Nature Hop is back! The 2021 event will be held across two days: a day full of preview activities on Saturday, September 18, with the main event on Sunday, September 19. (Rain date: Sunday, September 26)

Nature Hop is focused on getting people outside to enjoy the variety of green spaces found throughout Fayette County and to experience these spaces in new ways. Nature Hop events will take place throughout the day, in order to allow participants to join in multiple activities.

Saturday, September 18

All day:  Explore Karst! – Journey with water on the Race the Trace Tour and see where Lexington connects underground. Take the virtual tour or venture out and visit the tour stops in person.

All day:  Plant ID Apps for Beginners – Learn about the plants and insects around you in this virtual event. Participants with smartphones should download the iNaturalist or Seek apps.

10 – 11 a.m.: Junior Naturalist – Seeds – McConnell Springs Park – pre-registration required

10 – 11:30 a.m.: Monarch Butterfly Tagging – Raven Run Nature Sanctuary – pre-registration required 

10 a.m. – noon: Visit & Volunteer – London Ferrell Community Garden

10 a.m. – noon: Sunrise Archery – Hisle Farm Park – pre-registration required

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Discovery Saturday: Water is Life – Living Arts & Science Center

1 – 2 p.m.: Junior Naturalist – Seeds – McConnell Springs Park – pre-registration required

1 – 4 p.m.: Monarch Butterfly Waystation – Tates Creek Branch Library – self-guided tour

2 – 3:30 p.m.: Monarch Butterfly Tagging – Raven Run Nature Sanctuary – pre-registration required

6:30 – 9:30 p.m. – Movie Under the Stars: A Bug’s Life – Shillito Park – FREE

Sunday, September 19

All day: Explore Karst! – Journey with water on the Race the Trace Tour and see where Lexington connects underground. Take the virtual tour or venture out and visit the tour stops in person.

All day: Plant ID Apps for Beginners – Learn about the plants and insects around you in this virtual event. Participants with smartphones should download the iNaturalist or Seek apps.

9 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Bird Scavenger Hunt – Raven Run Nature Sanctuary – self-guided activity

9 – 10 a.m.: Intro to Canoeing – Jacobson Park – pre-registration required

10 a.m. – noon: Food & Flowers: A Home Garden Tour – 2117 Saint Mathilda Drive – drop-in event

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Intro to Canoeing – Jacobson Park – pre-registration required

11 a.m. – noon: Geocaching 101 – Living Arts & Science Center

11 a.m. – noon: Yoga at Ashland – Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate

noon – 1 p.m.: Intro to Canoeing – Jacobson Park – pre-registration required

noon – 4 p.m.: The Dirt on Citizen Gardening in Wellington Park – Wellington Park – drop-in event

12:30 –1:30 p.m.: Guided Kentucky Folk Art Hike – Cross Keys Park

1 – 2 p.m.: Embroidery 101 – Veterans Park, Shelter #2 – pre-registration required

1 – 4 p.m.: Storm Drain Painting Party – East Main Street & Martin Luther King – pre-registration required 

1:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Self-guided Kentucky Folk Art Hike – Cross Keys Park – smartphone recommended

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Gratz Park History Tour – Gratz Park – meet at the fountain

2 – 3 p.m.: Tree ID Walk – McConnell Springs Park – pre-registration required

2 p.m.: Belleau Woods Park Creek Critters – Belleau Wood Park Forest

4 – 5 p.m.: Printing Demonstration in the Park – Masterson Station Park, Shelter #1

4 – 6 p.m.: Picnic with the Ukulele – Bell Court

8 – 10 p.m.: Harvest Moon Night Hike – Raven Run Nature Sanctuary – pre-registration required – $5