The Clifton Institute

Open-access Day for Friends of the Clifton Institute
2025-09-13 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-16 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-20 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-23 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-27 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-30 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-04 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-07 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) and 2 more dates | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
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 year. Thank you!
Before attending an open-access day, please read the information included on our liability release form (click here). As you walk our trails, you can help us take care of the field station by keeping your eyes and ears open to help us learn about the ecosystem we’re a part of and by enjoying and respecting the plants and animals that live here.

A trail map is available here. Please note that some trails are in the process of being built and many are not marked. Navigation skills and a GPS are recommended. Please stay on the trails, use common sense, and proceed at your own risk.
The farmhouse is closed to all visitors at this time. There are port-a-potties available in both parking lots.
We reserve the right to deny access to our property to anyone who does not obey the rules posted below or is otherwise disruptive to our field station operations.

On open-access days, you may park either at the lower parking area (“the Gap”) or at the farm house.
All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
You are welcome to bring your family with you on open-access days. One or two visitors are acceptable as well, but if this starts to be abused we reserve the right to limit the benefit to family members.
No dogs are permitted.
Leave no trace. We expect you to take all litter with you. It would be even better if you helped us pick up any litter you find! We do not have trash collection facilities.
Take nothing but photographs. We use our trails to teach kids about the environment and their experiences are much richer if there are still feathers and bones and everything else for them to look at.
No swimming, fishing, boating, or any other entry in the ponds.
No alcohol is permitted.
No horses, bicycles, automobiles, ATVs, or any other vehicles are allowed on the trails.
No hunting is permitted.

Nature Club 2025-26
2025-09-13 13:00 - 15:30, 2025-10-11 13:00 - 15:30, 2025-11-08 13:00 - 15:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Nature Club is a program where middle and high school students who are interested in the natural world can spend time in a nerd-friendly environment. If they like bones, insects, tools, plants, fungi, research, or simply to be outdoors, then they have found their people.
The club generally meets on the second Saturday of every month throughout the school year. In the 2025-26 year, we will be focusing on the three tenets of our work at Clifton: Research, Restoration, and Education. Members will help various Clifton staff and visiting professionals from other local organizations with what they do around the field station: propagating plants, building structures, removing invasive species, studying plants and animals, and making educational materials. There will be a chance for students to share their experience with their families at the final party in May!
Nature Club meets from 1-3:30 PM on the following dates: September 13, October 4*, November 8, December 13, January 10, February 14, March 14, April 18*, May 9.
Scholarship Opportunity: We have 5 full merit-based scholarships available. To apply, please fill out our Scholarship Application Google Form by September 5th, 2025. Wait to register until you have heard back from Bridget (she will register you so you will not have to pay the program fee). If you have any questions, please email Bridget Bradshaw (bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org)
Registration Notes: *If you are purchasing tickets for multiple students, please write all of their names together in the same box, i.e. “Sam, Martie, and Alex Bradshaw” when registering. The form does not give you separate spaces to enter different names for each ticket.*
Cost: $100 per student ($75 for Friends of the Clifton Institute)
Age: Youth grades 7-12; this program is drop off only.
Bring: Please bring a water bottle and snack.
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snowfall).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this series, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else. No refunds will be given upon registrant cancellation within 1 month of the program’s start date. No refunds will be given for any missed programs. A medical form and waiver will be sent out to registrants before the start of the program (or can be filled out on the first day).
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!
*Please note that some Saturdays are NOT the 2nd Saturday due to other program conflicts and FCPS spring break!

Party in the Pawpaw Patch
2025-09-19 18:00 - 19:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join us way down yonder for a Pawpaw party! We are excited to host this celebration of our only native tropical fruit tree! With many colorful nicknames such as the hillbilly mango, the pawpaw’s cultural flavor is as intriguing as its taste. We will give a brief talk on the ecology and cultural history of the species before we meander on over to the pawpaw patch to pick fruits to sample. Warning: You MIGHT be encouraged to participate in a sing-along.
Cost:
Children 18 and under – Free
Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Please bring a flashlight
Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Fall Native Plant Sale
2025-09-20 10:00 - 13:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
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 local ecotypes. At the plant sale we will sell seedlings grown from these seeds of a variety of perennial wildflowers, native grasses, and a few trees. Some of our favorites include butterflyweed, upland ironweed, scaly blazing star, narrow-leaf mountain-mint, and gray goldenrod. Partners from other organizations will also have plants and merchandise for sale. We will accept credit card, cash, or checks made out to the Clifton Institute. We hope to see you there!
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall).
We accept card, cash or check made out to the Clifton Institute. We look forward to seeing you!

