The Natural Word: Nature Journaling
2026-01-30 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-24 13:00 - 15:30 (Africa/Abidjan) | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Hone your observational skills through journal writing, as we use our words and drawings to explore Floracliff in different seasons.

**Our print newsletter has the wrong date listed for this event. Please note the event is on Friday, January 30th.
Hone your observational skills through journal writing, as we use our words and drawings to explore Floracliff in different seasons. This hike will give you permission to sit and soak in the life around you, open your senses to appreciate and imagine a bit of each creature’s sensory environment, or study the intricate beauty in a stone or a leaf. Whether you’ve nature journaled for years, or this is your first foray, all are welcome. We will have specific tasks during each hike that will give you a structure on which to build your journal entries.
During times of cold or rainy weather, the writing portion of the program may move indoors.
Program Leader: Carol Spence, Floracliff Volunteer
Hiking Level: moderate
Bring: a journal, pen or pencil, water, a mat to sit on
Optional: colored pencils, water colors, hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars
This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 12 and older.

Floracliff has multiple entry gates. The meeting location for this program will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

FLOC: First Friday Birding February
2026-02-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join us for birding with the Floracliff Ornithology Community (FLOC)!

Start your day with an easy-paced bird walk. Experienced birders will guide you on a 1-2 mile loop through grassland and forested habitat. We’ll take our time to document all the birds we see and hear during this community science based program. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair from our collection.

Support Floracliff with a Donation
Floracliff depends on community support to offer these free events. Your donations support programs to promote knowledge and appreciation of nature and projects to protect, steward, and monitor the sanctuary and its wildlife. You can easily donate online at Floracliff.org.

What is FLOC?
FLOC (Floracliff Ornithology Community) was established in 2018 as a monthly community science project to document Floracliff’s bird diversity and seasonal changes. These free bird walks are led by advanced birders who are also trained Floracliff volunteers. It offers a fun opportunity for beginner and intermediate birders to to learn from others and for advanced birders to pass along their knowledge and experience. Over the years, FLOC has developed established route(s) to maintain a systematic approach to collecting data. All FLOC observations are shared to eBird.

Birdwatching Guidelines & Ethics
The American Birding Association (ABA) states “Birding should be fun and help build a better future for birds, for birders, and for all people”. As FLOC outreach continues to grow, we want these outings to remain enjoyable and educational for birders of all levels, while also minimizing impact to the birds being observed. The ABA provides a comprehensive Code of Birding Ethics found here. In short, we expect those attending FLOC outings to minimize disturbance to birds and fellow birders by practicing the following:

Minimize habitat disturbances by staying on the trail.
The use of audio recordings should be limited and at the discretion of the FLOC leader(s).
Be mindful and cautious around active nests; give them space.
Document birds honestly.
Be respectful of the interests, rights, and skill levels of fellow birders by keeping conversations quiet and helping others spot and learn about birds in the field.

Birding for Beginners with Dan Patrick
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join us for a Birding for Beginners walk and sit during the Great Backyard Bird Count. This program is for those ages 9 and up.

If you’ve ever thought birdwatching would be fun or interesting but didn’t know how to start come join us for a Birding for Beginners walk and sit. We’ll discuss the use of binoculars (we have nice ones you can use for the day); what to look for when you see a bird; discuss some free apps that help you figure out what you are seeing and we’ll go see some birds! The bird walk through the field and forest will be slow and relaxing, and we’ll end with watching some feeders for our most common feeder birds.
This program is for beginner birders ages 9 and up. Young birders are especially encouraged to join. If you are an intermediate birder who is interested in birding programs at Floracliff, look for our first Friday FLOC walks on our event calendar.
Program Leader: Dan Patrick, Floracliff Volunteer
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5 miles; easy – moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

New Volunteer Orientation
2026-03-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join Floracliff’s team of volunteers and help us protect, restore, and share nature in the Bluegrass.

Now accepting Habitat and Garden Restoration, and Community Science volunteers!
Do you want to restore habitat for wildlife while working in nature with good people? Can you commit to working at least one weekday shift each month? Join our team of dedicated volunteers!
Focus Areas: Habitat Restoration, Community Science, Garden Restoration
At this time of year, we are specifically in need of volunteers to help with handpulling invasive garlic mustard and weeding and tending our native plant gardens. Additional opportunities are available for community science volunteers to work independently recording wildlife observations using apps such as iNaturalist, eButterfly, and eBird.
Volunteer Commitment and Training:
Floracliff depends on volunteers who participate regularly, typically on Wednesday mornings. Community science shifts are offered on various weekdays between 9am-4pm. New Volunteer Orientations are offered twice annually. Ongoing training is offered for committed volunteers. We encourage those who are unable to commit to regular weekday volunteering to instead join us for our scheduled public programs.
Please note, the initial volunteer orientation includes a few assignments ahead of time from home. All new volunteers must attend the entire in-person volunteer orientation before volunteering at Floracliff.
Community science volunters must also attend an iNaturalist training. The next opportunity will be Tuesday, March 17.

