We are starting a research project study box turtles. We want to know what habitats they use, what time of year they're most active, how big their territories are and how much overlap neighboring territories have, and most importantly what we can do to help conserve this long-lived species. To start, we need to have […]
Help us finish installing our trail signs! We may also do some light trail maintenance. Please wear good sturdy shoes, and bring shovels and work gloves if you have them. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 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). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. What to bring: […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
It's officially spring, and that means there is a lot to do in our gardens and greenhouse. Help us weed, re-pot, plant, and organize our native plants. All you need to bring is sunscreen, bug spray, and good working gloves. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date […]
We love adding to our trail system and exploring new parts of the property! Come help us finish our Far Woods trail. Make sure to wear good shoes and work clothes, and bring loppers, clippers, and work gloves if you have them. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
If you’re learning to identify plants, learning the common families can really help narrow down your options when you’re faced with an unfamiliar specimen. If you already know a few plants, learning their families can provide a useful framework to help organize all the species rattling around in your brain. Whatever level you’re at, learning […]
Summer is upon us, and there is a lot to do in our gardens and greenhouse. Help us weed, re-pot, plant, and organize our native plants. All you need to bring is sunscreen, bug spray, and good working gloves. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and […]
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 […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 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). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. What to bring: […]
Join us for a visit to an active Bobolink nesting colony! Bobolinks are unique and beautiful birds that select hay fields for nesting. Sadly, they are declining as a result of nest losses from cutting the hay early in the summer. We should enjoy views of adults and fledglings and hear their wonderful song that […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Join us for a tour of native gardens of various sizes and styles around Warrenton. We hope that seeing these gardens will give you some inspiration of what and how to plant natives in your garden and there will be experts available to answer any questions about choosing, sourcing, and establishing native plants. We are […]
LAST MINUTE REGISTRATION: Contact Bert at bharris@cliftoninstitute.org if you'd like to join the count. Join us for our second annual Dragonfly Count! Our goals are to learn which species of dragonflies and damselflies are found in our area, to monitor changes in their populations, and to encourage everyone to learn more about Odonates. The map […]
We have a lot of trees down throughout the property, and need help getting them cleaned up. Bring good work clothes, including gloves and sturdy boots, and plenty of water. Additional equipment, including chainsaws, handsaws, loppers, or clippers are also welcome. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date […]
Novice and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult Weather […]
Summer is upon us, and there is a lot to do in our gardens and greenhouse. Help us weed, re-pot, plant, and organize our native plants. All you need to bring is sunscreen, a water bottle, and garden gloves (if you have them). Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 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). Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. What to bring: […]
Join us to learn about butterfly identification and biology. Bert Harris will give a presentation on the identification of common butterflies in our area. We will then take a walk around the field station to look for butterflies (and perhaps some dragonflies as well :). All skill levels welcome! Cost: Free! Age: This program is […]
Every year community scientists help count the butterflies in 15-mile-diameter circles all around the country and contribute their data to the North American Butterfly Association. This summer we will host our 27th annual butterfly count and celebrate our 20th year contributing our data to NABA. Butterfly enthusiasts of all levels of experience are welcome! If […]
We have a lot of trees down throughout the property, and need help getting them cleaned up. Bring good work clothes, including gloves and sturdy boots, and plenty of water. Additional equipment, including chainsaws, handsaws, loppers, or clippers are also welcome. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date […]
Both beginner and experienced birders will enjoy this guided 1-2 mile hike to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station. We will explore successional fields, meadows, lake edges, and forest. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children 12 and up, accompanied by an adult […]
Invasive plant species crowd out native plants and provide little to no food for native animals. This year we are trying to tackle some of the Multiflora Rose in our forests and we need your help! Please bring work gloves and clippers if you have them. Age: Adults only and children ages 12 and up, […]
During this field trip, Executive Director Bert Harris will lead a walk through a mega-diverse prairie, highlighting some of the special species that are found there and discussing the conservation and restoration of this important habitat. We will meet at Leopold's Preserve and then carpool to the site. Cost: Free! Age: This program is intended […]
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 […]
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. In August we will be focusing on the weather! Habitat Specialist and weather enthusiast Andrew Eberly will talk a bit about the Virginia's summer weather and then will narrate some of the afternoon's weather phenomena on the walk. We focus so much on […]
Hey grownups! Have you ever wished you could come to one of our nature camps? Well, now you can! This August we are offering our second annual weekend-long Nature Camp for Grownups. Activities will start on the morning of August 27, go through a campfire that night, resume on the morning of August 28, and […]
NO MUSHROOMS APPEARED THIS YEAR :( Late summer is a mushroom-y season and a great time to learn about this under-appreciated kingdom of life! Join mushroom expert Mayor Carter Nevill and Executive Director Bert Harris on a walk in the woods to find and identify as many species of mushrooms as we can. Cost: […]
Come and see our fields at their best! The fields we call Lower and Upper Woodcock are unplanted and naturally dominated by native plants. We will look for Gray Goldenrod, Slender Lespedeza, Green Milkweed, Field Thistle, Upland Ironweed, Elliott's Bluestem and Little Bluestem in the drier areas, and Great Blue Lobelia, New York Ironweed, and […]
