Spotted Salamander Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free
Recurring

Sensational Senses Series

Event time: Feb 16 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

*SERIES CANCELED* Have you ever wondered why our hearing gets worse as we age? Why you can’t see colors at night? Why some smells make us want to gag while we make others into perfumes? Join Co-Director Eleanor Harris and Education Associate Bridget Bradshaw for a 3-part series where they discuss the biology of vision, […]

$25 – $30

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: 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 […]

Free
Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Recurring

Nature School

Event time: Sep 7 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We’re offering another year of Nature School! Each class will include a structured learning activity on a particular topic and an exploratory nature walk. For example, in the past we studied vultures, bird eggs and nests, leaf identification, beaver dams, and more. We will repeat some topics from the 2021-2022 school year, but we will […]

$145 – $180
Recurring

Sensational Senses Series

Event time: Feb 16 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

*SERIES CANCELED* Have you ever wondered why our hearing gets worse as we age? Why you can’t see colors at night? Why some smells make us want to gag while we make others into perfumes? Join Co-Director Eleanor Harris and Education Associate Bridget Bradshaw for a 3-part series where they discuss the biology of vision, […]

$25 – $30
Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Recurring

Nature Club

Event time: Sep 3 - Jan 1
6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Over 9 sessions beginning in September and running through May, the members of Nature Club will work together to create a map of an uncharted piece of the Clifton Institute and build a trail that runs through it. The project will culminate in an unveiling party for the new trail led by the students themselves.  […]

$72 – $90

Walk with a Naturalist

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists. 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 […]

Free

Woodcock Watch

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

**NOTE: If this event fills up we have another Woodcock Watch with the same chance of seeing woodcock on the following Saturday March 11. Sign up here!** The American Woodcock is one of our stealthiest birds, but it’s also one of the most fun to watch when they do show themselves. On early spring evenings, […]

$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 […]

Free
Recurring

Piedmont Polliwogs

Event time: Sep 8 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

$75 – $90

Geology of the Piedmont Driving Tour

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Come dig a little deeper into Fauquier County (and beyond) in our 2nd annual Geology Tour guided by our Habitat Specialist Andrew Eberly! Hitch a ride on the edge of the North American plate as it sails across the globe and watch neighboring continents come crashing in then break free again as mountains and oceans […]

$25.00 – $30.00
Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Woodcock Watch

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

The American Woodcock is one of our stealthiest birds, but it’s also one of the most fun to watch when they do show themselves. On early spring evenings, the males perform their mating displays, flying high into the air and falling back to the ground, making calls and sounds with their wings as they do […]

$5.00 – $10.00
Recurring

Nature School

Event time: Sep 7 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We’re offering another year of Nature School! Each class will include a structured learning activity on a particular topic and an exploratory nature walk. For example, in the past we studied vultures, bird eggs and nests, leaf identification, beaver dams, and more. We will repeat some topics from the 2021-2022 school year, but we will […]

$145 – $180

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 […]

Free
Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Recurring

Nature School

Event time: Sep 7 - Jan 1
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We’re offering another year of Nature School! Each class will include a structured learning activity on a particular topic and an exploratory nature walk. For example, in the past we studied vultures, bird eggs and nests, leaf identification, beaver dams, and more. We will repeat some topics from the 2021-2022 school year, but we will […]

$145 – $180

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 […]

$5.00 – $10.00

Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

Recurring

Nature Club

Event time: Sep 3 - Jan 1
6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Over 9 sessions beginning in September and running through May, the members of Nature Club will work together to create a map of an uncharted piece of the Clifton Institute and build a trail that runs through it. The project will culminate in an unveiling party for the new trail led by the students themselves.  […]

$72 – $90

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 […]

$5.00 – $10.00

Vernal Pool Camp

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Home for spring break? Come to our first ever day-long spring break camp, all about vernal pools! Campers will spend a day with Clifton Institute staff studying the animals that live in our vernal pools! Vernal pools are small bodies of water which dry out for part of the year, making them the perfect amphibian […]

$40.00 – $50.00

Volunteer Day: Tree Tube Maintenance

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We need help maintaining tree tubes! Afterward, participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch and join us for a picnic on the lawn! Clifton will provide cold drinks. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Bring: Work gloves (if desired.) Weather policy: Date and time subject to […]

Free

Family Nature Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free
Recurring

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute

Event time: Jan 14 - Oct 14
The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

We invite Friends of the Clifton Institute to come explore the field station on their own every Saturday from mid-January to mid-October. You can become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum annual donation of $40. Your support will help us reach our goals of expanding and improving our education, restoration, and research programs this […]

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 […]

Free

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 […]

Free