WPNC Program Schedule
Nature a la Cart
Friday, September 3 &
Saturday, September 4
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Summer Farewell Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 4
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens August 20
Say farewell to summer on this fun-filled hunt for flowers, birds, and other summer friends.
Leader: Vera Vollbrecht
Hummingbird Heaven
Thursday, September 9
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens August 26
Bid farewell to hummingbirds through story, song and games!
Leaders: Sandy Bivens and Heather Gallagher
Nature a la Cart
Friday, September 10 &
Saturday, September 11
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Volunteer Open House
Saturday, September 11
9-11:30 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Drop-In
Stop by the Nature Center to learn about the volunteer opportunities that are waiting for you here at the Warner Parks. We are always looking for new friends!
Leader: Paul Fowler
Basic Birding 101
Saturday, September 11
10-11 a.m.
Age level: 9 years and up
Registration opens September 3
Fall migration is starting. Find out the basic steps to bird identification during this easy introduction that may be the beginning of a healthy hobby for you and your family. Take the first step and join us for a bird hike.
Leader: Irene Perry
Splash the Trash
Saturday, September 11
1-4 p.m.
Age level: Adults
Registration opens August 27
Sign up today and help us clean up the last stretch of waterway and banks where our “Little” river joins the Harpeth itself.
Leader: Paul Fowler
Nature a la Cart
Friday, September 17 &
Saturday, September 18
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Friday, September 17
7-11 p.m.
Leaders: Friends of Warner Parks
Fall Wildflower Walk
Saturday, September 18
9-11 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
We will stroll on a path through a beautiful meadow enjoying the amazing array of fall flowers.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Moonshine Experience
Thursday, September 23
7-8:30 p.m.
Age Level: Adults
Registration opens September 9
It's a full-moon night, so come enjoy the moonshine!
Leader: Kim Bailey
Fall Wildflower Walk
Friday, September 24
9-11 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
We will stroll on a path through a beautiful meadow enjoying the amazing array of fall flowers.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Nature a la Cart
Friday, September 24 &
Saturday, September 25
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Animal Migration
Friday, September 24
10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Age Level: 3-5 years
Registration opens September 9
Join us as we learn about animals on the move!
Leader: Kim Bailey
National Public Lands Day – Bike & Hike
Saturday, September 25
1-3 p.m.
Age level: 8 years and up
Registration opens September 10
Come to Warner Parks to celebrate National Public Lands Day and join us for a bike ride on the greenway and a hike through Edwin Warner Park. BYOB (Bring your own Bike)
Leaders: Lisa King and Warner Parks staff
Hidden Lake Hike
Saturday, September 25
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: 8 years and up
Registration opens September 10
Join a State Park Ranger for a hike to this hidden treasure. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather and discover interesting facts about Tennessee History.
Leaders: Lisa Householder and Warner Park Staff
Bird Banding Day
Thursday, September 30
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Join the bird banders at the table for a glimpse at who’s flying by during fall migration. Learn about the how and why of bird banding research taking place at Warner Parks.
Banders: Sandy Bivens, Diana McLusky, Kathy Shaw, and Ethel Kawamura
Nature a la Cart
Friday, October 1 &
Saturday, October 2
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Migration Headache
Saturday, October 2
9-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens September 17
Join the naturalist on the Burch Reserve to enjoy fall bird migration at its peak!
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Spiders and Their Webs
Friday, October 8
8-9 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
Take an early morning walk to enjoy the amazing spiders and their beautiful webs in our nearby meadow.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Nature a la Cart
Friday, October 8 &
Saturday, October 9
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Create a Kite
Saturday, October 9
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens September 24
Autumn winds are perfect for kite flying. Meet at the Nature Center to create, build and fly kites.
Leader: Melissa Donahue
Nature a la Cart
Friday, October 15
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Autumn Adventure Night Hike
Friday, October 15
6:30-8 p.m.
Age level: 6 years and up
Registration opens September 30
Without a flashlight we will venture into the dark to look and listen for owls, coyotes, and other nighttime creatures.
Leader: Vera Vollbrecht
Celebrate Autumn!
Saturday, October 16
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Come to the Nature Center today to hike, stroll, ride or paint the colors of autumn. Learn your trees by looking at bark, fruit and leaves. Take a tree scavenger hunt to test your knowledge, or enjoy Warner’s autumn color from a naturalist-led cart tour. Join a program to master your tree facts even more!
