Floracliff Nature Sanctuary

Crayfishes, Crawfishes, or Crawdads?: Diversity & Natural History in KY
2023-06-06 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Learn about the crayfishes of Kentucky with Dr. Guenter Schuster.

Presenter: Dr. Guenter Schuster, Foundation Professor Emeritus at Eastern Kentucky University
Do you know how many crayfishes live in Kentucky? Join Dr. Schuster for this presentation to learn about their diversity and habitats in the bluegrass state. He’ll also highlight crayfish biology, their importance to the ecological community, as well as their conservation needs and the species that need protection.
For 2023 we are excited to host a new series of programs at Floracliff. The Bluegrass Biodiversity Seminar Series will offer free evening presentations in the historic Trail’s End Lodge. For the first round of this series, we are focusing on Kentucky’s aquatic life.

Golden Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
2023-06-15 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-07-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
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
The meeting location will be emailed to all registered participants a few days before the hike.

Elk Lick Creek Walk
2023-06-16 10:00 - 13:30
Experience the beauty and wildlife of Elk Lick Creek

Elk Lick Creek flows through the heart of Floracliff and provides habitat for a diversity of amphibians, reptiles, insects, fish, and more. Join Floracliff Naturalists on this trek along a scenic 1/2-mile section of of the creek to explore the biodiversity and take in the beauty of the area.
Program Leader: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to strenuous in difficulty due to the steep terrain to access the creek and navigating uneven rocks and slick surfaces at the creek
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars

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

Butterflies of Central Kentucky Field Day
2023-06-30 09:30 - 15:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Learn about the butterflies of the bluegrass.

This field day will provide hands-on experience in butterfly identification at Floracliff and possibly another nearby location in Fayette County. It should be a great primer (or refresher) for those wishing to participate in the Central Bluegrass Butterfly Count in July or those just wanting to learn more about butterflies.
Program Leader: Beverly James, Floracliff Preserve Director
Bring: water, your favorite butterfly guide if you already have one, sunhat, close-toed shoes
Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate (full sun)
**All minors participating this program must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Hike distance and difficulty: 2 – 3 miles; rated moderate to difficult, due to summer temperatures and sun exposure
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera

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

Elk Lick Creek Walk
2023-07-21 10:00 - 13:30, 2023-08-04 10:00 - 13:30
Experience the beauty and wildlife of Elk Lick Creek

Elk Lick Creek flows through the heart of Floracliff before its confluence with the Kentucky River. Along the way, the stream and adjacent limestone cliffs provide habitat for a diversity of amphibians, birds, insects, fish, and more. Join Floracliff Naturalists on this trek along a 1/2-mile section of the creek to experience the scenery, wildlife, and geology of the area.
Program Leader: Floracliff Naturalists
Hiking Level: Moderate to strenuous in difficulty due to the steep terrain to access the creek (~250-feet elevation change) and navigating uneven rocks and slick surfaces at the creek; about 1.5 miles
Bring: water and snacks/trail-lunch
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars, extra pair of shoes and socks to change into after the hike

Due to the limited access to Elk Lick Creek, creek walk programs will be canceled when thunderstorms are predicted during, or in the hours following a scheduled program. Participants will be notified using the email address provided during registration.

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

Golden Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
2023-08-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
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 may impact your travel time. Please account for this, as the program will begin promptly at 6:30 pm.

Creating Art in Nature
2023-09-05 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-16 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-26 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-03 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-14 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-24 13:00 - 17:00
Join us for a few hours of making art at a scenic location in the sanctuary.

If you have an interest or desire to broaden your skills as a naturalist and artist, come join us for these art making sessions sited within the beautiful nature preserve at Floracliff. We’ll be outside creating art!
Skill level:
Some experience with handling art materials is assumed, but all skill levels are welcome. If you are a naturalist who wants to try your hand at rendering the things you love, you are welcome. If you are an artist who values the opportunity to work in a secluded, protected preserve, you are welcome. Guidance will be offered on request.
Some themes might include:
–Nature’s rich tapestry of species relationships
–species of flora and fauna of interest to you
–plein air landscape drawing and painting
–living still life
–some days will include hiking to an inspirational spot within Floracliff
And more!
*Sessions are free and limited to 12 participants (age 16 and older; minors must be accompanied by a guardian). We encourage you to attend multiple sessions. We will maintain a wait list, so notification of cancellation in a timely manner is greatly appreciated.
*Bring whatever art making materials you prefer
*Ground cloth or seat, water and snacks, insect repellent, sun hat
*Everyone will pack their materials in and out, sometimes a distance of ½ mile
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.

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Kentucky River Palisades
2023-09-14 17:45 - 20:00
Join us for a presentation on the amphibians and reptiles of the Kentucky River Palisades with herpetologist John MacGregor.

John MacGregor presents “Amphibians and Reptiles of the Kentucky River Palisades”
John MacGregor is a Herpetologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. More details TBA.
We are excited to host a new series of programs at Floracliff. The Bluegrass Biodiversity Seminar Series offers free evening presentations on Kentucky’s natural history and biodiversity in the historic Trail’s End Lodge.

New Volunteer Orientation
2023-09-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Join Floracliff’s team of volunteers and help us protect, restore, and share nature in the Bluegrass.

Floracliff volunteers are important stewards and ambassadors for the sanctuary. They help us accomplish restoration goals; share the biodiversity, natural history, and cultural history of the sanctuary; participate in local and global community science projects; maintain our trails, facilities, and infrastructure; and so much more.
Volunteer Commitment and Training:
Floracliff depends on volunteers who participate at least once each month during weekday mornings/afternoons. New Volunteer Orientations are offered twice annually in late-winter and early-fall. Ongoing training is offered for committed volunteers. Detailed descriptions of ongoing volunteering opportunities can be found here: floracliff.org/volunteers

Please read through all of the Frequently Asked Questions before registering to be sure volunteering at Floracliff is a good fit for you and your current lifestyle.
If this commitment doesn’t work for your current schedule, we completely understand and hope you’ll support Floracliff by joining in for our educational and inspirational programs.

