SCHOOLS OUT(SIDE) (Ages 6-11) This drop-off program invites youth to enjoy the day off from school while exploring local wildlife, hiking along trails, completing outdoor challenges, and creating art from nature. Bring your own picnic lunch and snacks. Meet at the Education Complex. 167240-01 $50 Tu 10/31 9:00am-2:00pm HAUNTED HIKE & SPOOKY CAMPFIRE (Ages 5 & up) It’s spooky season at Banshee Reeks! Learn how Loudoun’s largest nature preserve got its haunted name and walk in the woods to listen for eerie wildlife noises. Expect to hike 1-2 easy miles as darkness falls, then stay after for a spooky story campfire, depending on weather. Children must be accompanied
SUCCESSFUL SEED SAVING (All Ages) October is a great time to harvest many familiar seeds. Join our ex- pert gardening duo in the demonstration garden to learn hands-on techniques for successfully saving seeds for future gardening endeavors. We’ll explore heirloom versus hybrid seeds, true to seed plants, and seeds better to purchase. Learn suc- cessful drying and storing techniques for harvested seeds. Come with questions and your gardening gloves! 167743-01 $5 Su 10/8 2:00pm-3:00pm BACKYARD BIRDING & DIY FEEDER (All Ages) October is big for the birds! During fall migration lots of birds are passing through Loudoun County. Binoculars will be provided for a short bird-watching hike before returning to create your very own backyard bird feeder. Participants will gather materials from the demonstration garden to build their own DIY bird feeder. Youth ages 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 167744-01 $5 Su 10/8 3:30pm-4:30pm GUIDED HIKES - 1000 HOURS OUTSIDE 1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any child (or adult) and any environment. Banshee Reeks will host monthly themed hikes to help you join the 1000 Hour Outside challenge. Let’s go! SEPTEMBER NATURE JOURNAL HIKE (All Ages) It’s the first Sunday of Autumn and it’s the perfect time to witness the transition in nature! We’ll be creating an easy DIY nature journal before hiking 1-2 miles together where we’ll be looking closely for crawling critters, eye-popping colors of autumn wildflowers, and everything in-between. After the hike, all are encouraged to sit and journal their discoveries to learn and remember! Free Su 9/17 9:30am-11:30am OCTOBER MUSHROOM HUNT HIKE (All Ages) October is the best time for finding our favorite fabulous fungi! We’ll be hiking 1-2 miles through Banshee’s best mushroom territories to identify many mushrooms varieties. How many will we discover? From Ceps to Chanterelles, Hedgehogs, and so many more during this busiest season on the mushrooming calendar! Participants will leave with their own printed guide sheet of common Loudoun mushrooms to continue their explorations. Free Su 10/8 9:30am-11:30am NOVEMBER GRATITUDE SCAVENGER HUNT HIKE (All Ages) Both hiking and gratitude are shown to enhance positivity, decrease stress, and drastically improve our overall wellbeing. In honor of National Gratitude Month, we’ll hike 1-2 beautiful miles as we bask in gratitude and take in the sight and sounds of nature around us. As we hike, we’ll follow a scavenger hunt to look for different things in nature that we’re thankful for! Free Sa 11/18 9:30am-11:30am
by an adult. 167241-01
$5
Th
10/26
6:30pm-8:30pm
FIELD TRIPS FOR PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY & HOMESCHOOL (All Ages) Have a group interested in nature, science, wildlife, or other outdoor adventures? Our specialized nature instructors provide experiential field trips that can be tailored to themed activities and SOLs. Email BansheeReeks@loudoun.gov for information, prices, and reservations.
MULTIAGE
FULL MOON HIKE & CAMPFIRE (Ages 5 & up) Experience wildlife after hours during this magical evening adven- ture! Join a Virginia Master Naturalist on a hike through moonlit woodlands while using bionic ears to amplify the sounds of night. Stay after for a campfire and s’mores, depending on weather. Rain date is the day after. Contact BansheeR- eeks@loudoun.gov for private group information. 167715-01 $7 F 9/29 7:30pm-9:00pm 167715-02 $7 Sa 10/28 6:30pm-8:00pm 167715-03 $7 M 11/27 5:00pm-6:30pm NATURE SKETCHING (Ages 8 & up) Join us for a plein-air sketch lesson from a Virginia Master Nat- uralist. Learn basic drawing techniques including color blending, shading, and perspective while collaborating with other students. All art supplies are included in the registration fee; participants can take home their own sketch book. Meet at the Visitor Center. 167703-01 $5 Su 9/10 9:00am-10:00am 167703-02 $5 Su 10/8 9:00am-10:00am 167703-03 $5 Su 11/12 9:00am-10:00am BANSHEE BIOBLITZ (All Ages) Calling all citizen scientists! This ‘BioBlitz’ is a collaborative race against the clock to discover as many species as possible at Banshee Reeks using iNatural- ist. Join Virginia Master Naturalists for this targeted effort or participate on your own throughout the month of September. As part of a national effort, all Loudoun County parks are participating as BioBlitz project locations. Meet at the Visitor Center. Free Sa 9/16 9:00am-12:00pm FALL GARDEN PLANNING & PLANTING Learn how to plan and plant a fall garden with Banshee Reeks’ expert gardening duo! Class will take place at the demonstration garden where participants will have a chance to learn hands-on techniques to increase succession garden success. Topics will include fall seed and plant seed selection, organic soil amendment, and guidance on nurturing your beds through the winter. Come with questions and your gardening gloves! 167741-01 $5 Su 9/17 2:00pm-3:00pm FLOWER PRESSING (All Ages) Join us for a short 1-mile hike to identify common autumn-season native wildflowers before visiting our demonstration garden where participants will pick a few favorites for crafting. Participants will make-and-take their own portable and pocket-sized flower press to preserve treasures during future adventures. Youth ages 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 167742-01 $5 Su 9/17 3:30pm-4:30pm
MONTHLY PROGRAMS
HIKING LEAGUE (All Ages) Meet up with other outdoor enthusiasts for a social hike along Banshee’s extensive network of nature trails. Expect to hike 2+ miles at a moderately brisk pace. Rain cancels. Meet at the Visitor Center. Free W 9/6, 10/4, 11/1, 12/6 10:00am-11:00am BIRDING BANSHEE (Ages 12 & up) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for this regular outing that takes place the second Saturday of every month. Varied habitats including streams, woodlands, and fields makes Banshee a birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have them. Advanced registration required at https://loudounwildlife.org/event/ birding-banshee Free Sa 9/9, 10/14, 11/11, 12/9 8:00am-10:00am
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General Registration Begins August 10
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