Thanks to all those folks that
attended our spring conference and the staff hopes that every one
had a great time.
Make plans now and mark your calendars
for our 2008 Fall conference at Natural Bridge State Resort Park – September
26 – 27, 2008. The link for the registration form will
be here when all the details become available. Stay tuned
and make your reservations early. Natural Bridge is always
a popular conference spot.
Sign up early to reserve your spot.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
takes its name from a giant natural sandstone arch that is its star
attraction.
Trails & Nature Center: The nine
hiking trails range from one-half mile to eight-and-one-half miles.
Trail maps are available at the Nature Center, located on the ground
floor of the Activities Center. The Nature Center houses exhibits
about the park.
See our minutes from
our General Meeting and Board Meeting from our Fall 2007 conference.
Our Tentative Future Conferences:
Pine Mountain Settlement School, Spring 2009 April, 24-26
Pine Mountain at sunsetPine Mountain
Settlement School is located in the mountains of Appalachia in Southeastern
Kentucky. It was an early source of education for the mountain youth
of the area, offering a hands-on approach to education that continues
to be a model for today's schools.
The school's programs have evolved to meet the changing needs of the
community and region. Today's programs include environmental education
and basic educational support for students in local schools. The richness
of Pine Mountain Settlement School's campus and its history is a source
for multiple other enrichment programs for the local community and
beyond.
Reelfoot Lake, Fall 2009 TBA
Somewhere between myth and history
lies the answer of the creation of Reelfoot Lake. Area folklore says
the lake came to be as a result of an irate Indian medicine man.
History credits an earthquake along the New Madrid Fault in 1811
for creating the historic site.
Regardless of the manner of creation the area is one of haunting beauty
and home of numerous bird, fish and wildlife species.
Birdwatchers and naturalists can add sighting to their life lists of
rare species.
Shawnee State Park. Spring 2010 (last weekend April) TBA
Located in the Appalachian foothills
near the banks of the Ohio River, Shawnee State Park is nestled in
the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest.
Once the hunting grounds of the Shawnee Indians, the region is one
of the most picturesque in the state, featuring erosion-carved valleys
and wooded hills. The rugged beauty of the area has earned it the nickname
"The Little Smokies
Shakertown (Lexington area), Fall 2010
Discover America’s largest restored
Shaker community, where a remarkable society once flourished and
where today, you can experience a true Kentucky treasure.
This 3,000 acre National Historic Landmark charms guests with distinct
Shaker style and the beauty of Lexington’s Bluegrass Region. A stay
at the Inn offers peaceful accommodations, gracious dining, exceptional
shopping, historical activities and invigorating recreation
Diverse Flora - 440 herbaceous and woody plants, including several
rare species, have been identified throughout the village. In the spring,
the forest floor is carpeted with bountiful wildflowers, including
varieties of trillium, fire pink, blue phlox and bloodroot.
Natural Prairie - Dominated by wildflowers, native grasses and grassland
animals, our natural prairie is now a rare plant community type that
was once prevalent throughout the state. Pale purple coneflowers, bergamot,
sunflowers and black eyed susans provide spectacular blooms during
the summer.
Abundant Wildlife - Squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, raccoons, rabbits
and groundhogs may be spotted along our trails. Whitetail deer will
likely bound away as you approach. Over 125 varieties of birds have
been spotted throughout the village.
Limestone Formations - Observe the oldest exposed rock in Kentucky
along the Kentucky River palisades. These limestone formations are
between 400 and 450 million years old.
Carter Caves, Spring 2011 TBA
The Carter Caves State Park is located
in Carter County, Kentucky, United States, along Tygarts Creek. It
is formed by Carter Caves, and nearby Cascade Caves, which were added
to the park in 1959; the two are joined by Carter Cave Natural Bridge. On
December 16, 1981, 146 acres of the park were designated as nature
preserves. Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves were
dedicated for the protection of the Indiana bat, mountain maple,
and Canada yew, all endangered species.
Cumberland Falls State Resort
Park Fall 2011
Cumberland Falls, sometimes called
the Little Niagara, the Niagara of the South, or the Great Falls,
is a large waterfall on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky.
Spanning the river at the border of McCreary and Whitley counties,
the waterfall is the central feature of Cumberland Falls State Resort
Park, which itself is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest.
On average the falls, which flow over a resistant sandstone bed, are
68 feet (21 m) high and 125 feet (38 m) wide, with a water flow of
3,600 cubic feet per second (100 m³/s).
Under a full moon on clear nights, an elusive lunar rainbow or moonbow
is sometimes formed by the mist emanating from the falls. The site
is promoted as the only one in the world to feature this phenomenon,
with Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe having lost
its status due to forest cultivation.[citation needed] Actually, almost
any waterfall can produce a moonbow under ideal conditions; however,
many comparable sites have too much light for this feature to be visible.
Last updated:
05/07/2008 |