Volunteer Appreciation BBQ
2025-09-26 17:30 - 19:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
We are so grateful for our volunteers’ help and support. We could not accomplish our mission without you! We would like to thank you by hosting you and your families for an evening at the Clifton Institute. This will be a very casual event. We will provide food and drinks from a local barbecue restaurant. All you need to bring is yourself! You’re welcome to arrive before 5:30 and hang out on the lawn or go for a walk if that makes coming after work easier.
Please RSVP so we know about how much food to order. If you have dietary restrictions you would like us to take into account please email kpaulsen@cliftoninstitute.org at least a week before the event date.
We look forward to seeing you all!

Bird Walk
2025-09-27 07:30 - 09:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Come join us to birdwatch around the field station!
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute.

Creatures of The Night
2025-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join us to look and listen for creatures of the night! Summer is an ideal time to observe several species of katydids, crickets, cicadas and birds. We will also look for beavers, reptiles and amphibians, and other animals! Back at the farm house we will see what kinds of moths and beetles we can attract with black lights. We hope to see you there!
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Please bring a flashlight.
Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Volunteer Day: Native Habitat Restoration
2025-10-04 09:00 - 12:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Come help us make the field station habitat the best it can be! Led by Habitat Specialist Andrew Eberly. All levels of experience welcome. May involve clearing invasive plants, light trail maintenance, or planting, please contact aeberly@cliftoninstitute.org with any concerns.
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Please bring clothing appropriate for the weather, gloves and/or small garden tools if desired.
Weather policy: Date subject to change depending on weather. Please check your email for updates.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Walk With a Naturalist
2025-10-04 13:00 - 15:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join us for a walk on our trails with one our naturalists! May include a mile or two of slow to moderate hiking over varied terrain. Please bring water/snacks as needed and dress for the weather.

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).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

**Cancelled** Bird Walk
2025-10-08 08:00 - 10:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
*Cancelled due to weather*
Come join us to birdwatch around the field station!
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute.

Piedmont Polliwogs 2025-26
2025-10-09 10:00 - 11:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
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. Students get to know each other, grow their independence, and gain confidence in the outdoors with our skilled instructors.
The 9-month series will take place on the second Thursday of each month from 10 to 11:30 on the following dates: September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11, January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14.
We understand that you may have children outside the 2-5-year-old range that need to come along with you to Polliwogs. You are welcome to keep them with you or for them to entertain themselves during the class. It is also fine with us if slightly older children participate.
When you register below, please register and pay for the number of children you expect to participate in the class each month! You can think about this through the lens of: will my child want to use the materials that they see the other kids using (magnifying lenses, eye droppers, stuffies)?
Registration Notes: *If you are purchasing tickets for multiple students, please write all of their names together in the same box, i.e. “Sam, Martie, and Alex Bradshaw” when registering. The form does not give you separate spaces to enter different names for each ticket.*
Cost: $90 per child ($75 for Friends of the Clifton Institute)
Age: Children ages 2-5, accompanied by a caregiver
Bring: Please bring a snack and drink. There will be a snack break.
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this series, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else. No refunds will be given upon registrant cancellation within 1 month of the program’s start date. No refunds will be given for any missed programs. You will be sent a liability waiver and medical form before the start of the program.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

**Cancelled** Volunteer Day: Native Habitat Restoration
2025-10-11 09:00 - 12:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States

Nature Camp For Grownups
2025-10-11 10:00 - 2025-10-12 15:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Hey grownups! Have you ever wished you could go to summer camp? Well, now you can! This October we are offering our fifth annual weekend-long Nature Camp for Grownups!
Activities will start on the morning of October 11 and conclude on the afternoon of October 12. Activities will include short workshops (for example on insect orders or plant families), nature walks, nature journaling, crafts, and more. And of course we’ll be making friends and having fun the whole time!
We will have the option to tent camp overnight near the farmhouse. Campers will have access to a bathroom in the farmhouse but not a shower. If you prefer to go home on Saturday night you can meet back up with us for or after breakfast on Sunday morning. We will provide simple lunches, dinner, and breakfast. All materials for crafts and other projects will be included.
Times: 10:00AM on October 11 to 3:30PM on October 12
Cost: $150 ($125 for Friends of the Clifton Institute).
Age: Adults only.
Bring: Snacks, water bottle, a nature journal if you have one. If you will be camping, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and any other equipment you need to be comfortable. We have a small number of tents and sleeping bags we can loan out, but not enough for everyone.
Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else. No refunds will be given upon registrant cancellation.
Before attending this event, please read the information included on our liability release form (click here).
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Bird Walk
2025-10-25 08:00 - 10:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Come join us to birdwatch around the field station!
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children 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 will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute.

