Piedmont Polliwogs Camp

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

During Piedmont Polliwogs camp, your early learner will explore and engage with nature on our beautiful 900-acre field station. We aim to inspire feelings of curiosity and wonder for the natural world, while promoting healthy minds and bodies as children play and learn outside. A typical morning will include an outdoor story time, a short […]

$95.00

Bobolink Walk

6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Native Garden Tour

Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility 800 Waterloo Rd., Warrenton

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 […]

Free

Second Annual Dragonfly Count

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Young Scientists Research Experience

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

During this unique experience, students will explore and carry out their own research project. Young Scientists will engage in inquiry-based, hands-on learning as they develop their own research questions, collect and analyze data, and present their results, all under the guidance of an experienced mentor. This opportunity is perfect for middle and high school students […]

$350.00

Volunteer Day: Storm Damage Repair

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Volunteer Day: Plant Propagation

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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. […]

Free

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 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: […]

Free

Butterfly Identification Workshop

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Young Explorers Camp: Session 1

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Each day at Young Explorers camp, children will explore the field station with our naturalists and learn about the plants and animals that live in the northern Virginia Piedmont. In the afternoon, children will enjoy crafts and games that will expand their knowledge of ecology and the environment. Campers will gain a deep understanding of […]

$215.00

NABA Butterfly Count

6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Young Explorers Camp: Session 2

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Each day at Young Explorers camp, children will explore the field station with our naturalists and learn about the plants and animals that live in the northern Virginia Piedmont. In the afternoon, children will enjoy crafts and games that will expand their knowledge of ecology and the environment. Campers will gain a deep understanding of […]

$215.00

Volunteer Day: Storm Damage Repair

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Bird Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Volunteer Day: Invasive Species Removal

6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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, […]

Free

Piedmont Prairie Field Trip

Leopold's Preserve 16290 Thoroughfare Rd, Broad Run, VA

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 […]

Free

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 […]

Free

Walk with a Naturalist: Weather Watch

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free
Recurring

Nature Camp For Grownups

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

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 […]

$100.00 – $125.00

Volunteer Day: Invasive Species Removal

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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, Tree-of-Heaven, Autumn Olive, and Wavyleaf Basketgrass in our forests and we need your help! Please bring work gloves and clippers if you have them. Age: Adults only […]

Free

Mushrooms with Mayor Nevill CANCELED

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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: […]

Free
Recurring

Nature Club

Event time: Jan 1 - 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.  […]

$72.00 – $90.00
Recurring

Nature School

Event time: Jan 1 - 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 […]

$145.00 – $180.00
Recurring

Piedmont Polliwogs

Event time: Jan 1 - 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 […]

$75.00 – $90.00

Volunteer Day: Invasive Species Removal

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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, […]

Free

Late Summer Wildflower Walk

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

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 […]

Free

Creatures of the Night

The Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA

Join Clifton Institute Executive Director Bert Harris to look and listen for creatures of the night! We’ll start by listening to the evening chorus of cicadas and birds. Then we will take a gentle walk through fields and woods to look for nocturnal animals. Late summer is an ideal time to observe several species of […]

Free

Night-Time 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 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 […]

Free