The kiddos may be back in school, but that doesn’t mean summer is over at Bernheim – in fact autumnal equinox isn’t for another month! There are hundreds of ways Bernheim can be a fun adventure for the whole family or a peaceful and beautiful escape from the stresses of daily life.
The Edible Garden is not to be missed! Late summer is a great time to see the beds overflowing with everything from tomatoes, squash, and peppers to apples and blackberries. The Edible Garden is also a Monarch Waystation, so you’ll be sure to see plenty of monarch butterflies and other pollinators hard at work.
If you haven’t experienced Playcosystem and Spirit Nest yet, what are you waiting for? The larger than life Spirit Nest is our newest large-scale art installation made from recycled and repurposed materials. It’s a magical place to gather and experience the wonder artist Jayson Fann has created. Playcosystem is our new play area for kids – it’s just across from the Visitor Center and is filled with ways for kids to play freely in nature.
If you need a moment to cool off, our Visitor Center is now open Wednesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Peruse through our gift shop or grab a delicious bite at Isaac’s Café, which uses produce from our Edible Garden. Our membership office, located inside the Visitor Center is also open so you can join or renew your membership.
Our 40+ miles of trails are open for you to enjoy summer’s full tree canopy. It’s just a short walk on our Canopy Tree Walk to experience the forest from the tree tops. A walk around the Arboretum Loop will take you through our many arboretum plant collections. Bernheim opens at 7 a.m. so you can get your walk or hike in while the temperatures are cooler. You can also join a Naturalist for a guided Mid-week Nature Walk to learn all about the natural wonders of Bernheim. And of course, our famed Forest Giants in Giant Forest are still on site for all to experience the fairy tale.
We are also kicking off our school programming for fall – we have spaces open for field trips for students of all ages, and we have Homeschool Hikes twice a week beginning in September. To learn more, visit the Education Hub on our website.
As always, safety is our first priority. When you visit – don’t forget to bring a reusable bottle of water (you can refill it at any of our water fountains throughout the arboretum or at the bottle filler inside the Visitor Center), wear bug spray and sunscreen, and of course, make sure you wear proper shoes that you can explore in.
Enjoy your visit!