Clifton Institute Offers Expanded Array of Fall Programs 

Clifton Institute Offers Expanded Array of Fall Programs

There’s something for everyone at Clifton Institute.

Warrenton, Virginia (October 12, 2021) — Clifton Institute offers an expanded and diverse array of Fall programs for all ages. Each environmental education program is designed to be fun, engaging, and educational so that everyone leaves knowing a little bit more about the amazing plants and animals that call the Virginia Piedmont home.

Children can attend biweekly Nature School classes, Afterschool Adventures (new this year!), become a member of Nature Club, Piedmont Polliwogs, or come on a class trip with their schools. Adults and families can look forward to attending talks, walks, and workshops about wildflowers, native plants, raptors, nature journaling, and more.

  • After-school Adventures is the newest program being offered to students in grades 3-8 on the third Tuesday of each month. Activities will vary each month but will include science projects, art projects, and lessons in outdoor skills.

  • Nature Club meets on the first Saturday of each month and is especially designed for students in grades 6-12. Students will explore Clifton’s 900-acre field station, learn about local plants and animals, all while making new friends with others who love nature.

Monthly Hikes with a Naturalist, Family Nature Walks, and Bird Walks will appeal to adults and families alike. You can even zoom into one of the “OctoBIRD Fest” online discussions to learn about winter bird identification and the physics of bird songs. Many programs are free; others have a small fee with discounts offered to “Friends of the Clifton Institute,” which you can become with an annual donation of just $40.

Clifton Institute staff and volunteers work hard throughout the year, but especially in the fall and  winter. Volunteers are always welcome to help teach, remove invasive species, cut back overgrown vegetation, and conduct prescribed burns. In October, there’s something going on every Saturday for anyone who wants to help. You might see migratory birds as well as all sorts of native plants in their autumn colors. Anyone interested in participating in one of the many events or in becoming a volunteer can sign up at cliftoninstitute.org/events.

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The Clifton Institute is a Northern Virginia-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature, to study the ecology of our region, to restore habitat, and to conserve native biodiversity. We provide environmental education to people of all ages, carry out ecological research, and restore habitat for native plants and animals. Our 900-acre property in central Fauquier County, which is permanently protected under a conservation easement, provides a beautiful and easily accessible environment for our programs. For more information, visit cliftoninstitute.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.