A group of five Tree Swallows sit together on a wooden plank.
Montezuma Plan Your Visit Accessibility

Accessibility at the Montezuma Audubon Center

We strive to serve every person in our community, including people with disabilities.
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Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries. Montezuma Audubon Center recognizes that respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives will attract the best ideas and harness the greatest passion to shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet.

At the Montezuma Audubon Center we strive to serve every person in our community, including people with disabilities, by becoming more accessible and by providing an inclusive environment at the nature preserves we manage and the programs and events we offer. We encourage you to join with us in this ongoing process towards greater inclusion. Your feedback, ideas, and suggestions are welcomed!

We are on our Inclusion Journey! We have recently partnered with the local organization, Rochester Accessible Adventures, to further our inclusion efforts.

Montezuma Audubon Center’s staff have already:

  • Completed Inclusion Ambassador Training, which includes ways to deliver more inclusive services and principles like person-first language.
  • Become Certified Inclusion Accessors, with in-depth training on implementing accessibility and inclusion best practices.
  • Assessed our property, programs, and operations and began implementing a new, more inclusive approach.

We look forward to working with you as we continue to learn and implement enhancements which make our organization more inclusive! We are interested in understanding how we can enhance your successful participation in our programs, events, and facilities, and are dedicated to continuously working to ensure that the Montezuma Audubon Center is accessible to all.
 

Inclusion Point of Contact

If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, please let us know how we can assist you by reaching out to our Inclusion Point of Contact, Cassidy Attanasio (she/her). Cassidy is  the “go-to” person for anyone seeking support, information on inclusive practices, or assistance in ensuring that every visitor feels welcome and supported at Montezuma Audubon Center. 

For information on our current accessibility features, please review the details below. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions about accessibility at Montezuma Audubon Center, don’t hesitate to contact Cassidy at cassidy.attanasio@audubon.org or call 315-365-3588 ext. 201.

Trail Descriptions

View our interactive map and additional trail updates here.

Our Forest Trail immerses you in a productive, upland forest and grassland habitat, consisting of flat, stone-dust terrain in a “choose your own adventure” format of various twists and turns to create your desired trail length, going up to 1.36 miles. 

The trail begins at our center building and includes benches at the start that offer a beautiful view of the landscape in a birding hotspot. This trail features one steeper incline and decline through the forest along the back of the loop that would be rated moderate. 

The Forest Trail is also popular for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. 

Please note: Biting insects are common on this trail from June - August.

The Marsh Trail is a mowed grass trail that brings you behind the scenes into our emergent non-tidal marsh habitat to view our North and South Marshes. 

You may choose to go around both of the marshes for a total of 1.08 miles, or just walk down between both to get a full view of the landscape. 

We often see Belted Kingfishers, Osprey, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and lots of turtles on this hike. 

Please note: Be aware of holes along the trail for this hike as our resident muskrats love to dig up materials to build their huts!

Our Crusoe Creek Trail is a 0.19 mile mowed grass trail that leads to the kayak and canoe launch area parking lot. Crusoe Creek is no longer suitable for paddling but can be enjoyed to take in the view of the flowing creek that feeds our marshes.

Accessible Features

Along the park trails, you'll find many cell phone tour stops that provide you with interpretive audio at your own pace. Each sign features a QR code that you can scan to listen to details about that habitat. You can access them now, through the buttons below.

Cell Phone Tour Virtual Tour

Our brand-new two-level observation tower features a wheelchair accessible ramp, designed to provide wildlife viewing for everyone to enjoy. An easy-to-navigate stone-dust 0.14 mile path leads from the visitor center to the platform, which is level with the path for seamless accessibility.

The Montezuma Audubon Center is equipped with push-button automatic double doors, accessible parking spaces, truncated dome pads on our sidewalks, accessible bathroom stalls, and plenty of space to explore our exhibits.

Montezuma Audubon Center offers adaptive kayaks for summer On the Canals excursions. We currently have two tandem kayaks each equipped with one adaptive seat and two single kayaks with the adaptive seats. 

Participating guests will be able to select the adaptive kayak equipment they need as they register for the On the Canals excursions and other related programming. If you would like to see the equipment prior to an excursion, please contact Cassidy to arrange that meeting. They provide added stability and support, including an adjustable supportive seat, outriggers, and a paddle pedestal.

  • Supportive Seat: Can provide support for lower and upper abdomen as well as the head in some cases. Each support point of the seat is able to be independently tilted, adjusted or removed to create a custom fit.
  • Outriggers: To decrease rocking of the kayak during paddling. They can be adjusted to two positions; either tight to the hull for maximum efficiency, or out from the hull for maximum stability.
  • Transfer Bench: Provides a flat, smooth transfer surface at wheelchair height when used with our Kayak Chariot. It provides independence for the paddler, and safety for those assisting in the transfer.
  • Paddle Pedestal: This pivoted paddle adaption allows one-arm control of the kayak. It also provides support to completely remove the weight of the paddle from the paddler’s arms when using both arms.

For more information or questions about the adaptive equipment, please contact cassidy.attanasio@audubon.org.