By Bernheim
Source: Kentucky Standard
June 25, 2018
Bernheim at Night programs add mystery and magic to nature hikes
Creatures of the Night: Luna Moths and Chuck-Will’s-Widow
Experience the sights and sounds of nature that often go unnoticed with the Creatures of the Night series. Join Bernheim on Friday, July 13, from 9 – 11:30 p.m. to journey via van into sections of the forest where crepuscular and nocturnal creatures are most active. Led by Bill Napper, with assistance from fellow Volunteer Naturalists, the program will include a small amount of hiking through easy terrain.
Laser Guided Star Tour
Enjoy an evening stroll around Lake Nevin on Saturday, July 14, from 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. with “Star Captains” Bill Napper and Don Spain. These Volunteer Naturalists will use a laser pointer to help visitors experience the celestial happenings in the night sky.
Join Bernheim again on Friday, July 27,from 9 – 11 p.m. for a full 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 $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. Space is limited for events and pets are not allowed.
That’s just the beginning of the many ways you can enjoy nature at Bernheim in July. Details about the month’s other programs are below:
First Sunday Nature Hike
Meet Volunteer Naturalist Joe Rogers at the Visitor Center on Sunday, July 1, from 2 – 3 p.m. for an engaging 45 to 60-minute nature walk. Registration is not required for this free event and all ages are welcome. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes. The regular $5 environmental impact fee per car applies to non-members at the front gate.
ECO Kids Discovery Days
The E-C-O stands for Every Child Outside, and that’s exactly where kids can be found during ECO Kids Discovery Days. Discovery Days take place the first and third Saturday of each month at Bernheim’s Visitor Center and include:
On Your Own Challenge from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Discovery Stations from 1 – 4 p.m.
Hike of the Day led by a Bernheim guide, starts at the Visitor Center at 2 p.m.and runs 45-60 minutes.
On Saturday, July 7, children are invited to learn what is Living on the Edge. Families will have fun discovering an amazing variety of animal life thriving along pond edges by using the On Your Own Challenge identification sheet. Kids will also explore hands-on Discovery Stations and the Hike of the Day during the afternoon.
On Saturday, July 21 the theme is Summer Plant Bingo. Children and their families will move like a busy bee from plant to plant, not to collect pollen, but to score bingo on the On Your Own Challenge playing card. The day also includes hands-on Discovery Stations and the Hike of the Day during the afternoon.
For details on ECO Kids Discovery Days, call (502) 955-8512. Discovery Day events are free, with the regular $5 environmental impact fee per car applying to non-members.
Pollywog Play Party
Bernheim’s youngest visitors are invited to participate in Life in the Pond at thePollywog Play Party on Saturday, July 7, from 10:30 a.m. – Noon at the Education Center. Early learners (infants to five-year-olds) will have fun investigating aquatic living by meeting real pollywogs and their pond friends, making frog life cycles, pretend fishing, and much more. Pollywog Play Parties combine music, art, language and outside play to encourage children to learn about nature.
Registration is required by 4 p.m. on the day prior to program by calling (502) 955-8512. The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members. The fee covers one caregiver and one child. Non-members are required to pay a $5 per car environmental fee at the gate.
Lunch & Learn: The Art of Butterflying
Practice the delicate art of butterfly observation on Wednesday, July 11, from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center with Bernheim’s butterfly expert Corinne Mastey, who has raised and released hundreds of butterflies over the years. Visitors are invited to join in on the fun and learn tips to become more skilled at this delightful art.
Bernheim Lunch & Learn programs are designed for those who enjoy spending time outdoors in the company of other adults who love learning about nature. Each program includes group introductions, a short, themed hike and a delicious lunch from Isaac’s Café. The lunch menu can be found at Bernheim.org.
Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day prior to start of program. Please call (502) 955-8512 to register. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.
Volunteer Orientation Training
Volunteers can give a few hours or several hundred hours, providing support to Bernheim and its visitors. While working throughout the forest or arboretum, volunteers can participate in a variety of activities, while having fun in the great outdoors. Those interested in learning more about Bernheim’s volunteer program are invited to the Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m – Noon. Reservations are recommended, but not required. For more information, visit bernheim.org or call (502) 955-8512.
Smart Gardens Landscapes
On Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. – Noon, BernheimNursery Manager Renée Hutchison will present Planning the Fall Garden at the Bernheim Research Center. July is the perfect month to start planning and planting your fall garden. Participants will learn to extend the life of their winter months and learn tried and true techniques to lengthen the growing season.
Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18 Those interested can call (502) 955-8512 to reserve their spot.Space is limited. The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members.
2018 Central Kentucky Knap-In and Celebration of the Ancient Past
Interact with “rock stars” from the region at this expanded annual event on Saturday, July 21 – Sunday, July 22, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m across from the Visitor Center. The event will feature exhibits related to archeology, geology, paleontology and speleology, as well as the flint-knappers, who demonstrate the lost art of making tools and weapons from rock. Pre-historic artifacts will be on display and modern replicas will be available for sale or trade.
The event is free, with the regular $5 environmental fee applying at the front gate for non-members.
Muddy Boots Play Group
Bernheim’s Children at Play Network offers summer fun and free play in the forest with Muddy Boots, a forest play group for children ages 3 to 6. The program runs from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at the Woodland Pavilion. Children will enjoy free play and self-directed exploration in an adventure under the trees. Learn more at childrenatplaynetwork.com
The cost for Bernheim members is $15 and $20 for non-members and the registration deadline is July 25. Call (502) 955-8512 to reserve your spot.