\u201cPeople get a lot from the Vitamin D of being outside and also sharing in the joy of being outside together, too,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Research shows<\/a> that being in nature for at least 120 minutes each week can benefit people\u2019s overall health and well-being. Additionally, spending time outdoors <\/a>can help regulate mood and reduce stress levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n Billy Penn attended a recent Nature at Noon \u2013 which focused on lakes. Here is what we learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018A great way to get out\u2019<\/p>\n The January program was attended by 10-15 participants, and started with brief introductions and icebreakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOn average, we\u2019re about 10 to 20 people,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I think the smaller groups tend to make things a little bit more accessible as well. [When one group included 33 people], it was quite daunting, but it\u2019s also so much fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The group uses the Free Library of Philadelphia\u2019s birding backpacks <\/a>to spot birds while participating in the nature programs. Eskate guides the participants along the way, using a laser pointer to direct people\u2019s attention.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n During the January 22 session, the group saw various birds, including a yellow-bellied sapsucker<\/a> and several types of woodpeckers. The variety was a welcome change, said Liz Dailey, who lives in South Philly.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI get tired of pigeons and sparrows, so I wanted to see something else,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dailey attended the Nature at Noon session with three friends \u2013 Barbara Lea-Kruger, who lives in Queen Village; Ilene Wilder, who lives in Pennsport; and Beth Adams, who lives near FDR Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a great way to get out on a winter\u2019s day,\u201d Adams said. \u201cWe definitely love the sun, and thought our tour guides and having the laser pointers were a way for us to enjoy the event.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Wilder said it was helpful for the guides to point out these parts of nature to add to the experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always beautiful to see nature up close like that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s the colors and just the peacefulness of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The friends agreed they would be back for more sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eskate said what started as a \u201cselfish\u201d desire to bird on his lunch break has turned into so much more amongst participants.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGetting outside in the winter is critical, because I think, speaking for myself, I could just as easily sit at my desk and eat my lunch and work through my lunch break,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seeing colorful birds and exploring parts of Philly nature can be big mood boosters in the winter, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Philly\u2019s green spaces<\/p>\n \u201cThe other goal of Nature at Noon is to expose or introduce parks and locations within Philadelphia that folks haven\u2019t visited before,\u201d he said. \u201cThey maybe have never been to Bartram\u2019s Garden or the Discovery Center, or the Fairmount Water Works, or Penn Treaty Park. And Philly is chock full of beautiful green spaces and waterways that ought to inspire curiosity and also appreciation for the natural world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Eskate said that, recently, the group has seen lots of diversity in group members.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of new faces and a nice age range too,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had some kids and some older adults and lots of people in between.\u201d<\/p>\n He says that Nature at Noon is geared toward everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can be so fun to encounter unexpected things on your lunch break, in the middle of a day when you\u2019re working hard, or you\u2019re spending important time on things,\u201d he said. \u201cNature at Noon aims to give Philadelphians that opportunity. Students, tourists, the workforce, and everybody else are invited to Nature at Noon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Other outdoor programs<\/p>\n From ice skating to outdoor events, there are many options to get you out of the house this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Monday, Feb. 16 \u2013 Saturday, March 7: Lunar New Year Festival in Chinatown\u00a0<\/p>\n Join Philly\u2019s Chinatown Development Corporation for a slew of events<\/a> to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse. You can choose between many activities \u2013 from a walking tour, <\/a>to a Tai Chi lesson, <\/a>to a calligraphy workshop<\/a> or a dumpling-making workshop. There will also be parades in Chinatown on Monday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 22. You can find the full list of events here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Through Sunday, Feb. 22: Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink<\/p>\n Enjoy ice skating in the heart of Dilworth Park<\/a> daily through late February. The rink is open from Monday to Thursday, from noon to 9 p.m., Fridays from noon to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are recommended to be bought in advance, and sessions are 90 minutes long. Tickets are $10 for those aged 11 and up, $7 for kids 10 and under, and skate rental is an additional $10.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through Saturday, February 28: Winter at Franklin Square\u00a0<\/p>\n Enjoy a nightly light show with seasonal tunes, themed mini golf with Philly landmarks and lights, and street curling, all at Franklin Square in Old City. The square features these activities for the whole family, as well as seasonal events<\/a>. This includes everything from Boozy \u201cBengo\u201d with Ben Franklin<\/a> inside of the park\u2019s Frosty\u2019s Fireside Lodge to the park\u2019s Ice Princess Night & Brunch, <\/a>where kids can spend time with Elsa and Anna from Frozen, Tiana from Princess and the Frog and Jasmine from Aladdin.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through Sunday, March 1: Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest\u00a0<\/p>\n Experience a mix of games, rides, food, drinks and ice skating all in one place, at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest.<\/a> Interested skaters can purchase tickets for $5 and rentals for an additional $12, and there are also options for ice skating lessons<\/a>. After you\u2019re done, check out the myriad of food options and other rides, all overlooking the Ben Franklin Bridge. More specifics on open days and hours are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Through December 31: Philadelphia\u2019s 52 Weeks of Firsts<\/p>\n Get in the 250 spirit with the Philadelphia Historic District\u2019s 52 Weeks of Firsts <\/a>throughout the year. Each week will feature a \u201cSaturday Firstival,\u201d which will feature a celebration at the original location of each \u201cfirst\u201d and will include a \u201cFirstival\u201d sculpture, guest speakers and historical activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n All winter long: Sledding\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_5109.jpg\")
Event attendees go birding in different areas. On Jan. 22, attendees looked for birds on the lakes at FDR Park. (Violet Comber-Wilen\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_7254.jpg\")
Participants stopped at various spots to observe birds and nature. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Bross)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_5089.jpg\")
Eskate (yellow) used a special set of binoculars to show birders a flock of geese in a nearby pond. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Bross)<\/p>\n