Hike Options

Overview

Please join us for the Spring 2025 Women’s Walk in the Woods On May 3, 2025. We will host a panel of women naturalists who will share their knowledge and experiences restoring native habitats as we discuss the topic:

Returning to Native - From woodlands, to prairies, to large and small garden plots alike; how to battle back invasive plants and create a beautiful native sanctuary for plants, insects, animals, and us!

We will meet at the Appalachian Forest Museum for the panelist presentation and a bring-your-own picnic lunch before heading out to hike one of the beautiful trails near the Highlands Nature Sanctuary.  

Bring your female friends and family to meet new people, learn about what we can do to support native habitats, and enjoy nature.

Make it a weekend trip by reserving one of our lodges today! Lodging at Highlands Nature Sanctuary | Arc of Appalachia.

Schedule

10:00 am: Sign in and get to know each other at the Appalachian Forest Museum. 

10:30 am: Program Begins with an introduction to the Arc of Appalachia and review of the day’s agenda.

10:45 am: Guest Panelists speaking on the topic “Returning to Native”

Panelist Bios

Susan Fox

Susan Fox stewards two small forests, one of which is at her church near Cincinnati.  There, she has the opportunity to demonstrate, educate, and inspire.  Sixty-two species of native trees and shrubs have been planted in the 3 acre woods.  There’s a goal to show suburban neighbors how they can bring some nature into their yards.  We also have a prairie and an all-native food forest.   Even though the forest improves peoples’ emotional and physical health, she would do the same work just to support the diversity of insects, birds, and other native species.

Beth Staggenborg

Beth Staggenborg has been rewilding their 2 acres just outside of Cincinnati to better serve pollinators and the environment. This includes replacing the majority of the lawn with perennial beds, focusing on natives and pollinator-friendly species, removing invasives in the woods, slowly replacing cleared areas with brush piles, and installing hugelkultur beds. She has benefitted from expert help from the Civic Garden Center, Cincinnati Nature Center and the Cincinnati Zoo.

Ellenmarie Wahlrab

Ellenmarie Wahlrab began gardening with native plants a little over ten years ago. She loves to see what comes up as she removes honeysuckle, tree of heaven, winter creeper and burning bush on her and her husband’s ½ acre city property five minutes from downtown Dayton, OH.The design of the landscape continues to evolve as the plants teach her how they grow and where they want to be. She also learns through volunteering, research, and hanging out with other native plant gardeners.

Susan Zelinski

Susan Zelinski is an Ohio Certified Naturalist who applies what she’s learned to the 72 acre property in Highland County she and her husband are working to rewild. Together they take positive steps to create healthy habitats for a variety of native species and increase biodiversity on their land. This includes the removal of stubborn invasive plants, establishing and renewing native meadows, managing their pond, planting keystone trees, and installing wildlife shelters. 

12:00 -12:45 pm:  Enjoy a bring-your-own picnic lunch in the company of fellow hikers.

1:00 – 4:00 pm: Naturalist led hike (select a first, second, and third choice for your hike during the registration process.)

What to Bring

• packed lunch

• water

• binoculars

• good hiking shoes

• hiking stick or poles

• appropriate clothing/rain gear

Cancellation Policy

WE WILL HIKE RAIN OR SHINE unless the weather or trails become too hazardous.

Sorry, there are no refunds for cancellations of this event, The registration fee will be considered a donation to the Arc of Appalachia. Please try to find someone to fill your place as this program will run rain or shine.