The Clifton Institute

Piedmont Polliwogs 2025-26
2025-12-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-01-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-02-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-05-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 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!

Volunteer Day: Native Habitat Restoration
2025-12-13 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!

Nature Club 2025-26
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-01-10 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-14 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-03-14 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-11 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-09 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!

26th Annual The Plains / Airlie Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-14 08:00 - 17:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join us for the 26th Annual The Plains/Airlie Christmas Bird Count this December! Our goal? Count as many birds as we can in our 15-mile-diameter count circle, which includes a variety of habitats–grasslands, forests, lakes, backyards, and even parking lots. There’s always a chance for Short-eared Owl and American Tree Sparrow, and counters get to explore parts of Fauquier county that they might not normally see. Most importantly, we will be contributing to an international community science project reaching back over 120 years which informs bird conservation in North America.
This event is for birders of any experience level. Participating in the Christmas Bird Count is a great way to learn about the winter birds of Virginia and get to know other birdwatchers in the area. In order to cover the entire circle we split into 9 teams. Each team is led by an experienced birder. If you are interested in leading a team, please email Bridget Bradshaw (bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org). Depending on the team, you may spend the day walking, driving, or both in order to cover your area. At the end of the day, teams are invited back to the peach farmhouse at Clifton for hot chili, cornbread, and drinks for our tally rally! This is where we have a chance to all get together, count up the birds from the day, and swap stories.
*Please note: Depending on which team you are assigned, you may NOT be meeting at the Clifton Institute in the morning. Team leaders will tell you when and where to meet at the start of the day, which is typically around sunrise.
Cost: Free!
Age: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring: Please bring binoculars if available.
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!

Moss Identification Workshop with Simon Willig
2026-01-03 10:00 - 15:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join Arlington County naturalist Simon Willig to learn about the incredible mosses and liverworts that are all around us. We will discuss how mosses work, how they interact with the environment, and how to identify them. After lunch (included) we will collect samples around the Clifton Institute and use microscopes to identify them by their beautiful microscopic features. The mosses of Virginia are under-studied, so we may even find a new species for Fauquier County!
No experience with mosses is necessary–beginners welcome!
This program is limited to eight participants.
Cost: $75. 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 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. Refunds are not given for participant cancellation but refunds will be given if Clifton cancels.
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: All Day Hike
2026-01-03 10:00 - 16:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
On this special Walk with a Naturalist, we will walk one of the longer trails on our property. We expect to walk about 5 miles on varied terrain, some of which is steep, but we’ll go slow as we look for plants and animals! Please bring a lunch and / or snacks to eat on the trail 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!

Volunteer Day: Native Habitat Restoration
2026-01-10 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-17 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-07 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-14 13:00 - 16:00 | VA

Bird Walk
2026-01-14 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-24 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-02-11 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).
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 Crafternoon For Grownups
2026-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
Join us in the farmhouse for an afternoon making nature-inspired crafts, just in time to make something for your valentines. We will provide instructions and materials for participants to make linocut prints. If you would like to bring your own materials or crafts to work on (knitting projects! whittling projects! Coloring books!) please do. We will also provide warm drinks and light snacks.
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 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. Refunds not given for participant cancellation. Refunds will be given if Clifton cancels.
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!

Spotted Salamander Walk
2026-02-10 19:00 - 21:00 | The Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Road, Warrenton, VA, 20187, United States
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 sacks, which causes them to lay their eggs, about 50-100 per female. Join us on a walk to our vernal pools to witness this spectacle of nature.
We’ll be watching the weather closely to adjust our time and date that looks most promising for us to see this wonderful migration. For now, this date is a best-guess placeholder for us. We will contact registered attendees if the date changes.

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.
Please bring: A flashlight and waterproof boots. Dress for the weather.
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. Refunds not given for participant cancellation. Refunds will be given if Clifton cancels.
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!

How to Time Mowing to Avoid Killing Box Turtles *Virtual*
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | VA
**This is a virtual event**
Join Co-Director Bert Harris to learn about our collaborative research on Box Turtles in northern Virginia. Box Turtles are thought to have declined by as much as 75% in the Mid Atlantic and mortality from mowing is likely to be an important factor in rural areas. Bert will cover our efforts to survey and track Box Turtles in northern Virginia. He will present the results from our first three years of research, which includes population density estimates and activity periods to help landowners decide when to mow their fields.
We will send a link to the Zoom meeting a few days prior to the talk. Please make sure your email address is up to date!
Cost: Free!
Age: All ages.
Registration is REQUIRED.
We look forward to seeing you then!

Winter Tree Identification Workshop
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
Winter is a great time of year to learn how to identify trees and to practice looking at bark and twigs. We will start this program with a brief presentation indoors about the tips and tricks to identify the most common trees in our forests. Then we will take you on a mile-long walk in the woods to practice. This program is meant for beginners. Advanced botanists are welcome but you may teach us more than we teach you! If you would like to start practicing now or if you would like to bring some resources with you, we recommend the book Winter Tree Finder by May Theilgaard Watts and Tom Watts and the Flora of Virginia app.
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 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 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!

Walk With A Naturalist
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 | VA
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 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!

Bird Walk
2026-02-28 08:30 - 10:30 | VA
Cost: Free!
Come join us to bird watch around the field station!
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!
