Wild About Creepy Critters

Close-up shots of a bat, a praying mantis, and a snake.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
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!)

REGISTER

Underwriting support provided in part by:

Barbara J. Mapp Foundation logo in black text on a white background.


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 in advance of 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 stay home if you are not feeling well, or if you have recently been exposed to someone with a respiratory illness.
  • Our outdoor portable toilets each have hand sanitizers inside.
  • Please bring extra water. We do not have a communal water fountain.
  • Insect repellant and sunscreen are recommended.

 

Silhouette of an owl perched on a tree branch against a dark blue twilight sky.

Family Firefly Hikes

April 27, 2022
2026 Family Firefly Hikes June 12 & 19 July 10 & 17 All Hikes: 7 - 8:30 pm All hikes are sold out. Please fill out our waitlist form if you would like to be notified if ticket become available. $15 Adult ticket (ages 13+) $12 Child ticket (12 and under) 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. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. Please carry out your trash - we do not have trash cans available. 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. No flashlights, please!

Wild About Fungus

By Thomas Conner • June 19, 2021
Saturday, August 22, 2026 Program Time: 10 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.

Knee-High Naturalist

By Thomas Conner • June 9, 2021
Kids Ages 3 to 5 and Parents
Silhouette of an owl perched on a tree branch against a dark blue twilight sky.

Full Moon Hikes

June 5, 2021
2026 Full Moon Hikes Strawberry Moon: June 26 Buck Moon: July 31 Sturgeon Moon: August 28 All Hikes: 7:30 - 9 pm All hikes are sold out. Please fill out our waitlist form if you would like to be notified if tickets become available. $15/person Age 12+ (minors must be accompanied by an adult) Gate opens 1 hour before program start. Program begins promptly at 7:30. No late entries. No exceptions. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility. Join us as we explore Owl's Hill at sunset and enjoy the sights and sounds of day turning to night. We'll listen for owls, coyotes, and night-singing insects. As the stars come out, we'll look for constellations, planets, and even meteors. Meet our non-releasable owl ambassadors and learn about the adaptations that help nocturnal animals survive. Find out what we can expect to see in the sky that night. After that, we'll head out on the trail to look and listen for the wonders of the night. No flashlights, please! Owl Prowl programs include an easy one-mile hike with some gentle uphill and downhill hiking. 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.