Improvements to Climbers Run Nature Center, the Conservancy’s home for our rapidly growing conservation education and volunteer program, have begun. This work will make the preserve more welcoming and accessible while dramatically expanding opportunities for learning and engagement and improving native habitat and water quality.
The Vision
Increasing Access to Nature for All
A new universal access trail, named for Judith and Jay Gibble, will wind from the trailhead through demonstration gardens featuring native plants and pollinator-friendly landscaping with benches to pause and observe. An observation deck extending from the Russo Family Foundation Barn and Education Center will invite visitors to experience the landscape from a new perspective. Other trails, like the Amos and Esta Funk Trail and Muller Woods Trail, will branch off and take visitors further into the preserve to explore and connect with nature.
Additional work will include a widened entrance drive with a school bus turnaround, improved parking, and key renovations to the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center to better support learning. These upgrades include a modern HVAC system, improved interior layout, installation of bird-safe glass, and the creation of a new community science lab.
Improving Water Quality
This project will work carefully to repair the spring-fed pond and wetlands that greet visitors upon arrival. Several best management practices, including rain gardens, will be installed to capture and filter stormwater runoff from nearby agricultural fields as well as the preserve’s parking areas, roofs, and walkways. These improvements will enhance the quality of water flowing into the pond and Climbers Run, which is critical to health of these freshwater aquatic ecosystems – particularly the stream that supports native reproducing brook trout.
Inspiring Action
Enhancements throughout the preserve will transform Climbers Run into a catalyst for conservation education. Along the accessible trail, visitors will encounter native plant gardens, interpretive signage, and restored meadows and streamside habitats ideal for birdwatching, both in person and online. Outdoor learning spaces, like the Thomas & Pamela Hall Bird Viewing Area, are designed to inspire current and future generations of environmental stewards.
Improvements to the Russo Barn will further support Climbers Run’s role as a hub for volunteers who conduct preserve stewardship, community outreach, and community science projects across our preserves, amplifying the Conservancy’s ability to care for nature and connect our community with the outdoors.
Rendering of anticipated updates to the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education CenterFollow along for updates on the work happening at Climbers Run below!
What’s Happening Now
May 11, 2026: Celebrating the Ceremonial Groundbreaking for Climbers Run Renovations
Lancaster Conservancy has begun renovations to Climbers Run Nature Center, its hub for conservation education and volunteerism, which will improve access to the preserve and create even more learning opportunities for visitors. The Conservancy marked the start of the project on May 7 with a ceremonial groundbreaking with key project funders, which included donors to the Conservancy’s Protect & Restore Campaign.
“We are thrilled to break ground on improvements to Climbers Run,” said Fritz Schroeder, the Conservancy’s president & CEO. “When completed, the improvements to the preserve and the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center will represent an important step forward as we continue building a community of well-trained volunteers, expanding youth and adult conservation education, and creating a preserve where people of all mobilities and abilities feel welcome.”
Climbers Run Nature Center groundbreaking celebration (Photo by Michelle Johnsen Photography)
“Climbers Run has served the community well for more than a decade as the Conservancy’s engagement hub,” said Keith Williams, the Conservancy’s vice president of engagement and education. “Thousands of school kids have learned about and connected with nature here and hundreds of volunteers have been trained in this space. But the preserve has shortcomings that limit our ability to reach our community. These improvements will make Climbers Run even more accessible and will expand our capacity to engage more people in nature.”
Funding assistance for the site improvements to Climbers Run Nature Center has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation with a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Funding assistance was also provided by the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and donors to the Protect & Restore Campaign.
Protect & Restore, started as a 50th Anniversary campaign, has grown into the most transformative chapter of the Conservancy’s 56-year history. Over the past six years, the campaign has accelerated the Conservancy’s impact. One of the three key goals of the Protect & Restore Campaign is to update Climbers Run Nature Center, expanding the reach and impact of the Conservancy’s volunteer and education programs and deepening community engagement for years to come.
2024 rendering of the Climbers Run donor recognition sculpture
Project costs for Climbers Run are estimated at between $4.9 – $5.5 million. The Conservancy will continue to raise funds for this project as part of the Protect & Restore Campaign through 2027. A sculpture at the entrance of the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center is planned to celebrate the donors who have invested in the Protect & Restore Campaign and its impact across the landscape.
While Climbers Run Nature Center is closed, the Conservancy continues to offer educational programming for school groups and adult learners at other locations including Kellys Run and Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam nature preserves.
April 27, 2026: Updates Begin at Climbers Run Nature Center
Climbers Run Nature Center is closed to the public as of April 27, 2026, as we begin restoration and renovation work on the preserve and its facilities and infrastructure.
The project begins with work to stabilize and repair the failing berm between the pond and Climbers Run stream. This pond repair and later planned stormwater best management projects, like rain gardens, will help keep the waters of Climbers Run clean, clear, and cool for aquatic life like native reproducing brook trout.
FAQ
When will Climbers Run reopen?
We anticipate construction will take around a year, and we hope to reopen the preserve in 2027!
Why is Climbers Run closed?
Climbers Run is closed for visitor safety during the construction process as we renovate the Russo Barn, install a universal access trail, and implement other projects to improve accessibility of the preserve, expand opportunities for learning, and restore habitat. Updates to the preserve include widening the driveway, which is the only access point for the property. We know Climbers Run will be missed during the renovation process, and we don’t make the decision to close it lightly. We can’t wait to welcome visitors back onto the preserve in the future to share all the exciting and important changes happening here.
Will the live Bird Cam and Stream Cam be coming back?
Yes! We plan to restart both the Bird Cam and the Stream Cam livestreams once renovations are complete. Both livestreams will be down during construction due to site improvements which will temporarily displace the cable connections to the cams. We’re excited to be working with our partners to improve the resiliency of the cameras to deal with lightning strikes in the future.
Are there other places nearby where I can go for a hike while Climbers Run is closed?
We recommend checking out Steinman Run and Trout Run nature preserves, which are about a 7-minute drive from Climbers Run (there is a parking area off of Stump Road). Also about 15 minutes away is Clark Nature Preserve, which has a universal access trail in addition to other more strenuous hiking options. Pequea Township’s Silver Mine Park is another great option for enjoying time outdoors and is only about a 5-minute drive from Climbers Run.
Funders
Funding assistance for the site improvements to Climbers Run Nature Center has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation with a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund.
Funding assistance was also provided by the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and donors to the Protect & Restore Campaign.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the transformation of Climbers Run Nature Center though the Protect & Restore Campaign!