Hands-On Fish Prints and Weir Exploration at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, Columbia Crossing River Trails Center in Columbia, PA opens its doors for a day of hands-on river learning. Located at 41 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512, this drop-in program runs from 10am to 4pm and invites families to make fish prints and try an activity station focused on weirs, run by the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The River Trails Center sits at the edge of the Susquehanna, where shoals and slow eddies reveal how water shapes a landscape of sediment bars and cobbled banks. Children press paper to inked fins and leave with tangible prints, a cheerful souvenir and a better sense of local aquatic life. The program highlights the simple engineering of weirs, low-magnitude river structures that channel flows, collect sediment, and affect fish movement. At the activity station, kids and adults experiment with mock models that illustrate how rock and timber placements change currents and create habitat. This event is free, drop-in, and stroller and wheelchair accessible, making it an easy stop for families visiting Columbia or touring the riverfront. Beyond crafts, the center is a gateway to the Susquehanna’s natural and cultural story—interpretive exhibits outline river commerce, migration, and the role of local communities in stewardship. Pair a visit to the kids’ activities with a walk along the riverfront, where gulls and great blue herons hunt shallow flats and odd rock formations mark former industrial edges. Bring sun protection, a refillable bottle, and a willingness to get a little messy; inks and paints are provided but sleeves may end up decorated. The Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s presence here makes the River Trails Center more than a classroom: it is a living touchpoint for river conservation, local history, and seasonal wildlife observation. For families and curious visitors, this short, hands-on day connects art, science, and the wide river that defines this stretch of Pennsylvania. Volunteers and staff answer questions about fish species, spawning zones, and safe viewing spots. Look for demonstrations that explain how historical weirs differed from modern restoration efforts, and how small habitat changes ripple outward. The format is flexible: drop in anytime during the four-hour window, spend twenty minutes or two hours, and take home artwork and questions to follow up on. If you are visiting from Lancaster or York, Columbia makes a family-friendly riverside stop on a longer day outdoors. Expect hands-on learning, accessible exhibits, and the chance to watch riparian life move through an urban-adjacent river corridor. This event is a small window into the wider Susquehanna story, and a reminder that rivers are active, changeable systems you can learn from with your hands, feet, and eyes. Come ready to print, to ask, and reconnect with nature.