FLOC: First Friday Birding March
2026-03-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US

Well-grounded Relationships - The Botany & Geology of Floracliff
2026-03-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join Dr. Frank Ettensohn, geologist, and Quinn Towery, botanist for a full day hike at Floracliff.

Join Dr. Frank Ettensohn, geologist, and Quinn Towery, botanist for a full day hike at Floracliff to explore the flora and geology of the Kentucky River Palisades.
Hike distance and difficulty: 3-4 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain, loose gravel, and considrable elevation change; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water, lunch, and lightweight pack for your personal items
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera

Golden Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
2026-03-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees.

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees. This will feature Elk Lick Falls and one of Kentucky’s oldest known trees.
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5 miles; rated moderate, due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera

Rush hour is likely to impact your travel time. Please account for this, as the program will begin promptly at 6:00pm.

Wildflower Hike to Elk Lick Creek w/ Beverly James
2026-03-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Experience early spring at Floracliff on this wildflower hike.

Join us for an early spring wildflower hike to see the first blooms of the season. This hike will highlight identification, ecology, and pollinator relationships of our spring ephemerals.
Hike Leader: Beverly James, Preserve Director
Hike distance and difficulty: 3 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain and a potential creek crossing; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Golden Hour Hike to the Kentucky River
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees.

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees. This hike will head down to the Kentucky River floodplain, where setting sun lights up the palisades.
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the hike.

Wildflower Hike with Josie Miller
2026-03-27 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-28 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-10 13:00 - 16:00
Join us to see Floracliff’s spring wildflowers.

Join us as we search for and identify Floracliff’s early spring ephemeral wildflowers.
Hike Leader: Josie Miller, Stewardship Director
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5-2.5 miles (route will be determined by wildflower activity); rated moderate due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Wildflower Hike with Joyce Bender
2026-03-31 13:00 - 16:00
Celebrate spring’s beauty and explore some of the connections between spring wildflowers, their habitats, and us.

Celebrate spring’s beauty and explore some of the connections between spring wildflowers, their habitats, and us.
Hike Leader: Joyce Bender, retired from the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5-2 miles; rated moderately difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the hike.

FLOC: First Friday Birding April
2026-04-03 08:00 - 11:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US

Wildflower Hike with Devin Rodgers
2026-04-03 13:00 - 16:00
Hike with a botanist at Floracliff during peak wildflower season.

Join botanist Devin Rodgers for a spring wildflower hike to identify the charismatic native, early-flowering plants of the Kentucky River Palisades. A number of related topics will be discussed like floral morphology, plant families, ecological patterns, biogeography, and conservation. We also hope to observe pollination by native bees and discuss their importance in forested ecosystems.
Hike Leader: Devin Rodgers, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5 – 2 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the hike.

Wildflower Hike with Beverly James
2026-04-04 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-08 13:00 - 16:00
Join us to see Floracliff’s spring wildflowers.

Join us for a spring wildflower hike to see Floracliff’s wildflowers at their peak. This hike will highlight identification, ecology, and pollinator relationships of our spring ephemerals.
Hike Leader: Beverly James, Executive Director
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5-2.5 miles (route will be determined by wildflower activity); rated moderate due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Kids Hike: Spring Wildflowers
2026-04-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join us during spring break to take a close look at wildflowers! For ages 5-10.

Join us during spring break to take a close look at wildflowers! We will embark on a botanical adventure and scavenger hunt as we explore the trails during peak wildflower season. Floracliff is an excellent setting for young learners to engage with nature.
Hike Leader: Isabel Cochran, Land Stewardship Technician
**All minors participating in this program must be accompanied by a participating adult with a purchased ticket.
Hike distance and difficulty: up to 1.5 miles; rated easy to moderate
Bring: water, weather appropriate clothing
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

A Close Look at Six Plant Families in Our Spring Flora
2026-04-11 10:00 - 14:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join botanist Rob Paratley for a botanical workshop and exploration of our spring wildflowers

Our springtime is well loved for the profusion and diversity of its wildflowers. Our forest trees have barely begun budbreak or leaf out and the wildflowers appear in the understory. Our wayside weeds have begun to appear and bloom. Some flowering plant families are very well represented among these. Join botanist Rob Paratley as we explore several of these families and learn to recognize them by some of the features that unite them. Learn about their ecology, geography, and some of their uses. Recognizing families can help identify and learn the diversity of our spring flora.
Hike distance and difficulty: ~2 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Program Leader: Rob Paratley
Bring: water, close-toed shoes
**All minors participating this program must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Floracliff has multiple entry gates. The meeting location for this program will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Wildflower Hike with Isabel Cochran
2026-04-14 13:00 - 16:00
Join us to see Floracliff’s spring wildflowers.

