Play and learn with new programs at Bernheim in April

CLERMONT, Ky. (March 29, 2022) – Play is healthy for children of all ages. And there are multiple opportunities to play, explore, learn and create at a number of new programs and events at Bernheim this April.

Playcosystem Happy Hour – No kids allowed!

Bernheim has reserved Playcosystem for a Playcosystem Happy Hour on Friday, April 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. for adults to gather, have a bit of fun, meet others, build a box fort, and share a playground together. Food and drinks from Mile Wide Beer Company, Forest Edge Winery and Juanito’s Street Tacos will be available for purchase. No registration is necessary. Check-in under the arbor dome at Playcosystem to get your Playground Pass.

For details, visit Bernheim.org.

Restore: A Wellness Weekend at Bernheim

Join Bernheim for another exciting new event throughout the weekend of April 9 and 10 as we celebrate self-care and nature’s healing powers. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, take advantage of our activities and vendors, all offered to help you find inner peace. Throughout the weekend, drop in for

• Discovery Stations at the Visitor Center (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

• Mindful Garden Walk at the Edible Garden (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

• Healthy food and vendors at the Visitor Center (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

• Cooking Demonstrations (Saturday only) at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

A variety of additional yoga programs, hikes, and birding walks throughout the weekend are available on the website. Learn more and register for those wellness programs by visiting Bernheim.org or call (502) 955-8512.

Walking Meditation

Join us on Saturday, April 2, from 9 to 10 a.m. for a short, slow, intentional walk through the Edible Garden to mindfully reconnect our breath with movement and the environment.

No prior experience is needed. The cost is $15 for Bernheim members and $20 for non-members.

Dress for the weather. This program will have large sections of silence and is recommended for adults and children ages 12+.

Arbor Day Adopt a Tree

Join Bernheim on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Visitor Center. Horticulturists will be giving out free saplings that are ready to plant in your spring landscape.

• Grey dogwood

• Washington hawthorn

• River birch

• Black oak

• White oak

• Buttonbush

• Roughleaf dogwood

• Bald cypress

Pollywalk – On the Wing

Pollywalks are designed for families of children aged 0-5 with stories, songs, and nature exploration. The best part is all of the action happens OUTSIDE! This month’s Pollywalk  meets on Saturday, April 2, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Silo Stage and includes guided programming and free exploration for the youngest of nature lovers.

The cost is $10 for Bernheim member youth (age five and under) and $15 for non-member youth (age 5 and under). The registered youth fee includes one adult. Additional caregivers are $5 per person.

First Sunday Nature Hike

Meet a Volunteer Naturalist at the Visitor Center on Sunday, April 3, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. for an engaging nature hike on the first Sunday of each month. These hikes are aimed primarily at adults, but children six years and up are welcome. Registration is not required for this free event. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Mellow Morning Stroll

If you are a morning person, this quiet, reflective stroll is designed with you in mind. This slow-paced stroll on Wednesday, April 13, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. will focus attention on nature’s small details, hidden connections, and the sensory-rich tapestry of life. Join Bernheim staff and Volunteer Naturalists near Bernheim’s Sensory Garden and start your day attuned to nature’s beauty and abundance.

The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. day prior to the start of the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org. The program is for ages eight and up, and no pets are allowed.

Picnic with the Wildflowers

This extended wildflower wander on Thursday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a great opportunity to search out spring wildflowers on a route picked for its abundance and variety. Bring a sack lunch and a beverage. Walking sticks and sturdy shoes are highly recommended!

The cost is $20 for Bernheim members and $25 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. No pets please.

Earth Day Concert with Mr. Dan

In celebration of Earth Day from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 22, join Mr. Dan for a nature song extravaganza! Sing, dance, and rock out to songs that celebrate the plants and animals of Bernheim. This family concert is appropriate for all ages. No registration is necessary.

Drawn and Painted from Life: Botanical Watercolors with 2021 Artist in Residence Laura Poulette

Learn to draw and paint seasonal, botanical illustrations using bits and pieces of plants!

Each participant will design and create their own unique painting during this immersive 6-hour workshop that covers sketching and inking techniques and introduction to watercolors before diving into creating a botanical work of art. All materials are included. There is a maximum of 12 participants and the minimum age is 16 years old.

The workshop takes place on Saturday, April 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Education Center Gallery with an hour lunch at 12:30 p.m. Bring your lunch or order something seasonal from Isaac’s Café. The cost is $150 for Bernheim members and $165 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.

