By bernheim
Wildflower walks, a farmer’s market and nature hikes for all ages
Signs of spring are everywhere this month at Bernheim and with it comes a program for everyone to explore the vast forest. Bernheim is welcoming spring with a number of new and returning programs tailored specifically to allow people to get outdoors and connect with nature in a safe manner for them and others, including the implementation of attendance limits, social distancing and the use of masks within six feet.
While the Visitor Center remains closed, there are bathrooms available. Events and programming for all ages in April are listed below:
Volunteer Orientation
Want to give back while having fun in the great outdoors? Volunteers can give a few hours or several hundred hours, providing support to Bernheim and our visitors. There are several orientation opportunities in April. Take the first step in becoming a Bernheim volunteer by attending one of these general orientations on Saturday, April 3 or Saturday, April 17, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Learn more and register at Bernheim.org.
First Saturday Nature Hike
Join Bernheim Naturalists for this family-friendly 45-60 minute nature hike on the first Saturday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Each Saturday will feature a new hike to a different place for exploration, adventure, and a little bit of learning.
No pets are allowed. Masks required when family groups are within six feet of others. The cost is $5 per person for members and non-members, regardless of age. Please register by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org.
First Sunday Nature Hike
Join a Volunteer Naturalist for an engaging nature hike on the first Sunday of each month from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is not required. Just show up with your curiosity and comfortable walking shoes.
These hikes are longer than our First Saturday Hikes and are aimed primarily at adults, but children 6 years and up are welcome. No pets are allowed. Masks and social distancing are required.
Fresh Corps Farmer’s Market at Bernheim
Join YouthBuild Louisville’s Urban Conservation Corps on April 7, 14, and 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Fresh Corps Farmer’s Market at Bernheim. The youth group will be selling produce grown at their site in the Smoketown neighborhood in Louisville. This will be a three-week limited run market. A list of items to be sold will be shared on Bernheim’s social media each week prior to the market. The market will be located across Arboretum Way from the Visitor Center by the flagpole.
Friday Family Foray
Join Bernheim Volunteer Naturalists each Friday in April from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for these family-friendly explorations of the natural world.
Space is limited, and social distancing protocol will be enforced. Masks are required when family groups are within six feet of others. The cost is $5 per person for members and non-members, regardless of age. No pets are allowed. Please register by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org.
Saturday Wildflower Walks
A great way to learn about spring wildflowers is to follow their progression from bud to blossom over several weeks. Each walk provides engaging stories that focus on wildflower adaptation, ecology, folklore, and history.
Join Bernheim naturalists for these weekend wildflower walks. Bring a bag lunch, water bottle, and your sense of discovery. The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the program. Please call (502) 955-8512 to register or visit Bernheim.org
Dates and Times:
-
Saturday Wildflower Walk: Early Spring Wildflowers and Weeds
-
April 3, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
-
-
Saturday Wildflower Walk: The Business of Blooming
-
April 10, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
-
-
Saturday Wildflower Walk: Wildflower Folklore
-
April 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
-
-
Saturday Wildflower Walk: Midseason Ephemerals
-
April 24, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
-
Wednesday Wildflower Walks
Spring wildflowers don’t last long, and some can only be observed by those who get out in the woods early in the season.
Join Bernheim naturalists for these mid-week wildflower walks. Bring a bag lunch, water bottle, and your sense of discovery. The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the program. Please call (502) 955-8512 to register or visit Bernheim.org.
Dates and Times:
-
Wednesday Wildflower Walk: Early Wildflowers and their Pollinators
-
April 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-
-
Wednesday Wildflower Walk: Planting for Butterflies
-
April 14, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-
-
Wednesday Wildflower Walk: Our Green Heritage
-
April 21, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-
-
Wednesday Wildflower Walk: Late Bloomers
-
April 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-
Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register. Please dress for the weather and wear shoes you don’t mind getting earthy. Space is limited for safety, so register early. Social distancing and masks are required. No pets are allowed.
Forest Homeschool Hikes
Bernheim takes school to the forest! Bernheim offers socially distanced opportunities for families and co-ops to join Bernheim educators for an afternoon of learning, exercising, and adventure. Appropriate for grades K-5, each Forest Homeschool Hike includes a short lesson at the Education Center’s Silo Stage followed by a hike that will bring the lesson to life.
The cost is $6 per student for Bernheim members and $8 per student for non-members. There is no fee for adults, but they must accompany children and must register in order to control group size. Registration required by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org. Space is very limited for safety, so register early. Social distancing and masks are required.
Dates and Times:
-
Forest Homeschool Hike: Seasonal Nature Walk – Spring
-
Two classes on Wednesday, March 31 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Thursday, April 1 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Friday, April 2 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
-
Forest Homeschool Hike: Plant Parts
-
Two classes on Wednesday, April 7 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Thursday, April 8 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Friday, April 9 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
-
Forest Homeschool Hike: Rock Run Ramble
-
One class on Wednesday, April 14 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
-
One class on Friday, April 16 from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
-
Forest Homeschool Hike: Giants and Fairies
-
Two classes on Wednesday, April 21 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Thursday, April 22 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Two classes on Friday, April 23 from 10 – 11 a.m. and from 1 – 2 p.m.
-
Arbor Day Adopt-A-Tree
Celebrate the love of trees and help increase the canopy of our surrounding community. Come to Bernheim on Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and adopt a tree for your home landscape. We will be giving out bare-root saplings that are ready to plant. You can also speak with knowledgeable horticulturists about proper planting techniques and tree care. Saplings available: southern red oak, post oak, shagbark hickory, pecan, persimmon, Chinese chestnut, pawpaw, Virginia pine, roughleaf dogwood, and bald cypress.
Bernheim at Night
Bernheim at Night programs provide ample opportunities to marvel at the moon, ponder distant planets, and be awed by the vastness of space. Something new yet ancient appears in the heavens and on earth with each turn of the season.
Full “Frog” Moon Hike
Join Bernheim on Monday, April 26, from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. in a Full “Frog” Moon Hike. Full Moon programs weave together stories about night ecology, moon lore, history, and the magic of nature at night.
All Bernheim at Night programs are intended for ages 8 and up, and cost $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Groups meet at the Garden Pavilion unless otherwise noted in the event description. Registration and payment are required by 4 p.m. on the day prior to the program. Call (502) 955-8512 to reserve a spot or visit Bernheim.org. Space is limited for events, and pets are not allowed.
FEMMENOMENAL Art Tour with Gabriela Boros
Join FEMMEnomenal creator and 2020 Artist in Residence Gabriela Boros on her April return for an afternoon stroll around the Lake Nevin Loop. Learn more about the concept and creative process behind her notable FEMMEnomenal Bluegrass Botanicals exhibition. The tours will run on Saturday, April 17 and on April 24 from 12 to 2 p.m. Each tour is limited to 14 people, with social distancing and masks required. The Lake Nevin Loop is an easy 1.3-mile trail that circles the 32-acre manmade Lake Nevin. Tours will be canceled in the event of inclement weather, and all participants notified in advance. The cost is $12 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day prior to the start of the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register.