Enjoy these activities July 5-6, 2022 at Blackwater Falls State Park. From wild turkeys and snakes to clouds and the return of the American Chestnut, it’s all about nature’s wonders. All activities meet at the Nature Center unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Nature Center Open: 10 am—5:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.
DISAPPEARING STARS
Park Naturalist Paulita Cousin has a passion for dark skies and stars. Attend this program to discover why the stars are disappearing from our view, how it impacts wildlife and humans and ways you can help save the stars. About 45 minutes. YPP

1:00 p.m.
WHAT’S BLOOMING WALK
Join park naturalist, Paulita, to stroll along the pollinator field up to the dam of Pendleton looking for plants in bloom. About 1 hour. Some walking. YPP

2:00 p.m.
LEAF / FLOWER PRESS CRAFT
Join the attendant to create a press to take home. Craft fee: $3.00.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Nature Center Open: 10 am—5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m.

I SPY WAY UP HIGH
Join seasonal naturalist, Kenny, to create a weather window and explore the world of clouds. Afterwards, venture outside to find a comfortable location to lie back and relax as we discuss the clouds and allow our imagination to create shapes. About 45 minutes. Little walking. Craft fee: $2.00 YPP

1:00 p.m.
LET’S TALK TURKEY
Join Kenny Noland and enjoy a program about the wild turkey and how they are a success story for conservation. About 45 minutes. YPP

1:45 p.m.
TURKEY SUNCATCHER CRAFT
Come to the nature center. Color in a suncatcher turkey window decoration using colorful suncatcher paint. Craft fee: $1.00

2:00 p.m.
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT
The American chestnut once dominated the eastern USA forest and was a giant tree known as “The Redwood of the East”. In 1905 a blight began in New York City killing the trees and by the late 1950’s there was 100% mortality. Join us at Blackwater Falls Lodge in the conference center for this program presented by Sam Muncy, to learn of efforts by TACF to reintroduce this mighty giant of a tree back into the eastern forest. YPP.

4:00 p.m.
SLITHERING SNAKES
How many snakes call West Virginia home? What is the state reptile of West Virginia? Discover the answer to these questions and more in this program presented by park naturalist, Paulita. Live Eastern Rat snake highlighted during the program. About 1 hour. YPP

LIVE MUSIC at BLACKWATER FALLS LODGE
7:30 p.m.
DUSTIN McCRAY LIVE!
An Americana singer-songwriter from Ireland, West Virginia, McCray’s voice is pure, combining folk, rock, country and blues with a balance of familiarity and uniqueness. The concert is in Blackwater Falls Lodge Conference Center. It’s free. YPP

CHECK OUT/BORROW OUR KIDS EXPLORATION BACKPACK

The YPP program is Young People for Parks with a focus on nature education for youth 6-16.
Participating in three YPP activities qualifies the youth for a certificate. Ask the naturalist about this program and other recognitions.

Since 1978, the Harold Walters Nature Center at Blackwater Falls State Park has been facilitating environmental education through the park’s vast natural resources by offering a variety of free to low cost programs designed to assist visitors to learn more about the natural world.

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