Savor the Season: A Spring of Hope and Renewal

Join Bernheim for five Friday lunchtime sessions starting in April as we celebrate spring as a season of growth, optimism and fresh starts. Those who sign up for the package of four sessions will have access to a special bonus session the final week!

These are virtual events, and  Zoom links will be sent via email prior to the program.

• Friday, April 8, 12 to 1 p.m: Bernheim Director of Education Kristin Faurest: Healing Gardens – Designing Places for Wellbeing

• Friday, April 22, 12 to 1 p.m: Bernheim Facilitator of Outreach and Regenerative Design Claude Stephens: It All Starts with Play – A Look at the Long History of Play in Human Development

• Friday, May 6, 12 to 1 p.m: Bernheim Director of Horticulture and Sustainable Landscapes Renee Frith: How Trees Heal Themselves

• Friday, May 20, 12 to 1 p.m: Bernheim Interpretive Programs Manager Wren Smith: Foraging for Plants in Spring

• Friday, May 27, 12 to 1 p.m. – Bonus session – Regional Artist Anessa Arehart: Finding Everyday Magic – A Journey of Hope and Healing Through Nature

The cost is $40 for the series, including a bonus session in May or $12 per session (bonus program not included).

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

Experience the mystery of a full moon hike through the early spring landscape on Saturday, April 16 from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Part of Bernheim at Night, Full Moon Hikes include a walk around Lake Nevin Loop, with plenty of stops to observe the night sky, discuss nocturnal happenings, and consider our cosmic connections.

Creatures of the Night: In Search of Whippoorwills

Creatures of the Night programs provide opportunities to experience the sights and sounds of natural phenomena that often go unnoticed. Journey with Bill Napper and fellow Volunteer Naturalists on Friday, April 29 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. on a driving tour into sections of Bernheim where crepuscular and nocturnal creatures are most active. Program includes a small amount of hiking through easy terrain.

Night hikes are very popular. Register early to ensure your space. Registration and payment are due by 4 P.M. on the day prior to the start of the program. The cost is $12 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members. Night hikes are geared for ages eight and up. No pets allowed. Dress for the weather.

Forest Homeschool Hikes

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. 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.

• Forest Homeschool Hike: Plant Parts

  • Tuesday, April 12 from 1 to 2 p.m.

  • Friday, April 15 from 1 to 2 p.m.

• Forest Homeschool Hike: Seasonal Nature Walk – Spring

  • Tuesday, April 26 from 1 to 2 p.m.

  • Friday, April 29 from 1 to 2 p.m.

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 near Bernheim’s Visitor Center and may include:

Hands-On Discovery Stations from 1 to 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.

Pop-Up Story Circles because everything and everyone has a story. Watch for our storytelling and story-sharing circles near Spirit Nest.

ECO Kids Discovery Days are weather dependent and may be canceled. Please call (502) 955-8512 on the day of the event for weather-related updates. Masks and social distancing are required when interacting with the Volunteer Naturalists. For details on ECO Kids Discovery Days, call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org. No registration is necessary.

Wildflower Walks

A great way to learn about spring wildflowers is to follow their progression from bud to blossom over several weeks. These Wildflower Walks provide engaging stories on wildflower adaptation, ecology, folklore and history.

Dates and Times:

• Wildflower Walk: Early Wildflowers and Weeds

  • Saturday, April 2 from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Wildflower Walk: For the Love of Wildflowers

  • Saturday, April 9 from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Wildflower Walk: Wildflower Wisdom and Folklore

  • Saturday, April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Wildflower Walk: The Business of Blooming

  • Saturday, April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Wildflower Walk: Late Bloomers

  • Saturday, April 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

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. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register.

Space is limited for safety, so register early. Social distancing and masks are required. No pets, please.

Opportunities to Volunteer at Bernheim

Volunteers can give a few hours or several hundred hours, supporting Bernheim and our visitors. Have fun in the great outdoors by participating in a variety of activities. Take the first step in becoming a Bernheim volunteer by attending this general Volunteer Orientation held virtually on Saturday, April 2, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or Saturday, April 16, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register at bernheim.volunteerhub.com.

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About Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Bernheim’s mission is to connect people with nature. Bernheim is the largest privately held contiguous forest block in the eastern United States dedicated to conservation and education. Bourbon maker Isaac Wolfe Bernheim established the arboretum and forest in 1929 as a gift to the people of Kentucky. A recent land acquisition brought the total acreage of land that Bernheim protects to 16,140. Fun, educational programs, diverse tree collections, 40 miles of hiking trails and varied landscapes are available every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. A $10 per car donation is suggested for non-members.