Photo by Kayla Rankin
Nature is Neat!
Program offered May through October
Stop by anytime between 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Appalachian Forest Museum Cost: FREE
Our Nature is Neat! at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary program promotes exploration, learning, and a deeper appreciation of our natural world, with an emphasis on learning, through hands-on immersive nature experiences. The Appalachian Forest Museum is committed to providing our community with science-focused programming, hikes, and fun for the entire family. The Museum will host special themed days that will be free of charge. These exciting programs will include access to our Forest Museum, theme-based activities, and the ability to put your newfound knowledge to use while you meander the nearby trails. Registration is not required. Please note the time change for our special event in July. See dates and descriptions below.
Aquatic Life
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Join us as we learn about water through observation, experimentation, and exploration. Every living thing needs water to survive but we rarely stop to think about what that means. We’ll talk about the animals that live their entire lives in and around Rocky Fork Creek. Learn about the water cycle and make your own water cycle experiment you can take home to observe!
In the Appalachian Forest Museum, we will observe the living things we find in Rocky Fork Creek and then they will be returned to the creek at the end of the day.
Marvelous Mammals
Saturday, June 8 & Sunday, June 9, 2024
Discover the diverse mammals that inhabit our surroundings and learn to identify their tracks and signs. At the Appalachian Forest Museum, explore exhibits featuring skulls, pelts, and tracks of woodland mammals. Delve into the fascinating world of animal scat and its insights into their diet and habits.
Come meet Willie the one-eyed Opossum and Elvira the Brown Bat visiting us courtesy of Nature Nurses Wildlife Rescue. Plus, get hands-on with a clay modeling activity to create your own woodland mammal track souvenir! Take home the "Tracks and Scat" book for more learning and fun activities.
Caterpillar Lab
Saturday, July 20, 2024 - 1pm - 4pm
Sam Jaffe is the founder of Caterpillar Lab, a New Hampshire nonprofit that fosters appreciation and care for the complexity and beauty of the natural world by using the mind-bending, gorgeous creatures we know as caterpillars as a gateway experience. Sam is back in Ohio with his practiced talents of putting together a caterpillar lab “on the road.” Witness his collection of live caterpillars feeding on their native food sources over the weekend, and marvel at their colors and diversity of form. Caterpillars will be returned where they were found at week’s end to continue their metamorphosis.
Reptiles & Amphibians
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Are you a herpetologist? What the heck is that? It’s a person who studies reptiles and amphibians! Phil Preston, a 9th grade biology teacher with the Lakota school system will share his knowledge and his live reptile and amphibian friends! We are also grateful to have Josh Pennington with ODNR join us with his live animal friends. And remember, you don’t have to touch anything you don’t want to!
Make a frog puppet or a snake if you like crafts. Hike the beautiful trails of the Appalachian Forest Museum on a herpetology scavenger hunt and take home some Ohio Department of Natural Resources field guides. So come hop, hiss, and hike your way to a fun day at the Arc of Appalachia!
Caterpillar Round Up
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Join Naturalist John Howard & friends for a caterpillar extravaganza! Live caterpillars collected from around the Sanctuary will be on the display for you to see. Learn about their lifecycles, what their host plants are, and fascinating methods of camouflage. See how many caterpillars and butterflies you can spot as you hike the beautiful trails around the Appalachian Forest Museum.
Take home a “Caterpillar, Bugs, and Butterflies” book for more learning and fun activities! At the end of the day Caterpillars will be returned where they were originally found to continue their metamorphosis.
Birds of a Feather
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Would you like to meet some raptors in person? Our friends from the Glen Helen Raptor Center will be joining our birding program with live raptors you can meet up close! Raptors are the majestic predatory birds that hunt and feed on small animals. They include such birds as eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls.
Discover what owls eat by examining their digestive pellets under a microscope. Learn backyard bird identification basics and what tools can help you. Play the migration game and make some “binoculars” from recycled materials to help you spot birds during your hike. And when you decide it’s time to migrate home to your own backyard, take a free Bird Explorer booklet to continue your learning!