Events & Programs
CLICK HERE to view the Nature Center's Events & Programs Calendar SHOPPING CART
Adult Programs
Cincinnati Nature Center offers programs for the adult outdoor enthusiast. All programs require preregistration and follow Cincinnati Nature Center's COVID Program Safety Protocol. Please register online well in advance of the class start date to ensure placement.
Please bring your own mask. Whether indoors or outdoors, masks are required for all adults and children in Kindergarten through 12th grade at all Cincinnati Nature Center programs. Masks are also required to be worn while inside all facilities (for example, Rowe Visitor Center, restroom, etc.).
Click on the program dates for pricing, registration information and full descriptions.
CLICK HERE to view the Events & Programs Calendar.
CLICK HERE to sign up and be notified for various upcoming programs.
Getting to Know Poison Ivy (Online)
Are you itching to “know” poison ivy? We’ll provide a rash of answers and unveil the many ecological curiosities of poison ivy, discovering that there is more to this three-leaved gem than meets the eye. Member adult $8; nonmember adult $8.
Mindful Hiking for Stress Relief
Thursday, May 13, 6:30-7:30 pm
Escape your daily stressors for an hour of mindfulness in the woods. Take a calm hike, breathe with the trees, and practice seated mindfulness meditation. Member adult $5; nonmember adult $14 (includes daily admission).
Forest Bathing at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Forest Bathing is a practice of immersing yourself in the tranquility of nature to relieve stress. This guided stroll is an invitation to slow down and awaken the senses. Member adult $12; nonmember adult $21 (includes daily admission).
Teacher Appreciation Event: Recharge + Reconnect in the Forest
Escape your daily stressors for a calming hour of hiking in the woods with a naturalist. Dial in to the sights, sounds and smells of the forest, and practice being present to end your school year with a deep breath. Designed for teachers of public and private schools, PreK through 12th grade. No cost for registered teachers.
Hummingbirds! (Online)
Discover the joy of attracting hummingbirds, nature’s flying jewels! At this live virtual program, we’ll learn about our local hummingbird species, discuss the use of nectar feeders, and determine what native and annual plants work best to support these delightful birds. Member adult $5; nonmember adult $5. This program is offered through a joint collaboration between the Cincinnati Nature Center and the Wood County Park District.
Please note: You will receive your Zoom link for the class in your confirmation email from the Cincinnati Nature Center. If you do not receive it, please email Anne Horne at ahorne@cincynature.org before Wednesday, May 19 at 5 pm.
Bird Walk
The migrants are returning from warmer climates and resident birds are beginning to nest. Join us for a casual walk to observe the pageantry of birds along our trails. Beginners welcome. Member adult free; nonmember adult $9 (includes daily admission).
Trail Yoga
Connect to nature in a deeper way through the mindful movement and meditative practices found in yoga during this on-the-trail experience. Member adult $9; nonmember adult $18 (includes daily admission).
Plant Native for Novices
Leisurely tour our native gardens to spark inspiration for planting at home. We’ll stroll through our verdant grounds to engage our senses and understand why planting native benefits us all. Member adult $5; nonmember adult $14 (includes daily admission).
Conservation Impact! How to Accelerate Your Efforts in Conservation (Online)
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, June 1 – July 15, 3-5 pm
Nature enthusiasts often act in ways that support their values, such as purchasing local products, recycling, and growing native plants. Yet we worry that our “private sphere” actions are not enough. How can we inspire others to join us? This course covers an eclectic mix of conservation psychology, sociology, marketing, sci-comm, conservation science, politics, behavioral economics, and more. Discover how empowered citizens can move beyond independent actions by working with others to influence and mobilize people in their social circles. This course is offered in partnership with the University of Cincinnati Communiversity outreach program. Course is $259. There is a $50 discount for current Cincinnati Nature Center members. Wondering if this course is for you? Meet the instructor and find out more! We offer a choice of information sessions on Tuesday, April 6, Thursday, April 29, or Tuesday, May 11 at 4 PM. Email Connie O’Connor at coconnor@cincynature.org for the Zoom link to one of these sessions.
Forest, Food, and Folklore
Saturday, June 12, 6:30-8:30 pm
Saturday, June 12, 7:30-9:30 pm
Friday, August 6, 6:30-8:30 pm
Friday, August 6, 7:30-9:30 pm
Enliven all your senses on a trail hike that pairs light hors d’oeuvres and beverages infused with foraged flavor to reveal the rich history of this land through the trees of Long Branch Farm & Trails. Member adult $25; nonmember adult $34 (includes daily admission).
Volunteer with our Stewardship Team
Saturday, June 5, 19, 9 am-12 pm
Saturday, July 3, 17, 9 am-12 pm
Saturday, August 7, 21, 9 am-12 pm
Join our volunteer stewardship team to help remove invasive plants and maintain our native landscapes. Workdays are weather dependent. Visit the ‘Volunteer’ page at www.cincynature.org to sign up!
Perimeter Hike at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Saturday, June 5, 9:30 am-12:30 pm
Get your boots and knock out another item on your Cincinnati Nature Center Bucket List! Take a 4 + mile summer hike on our perimeter trails at Long Branch Farm & Trails. Pack a snack and water. Member adult $10; nonmember adult $19 (includes daily admission).
