By bernheim
In the spirit of the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Free Fishing Days, all of Bernheim’s arboretum lakes are open for fishing for one weekend in June. Join Bernheim on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 for Family Fishing Days. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a day of family fun. No license is required to fish this weekend. At all other times of the year, a license is required and fishing is only permitted at Lake Nevin.
Although the Visitor Center remains closed, there are restrooms available. Isaac’s Café’s new “Café To Go Window” is open with limited hours. Please check Bernheim.org for updates. Events and programming for all ages in June are listed below:
Playcosystem “Nature Playground” Now Open
Bernheim Forest is excited to announce the opening of the first phase of a new 10-acre natural playground at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Playcosystem opened in May, and is located across from the Visitor Center. Playcosystem’s Nature Playground offers constructed areas that meet the developmental needs of young children as well as exciting challenges for older children, such as the Pole Scramble, a network of 40-plus vertical poles, ropes and balance beams as part of a larger “hot lava” pathway that circumnavigates the entire Nature Playground. Playcosystem is made from entirely natural materials and is open to children of all ages during regular Bernheim hours.
Friday Family Foray
Join Bernheim Volunteer Naturalists each Friday in June from 2-3 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.
First Saturday Nature Hike
Join Bernheim Naturalists for this family-friendly 45-60 minute nature hike on the first Saturday of each month from 2-3 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: Tales from the Trees
Join a Volunteer Naturalist for an engaging nature hike on the first Sunday of each month from 2- 3:30 p.m. There is no fee but registration is required by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org.
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.
Birding Walk Series:
During quarantine, many families and individuals discovered the joy of birding in their backyards and neighborhoods. Bernheim is an ideal place to learn how to bird or to hone newly acquired birding skills and is providing several birding programs this season.
Birding Walk – Birding Beyond Binoculars on Saturday, June 5, from 8-9:30 a.m.
Birding Walk – Birding Secrets from Passionate Birders on Saturday, June 26, from 8:30- 10:30 a.m.
All programs are conducted outside and will include a hike, so please dress accordingly.
The cost is $8 for Bernheim members and $10 for non-members.
Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. on the day before the start of the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register. Participants should dress for the weather and wear shoes they don’t mind getting earthy. Space is limited for safety, so register early. Social distancing and masks are required. Pets are not allowed.
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 June. Take the first step in becoming a Bernheim volunteer by attending one of these general orientations on Saturday, June 12 or Saturday, June 26, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Learn more and register at Bernheim.org.
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.
Creatures of the Night: Firefly Walk
Join Bernheim on Saturday, June 12, from 9-11:30 p.m. for a Firefly Walk. As the nights get warmer, fireflies light up the night! Our Creatures of the Night series provides opportunities to experience the sights and sounds of nature dramas that often go unnoticed. Journey via van into sections of Bernheim where crepuscular and nocturnal creatures are most active.
Led by Bill Napper and fellow Volunteer Naturalists, each program includes some hiking through easy terrain. This month we will be looking for fireflies, but expect to encounter other creatures of the night.
Full “Strawberry Moon” Hike
Join Bernheim on Thursday, June 24, from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. for a Full “Strawberry 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.
Hike & Write Unplugged with Bobby Buchanan
Join local poet and educator Bobbi Buchanan at the Hike and Write Unplugged workshop on June 19 from 8-10 a.m. Learn how to make time in nature part of your creative practice and self-care regimen through a free writing workshop.
Participants will meet at the Canopy Tree Walk and be briefed on simple techniques for communing with nature, then embark on a 45- to 60-minute hike along the Iron Ore Trail. Minimal talking will take place on the trail since we will be practicing silence and solitude to inspire meditation and creativity. After the hike, participants will immediately gather for reflection, discussion, and guided writing time.
Participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring a reusable water bottle, a journal or notebook and something to write with. The workshop leader discourages the use of cellphones or personal electronic devices during the hike, as well as the workshop.
*This workshop is ideal for writers, artists, musicians, and other creative types, as well as anyone looking to benefit from the healing and restorative powers of the natural world.
This program is free of charge, but participants must register at Bernheim.org, as space is limited.
Virtual Program: Motus: Studying the Birds of Bernheim
Join Bernheim on Wednesday, June 30, from 12-1 p.m. for this free virtual program. Bernheim’s Director of Conservation Andrew Berry discusses the international bird research of which Bernheim is a part. Motus is an international network of researchers using coordinated base stations to study movements of wildlife on local, regional, and hemispheric scales. Bernheim outfitted four species of songbirds with CTT LifeTags™, which allow birds to be tracked through multiple migrations, year after year. This allows Bernheim to be a part of an international bird conservation effort. As the first site to install this system in Kentucky, Bernheim has helped to fill a crucial void in the system’s geographical reach. Learn more and register online at Bernheim.org.