Weather Policy: For the safety and enjoyment of our visitors, all programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, including rain, wind, and severe weather warnings and advisories.
Beetles of Kentucky
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesInstructor: Paul Baker (UK)
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.
Magic Hour Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff.
Caterpillar Hunt
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesOur annual caterpillar hunt provides a great opportunity to see a diverse group of species and discuss their connections to our native plants.
Leopold Education Project
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesInstructor: Jennifer Hubbard-Sanchez (KSU)
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.”
Birds of Kentucky
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesInstructor: Dr. David Brown, Eastern Kentucky University
This is a beginning to intermediate field-based birding workshop.
Oaks and Hickories of the Palisades: A Tree ID Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThere 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.
Revisiting Floracliff’s Old Oaks: A TreeSnap Training and Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis 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.
Tree Week Magic Hour Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff.
Fall Long Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis 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.
West Sixth for a Cause
West Sixth Brewing 501 W 6th St #100, Lexington, United StatesEnjoy 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 […]
Thanksgiving Eve Long Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis 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.
Winter Greens Hike: Lichens, Mosses, and Ferns with Kendall McDonald
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesMost 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.
Spring Long Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis 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.
Equinox Magic Hour Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd 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.
Wildflowers & Project Budburst: A Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesLearn how to identify some of our earliest blooming plants and help get Project Budburst started at Floracliff.
Wildflower Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some our early spring ephemerals.
Wildflower Hike w/ Joyce Bender
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesJoin biologist Joyce Bender for this hike featuring the Clara Wieland Wildflower Trail during peak wildflower season.
Trail’s End Wildflower Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis wildflower hike will feature the Trail's End tract, where we will head to Kentucky River to see Virginia bluebells, false rue anemone, and dwarf larkspur.
Wildflower Hike w/ Hannah Helm
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesGuest hike leader Hannah Helm will lead this hike and share her knowledge of our native wildflowers. Expect to see squirrel corn, dutchman's breeches, and more.
Wildflower Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some our early spring ephemerals.
Mid-week Wildflower Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some our early spring ephemerals.
Magic Hour Hike to the Kentucky River
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will hike down to the Kentucky River, taking in the early evening sunlight shining through the trees and reflecting off the palisade cliffs.
Discovering Kentucky’s Biodiversity with iNaturalist: A Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesLearn how to use iNaturalist to document plants and animals while contributing to conservation in Kentucky.
Creative Reflections Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnjoy a full hour immersed in the sights and sounds of Elk Lick Falls. This program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices while sketching, journaling, or meditating.
Global Big Day Birding Hikes
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesPut on your Citizen Scientist hat and join us in counting and identifying the birds at Floracliff.
Herpetology Program and Hike w/ Zeb Weese
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesZeb Weese, Executive Director of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, will lead this program for all ages to find some of our native frogs, snakes, salamanders, and turtles in the various habitats of Floracliff, including ponds, fields, and streams.
Frogs and FrogWatch USA: A Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesWe will spend time learning our native frogs by sight and sound, then head to the ponds to listen and record data.
Magic Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd 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.
Nature at Night: Frogs and Toads
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesOur native frogs and toads breed in shallow waters during Spring and the evenings are a great time to get close-up views of them.
Land Snails of Kentucky: A Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThe Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves and Dourson Biological Consulting are conducting an 18-month project to survey the land snail species of Kentucky, update existing records and determine the status of land snail species in the state. This project seeks the collaboration and cooperation from a wide variety of sources across the state including biologists, teachers, land managers, park naturalists and most importantly, CITIZEN SCIENTISTS who are interested in contributing to a scientific study of a lesser known group of organisms that are the building blocks of the ecosystems.
Elk Lick Creek Walk
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesJoin 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.
Magic Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnd 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.
Butterfly Identification: A Citizen Science Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesLearn how to identify over 40 of our most common butterflies to prepare for the upcoming summer butterfly count (date TBD). This program will be entirely indoors.
Central Bluegrass Summer Butterfly Count
For the 3rd year, Floracliff is hosting and organizing the Central Bluegrass Butterfly Count. Butterfly enthusiasts and citizen scientists are encouraged to help us count and document butterflies at various locations throughout Lexington. All data will be submitted to the North American Butterfly Association. Participating sites include the Arboretum, Floracliff, Raven Run, Hisle Park, McConnell Springs, and Wellington Park.
Elk Lick Creek Walk
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesElk 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.
Nature at Night: Moths and More
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesFloracliff has a diversity of moths that come in many different sizes and colors. We will have a few light stations set up with sheets to get a close-up look at our moths and other nocturnal insects.
Freshwater Mussels of Kentucky: A Floracliff Field Studies Workshop
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesThis introductory workshop will focus on the amazing group of animals known as freshwater mussels. Participants will learn about the life history, ecology, diversity, and conservation of mussels.
Creative Reflections Creek Walk
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesEnjoy a full hour immersed in the sights and sounds of Elk Lick Creek. This program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices while sketching, journaling, or meditating. At the end of the hike, participants will have a chance to share as much or as little as they want.
Creek Explorations Hike
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United StatesElk 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.