One of the best ways to connect with nature is to make sure you and your family have positive experiences in the outdoors. In this video, Volunteer Naturalist, Scott Osborne, shares some of the basic items to put in your pack. If you are in uneven or wet and slippery terrain, you might want to carry a walking stick. If you’d rather not add the weight of field guides, apps such as iNaturalist and others can help you identify plants and animals you encounter. An easy and short trail for beginners is the Bent Twig Trail located in the vicinity of the Education Center, near the silos.
What to Look for When Hiking at Bernheim
As Volunteer Naturalist, Scott Osborne points out in this video, it’s important to be able to recognize poison ivy before exploring outdoor trails especially if you’re wearing shorts. Many people often confuse poison ivy and Virginia creeper, both common at Bernheim. Poison ivy has three leaflets while Virginia creeper has five leaflets. Although 32 species of snakes may be found in Kentucky only four are venomous, and Bernheim has only two of these, copperheads, and timber rattlesnakes. Be sure to protect yourself from creatures such as mosquitoes and ticks. Always do a tick check after hiking.
Links to Learn More:
Tales from the Bent Twig Trail
Kentucky’s Venomous Snakes
The iNaturalist app
Merlin Bird ID app