Upcoming Events at The Discovery Center
The Discovery Center was recognized by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with the 2023 "Special Places Award", and nominated for the 2024 “Sustainable Communities” award by Green Philly’s SustainPHL!
The Discovery Center was recognized by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with its "2023 Special Places Award," an honor given to a special place that demonstrates environmental leadership, community impact and innovative planning and design practice.
The award celebrates the unique history of the Center's location at the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir and the collective efforts of the City of Philadelphia, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, and the Strawberry Mansion community to create a space for Philadelphians to discover themselves in nature, practice leadership, and work toward a greener city for birds and people.
The National Audubon Society and the Philadelphia Outward Bound School joined forces to save and sustain a vital part of our natural heritage in a unique partnership. Their missions converge in the East Park section of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park - just blocks from the neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion - where a century-old abandoned reservoir has become a unique wildlife sanctuary and an important stopover location for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.
The Discovery Center provides a public space for neighbors, Philadelphia Outward Bound School, and Audubon Mid-Atlantic to come together and co-create opportunities for Philadelphians to discover themselves in nature, practice leadership, and work toward a greener city for birds and people.
The Discovery Center is free and open 6 days a week. Stop by our Visitor Center to borrow a pair of binoculars, chat with staff about the birds of the Strawberry Mansion reservoir, and use the restroom before you head out to discover yourself in nature while walking our out and back trail partway around the reservoir. Discover native plants in our pollinator garden and learn about fresh water mussels on our water walk. Take your time, bring your friends and family and relax in nature- all with out leaving Philadelphia!
Connect with us on Instagram @discoveryphila
Thank you to the generous organizations and individuals who have contributed to The Discovery Center.
William Penn Foundation // Otto Haas Charitable Trust // Allerton Foundation // City of Philadelphia // Commonwealth of Pennsylvania // Mr. & Mrs. N. Peter Hamilton // The Knight Foundation // William and Laura Buck // 1830 Family Foundation // The Pew Charitable Trusts // The McCausland Foundation // Philadelphia Outward Bound School Board of Trustees // Marguerite & Gerry Lenfest // Jamie & Meg McLane // The McLean Contributionship // Connelly Foundation // Carol Haas Gravagno // Leslie Ann Miller & Richard Worley // Leo Model Foundation // The Stanley Family Fund // Drumcliff Foundation // William M. King Charitable Foundation // PA Commonwealth Financing Authority // Dr. George Ross Fisher III // Franny & Franny Abbott // Peter & Susan Wilmerding // Jon & Emily Conant // Jeremy & Susan Coote // Mill Spring Foundation // Arthur & Douglas Newbold // John & Elizabeth Shober // Michael & Tana Wall // Donald & Hether Smith // Robert & Susan Peck // Tim & Sandy Greenwood // Ed & Marcia Ruggero // Anonymous // Cindy & John Affleck // Charlie Thomson & Nancy Leon // Mark & Michelle Haslam // Phillies Charities // Joseph & Lynn Manko // Dr. Janice T. Gordon // Mrs. I.T. Starr // RK Mellon Foundation // Jeffrey & Krista Mitzak // Jack & Alicia Stoddard // Martin Guitar // Sharon Barr & Pete Hoskins // Douglas P. Coopersmith // Joanne Denworth // Jane C. MacElree // Rudolph Garcia // John Giordano // Nancy Goldenberg // Gregory Harvey // Peter Hearn // Howard & Barbara Meyers // Katie Newsom Pastuszek // Gloria Reisman // Howard Scher // David Scolnic // Langhorne & Marilyn Smith // Bryan & Jayme Colket // Philip & Carolyn Wallis // Braithwaite Communications // Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney // Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller