before they head south for the winter. Expect warblers, orioles, swallows, and waterfowl. We will meet in the parking lot.


October 2025

Birding Cove Mountain Preserve

When: Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:00 – 10:30 am

Where: Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain Preserve, 450 Sylvan St, Marysville, PA 17053

Description:  Join us as we bird a new area of Central PA, Cove Mountain! We are hoping to see warblers and other migrants in this woodland pereserve. Please dress for a hike!

November 2025

Hawk Watch at Waggoners Gap

Registration Required: For more information contact youth@appalachianaudubon.org

When: Sat, Nov 1, 2025 at 10:00 - 11:30 am

Where: Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch, Waggoners Gap Rd, Landisburg, PA 17040 

Description: Waggoners Gap is a top hawk Migration sight in Pennsylvania, bringing in over 200 Golden Eagles annually. We hope to see Golden Eagles, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Bald Eagles, Coopers Hawk, and other migrating passerines and falcons. It gets cold on the mountain so please bring a jacket and blankets to sit on. Please be aware that there is a short, but rocky hike to get to the lookout. We will meet at the lower parking lot then walk up as a group. A rain date is scheduled for November 8.

Map to Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch, Waggoners Gap Rd, Landisburg, PA 17040  for directions to the parking lot. 


January 2026

Winter Waterfowl at West Fairview Boat Launch

When: Sat, Jan 10, 2026 at 9:00 - 10:30 am

Where: West Fairview Boat Launch, 1 Front St, East Pennsboro Township, PA 17025

Description: Winter is one of the best times to observe waterfowl Susquehanna. We are hoping for a variety of ducks, gulls, and other waterfowl as well as songbirds. Please dress for the weather!


February 2026

Winter Birding at Wildwood

When: February 14, 2026 at 10:00 - 11:30 am

Where: 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110

We will meet outside the Olwine Center then walk the Delta Boardwalk and some of the walking trail looking for our winter birds. Afterwards,we will warm up inside the Olwine Center with the AAS for Birds and Brew to watch the feeder birds with hot coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.


March 2026

Birding at Children's Lake

When: Sat, March 7, 206 at 9:00 – 10:30 am

Where: Children's Lake, Boiling Springs, PA 17007

Description: Expect to see many waterfowl during this walk including Mallards, American Wigeon, Common Merganser, Canvasback, Gadwall, and Wood Duck. We will meet in the parking lot at the far side of the pond by the bridge then bird part of Childrens Lake then explore into the wooded areas.


April 2026

Birding Haldman Island with Scott Bills 

When: April TBD, at 8:30 - 10:30 am

Where: Haldeman Island

This trip will be led by Scott Bills, who formerly worked at the Game Commission. We will bird both the public and restricted part of the island. We can easily see up to 40 species including waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, warblers, and blackbirds. Please wear clothes and shoes that can handle muddy terrain. To register, please email youth@appalachianaudubon.org with the number of people in your party.


May 2026

Bird Banding with Sandy Lockerman 

When: May TBD, at 8:30 - 10:00 am

Where: 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Master bander, Sandy Lockerman, will teach us the ins and outs of songbird banding. We will meet at the picnic table by the Olwine center. We may do some birding, so bring binoculars! To register, please email youth@appalachianaudubon.org with the number of people in your party.