Leaders: Nature Center Staff
Trees à la Cart
Saturday, October 16
9 a.m.-3 p.m., hourly
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting trees along the way.
Leaders: Warner Park Staff and Volunteers
Leaves and Trees
Saturday, October 16
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All Ages
Registration opens October 1
Tree shape, leaves and bark are all clues to help identify trees. Join this walk around the Nature Center to look for your favorite seasonal color, then recreate your own fall leaf.
Leader: Irene Perry
Cache In -Trash Out
Saturday, October 16
Noon-3 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens October 1
Join members of the Middle Tennessee Geocachers Club, and Friends of Warner Parks volunteers, as we search for the hidden geocaches and pick up any litter we find along the way. GPS units and work gloves will be provided to program participants.
Leaders: Middle Tennessee Geocachers Club, Paul Fowler, and Lisa King
Fall at the Beech
Wednesday, October 20
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: 6-12 years
Registration opens October 6
Autumn is the ideal time to romp among the golden-bronze leaves of the beech trees. Join us in Beech Woods for a morning at the Beech!
Leaders: Nature Center Staff
Nashville Library Puppet Truck presents: The Frog Prince
Thursday, October 21
10-11:30 a.m.
Age level: All ages
The famous tale of the princess and the frog is retold by Nashville Public Library’s own Wishing Chair Productions in a musical puppet show that features the fabulous Tichenor marionettes!
Leaders: Nashville Public Library Puppet Truck staff, and Nature Center Staff
Trees and Their Colorful Stories
Friday, October 22
9-11 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
Enjoy a walk among our trees in their autumn glory; learn how to tell them apart and hear all their wonderful stories.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Nature a la Cart
Friday, October 22 &
Saturday, October 23
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Friday, October 22
7-9 p.m.
Leaders: Friends of Warner Parks
Become a STORMSPOTTER
Saturday, October 23
9 a.m.-noon
Age level: Adults
Call to register
Become a National Weather Service Storm Spotter through this training that teaches the basic skills needed to identify dangerous cloud and weather phenomenon. The information that Spotters provide to the NWS is critical in providing life saving minutes of warning before severe weather strikes.
Leader: Tom Johnstone, National Weather Service
Webelos Scouts: Forestry Badge
Saturday, October 23
1:30-3 p.m.
Age level: Registered Webelos Scouts
Registration opens October 8
Webelos, check off some of your Forestry badge requirements during this fun-filled workshop. This program is open to individual scouts or troops. Space is limited, and registration is required.
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Nature a la Cart
Friday, October 29 &
Saturday, October 30
9:30 or 11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for folks who have difficulty hiking trails on foot, this golf cart ride tours the hills and forest of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers
Spiders Are Not Scary!
Friday, October 29
10-11 a.m.
Age level: 3-5 years
Registration opens October 14
Take a walk looking for spiders and webs. Spider facts will be introduced through fun activities and games. Find out why spiders are important in nature.
Leaders: Irene Perry and Melissa Donahue
LOST in the Woods!
Saturday, October 30
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens October 15
What could be more frightening than being LOST? Back by popular demand—a repeat of the “Lost in the Woods” program endorsed by North American Search and Rescue.
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Vote & Volunteer
Tuesday, November 2
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens October 1
One civic duty calls for another. Go vote, then make the right decision and join us for an afternoon of volunteer service working to improve and beautify the parks.
Leader: Paul Fowler
The Fall Harvest
Friday, November 5
10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Age level: 3-5 years
Registration opens October 21
Furry and feathered friends are foraging for seeds, berries, and nuts to prepare for colder weather. Come to the Nature Center to learn about the forest’s fall harvest and how animals prepare for winter.
Leader: Vera Vollbrecht
Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Saturday, November 6
10-11 a.m.
Age level: 6-12 years
Registration opens October 22
Join this hike and search for mushrooms along the trail. Turkey tails, tree ears, dinner plates and dead man’s fingers are just a few of the fungi we will seek out on this adventure. Name your own fungus and create a clay model.
Leader: Irene Perry
Hill Farm Hike
Saturday, November 6
1-3 p.m.
Age level: Adults
Registration opens October 22
Hike through the undisturbed forest of the Hill Farm acreage, soon to be part of Edwin Warner Park.
Leader: Julia Landstreet, Friends of Warner Parks
Twilight for Toddlers
Wednesday, November 10
5-6 p.m.
