Naturalist Workshops

Blue jay perched on a tree stump, with blue, black and white plumage against green foliage.

Spring 2026 Naturalist Workshops

March Workshop: Beginning Birding

Saturday, March 21, 8 - 10:30 am

$20 / person 

Ages 14+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult)


Get ready for spring migration with this introduction to bird watching and bird identification. Learn the basics of bird identification by sight and sound using a field guide or digital app. This program will also discuss how to choose and use binoculars and how to share your findings with digital citizen science apps like eBird and iNaturalist. 


Bring binoculars! There will also be a limited number of binoculars to borrow. Participants are welcome to bring field guides or load a digital field guide like Sibley or Audubon on their smartphone. 

 

Instructor: Laura Smith, OHNS Staff Naturalist


Into The Trees 
Saturday, May 30, 1 - 3:30 pm 
$20 / person 
Ages 14+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult)


Trees are a crucial part of ecosystems all over the planet. The Standing People not only serve as food, housing, and oxygen producers for innumerable other species, they also have a hand in temperature and water control, soil creation, and many more functions you may never have thought about.
 
You'll learn how to identify local tree species, and find out about their growth and reproduction, their many roles -- and hear about some secrets we're learning about their intelligence and communication!
 
This workshop is part classroom and part field work, so bring your notebook AND your hiking boots. Get ready to make some new friends in the forest!

Instructor: Dan DeFigio, Certified Tennessee Naturalist

REGISTER

If the program you wish to attend is sold out, you may fill out our waitlist form.

 

Note: To protect the wildlife, we do not permit pets on the Sanctuary grounds.

 


 

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY:

 

  • REFUND POLICY: There are no refunds for programs you cannot attend, however you may transfer your ticket to a friend, colleague or family member by calling us prior to the program date.
  • CANCELLATION: Programs are rain or shine. We will, however, cancel a program if Williamson County is under a severe weather warning issued by the National Weather Service. Participants will be notified of cancellations by email. If a program is cancelled, you will receive a credit toward Day Passes valid for 30 days.

 


 

FOR EVERYONE's SAFETY:

 

  • Please DO NOT attend if you are sick, not feeling well, or have recently been exposed to someone with a respiratory illness.
  • Our outdoor portable toilets each have hand sanitizers inside.
  • Please bring a refillable water bottle. We do not have a communal water fountain.
  • Insect repellant is recommended April - October.

 

Native Plant Sale

By Thomas Conner • April 25, 2024
Get your garden ready for spring! Choose from a selection of native seeds, perennials, trees, shrubs, grasses and vines. Click here for an inventory list. Quantities are limited. Stock is subject to change. All sales are final. Online Pre-Sale: May 5 - 12 Pre-orders must be picked up on Friday, May 15 b etween 8 am - 2 pm In-Person Event: Saturday, May 16 10 am - 12:30 pm Proceeds benefit
Hand holding a lit lantern against a blurred sunset backdrop.

Lantern Hikes

By Mary Catherine Mousourakis • June 30, 2023
Spring Lantern Hikes Friday, March 27 Hike Time: 7 - 9 pm Friday, April 10 Hike Time 7:30 - 9:30 pm Friday, May 1 Hike Time 8 - 10 pm All hikes are schedule to begin after sunset. Please note the start time of your hike. If the date you wish to attend is sold out, you may fill out our waitlist form . Cost: $18 / person Ages 12+ only . Minors (ages 12 - 17) must be accompanied by an adult. Participants under the age of 12 will not be admitted to the program and no refunds will be issued. 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.

Knee-High Naturalist

By Thomas Conner • June 9, 2021
Kids Ages 3 to 5 and Parents
Three small, white star-shaped flowers with green leaves.

Wildflower Hikes

By Thomas Conner • December 24, 2020
Spring 2026 Wildflower Hike Dates March 14, 21, 28 April 4, 11, 18 9:30am-11:30am Cost $15/hiker Ages 12+ The wildflowers are blooming: Spring is here! Come enjoy all the colors this season offers on this expert-led hike. Watch the browns of winter give way to the spectrum of spring while we look for Blue-eyed Mary, Dutchman's Britches, and Spring Beauty. This is a moderately strenuous hike with some hill climbing. Get your tickets online to guarantee your spot! Online ticket sales close at 8 am the day of the hike. Tickets for future dates will remain available for purchase. Walk-up tickets (if available) can be purchased at Owl's Hill the day of the hike.
Hawk in flight over a harvested field, wings spread, brown and white feathers.

Wild About Raptors

December 19, 2020
Saturday, April 11 10:00 am - 12 pm Cost: $15 per person Suitable for ages 9 and up. Are you a hawk watcher? An owl enthusiast? A falcon fanatic? Discover the unique adaptations that make birds of prey masters of the sky and the roles they play in our environment. This program will include an educational program and hands on activities to explore the lives of these fascinating animals. Owl's Hill Director of Education, Julie Eperjesi partners with Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station staff to present up-close encounters with birds of prey. Bring the cameras!