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Events & Programming

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A REFS visitor holds a tiny frog in their hands.

Discover Nature with the Whole Family!

We invite the community to join us for fun, hands-on events exploring wetlands and forests. Meet researchers to learn about their work, browse engaging nature and ecology stations, and enjoy field activities like scavenger hunts, turtle races, and guided hikes.

Explore the recurring events below and mark your calendars!

Follow us on Facebook to receive notifications about upcoming events and exciting developments at REFS.

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Upcoming & Recurring Events
Children interact with box turtles outside.

Nature Adventure Day

Saturday, September 27, 2025
1:00 - 5:00 pm

Join in an afternoon of activities such as, hiking tours, scavenger hunts, as turtle races!

Interested in volunteering? Sign up to be a volunteer!

REFS visitors look for birds with binoculars through bird blinds.

Great Backyard Bird Count

February 2026 (day TBD)

Wake up early and join us for a morning of bird-watching!

More information to come!

Stock photo of hands moving soil around a sapling.

Earth Day Hike

April 2026 (day TBD)

Discover the awakening of spring flowers and wildlife after a long winter's rest in St. Anne Woods and Wetlands.

More information to come!

Stock photo of hands moving soil around a sapling.

Talk & Walk Nature Series

Summer 2026 (Days TBD)

Spend summer evenings at REFS learning about special nature topics from a variety of speakers.

More information to come!

Learn More

Registration:

  • Registration for the next series will be announced in the summer.
  • Please register at least six (6) hours before the event.

Class Size: 20 people

Please Note: Trails may be muddy and fields may be buggy, so wear old sneakers, rain boots, or hiking books.

Examples: Topics change every year. Here's a small sample of recent Talk & Walk topics:

  • Wetland Herps: The wild, wild lives of wetland amphibians and reptiles
  • Poisonous Plants: A Natural History of Some Local Common Species
  • Wetland Fungi, Mushrooms, and Toadstools: What they look like and where they are found
  • Drawing in Nature, Sitting and Sketching at Sundown
  • Beetles, Bugs, and Other Buddies: Research at NKU REFS
  • REFS Undergraduate Student Research - Project Summary Mini-talks
Middle school campers mix art and nature to create unique works of art at NKU REFS.

The Art of Nature Exploration Camp

Summer 2026 (Days TBD)

7th - 9th graders have the ultimate nature experience.

More information to come!

Learn More About CINSAM Summer Camps

Department of Biological Sciences

Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center (SC), Room 204C

(859) 572-5110  |  biology@nku.edu