Online registration is closed but we still have spaces for this program. Please email bharris@cliftoninstitute.org if you're interested in joining us! Skippers, the Little Brown Jobs of the butterfly world, can be hard to identify, but with a little practice you can learn the variations in color, pattern, size, and shape that distinguish each […]
Online registration is closed but people are still welcome to join us! If you're interested, email bharris@cliftoninstitute.org. Every year community scientists help count butterflies in 15-mile-diameter circles all around the country and contribute their data to the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). This summer we will host our 30th annual butterfly count and celebrate our […]
If biodiversity excites you, come learn about one of the most species-rich groups on the planet: beetles! Worldwide, there are over 400,000 beetle species, and that list grows longer every year. They are all around us, they are beautiful, and they are endlessly fascinating. Join Will Ponder, a former ground beetle parataxonomist with the National […]
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 […]
Come join us to bird watch 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 […]
Did you know that bats offer numerous ecosystem services globally, including pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal? Here in Virginia, bats are critical members of our agricultural ecosystems, consuming thousands of insect pests each night. Erin Shibley, a wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, will present an interactive program about the behavior […]
We need help repotting some of our native seedlings into bigger pots! Habitat Specialist Andrew Eberly will be leading this event and will be happy to answer any participant questions about growing native plants. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Bring: Please bring gardening gloves if desired. […]
Ponds might seem ordinary, but they're specialized habitats full of fascinating species and they require specific care to keep them looking and functioning at their best. Come learn all about pond life with Cheyenne Hawkins, Clifton Institute Educator, and Ben Rhoades, Watershed Manager with the Reston Association and Certified Lake Manager with the North American […]
Come join us to bird watch 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 […]
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 native plants, please contact aeberly@cliftoninstitute.org with any concerns. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an […]
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 […]
Join us for a walk around the field station to see what we can see! Led by a staff naturalist, we’ll encounter birds, bugs, plants and more. Cost: Free! 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 […]
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 […]
Come join us to bird watch 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 […]
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 […]