Lawn Lab Community Day & Bioblitz
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Grace Miller Elementary School, 6248 Catlett Rd, Bealeton, 22712
What happens when we stop mowing our lawns? That’s one of the questions we’re trying to answer at Lawn Lab, and we need your help!
We invite you to join us for the second annual Lawn Lab bioblitz. Our goal is to collect data on what plants and animals call Lawn Lab home. If you have experience identifying plants and insects, that’s great. If not, we will give you all the training and tools you’ll need.
Lawn Lab is a long-term habitat restoration experiment and partnership between the Clifton Institute, the Fauquier County Public School system, and Fauquier County’s We Need Bees Committee, which oversees the county’s status as a Bee City USA affiliate. In this project, students from Grace Miller Elementary School and Liberty High School, along with educators and scientists from the Clifton Institute, will study the effects of reducing mowing on the biodiversity of lawns.
Please park in the Grace Miller Elementary School parking lot. The experimental fields are a very short walk (a couple hundred yards) southeast of the parking lot. There will be signs, but you should be able to see our tables and staff from the parking lots and as you drive in along Catlett Road.
Cost: Free!
Age: All ages.
Date and time: subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event. If we need to cancel or postpone, we will also post any updates on our Facebook page.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We are grateful to support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Kortlandt Fund, the Warrenton Garden Club, the Volgenau Foundation, and individual donors for Lawn Lab.

Native Seed Collection and Propagation Workshop
2025-11-01 13:00 - 15:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Collecting and propagating native seeds is a great way to help spread native plant populations, add 100% native species to your gardens, and learn about the native plants in your backyard. Although it may seem daunting, learning a few simple guidelines will get you well on your way to collecting and sowing your own seeds.Participants will learn when seeds are ready to collect, how to collect and store seeds, and how to propagate them.
Cost:
Children 18 and under – Free
Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Nature Journaling Meetup
2025-11-01 13:00 - 15:30 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Nature journaling is a powerful tool for learning about plants and animals, a mindful practice for connecting to nature, and just a great way to spend time outside. Managing Director and passionate nature journaler Eleanor Harris runs quarterly nature journaling meetups to help people develop their nature journaling skills and meet other nature journalers in the area. Whether you have been nature journaling for years or have never nature journaled before but want to try it out, this event is for you! If you’d like to learn more about nature journaling you can check out our page here.
In November, we’ll be focusing on leaves! Eleanor will give a brief introduction to the biology of leaves and some ideas for how to include them in your nature journal. Then we’ll go out on the trail and sketch what we find.
Cost: Free!
Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Please bring a journal and art supplies. Just a piece of paper and pencil will be enough. Eleanor will have a limited number of John Muir Laws’ nature journals for sale.
Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Night Vision: How Your Eyes Shape Reality
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Spend an evening learning, breaking down your perceptions of reality, and enjoying snacks with Dr. Emily Slezak, whose work has focused on color vision in humans and the mind-bending lengths we go to to create our own versions of the world. This workshop will cover the imperfect but incredible organs that are animal eyes and demonstrate the leaps that we are constantly making between the “real” world and the one that exists solely inside our brains. Bring yourself and all the questions you have about how eyes work for a fun evening spent both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Light refreshments will be provided!
Cost:
Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!
Age: Adults only.
Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

Invasive Species Management Workshop
2025-11-08 13:00 - 15:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
We get questions all the time about how to manage invasive plants and we want to help you rid your property of unwanted invaders! In this program, Landowner Outreach Associate Kadiera Ingram and Habitat Specialist Andrew Eberly will give a talk and demonstration on their recommended methods for dealing with various species of invasive plants. Together, Kadiera and Andrew are responsible for managing the invasives here at Clifton and for giving advice to landowners about invasives and they have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. Come with your thorniest questions and we’ll look forward to tackling this important issue together!
Cost:
Children 18 and under – Free
Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!
Age: Adults and children 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.
Registration is REQUIRED.
Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.
By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.
We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!