Golden Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
2023-09-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
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 5:30 pm.

The Bats of Kentucky
2023-10-03 17:15 - 19:30
Join us for a presentation on the bats of Kentucky with biologist Price Sewell.

Price Sewell presents “The Bats of Kentucky”
Price Sewell is a Biologist for Copperhead Environmental Consulting. More details TBA.
We are excited to host a new series of programs at Floracliff. The Bluegrass Biodiversity Seminar Series offers free evening presentations on Kentucky’s natural history and biodiversity in the historic Trail’s End Lodge.

Birding for Beginners
2023-10-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Join us for a Tree Week Birding for Beginners walk and sit. 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, email us about our monthly first Friday bird walks at info@floracliff.org.
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 day before the program.

Tree Week Golden Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
2023-10-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
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 5pm.

A Tour of Floracliff's Old Oak Trees
2023-10-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Meet some of Kentucky’s oldest known trees on this hike at Floracliff.

Floracliff’s forested ravines are home to some of the oldest known trees in Kentucky. This hike will feature some of these 17th- and 18th-century chinquapin oaks. We will discuss the characteristics of old trees, how trees are ages, as well as the significance and ecology of Floracliff’s old oaks. This hike will also include a break at Elk Lick Falls.
Hike Leader: Beverly James, Preserve Director
Hiking Level: Moderate to Difficult, due to steep, uneven terrain and potential creek crossings
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
2023-10-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
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

Rush hour is likely to impact your travel time. Please account for this, as the program will begin promptly at 5 pm.

The Natural Word: Nature Journaling at Floracliff
2023-10-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Hone your observational skills through journal writing, as we use our words to explore Floracliff in different seasons.

Hone your observational skills through journal writing, as we use our words to explore Floracliff in different seasons. These hikes will give you permission to sit and soak in the life around you and open your senses to appreciate and imagine a bit of each creature’s umwelt 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 thoughts. There will be an opportunity to share our entries at the end of each session, but there is no pressure to do so. The idea behind these sessions is to slow down, stretch our senses, and appreciate the natural world in a nonjudgmental gathering.
Program Leader: Carol Spence, Floracliff Volunteer
Hiking Level: moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars

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

Fall Color Long Hike
2023-10-21 10:00 - 14:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Immerse yourself in the colors of autumn as we explore trails throughout the Sanctuary.

On this long hike, we’ll trek along our upland trails and down ravines to visit Elk Lick Creek, Elk Lick Falls, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.
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.

Forests and Carbon: What’s the big deal?
2023-10-28 10:00 - 13:00
Join forest ecologist, Dr. Mary Arthur, on a hike to learn about the forest carbon cycle and why forests matter to a changing climate.

Spend the morning learning how forests absorb and release carbon dioxide, and why forests matter to the global cycling of carbon, and therefore to changing climate. We will hike through parts of Floracliff’s mature forest as well as early successional post-agricultural forest, as we think about the implications of forest management on forest carbon.
Program Leader: Dr. Mary Arthur, Professor Emeritus – Forest Ecology, University of Kentucky
Hiking Level: moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars

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

Winter Tree I.D. Workshop
2023-11-10 10:00 - 14:00
Join botanist Rob Paratley to learn how to identify trees without their leaves.

Many people think that identifying trees after they’ve dropped their leaves is a difficult challenge. Most guides focus on leaf form and arrangement. In this workshop we will learn that there are other clues to tree identification that, if you know what to look for, are just as reliable as growing season leaves. The winter tree ID workshop will have three parts; 1) a visual guide with slides to how to look at trees in the winter, 2) an indoor exercise using collected samples to observe important distinguishing features of the twigs, buds, and the scars left by the shed leaves. If you have any kind of magnifier, especially a 10x field lens, bring it to the workshop. 3) We will also try to identify them using a reference book for winter ID. Then we will take a hike on the Floracliff trails to see if we can use tree form, bark, twigs (if we can reach them) and hanging or dropped fruit as clues to tree identification.
Program Leader: Rob Paratley, Curator of the University of Kentucky Herbarium
Hiking Level: moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars

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

Long Hike
2023-11-11 10:00 - 14:30 | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, 40515, United States
Ponder the scenic forest views of mid-autumn as we explore trails throughout the Sanctuary.

On this long hike, we’ll trek along our upland trails and down ravines to visit Elk Lick Creek, Elk Lick Falls, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.
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.

Winter Solstice Golden Hour Hike to the Kentucky River
2023-12-21 15:30 - 17:30 | 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 Natural Word: Nature Journaling at Floracliff
2024-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | 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 to explore Floracliff in different seasons.

Hone your observational skills through journal writing, as we use our words to explore Floracliff in different seasons. These hikes will give you permission to sit and soak in the life around you and open your senses to appreciate and imagine a bit of each creature’s umwelt 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 thoughts. There will be an opportunity to share our entries at the end of each session, but there is no pressure to do so. The idea behind these sessions is to slow down, stretch our senses, and appreciate the natural world in a nonjudgmental gathering.
During times of cold or rainy weather, the Trail’s End Lodge will be utilized for the writing portion of the program.
Program Leader: Carol Spence, Floracliff Volunteer
Hiking Level: moderate
Bring: water
Optional: hiking poles, snack, camera, binoculars

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

Birding for Beginners
2024-02-17 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, email us about our monthly first Friday bird walks at info@floracliff.org.
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 day before the program.
