When was the last time you stargazed while someone told you a story? We’ll take advantage of the long nights to learn a few winter constellations and Education Associate Bridget Bradshaw will read you one of her favorite stories. We’ll start the night with a bonfire and s’mores and then get cozy on the lawn, […]
We have been collecting seeds from native plants in the area and we need your help separating the seeds from the other plant material and getting them ready to plant! Cost: Free! Age: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please […]
Cost: Free! Age: All ages welcome. Children must be 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 […]
At first glance, it might seem like grasses all look the same and that they don't offer the same beauty that showy flowers do. But we think it's worth taking the time to learn to tell grasses apart and to appreciate their unique beauty. And winter is a great time to do it because the […]
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 […]
Lichens: part algae, part fungi, all mystery! Did you know that we have more than 400 species of lichens in our region and that many of them can be identified with a little practice and a hand lens? Lichens in our area are diverse in their appearance, in where they grow, and in how they […]
Join us for our annual Christmas Bird Count! We’ll spend the day surveying the birds in our 15-mile-diameter count circle, which includes a variety of habitats. We usually see a nice diversity of waterfowl and grassland birds. There’s always a chance for Short-eared Owl and American Tree Sparrow! Participating in the Christmas Bird Count is […]
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 […]
We are seeking volunteers to help remove invasive multiflora rose near our vernal pools in preparation for our local salamanders in February! 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
On this special Walk with a Naturalist, we will walk one of the longer trails on our property. We'll still go slow as we look for plants and animals, even in the dead of winter, and we expect to walk no more than 3 miles. Please bring a lunch and / or snacks to eat […]
Link to Zoom webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87576436084 **This is a virtual event** Join Executive Director Bert Harris to hear the latest on our American Kestrel research. We have been studying these declining falcons for two years and we have learned so much about the habitats they use for hunting. Cattle pastures are preferred over all other kinds […]
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 […]
Winter is a great time of year to learn how to identify trees and to practice looking at bark and twigs. In this program, we will take you on a short walk in the woods and talk about the tips and tricks to identify the most common trees in our forests. This program is meant […]
*CANCELED DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES* We are seeking volunteers to help sow native seeds. These species will be grown in our greenhouse for use in our restoration projects and sold at our native plant sale in May. THIS EVENT MAY BE RE-SCHEDULED DUE TO PRESCRIBED FIRE SEASON. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS BEFORE THE EVENT FOR […]
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. The next meetup will be on May 6 and you can register here: https://cliftoninstitute.org/event/nature-journaling-meetup-and-walk-4/ 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 […]
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 […]
We are seeking volunteers to help sow native seeds. These species will be grown in our greenhouse for use in our restoration projects and sold at our native plant sale in May. THIS EVENT MAY BE RE-SCHEDULED DUE TO PRESCRIBED FIRE SEASON. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS BEFORE THE EVENT FOR EVENT UPDATES. Cost: Free! Age: […]
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 […]
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 […]
*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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
**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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
