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. Programs are limited in space, and preregistration is often required, so to ensure placement please register online well in advance of the class start date.
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.
Bird Walks
Saturdays, 8 – 10 am
Summer visitors are back nesting while resident birds have their 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. Meet in the Rowe Woods parking lot. Free; nonmembers pay daily admission.
HOOWWWLL at the Moon Hike at Long Branch Farm & Trails
**This event has been canceled**
Full moon hikes are for the dogs! Enjoy a night hike with your dog and learn about the full moon. Join Anne Robinson (dog lover extraordinaire) in the hoowwlling at Long Branch Farm & Trails. Dogs must be good at socializing and controlled at all times on a 6-foot leash. Meet at the Creekside Barn. Registration required. Members $8; nonmembers $17.
Intermediate Birding at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Start the day with an exploration of the unique bird habitats found at Long Branch Farm & Trails. We’ll move at a leisurely pace as we search for birds in the forests, fields and ponds. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your binoculars. Members $5; nonmembers $14 (includes daily admission).
Heritage Walk: Architecture and Landscape Design of the Former Krippendorf and Groesbeck Estates
Sunday, September 8, 2-4:30 pm
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. Preregistration required. Members $20; nonmembers $29 (includes daily admission).
Trail Yoga
Saturday, June 22, 9:30-10:30 am
Sunday, July 20, 9:30-10:30 am
Saturday, August 31, 9:30-10:30 am
Connect to nature in a deeper way through the mindful movement and meditative practices found in yoga. During this on-the-trail experience, participants will be guided through a flowing sequence near water, strengthening postures using a tree and walking meditation incorporating nature awareness. All levels are welcome. Preregistration required. Members $7, nonmembers $16 (includes daily admission).
Couples’ Date Night: Stories from the Water’s Edge at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Saturday, June 22
Join hands and embark on a tour with themed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, adventures and stories that all flow from Long Branch’s two beautiful creeks. Enjoy delectable food bites as we hike the trail, dipping into stream-related history ranging from the fur trade to Clermont County’s 1868 gold rush. Submerge your senses as you explore, learning about wildlife from mussels to kingfishers. Preregistration required. Members $45 per couple; nonmembers $60 per couple.
Basic Sketching and Watercolor Painting – Summer Wildflowers
The wildflowers in the Pollinator Garden are at their peak…it’s time to sketch and paint. Enhance your artistic skills and spark your creativity as Cynthia Kukla, member of the national Watercolor Honor Society and Emerita Professor of Art, provides a quick tutorial on sketching followed by a quick overview of watercolor painting basics. We will then paint in the Garden. Preregistration required. Member $10; nonmember $19 (includes daily admission).
Back to Basics: Insects
Saturday, June 29, 10 am -12 pm
“This is an insect world with humans in it. We’ll seize the day, but they will win it.” –Leslie Bulion
Hop out to the Nature Center to learn more about common yard insects including butterflies, beetles and bees. After a short lecture, we will head out to the trails to practice spotting insects and identifying them. Preregistration required. Members $5; nonmembers $14 (includes daily admission).
Outdoor Yoga
Saturday, September 7, 10-11 am
Awaken your mind, body and spirit with outdoor yoga. Participants will gain an understanding of Vinyasa Yoga as well as enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. All levels are welcome to attend. Preregistration required. Members $7, nonmembers $16 (includes daily admission).
Forest Bathing at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Forest Bathing, also called Shinrin-yoku, is a practice of immersing yourself in nature that was developed by the Japanese to relieve stress. This guided Forest Bathing walk offers an opportunity to slow down and awaken the senses which allows you to quietly take in nature’s gifts. Preregistration required. Members $10; nonmembers $19.
Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators
Steve Inglish, team leader of the Nature Center’s butterfly monitoring program, will give a brief indoor introduction, and then head out to the Pollinator Garden to see butterfly host and nectaring plants, as well as the key habitat requirements and features you’ll need to create your own butterfly garden. We’ll explore resources to help you transform your yard into a caterpillar nursery, as well as how to certify your yard as wildlife habitat. Preregistration required. Members $10; nonmembers $19 (includes daily admission).
Certified Interpretive Guide Course
Tuesday-Friday, July 16-19, 8:30-5 pm
Join certified interpretive trainer Jason Neumann for a four-day course about techniques and tips for effectively interpreting information to people in a way that is personally relevant and engaging. If you work for, or hope to work for, a nature center, museum or other organization where docents and guides are used, this training is for you. Also relevant for high school teacher and college professors who want to better inspire and engage their students. Curriculum, certification and registration are through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). $380 for non-NAI members (includes instructor fee, one-year membership, certification fee, course materials). Preregistration required. More info available at: www.CincyNature.org.
Conservation Starters: Creating an Environmentally Friendly Kitchen
“There is nothing nicer than a kitchen really made for a cook. Things that are designed to be used always have an innate beauty.” – Julia Child Join us for a lively evening exploration of how we can rethink what we use in our kitchen and how we can reduce waste. We will experiment with making our own environmentally friendly cleaners and create some paper-free strategies. Preregistration required. Members $8; nonmembers $17 (includes daily admission).
Conservation Starters: Composting
According to the EPA, more food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in municipal solid waste! Composting is one easy, affordable solution to this staggering statistic. Join us for the evening as we learn the basics of composting and how to make it work for you. We’ll visit our Nature Center compost bins and our native plant garden. Preregistration required. Members $5; nonmembers $14 (includes daily admission).
Garden Design: Using Native Plants to Create a Visually Appealing Deer-Resistant Garden
Get advice on your native plant garden plan from a landscape designer who’s also an expert in deer resistance. Using photos and sketches of your garden, we’ll look at ways to create a deer resistant garden with native plants that is also stylish and well designed. Explore native plants in the grounds and look at incorporating timeless design techniques to refine your native garden bed with guidance and critiques from the teacher. Ask questions about plant performance and plant choices. Leave with a clear direction on how to make improvements for your landscape bed. Preregistration required. Members $10; nonmembers $19 (includes daily admission).