2024 Fall Activity Guide

ambassador. This program is designed for all ages. Register to reserve your craft supplies. W 9:00am-4:00pm 9/4 Free 167731-01 Grandparents Day All Ages Celebrate the grandparents in your life by exploring Banshee Reeks in honor of National Grandparents Day. Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a family scavenger hunt challenge and a special gift for all grandparents. Be sure to take a family photo overlooking the preserve! Su 9:00am-4:00pm 9/8 Free 167732-01 BioBlitz All Ages Calling all citizen scientists! This Parks for Pollinators ‘BioBlitz’ is a collaborative race against the clock to discover as many pollinator species as possible at Banshee Reeks using iNaturalist. 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. Sa 10:00am-12:00pm 9/21 Free 167794-01 Puppies & Pumpkins All Ages Join Banshee Reeks in celebrating the joys of Fall and our beloved canine companions! Dress up the family and your furry friends for a delightful trail walk to various stations offering special treats and candy. Participants in costumes—humans and dogs alike—will take home their own pumpkin. Donations for Loudoun County Animal Services will be accepted including soft dog treats and pet food. Sa 1:00-4:00pm 10/19 Free 167733-01 National Hiking Day All Ages What better way to celebrate National Take a Hike Day than by exploring Banshee Reeks – the County’s ONLY nature preserve! With nearly twenty miles of trails that span 695 acres, there’s plenty of room to roam. Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a free souvenir and a trail map to choose from several color-coded trails. Su 8:30am-4:30pm 11/17 Free 167734-01 CLAUDE MOORE PARK Visitor Center: 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Road, Sterling, VA 20164 Athletic Fields: 46150 Loudoun Park Lane 571-258-3700 • loudoun.gov/ClaudeMoorePark Visitor Center/Discovery Room: Daily 9:00am-5:00pm

Branching Out Tree Hike Ages 8+ Learn to identify and appreciate local tree species from a Virginia Master Naturalist as you explore different habitats. Expect to hike 1-2 miles over varied terrain. Program is held rain or shine. Meet at the Visitor Center. Sa 1:00-2:30pm 11/2 $5 167741-01 GUIDED HIKES - 1000 HOURS OUTSIDE 1000 Hours Outside is a global movement environment. Banshee Reeks hosts monthly themed hikes to help you join the 1000 Hours Outside challenge. Let’s go! September Nature Journal Hike All Ages designed for any child (or adult) and any Nature journaling is a great way to connect children to the natural world! We’ll create an easy DIY brown bag nature journal to use on our trail together. Hike 1-2 easy miles with an experienced trail guide and master naturalist. After the hike, all are encouraged to sit and journal their discoveries to learn and remember! Children encouraged to attend. Su 9:30-11:00am 9/15 Free 167737-01 October Mushroom Hunt Hike All Ages October is the best time for finding our favorite fungi! Hike 1-2 meandering miles with an experienced trail guide and master naturalist through Banshee’s best mushroom territories to identify many mushroom varieties. Participants will leave with their own printed guide sheet of common Loudoun mushrooms to continue their explorations! Sa 9:30-11:00am 10/12 Free 167737-02 November Gratitude Hike All Ages November is National Gratitude Month. Hike 1-2 beautiful miles with an experienced trail guide and master naturalist to take in the sights and sounds of nature in Autumn! As we hike, we’ll follow a scavenger hunt to look for different things in nature that we’re grateful for! Su 9:30-11:00am 11/24 Free 167737-03 MONTHLY & ONGOING PROGRAMS Volunteer Workdays All Ages Lend your hands to care for our lands! Join us on the third Saturday of every month and help with multiple projects around the preserve. Possible volunteer tasks include invasive plant removal, restoration transplanting, gardening, painting, trail maintenance, and more. Please dress to work outdoors (closed-toe shoes, long pants, sunscreen, etc.) Minors under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Visitor Center . Sa 9:00am-12:00pm 9/21 Free 167780-01 Sa 9:00am-12:00pm 10/19 Free 167780-02 Sa 9:00am-12:00pm 11/16 Free 167780-03 Birding Banshee Ages 12+ 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. REGISTER WITH LWC: Advanced registration required at https:/loudounwildlife.org/events/ Sa 8:00-10:00am 9/14 Free 167714-01 Sa 8:00-10:00am 10/12 Free 167714-02 Sa 8:00-10:00am 11/9 Free 167714-03

Park Hours: Daily 7:00am-Dusk faceook.com/ClaudeMoorePark

DROP OFF PROGRAMS Children experience the natural world through play, stories, and exploring outdoors (dress children appropriately). Children in drop-off classes must be toilet trained. Immersive Day School Enjoy an exciting joint adventure with the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum and Claude Moore Park as we explore the natural world both past and present. Take part in gardening projects, wilderness survival activities, animal explorations, visit historic sites, and more. Classes every Monday. For more information and to register go to HeritageFarmMuseum.org Outdoor Classroom Adventures Ages 7-12 Take part in a fun and exciting hands-on learning experience. All

SPECIAL EVENTS

National Wildlife Day All Ages Show your love for wild animals by learning what you can do to protect and preserve endangered wildlife. Stop by the Banshee Reeks Visitor Center to make your own animal craft and become a wildlife

Register at loudoun.gov/PRCSConnect

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