Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and the Philadelphia Zoo for a family hike and BioBlitz around Concourse Lake in West Fairmount Park on Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM-12 PM. 

Meet other families, connect with the park system, and learn about local plant and animal species as we go on a 1.5-mile hike to West Fairmount Park’s Centennial and Concourse Lakes. As we hike, an educator from the Zoo will conduct a cooperative BioBlitz. During this BioBlitz, participants will look for wildlife and plants and identify them. This information is an important part of learning about our wild spaces and tracking the health of the ecosystem. 

This hike is part of the Zoo’s ‘250,000 Actions for Animals Initiative’. Throughout 2026, the Zoo is hoping to track 250,00 Actions for Animals from anywhere in the world. Actions can fall into several categories, including Contributing to Conservation Knowledge (like the BioBlitz) and Introducing Others to Nature (be sure to bring a friend!).

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO: As America’s first Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo has been a pioneer in animal care and conservation for over a century. Home to more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals, the Zoo continues to reach new heights, offer award-winning animal exhibits, education and conservation programs, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and exceptional guest services while uniquely housed in the West Philadelphia community situated nearby Fairmount Park and many prominent local cultural institutions.

TICKETS: Free**, donations appreciated. Registration is required. 

**We are proud to be able to offer these programs for free. However, there is limited capacity for many programs. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows can take away tickets from others. We ask that you be mindful of this and please only register if you plan to attend.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: 

• We will meet at Ohio House before walking over to Centennial and Concourse Lakes. 
• This hike will be roughly 1.5 miles over mostly flat, paved trails. 
• Younger children are welcome, but the activities are most appropriate for children ages 6+. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 
• While this program is open to children, you do not need to have child in order to attend; it is open to single or groups of adults as well. 
• Please dress according to weather conditions and wear good walking shoes (boots/sneakers). 
• Bring water (drinking water is not available in the park) and a snack. 
• There will be bathroom available to use at Ohio House, our start and end location. There will not, however, be bathrooms available along the hike route. 
• We suggest bringing your own binoculars if you have them. We will also have some binoculars available to borrow for those who don’t have them. 
• This event is part of our Second Saturday Guided Hike Series. The hikes are not dependent on one another so feel free to sign up for one or for more than one! (Please note, most of our Second Saturday hikes, with the exception of this one, are catered towards adults.) 
• Space is limited in this program and registration is required. If you cannot attend an event, please show courtesy to fellow parkgoers and try to cancel your registration with advance notice so that someone else can participate.  
• Important pre-event information and any event updates are sent out via email. Please make sure the email address entered is correct and that you check it before coming out to the event. 

PARKING/GETTING THERE: We will meet at the Ohio House in West Fairmount Park. There is plenty of free parking available in the lot. As always, never leave valuables in your car! If traveling by public transit, the nearest stop is at Belmont Ave and Belmont Mansion/Fairmount Park Drive – a half-mile walk from the start. The closest Indego bike station is at Parkside and Belmont Ave – also a half-mile walk from the start.