Happenings

Friday, July 25, 2025 7 - 9 pm $35/ group of 2 (includes one bat box kit) $25/ individual adults (includes one bat box kit) $10/ additional child (does not include a bat box kit) Summer night hikes at Owl's Hill are going batty! Learn all about the incredible lives of bats and how you can make a place for them in your backyard. Hit the trails to explore bat habitats and learn how scientists study these fascinating animals.  Our friends from the Nature Conservancy Tennessee will be onsite for a special presentation on bats. Registration includes a bat boxes to build and take home. (We'll provide the tools and guide participants through the project. No experience necessary!) This program includes a short (less than 1 mile) no-flashlights night hike along natural surface trails. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

Saturday, September 27, 2025 10 am - 12:30 pm $40/ group of 2 (includes one bat box kit) $30/ individual adult (includes one bat box kit) $10/ additional child (Under 12. Does not include a bat box kit - must be purchased in conjunction with a group or individual registration) Children 2 and under FREE! We're kicking off spooky season with a celebration of all things creepy and crawly! Meet our slithering and skittering wildlife ambassadors and find out why bugs, snakes and bats are important, fascinating, amazing, and maybe not so scary. Learn how to live in harmony with (and even attract) some of our spookiest, coolest wildlife. Nature Conservancy Cave Program Director, Cory Holliday will be onsite for a special presentation on bats. Registration includes a bat box to build and take home. (We'll provide the tools and guide participants through the project. No experience necessary!)

Fall Lantern Hikes Friday, September 19, 2025 Hike Time: 7 - 9 pm Friday, October 31, 2025 Hike Time 6 - 8 pm Cost: $18 / person Ages 12+. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Gate opens 30 minutes before program start. Program begins promptly at noted time. No late entries. No exceptions. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility - please plan to take your trash with you. Come along on a nighttime adventure! We'll explore the woods at night by lantern light, listen for the sounds of nocturnal animals including owls, coyotes, crickets and frogs, and share stories about the history of Owl's Hill. This program is for adventurers who are looking for a longer hike than our typical evening programs. The route is 1.5 miles of moderately challenging natural surface trail. Participants can expect moderate uphill and downhill hiking as well as areas of uneven terrain. Once the hike departs, participants are expected to stay with the group for the duration of the hike. Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking are strongly recommended. For the safety and comfort of all participants, participants are not permitted to carry additional sources of light (headlamps, flashlights, etc.). Lanterns will be provided.

2025 Family Firefly Hikes June 20 & 27 July 18 SOLD OUT Waitlist Available All Hikes: 7 - 8:30 pm $25/Adult + Child pair, $15 additional adult, $12 additional child Suitable for Ages 4+ Children 2 and under FREE. No strollers or wagons. Children must either walk or be carried. Gate opens 30 minutes before program start. Program begins promptly at noted time. No late entries. No exceptions. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility. Please carry out your trash. This evening program is designed to introduce young explorers to the wonders of the natural world after dark. Find out what makes owls such good hunters, why a firefly lights up, and how your vision changes in the dark. Meet our owl ambassadors, listen for night sounds, and keep an eye out for nocturnal creatures as we go on a kid-friendly hike through the meadow and orchard. This program includes an easy hike over mostly flat ground with one short hill. Our trails are natural surface and hikers can expect a few spots with uneven terrain. Wear shoes suitable for hiking. Insect repellent is strongly recommended.

Saturday August 23, 2025 Program Time: 10:00 am - 12 pm Cost: $40 Includes: - Up to 2 people per registration - One (1) mushroom cultivation kit - Guided hike Pre-registration is required. Learn the basics of mushroom cultivation for edible oyster mushrooms, and a bit about the biology and ecology of fungus. Participants will learn how to get started growing mushrooms at home and will assemble an easy to care for oyster grow kit to take home. The program concludes with a short mushroom identification and appreciation hike.  This program is designed with adults and teens in mind. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

Kids Ages 3 to 5 and Parents