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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Every fall raptors migrate south along the Appalachian Mountains. Several species of hawks, eagles, and falcons can be seen migrating, but the biggest spectacles are the days when huge numbers […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult. Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
** This event will be held over Zoom ** Get ready for winter by brushing up on sparrow identification! Every season brings its own challenges for birdwatching. In winter, similar-looking […]
Join us to collect and clean seeds of native grasses and wildflowers for use in our grassland restoration programs. Cost: Free! Age: Adults and children ages 12 and up, accompanied […]
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. Bring: Please bring binoculars. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Join Dr. Bert Harris of The Clifton Institute to explore the special plants and animals of Fauquier County's Riverside Preserve! This beautiful park protects a fascinating variety of habitats, from […]
Did you know that flying squirrels glow pink? Or that some lichens fluoresce chartreuse or orange? We are still discovering the hidden world of fluorescence—plants, animals, fungi, and minerals that […]