Fledgling Trail

The Fledgling Trail, located at the The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, is an interactive outdoor exhibit for children which celebrates milestones in the life-cycle of birds, from egg to flight, with an emphasis on learning through play. The trail include a sensory garden, water features and ADA-accessible play areas.

Ground Reconsidered designed the trail and each of its play components: large-scale nests mimicing a hatchling’s first home, a water mister for kids to understand exposure to the elements, sound boards to reflect the challenge of non-verbal auditory communication, a hill slide and rock scramble to understand how a fledgling feels when it leaves the nest, a bird bath and bramble to practice self care and a track glider to simulate flight.

The project was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Barbara and Ray Blydenburgh in conjunction with the Wyncote Foundation.