Happenings

Spring 2025 Junior Naturalist Classes $25/ adult / child pair $15 additional adult (ages 14+) $12 additional child (13 and under) Tickets to each class are sold separately Junior Naturalist classes are designed for ages 8 - 13 accompanied by an adult. This is not a drop-off program. Let's Go Birding! Saturday, March 29 | 9 - 10:30 am Birding is a great way for families to spend time together outside! Come join us for a family-friendly bird walk and find out more about the birds of Tennessee. We'll go over easy tips for identification, practice using binoculars, and go for a bird scavenger hunt along the trails. Bring your binoculars! Don't have a pair? We will have a limited number of binoculars to borrow. We will provide a basic checklist of common birds, but participants are welcome to bring a field guide as well.

Spring Lantern Hike Friday, April 4, 2025 7:30 - 9:30 pm Cost: $18 / person Ages 12+. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Gate opens 30 minutes before program start. Program begins promptly at noted time. No late entries. No exceptions. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility - please plan to take your trash with you. Come along on a nighttime adventure! We'll explore the woods at night by lantern light, listen for the sounds of nocturnal animals including owls, coyotes, crickets and frogs, and share stories about the history of Owl's Hill. This program is for adventurers who are looking for a longer hike than our typical evening programs. The route is 1.5 miles of moderately challenging natural surface trail. Participants can expect moderate uphill and downhill hiking as well as areas of uneven terrain. Once the hike departs, participants are expected to stay with the group for the duration of the hike. Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking are strongly recommended. For the safety and comfort of all participants, participants are not permitted to carry additional sources of light (headlamps, flashlights, etc.). Lanterns will be provided.

Winter 2025 Naturalist Workshops February Workshop: Tracking Basics Saturday, February 1, 9 - 11:30 am $20 / person Ages 14+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult) Learn how to identify animal tracks as well as signs like antler rubs, burrows, and scat to find out what animals are active in the area and gain insight into their hidden lives. This program will cover basic tracking techniques alongside track and sign identification and tips to help participants continue to build their tracking skills. Instructors: David Coats, Certified Tennessee Naturalist, Laura Smith, OHNS Staff Naturalist March Workshop: Beginning Birding Saturday, March 8, 8 - 10:30 am $20 / person Ages 14+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult) Get ready for spring migration with this introduction to bird watching and bird identification. Learn the basics of bird identification by sight and sound using a field guide or digital app. This program will also discuss how to choose and use binoculars and how to share your findings with digital citizen science apps like eBird and iNaturalist. Bring binoculars! There will also be a limited number of binoculars to borrow. Participants are welcome to bring field guides or load a digital field guide like Sibley or Audubon on their smartphone. Instructor: Laura Smith, OHNS Staff Naturalist

Kids Ages 3 to 5 and Parents

Spring 2025 Wildflower Hike Dates March 15, 22 and 29 April 5, 12, and 19 9:30am-11:30am Cost $15/hiker Ages 14+ The wildflowers are blooming: Spring is here! Come enjoy all the colors this season offers on this expert-led hike. Watch the browns of winter give way to the spectrum of spring while we look for Blue-eyed Mary, Dutchman's Britches, and Spring Beauty. This is a moderately strenuous hike with some hill climbing. Get your tickets online to guarantee your spot! Online ticket sales close at 8 am the day of the hike. Tickets for future dates will remain available for purchase. Walk-up tickets (if available) can be purchased at Owl's Hill the day of the hike.