More details coming soon.
Hike Leader: Isabel Cochran, Land Stewardship Technician
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5-2.5 miles (route will be determined by wildflower activity); rated moderate due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Wildflower Hike with Dan Patrick
2026-04-17 10:00 - 13:00
Join us to see Floracliff’s spring wildflowers.

More details coming soon.
Hike Leader: Dan Patrick, Volunteer Naturalist
Hike distance and difficulty: 1.5-2.5 miles (route will be determined by wildflower activity); rated moderate due to steep and uneven terrain; there may also be some slick spots near the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Forest Bathing w/ Andi Jasper
2026-04-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Experience forest bathing at Floracliff during a spring golden hour evening.

Experience forest bathing at Floracliff during a spring golden hour evening. This is an opportunity to slow down and immerse yourself in nature through sensory exploration and curiosity. This program is best suited for participants 16 and older.
Hike distance and difficulty: 1-1.5 miles; rated easy – moderate due to uneven terrain
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera

Rush hour is likely to impact your travel time. Please account for this, as the program will begin promptly at 6:30pm.

Long Hike with the Wildflowers
2026-04-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Join us for a 4-5 mile hike at Floracliff during peak wildflower season.

On this long hike, we’ll trek up and down the Elk Lick Valley to view the diversity of spring wildflowers at Floracliff. Stops along the way will include Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and Floracliff’s oldest tree, a chinquapin oak dating to 1611.
Program Leader: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to strenuous in difficulty due to the steep terrain; uneven and sometimes slick surfaces; hike duration (4-5 hours) and distance (about 4 miles)
Bring: water and snacks/trail-lunch; a lightweight pack to carry your items
Optional: hiking poles, camera, binoculars

We’ll take a break at the creek, so be sure to bring your lunch and appropriate clothing layers for whatever the day may bring.

Plein Air Painting & Drawing
2026-04-19 13:00 - 17:00
Come together with fellow artists for a hike to spend a few hours drawing and painting while sitting with Floracliff’s scenery.

Come together with fellow artists for a hike to spend a few hours drawing and painting while sitting with Floracliff’s scenery. Artists provide their own materials and must pack in and out over varying terrain as a group. This is not an instructional workshop, but an opportunity to work independently on artwork for 3 ½ hours. All sessions end with an opportunity for artists to share their work with others. Open to ages 16 and up.
*Bring your preferred painting and drawing supplies
*Ground cloth or seat, water and snacks, insect repellent, sun hat
*Everyone will pack their materials in and out, sometimes a distance of 1/2 to 3/4 mile with moderate difficulty.
Session hosts: Steve Bennett and Laura Mentor
Steve has been drawing all his life. He has over 20 years’ experience teaching/guiding students of many ages in drawing and 3-D design. His love of Nature has recently led to new branches of learning and appreciation for the rich complexities of the natural world.
Laura has developed her eye for Nature’s treasures through a lifetime of hiking, observation and research. She has been creating large scale installations of her ornate, narrative stained glass windows for public buildings and private clients for over 25 years. Her ongoing research into native species and their relationships have informed her recent work. Examples may be viewed at www.lauramentor.com.
Steve and Laura are regular program volunteers at Floracliff.

Floracliff has multiple entry gates. The meeting location for this program will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.

Seminar: The Science of Bird Coloration
2026-04-28 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for a seminar with biologist Mallory Miles to learn how Kentucky’s birds create and use their hues.

The Science of Bird Coloration: How Kentucky’s birds create and use their hues
Presenter: Mallory Miles, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
More details coming soon.
Mallory Miles is an avian biologist in the Nongame Branch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
This program is part of the Bluegrass Biodiversity Seminar Series, which offers free evening presentations on Kentucky’s natural history and biodiversity in the historic Trail’s End Lodge.

FLOC: First Friday Birding May
2026-05-01 08:00 - 11:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US

Forest Birds of the Palisades w/ Ben Leffew and Michael Patton
2026-05-01 08:00 - 10:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY 40515, Lexington, KY, 40515, US
Learn about the birds of the Kentucky River Palisades during peak spring migration.

Ben Leffew, Preserve Manager of Shaker Village, and Michael Patton, avian biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, will lead this bird walk at Floracliff. Participants will learn to identify birds by sight, sound, behavior, and habitat. This program takes place during peak migration and will prepare participants who may be interested in Global Big Day and other community science birding programs.
For this program, we are partnering with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill to highlight birds of the Kentucky River Palisades region. Join us in the afternoon for a program at Shaker Village that will feature Grassland Birds of the Kentucky River Palisades. Registration for the afternoon hike will be available through Shaker Village’s website: https://shakervillageky.org/
**All minors participating this program must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Hike distance and difficulty: 1 mile; rated easy to moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the program.
