Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver 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. […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Once a year, salamanders leave their homes in the woods and head toward vernal pools, temporary ponds created by spring rains and melting winter snow. The conditions must be just right, a warm night with rainy conditions. The males arrive first and lay sperm sacks around the pond. The females come later and absorb these […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver 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. […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver 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 […]
Happy Earth Day! Bring your family on a self-guided exploration of our trails and search for clues that will help you spell out a special message from our mascot, Blossom the Possum.
Every year the community science platform iNaturalist organizes the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition between cities all over the world to see who can find the most species, make the most observations, and involve the most people in community science. This year the Challenge will take place from April 29 to May 2, but […]
During this workshop and volunteer day, join Alison Zak, M.A., founder of the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund, to learn about the importance of coexisting with beavers and how to protect your favorite trees from being chewed down. After a brief talk, you’ll get hands-on experience wrapping trees using HBCF’s recommended methods. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly pre-K program that includes an outdoor story time and short nature walk. Cost: Free! Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver 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 […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station and experience autumn in Virginia. We’ll explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore […]
Please note: this event is the one that was postponed from May 7. No need to re-register if you were already registered. But if you weren't you can sign up now! 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 […]
Native plants provide better food for insects, which in turn provide food for birds. You can make a huge difference for wildlife by planting native species on your property. Since fall 2019 we have been collecting seeds of native grassland plants from around the area, which means in addition to being native they are of […]
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 […]
Join us for an exploration of our trails and vernal pools while we listen for frog calls and look for breeding activity and salamander egg masses. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult. Bring: Please bring a flashlight and waterproof shoes if you have them. Weather policy: Rain or shine except in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly program for pre-K children that includes a lesson on a different topic every month, story time and short nature walk. As of fall 2022, we are changing registration for Polliwogs: instead of signing up month to month, you can sign up for a whole series of monthly programs. This will […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station AT NIGHT! We'll see how long we can walk without flashlights and then explore the woods to look for nocturnal animals and listen to the sounds of the night. We might hear owls screeching and flying squirrels calling […]
Every fall raptors migrate south along the Appalachian Mountains. Several species of hawks, eagles, and falcons can be seen migrating, but the biggest spectacles are the days when huge numbers of Broad-winged Hawks fly by. If we’re lucky we might see thousands! One of the expert bird-watchers on our staff will lead the group and […]
Did you know that flying squirrels glow pink? Or that some lichens fluoresce chartreuse or orange? We are still discovering the hidden world of fluorescence—plants, animals, fungi, and minerals that glow under UV light. During this program, we will wander slowly through fields and forests with UV flashlights turning over rocks and logs, inspecting leaves […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore each month and usually move slowly as we stop often to look at and learn about the plants and […]
Cost: Free! Age: Families with children ages 6 and up. 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 if you are […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly program for pre-K children that includes a lesson on a different topic every month, story time and short nature walk. As of fall 2022, we are changing registration for Polliwogs: instead of signing up month to month, you can sign up for a whole series of monthly programs. This will […]
Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along as we explore the field station. This program is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore nature together. We pick a different trail to explore each month and usually move slowly as we stop often to look at and learn about the plants and […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly program for pre-K children that includes a lesson on a different topic every month, story time and short nature walk. As of fall 2022, we are changing registration for Polliwogs: instead of signing up month to month, you can sign up for a whole series of monthly programs. This will […]
Cost: Free! Age: Families with children in grades K-8. 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 if you are experiencing […]
Piedmont Polliwogs is a monthly program for pre-K children that includes a lesson on a different topic every month, story time and short nature walk. As of fall 2022, we are changing registration for Polliwogs: instead of signing up month to month, you can sign up for a whole series of monthly programs. This will […]