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!!!
August Cruise Tickets are on Sale Now!!
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 at our Hiawatha Island and Riverfront Park 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 "Hiawatha Island and Riverfront Park" in google maps.
Use the Calendar Above or Click the "Choose Your Cruise" Button!
(You might need to choose from "other dates" under the "Time and Location" heading)
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A Summer Walk in the Woods
with Susquehanna Valley Mycological Society
at the Waterman Center
Join members of the Susquehanna Valley Mycological Society (SVMS) as we hold a foray and walk with attendees through some of the wooded areas on and off the trails at the Waterman Center in Apalachin New York. Learn about fungal habitats, how to gather fungi for identification purposes, and where and when to look for fungi. We hope to gather a variety of species and will bring our finds back to display outside on the picnic tables. A question and answer session will take place after the walk.
Free for Waterman Center Members & SVMS Members
Suggested donation of $5 for non-members.
This is a rain or shine event, so dress appropriately. Consider hiking shoes or boots as there may be wet areas. Bring your enthusiasm, your water bottle and/or a snack and a small basket for gathering, and a lawn chair for comfortable seating.
Car pool if at all possible. We hope to see you there!
Saturday, August 22nd
from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Susquehanna Presentation Series
Dr. Julian Shepherd: "Botany in the Southern Tier: Past, Present and Future"
Tuesday, August 25th 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Join us for presentations by local experts about different aspects of the Susquehanna River! Our summer presentation will be on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 at the Waterman Center. Dr. Julian Shepherd will be presenting Botany in the Southern Tier: Past, Present and Future. Learn about the surprisingly rich history of sophisticated botany here in the Southern Tier, from the late 1800s and first half the 1900s up to recent efforts to improve the Binghamton University herbarium and ongoing surveys of the natural areas of Broome County.
That said, you do not need to be a botany expert to enjoy this presentation! Dr. Shepherd is hoping to start an informal group of people interested in developing more expertise in local botany via field trips and other activities. Sign-up after the presentation!
Dr. Shepherd has just retired from teaching and research for 50 years at Binghamton University. His research has been focused on reproductive biology of insects, but he has taught a variety of basic and advanced biology courses, mostly focused on organisms, their environment and conservation. In his own words, Julian Shepherd was born a subject (genuflect!) of King George VI of the UK, emigrated and matured (mostly) in Ithaca, got a B.A. in Zoology at Cornell, a Ph.D, in Biology at Harvard, worked on ticks in East Africa for 2 years, and came to BU in 1975.
This program is free for Waterman Members and $5/person for the General Public
Sound Mapping
at the Waterman Center
Saturday, August 29th
from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Relax in nature with the power of your senses! Sound mapping helps you practice listening and observational skills by drawing a map of the sounds you hear around you. Go on a short hike with our staff Naturalist and draw a map of the sounds you hear.
All ages are welcome. This event is great for sensory learning!
Registration is limited to 15 participants.
$5/person for non-members and FREE for Waterman Center members. Children under 5 are free.
