Floracliff Nature Sanctuary

Wildflower Hike
2019-03-30 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some our early spring ephemerals.
Hike Leader: Josie Miller, Stewardship Director
Hiking Level: Moderate
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

Wildflowers & Project Budburst: A Citizen Science Workshop
2019-03-22 13:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Learn how to identify some of our earliest blooming plants and help get Project Budburst started at Floracliff.
This program is part of a citizen science workshop series we are offering in 2019. Citizen science provides opportunities to connect to nature, build community, and practice mindfulness, all while contributing to knowledge of the natural world. Each workshop session will include a 1-2 hour indoor identification presentation and a corresponding outdoor activity or event. Please see our events page for information about the other workshops.
Program leader: Beverly James, Preserve Director
Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

Equinox Magic Hour Hike
2019-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. This hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky.
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

Spring Long Hike
2019-03-09 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Our long hikes are some of the most popular hikes we offer. Early registration is encouraged. This hike will cover about 4 miles and will feature the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County. We may even see some early spring wildflowers such as hepatica, purple cress, and snow trillium.
Hike Leaders: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

Winter Greens Hike: Lichens, Mosses, and Ferns with Kendall McDonald
2019-03-02 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Most of our forest plants go dormant on the winter, but there are some species in the understory that are still showing their colors this time of of year. Join botanist Kendall McDonald to learn identification and ecology of some of Floracliff’s more recognizable lichens, mosses, and ferns. This hike will also feature the Kentucky River.
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

Thanksgiving Eve Long Hike
2018-11-21 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
This hike will cover about 4 miles and will feature Trail’s End, the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.
Hike Leaders: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Cancellation/Refund Policy: To cancel your registration and request a refund, please email info@floracliff.org at least 2 weeks before the event.

West Sixth for a Cause
2018-11-17 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | West Sixth Brewing, 501 W 6th St #100, Lexington, 40508, United States
Enjoy some brews for biodiversity! Join us Saturday, November 17th, 5:00 – 9:00 pm at West Sixth Brewing for a Sixth for a Cause event benefitting Floracliff. The Price Herp Lab at UK and UK Entomology will be in the Barrel Room with live native Kentucky wildlife on display between 6 and 8 pm. We’ll also have a silent auction in the taproom with local goods and nature-related items.
As with each Sixth for a Cause, West Sixth donates 6% of total sales for the day to a great non-profit partner. Part of the mission at West Sixth is to have a positive impact on the communities we live, work and drink in. Sixth for a Cause is a way for them to support non-profit organizations and community building with their time and money. Additionally, Big Ass Solutions will match that 6% donation for each Sixth for a Cause event.
Silent Auction Items include:
– Private tour of Marble Creek in Jessamine County with Liz Hobson and Charley Sither
– Private creek walk for 6 up Elk Lick Creek at Floracliff
– $100 gift card for J&H Lanmark
– Two guitar lessons with local musician Chris Sullivan
– Field Guides to use on your next hike
– Hand-made items
More items to be posted soon…Have something to donate for the silent auction? Contact info@floracliff.org

Fall Long Hike
2018-11-10 10:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Hike Leaders: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
This hike will cover about 4 miles and will feature Trail’s End, the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.

Tree Week Magic Hour Hike
2018-10-11 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. This hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. This event is part of the Urban Forest Initiative’s Tree Week.

Revisiting Floracliff’s Old Oaks: A TreeSnap Training and Citizen Science Workshop
2018-10-09 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Instructors: Dr. Ellen Crocker (UK), Beverly James (Floracliff)
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Floracliff is home to some of the oldest known trees in Kentucky. This Fall marks the 10th anniversary of the research project that “discovered” these old chinkapin oaks through dendrochronology. For this workshop, we will be revisiting these revered oaks and submitting updated measurements and observations to TreeSnap. TreeSnap is an app for foresters, landowners, and citizen scientists to easily record information about trees and share that data with scientists. Scientists are using this information to aid research projects focusing on genetic diversity and the factors that allow some individual trees to survive. Participants will be trained to use TreeSnap and will learn about the characteristics of old trees, the uniqueness of Floracliff’s old trees, and their significance to the region.
This event is part of the Urban Forest Initiative’s Tree Week.

Oaks and Hickories of the Palisades: A Tree ID Hike
2018-10-07 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Hike Leader: Beverly James
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
There are 9 hickories and over 20 oaks native to Kentucky, making them challenging groups to learn. We will cover species commonly found in Central Kentucky’s forests and woodlands. We will explore the uplands and lowlands of the Trail’s End tract and take a break along the Kentucky River.
This event is part of the Urban Forest Initiative’s Tree Week.

Birds of Kentucky
2018-09-22 07:00 - 2018-09-23 14:00 UTC | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Instructor: Dr. David Brown, Eastern Kentucky University
Hiking Level: Moderate
This is a beginning to intermediate field-based birding workshop. The emphasis will be on identifying birds by sound, but of course we’ll see lots of birds, too. The workshop will include a hands-on bird banding demonstration on Saturday morning. All participants will receive a Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. Field trips will include Floracliff Nature Sanctuary and Taylor Fork Ecological Area in Madison County. This workshop is limited to 12 participants.
David Brown is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Eastern Kentucky University. He teaches Field Ornithology and Wetland Wildlife Management. His research focuses on conservation and the winter ecology of migratory songbirds.

Leopold Education Project
2018-09-21 09:00 - 15:00 UTC | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Instructor: Jennifer Hubbard-Sanchez, Kentucky State University
Hiking Level: Moderate
Experience the interdisciplinary nature of the Leopold Education Project, an environmental and conservation education curriculum based on the writings of Aldo Leopold, “the father of conservation.” All participants will receive a copy of A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, the curriculum guide Lessons in a Land Ethic, and a packet of Leopold Exploration Cards. Hands-on activities and discussion will enhance the use of literature-based environmental education and correlations to English and Language Arts Kentucky Academic Standards. This educator workshop will be held outside, so come prepared to hike around and use the outdoors as your classroom! Please bring your lunch and plenty of water for the day.

Caterpillar Hunt
2018-09-15 13:00 - 15:30 UTC | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Hike Leaders: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Easy
Our annual caterpillar hunt provides a great opportunity to see a diverse group of species and discuss their connections to our native plants. We always find new surprises. The total hiking distance will be less than a mile.

Magic Hour Hike
2018-09-13 18:00 UTC | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Hike Leaders: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. This hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky.

Beetles of Kentucky
2018-08-04 - 2018-08-05 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Instructors: Paul Baker (University of Kentucky)
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult
Field sites: Floracliff (Saturday and Sunday)
This workshop will provide an overview of the biology and diversity of beetles with emphasis placed on those found within the new Trail’s End Tract of the Floracliff Nature Sanctuary. We will also cover a variety of techniques used to find and sample beetles (and other insects) in their natural environment. This workshop is in conjunction with a survey of beetles being conducted in the Trail’s End Tract in 2018. There will be lectures in the mornings discussing beetles and collecting techniques. One afternoon will be spent observing and participating in the collection of beetles within the Floracliff property, and the other afternoon will be spent preparing some of the beetle samples for preservation. All participants will receive the book Beetles of Eastern North America.
Paul Baker is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky Entomology Department working on his doctorate degree. His current research involves understanding how bed bugs communicate and behave using chemical cues, which he hopes will lead to the design of a better bed bug trap. He also enjoys spending his weekends tracking down insects in their natural environments.
