Beginner Bird Song Workshop

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Learning to bird by ear is a great skill for any birdwatcher. In this program, co-Directors Bert and Eleanor Harris will teach the common songs and calls of Virginia’s birds and give tips to identifying birds by ear. Cost: $10 ($5 for Friends of Clifton) Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $10.00

Reading the Weather

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

In this workshop, the point is to have your head in the clouds. Spend the afternoon with Habitat Specialist Andrew Eberly learning about the behavior of Virginia’s spring atmosphere, how to read models and forecasts, and enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting back to watch the sky with a cold beverage (provided). This afternoon is […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $10.00

Early Spring Wildflower Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

In early spring, ephemeral wildflowers appear on the forest floor, taking advantage of a brief moment of sunlight before the canopy above fills out with trees. Join us for a walk exploring our wooded trails in search of early spring ephemerals such as Bloodroot, Cutleaf toothwort, Rue-anemone, and Skunk Cabbage. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and […]

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend […]

Warbler Song Bootcamp

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

*This is a virtual event* Brush up on your warbler songs just before the migrants arrive in droves. We will listen to the songs of each of the migratory warblers that pass through our region in spring, while looking at spectrograms to help visual learners identify differences in similar songs. We will also briefly discuss […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $10.00

Walk With A Naturalist

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not […]

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend […]

Lichen Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

On this program Executive Director and amateur lichenologist Bert Harris will give a guided tour of some of his favorite lichen-y spots while explaining the basics of lichen biology and how to identify common species. This is a special opportunity to dive into this interesting and mysterious group and you never know, we might find […]

Nature Journaling Meetup and Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

From Co-Director Eleanor Harris: Nature journaling is my favorite hobby, a great way to spend time outside, and a powerful tool for learning about nature. I want to help develop the community of nature journalers in our area and to encourage more people to start their own nature journals. Whether you have been nature journaling […]

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall). COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or […]

Science Saturday: Box Turtles

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

In 2022 we started a research project to study what habitats Box Turtles use at different times of year so that we and other landowners can know what the best time of year is to mow fields and do other land management practices that might disrupt or even kill Box Turtles. On this second installment […]

Spring Creatures of the Night

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Join us for an night-time exploration of our trails and vernal pools while we listen for frog calls, look for insects, and see what animals are swimming on the ponds. Cost: Free! Age: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring: Please bring a flashlight. Weather policy: Date and time subject to […]

Walk with a Naturalist

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not […]

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend […]

Firefly Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Who doesn’t love fireflies? Many of us have fond memories of catching fireflies or watching a magical light show on a summer evening. But why do fireflies flash? What do they eat? How many species are there? And are fireflies disappearing? Learn all about these fascinating insects with Ariel Firebaugh, firefly researcher and Director of […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $10.00

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend […]

Dragonfly Identification Workshop

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Dragonflies and damselflies are some of the most mysterious and beautiful animals that live at the Clifton Institute, and June is the perfect time to search for them. Join us for a workshop that will cover the basics of dragonfly identification and biology. We will then practice what we learned by visiting lakes, streams, and […]

Walk with a Naturalist

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not […]

Nature Camp for Grownups

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Hey grownups! Have you ever wished you could go to summer camp? Well, now you can! This August we are offering our third annual weekend-long Nature Camp for Grownups. Now with an overnight option! Activities will start on the morning of August 26 and conclude on the afternoon of August 27. Activities will include short […]

Get Tickets $125.00 – $150.00