Get to Know Rowe Woods
Saturday, June 19, 10-11:30 am
Saturday, July 17, 10-11:30 am
Saturday, July 31, 10-11:30 am
Saturday, August 14, 10-11:30 am
Saturday, August 28, 10-11:30 am
Join us for a special tour starting at the Krippendorf Lodge, where you'll hear about our history and heritage. We’ll then trek along part of the Upland Trail where we'll see some of Rowe Woods’ best natural features. Along the way, you'll learn about our mission and how we work hard to protect and preserve our land and the wildlife that calls it home. Members $5; nonmembers $14 (includes daily admission).
Conversations on Conservation: Fostering Empathy for Wildlife (Online)
What role does empathy play in conservation? Jim Wharton is the Director of Conservation Engagement and Learning at the Seattle Aquarium. He will be discussing what it means to have empathy for wildlife, why we empathize with some animals more easily than others, dive into the swampy domain of anthropomorphism, and discuss how institutions like the Seattle Aquarium are using empathy to save species. Free for all!
Get to Know Long Branch Farm & Trails
This hike is for members who have never visited Long Branch Farm & Trails before, or for those who would like to know more about it. Come check it out! You’ll hear some history, fun facts, and see the natural treasures Long Branch has to offer. Members $5.
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Course (Online)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 8-July 29, 6-8 pm
This very popular program is co-hosted with Ohio State University. Learn more about the statewide program at https://ocvn.osu.edu. The spring cohort will be taught online, with outdoor “homework” and an optional field trip to Rowe Woods. Application deadline in May 20. Member & nonmember adult $265 (includes entire series).
Summer Bird Walks
Summer visitors are back nesting while resident birds have young off and flying already. Join our seasoned bird leaders as we hit the trails to observe birds and their nests. Dress to be outdoors and bring your binoculars. Beginners welcome. Member adult free; nonmember adult $9 (includes daily admission).
Basic Watercolor Painting
Enhance your artistic skills and spark your creativity as Cynthia Kukla, Emerita Professor of Art, provides a quick overview of watercolor painting basics. We’ll then paint in the garden. Member adult $10; nonmember adult $19 (includes daily admission).
Bluebirds! (Online)
Enjoy learning about the charming Eastern Bluebird in this online class. We’ll discuss the bluebird’s natural history, how to support them in your yard, and common bluebird house issues. Member adult $5, nonmember adult $10.
Garden Tour: Noteworthy Natives
Join us for Cincinnati’s premier garden tour featuring 12 magnificent gardens, including intimate suburban spaces and grand landscapes all creatively designed with a passion for plants! Tickets $40 per person.
Trail Yoga
Saturday, August 21, 9:30-11 am
Connect to nature in a deeper way through the mindful movement and meditative practices found in yoga during this on-the-trail experience. Member adult $9; nonmember $18 (includes daily admission).
Hoots & Hops -- Tickets go on sale June 1
This popular event features beer tastings from local craft breweries, delectable dessert samples from area restaurants and caterers, self-guided hikes on Nature Center trails, interactive educational stations, food trucks and live music. Member $45; nonmember $45.
Summer Prose Hike
We’re combining two of our favorite things, hiking and poetry! From deep within the summer woods, we’ll revel in the idyllic writings of Robert Frost. Member adult $20; nonmember adult $29 (includes daily admission).
Besties Night: The Eco-Friendly Kitchen Edition
Bring a friend along for this lively evening! You’ll leave with your own homemade cleaning products, as well as tricks for creating a more environmentally friendly kitchen. Member adult $12; nonmember adult $21 (includes daily admission).
Heritage Walk: Architecture & Landscape of the Former Krippendorf and Groesbeck Estates
The Rowe Woods property boasts two estates that are on the National Registry of Historic places. Join us for a 2.5-hour docent-led walking tour of both the interior and exterior of the homes built in the early 20th century by Carl Krippendorf and Grace Groesbeck. By exploring architectural style, horticulture and landscape design, we’ll see the ties between the two families, how they both sought to blend the natural world with the designed human world with influence from the British designer Gertrude Jekyll, and how their efforts set the stage for the property that would become Cincinnati Nature Center. Member adult $20; nonmember adult $29 (includes daily admission).
Meet the Photographer: Tom Croce
Wednesday, August 18, 6:30-8:30 pm
Tom Croce, local photographer, internationally recognized for creating environmental portraits capturing the essence of transitory time and place. Tom Croce will share his debut photographic memoir, A Decade in the Mountains; a visual presentation of his photographs chronicling the rediscovering of his love of nature, rekindling his personal connection to the natural world; and capturing the epic beauty along the Appalachian Mountains. Enjoy meeting, seeing, and listening to this local artist as he guides you through this photographic journey. Members free; nonmembers $9 (includes daily admission).
Certified Interpretive Guide
Monday-Thursday, August 16-19, 8:30 am-5 pm
Learn techniques and tips for effectively interpreting information to people in a way that is personally relevant and engaging. Certification through National Association for Interpretation. $380 for non-NAI members (includes instructor fee, one-year membership, certification fee, course materials).