Paint Outside
Now through mid-October, every Tuesday, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Plein Air Painters are invited to the BFEC to paint outdoors every Tuesday this summer. These are informal gatherings with no instruction. Bring your own supplies and meet other like-minded painters. Restrooms available in the Resource Center. These opportunities will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Meet at the picnic shelter.
Yoga in the Garden
Now through September 28, every Tuesday & Thursday, 12:10 – 12:55 p.m.
Use your lunch break to de-stress with an outdoor yoga class. Bring your kids, grandkids, friends, etc. – open to all ages. Bring your own mat or use ours. Free! Meet in the BFEC garden (behind the white house).
Fireflies: Neither a Fly nor a Bug
July 7, 9:15 p.m.
They light up at night! But what else do we know about them? Join BFEC naturalist, Shane McGuire, for a twilight stroll around the BFEC to spot them (maybe even capture some) and learn more about them. Shane will offer tips to enhance your backyard habitat for fireflies. Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Family Nature Quest: Journey into Nature Journaling
July 8, 10:30 a.m.
For our future naturalists… Let your curiosity flow as we observe, sketch and record our surroundings. We will decorate and use nature journals on our quest to notice the rhythms and details of the natural world. All participants will receive a journal. Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Plein Air: Drawing with Pastels
July 11, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
This program is designed for beginners. Explore the vibrant colors of pastels, which are pure pigments. Perfect for painting outside at BFEC! All materials will be provided. Tim McGlothlin, long-time plein air painter, will work with the adults; Wendy Fetters, retired teacher and long-time plein air painter, will work with ages 10-16. Reservations required. Call 740-427-5052 or email jordan2@kenyon.edu to reserve your seat.
Night Hike
July 14, 9:15 p.m.
Join us to explore our trails at night in search of nocturnal critters. Naturalist, Joel Hunt, will discuss some of the special adaptations that animals have that allow them to see, hunt, and manage water retention and body heat at night. We may see an owl or even a flying squirrel. Who knows what else may be lurking in the darkness? Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Family Nature Quest: Fantastic Ferns and Where to Find Them
July 15, 10:30 a.m.
From fern fronds and beyond, we’ll learn about the wild world of this plant. Dress in your hiking best to journey up the Fern Trail where we will explore the special habitat and different species of the fantastic fern. Meet at the picnic pavilion, and bring your nature journal if you have one!
Hall Farm: How to Build a Family Farm
July 22, 2:00 p.m.
Feeding animals, tending crops, and maintaining fences and farm equipment all take time. So does walking. If you were building your own family farm, how would you arrange it to make it as efficient as possible? The Hall Family Farm illustrates how good design was just as important 150 years ago as it is today. Meet at the Hall Farm parking area, 18371 New Gambier Road in Mount Vernon.
Family Nature Quest: The Wonders of Walker’s Pond
July 29, 10:30 a.m.
You may know that animals and plants have life cycles, but did you know that ponds do too? In this program, we’ll hike to Walker’s pond where we will explore its critters to learn about life cycles big and small. Dress to get a little dirty. The area we will be in will not have restrooms. Meet at the Franklin Miller Observatory.
