Arc Education Events
Wildflower Pilgrimage
Friday, April 11 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Day-long field trips head out on Saturday and Sunday to botanical hotspots and outstanding floral showcases of our region, featuring both Arc preserves and other private and state-owned natural areas. The treks are led by some of Ohio’s most talented botanists and interpretive naturalists. Included are two breakfasts and one dinner - with remarkably delicious food, as well as evening keynote presentations at the historic Paxton Theatre in downtown Bainbridge, Ohio, just five miles away from the Sanctuary.
photo by Lewis Ulman
Birds by Song
Wednesday, May 21 - Sunday, May 25, 2025
at Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Whether you are a beginning or intermediate birder, you will leave this course with substantially higher levels of mastery, adding 25-45 new songs to your repertoire. We will spend every day outdoors with a small group of participants who will be personally coached and guided by our experienced course leader, Artemis Eyster, and her assistant, Teri Gilligan. People vary widely in their ability to learn through sound, and this course will accommodate all levels of experience and abilities. Everyone will leave this course feeling proud of their newly won and significant life skills.
photo by Kathryn Cubert
Wildflower Pilgrimage JR
Saturday, April 12, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
For youth ages 6-10 years old and their families. The day-long program will begin with a guided wildflower hike at the Appalachian Forest Museum where participants will learn about the different parts of flowers and wildflower lifecycles while using their five senses to get in tune with the natural world. After the hike, we will return to the Forest Museum for a bring-your-own picnic lunch, followed by activities that will help reinforce the lessons we learned.
photo by Cassidy Drummond
Ferns of the Appalachian Heartland
Friday, June 13 - Sunday, June 15, 2025
at Tremper Mound
If you’re drawn to plants, ferns and their allies offer a fascinating glimpse into Earth’s ancient past, thriving in lush, cool habitats nourished by springs and sheltered by rocks. While many naturalists overlook ferns due to their lack of showy flowers, they are fewer in number than tree species and can be learned with ease through mentoring. We will help you develop this rewarding skill, enhancing your appreciation of nature and enriching your outdoor experiences.
Nature is Neat
Monthly, May - October
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Nature programs for children and their families promote exploration, learning, and a deeper appreciation of our natural world, with an emphasis on learning, through hands-on immersive nature experiences. One weekend a month from May - October. Each month will feature a new nature theme. Free to the public.
Women’s Walk in the Woods
Saturday, May 3, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
The Women’s hike is a time for women of all ages to join together to relax and connect in the serene beauty of our natural world. Before we head to the woods, we will meet at the Appalachian Forest Museum to hear a presentation from a guest speaker and enjoy a packed lunch, which participants are asked to bring with them. After lunch, we will depart on one of the stunningly beautiful trails at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. Bring your female friends and family to meet new people, share stories, and celebrate the beauty, balance, and biodiversity of Mother Nature!
photo by Roy Willman
Firefly Watching Weekend
Friday, June 20 - Sunday, June 22, 2025
at Tremper Mound
The Arc of Appalachia is dedicated to celebrating southern Ohio‘s most stunning natural spectacles. None is more breathtaking and under-recognized than the dazzling lightworks of southern Ohio’s June fireflies. We will be exploring the Arc of Appalachia preserves that have often been under the radar because of their distance from major city centers. By day we will learn about the natural history of fireflies and by night we will seek out their most mesmerizing showcases. This weekend workshop will provide you with an opportunity to see some of the most stunning firefly showcases in the tri-state region - including Chinese Lanterns, Little Grays, and Treetop Flashers.
Mothapalooza
Friday, July 18 - Sunday, July 20, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Spend your nights witnessing a breathtaking number of gorgeous moth species that will be attracted to our light stations, and your days exploring the beautiful landscapes at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and other nearby Arc preserves. Included are two brunches and one Saturday night dinner as well as evening keynote presentations at the historic Paxton Theatre in downtown Bainbridge, Ohio.
photo by Danae Wolfe/Chasing Bugs
Caterpillar Lab
Saturday, July 19, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Sam Jaffe returns to Ohio with the Caterpillar Lab! This all-ages program will allow you to see live caterpillars feeding on their native food sources and ask Sam questions about their fascinating lifecycles. Registration is not required. Free to the public.
Summer Singers
Friday, August 15 - Sunday, August 17, 2025
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Over the weekend, participants will learn how and why crickets, katydids, and cicadas make music, and tips on how to identify species by both sight and song. You will be taught the life cycles of our summer singers, and their ecological relationships with humans, plants, and predators. Throughout the course, we will take the time to cherish these beautiful, secretive musicians as well as the natural habitats that support them.
photo by Lisa Rainsong
Caterpillar Round-up
Date TBD
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Each fall, field biologists gather at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary every September to inventory our annual crop of a dazzling diversity of moth caterpillars. On Saturday from noon to 4 pm, several field naturalists will share their finds with the public, all of them munching on their host plants and soon to be released to the wild. Their colors, strange and wonderful appendages, camouflage, and size – both small and large – are absolutely astonishing. Free to the public.
Simon Sorghum Festival
Saturday, September 27 - Sunday, September 28, 2025
at the historic Simon Farm, West Portsmouth, Ohio
Held from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Immerse yourself in the rich rural heritage of Appalachia. Breathe in the sweet steam of old-fashioned sorghum syrup and watch the entire process of sorghum making from cane harvest, to a finished mason jar of goodness. A variety of Appalachian artisans will be demonstrating rural Appalachian arts and agrarian skills/ The heartbeat of the event, however, is the confluence of traditional musicians who gather at the Festival to play old-time Appalachian music. Free to the public.
Tree People
Saturday, August 23, 2025
all across Ohio
On this same day, at the same time, dozens of hikes will be led in forests across Ohio by tree experts, passing on their knowledge of forest literacy and tree identification. If you have always wanted to master the skill of forest literacy or deepen the knowledge you already have, then this is an affordable way to deepen your skills in a small group setting. Learn your trees and pass it on!