Age level: 3-5 years
Registration opens October 27
Bring your preschooler to the nature center for an exploration of nature at night. We’ll hike and listen for owls, observe the stars, and more!
Leaders: Vera Vollbrecht and Heather Gallagher
Project Wild Aquatic Educator Workshop
Friday, November 12
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Call to register
Based on the Project Wild conceptual framework, TheProject WILD Aquatic K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide emphasizes aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. Educators will participate in hands on activities that are designed for integration into existing courses of study. Every participant receives a free guide for use in their classroom.
Leaders: Kim Bailey and Melissa Donahue
Wilderness First Aid
Saturday, November 13 & Sunday, November 14
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For more information or to register visit www.teamgreenadventures.com
If you're an outdoor adventure seeker, this is a course that may save your life... literally. Learn how to preserve life in a wilderness setting, with limited resources, and help hours or days away. The course also teaches preventative measures to make sure your group avoids tragedy. Wilderness First Aid certificate is good for 2 years. Course Fee $130
Leader: Tim Jones, Certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor
Searching for Seeds
Saturday, November 13
10-11:30
Age level: All ages
Registration opens October 29
Walk the Old Roadway looking for hickory nuts, walnuts and other fruits of fall.
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Navigating with Map & Compass
Saturday, November 13
1-3 p.m.
Age level: 8 years and up
Registration opens October 29
Knowing how to use a compass is an important outdoor skill. This beginner’s class teaches basic compass information and provides participants with practical outdoor experience. Participants will navigate three compass courses to gradually develop proficiency in skills.
Leader: Lisa King
Mushrooms!
Friday, November 19
9-11 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
We will explore every nook and cranny of a nearby hollow to uncover the fascinating fungi lurking within.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Full Moon Hike and Soup Supper
Friday, November 19
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Age Level: All ages
Registration opens November 4
There is nothing better on a chilly fall night than a brisk hike followed by a warm bowl of soup. Gather with us for both.
Leaders: Melissa Donahue and Irene Perry
The Cemeteries of Warner Parks
Saturday, November 20
9 a.m.-noon
Age level: Adults
Registration opens November 5
Take a walk back in time while visiting the nine cemeteries of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. Glance at the future of these historic sites through the eyes of the naturalist.
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Indian Mound Hike
Saturday, November 20
1-4 p.m.
Age Level: 8 years and up
Registration opens November 5
Enjoy a guided walking tour of Mound Bottoms. Learn about this pristine ancient Mississippian period site and the people who inhabited it.
Leaders: State Park Ranger and Warner Parks Staff
Organic Gardening and Housekeeping
Friday, December 3
9-10:30 a.m.
Age level: Adults
Call to register
Learn the safe and natural way to care for your home and garden.
Leader: Deb Beazley
Hiking the Solar System
Saturday, December 4
1-2 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens November 19
Cover the greatest distance (from the Sun to Pluto) during our shortest hike (less than one mile!) while learning about the solar system.
Leader: Heather Gallagher
Cardinal Count
Friday, December 10
10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Age level: 3-5 years
Registration opens November 24
What beautiful red bird brightens up our winter days? A cardinal! Congregate at the Nature Center to learn about these birds and see how many we can spy!
Leader: Melissa Donahue
Mammals of Tennessee
Saturday, December 11
10-11:30 a.m.
All Ages
Registration opens November 27
Come learn about the furry animals that call Tennessee home.
Leader: Kim Bailey
Fall Star Party
Saturday, December 11
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Meet at the Special Events Field to watch Geminid meteors, planets, and other celestial sights!
Coordinators: Kris McCall of Sudekum Planetarium, Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, and Warner Park staff
Winter Songs and Stories
Thursday, December 16
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens December 2
Share songs and stories celebrating the season next to a roaring fire during this annual Nature Center tradition.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff
Hodge House Holiday
Saturday, December 18
11 a.m.-noon
Age level: All ages
Registration opens December 3
The Hodge House, reconstructed in 2009, represents life in the Wild, Wild West of Nashville between the early 1800s and 1927, when the property became Percy Warner Park. Learn more about the history of this great house and our Parks while enjoying the holiday season.
Leaders: Heather Gallagher and Will Rubino, Nature Center Volunteer
Longest Night Full Moon Hike
Tuesday, December 21
5-7 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens December 7
Celebrate the longest night of the year with your family at Warner Park. Bundle up and enjoy a peaceful moonrise over the mountains.
Leader: Melissa Donahue