Create Your Own Wetlands  

Hands-on Workshop with World-Renowned Wetland Ecologist:

Thomas Biebighauser

November 5th - 8th, 2026, Thursday eve through Saturday

at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary

$XX/person

WETLANDS ARE TRANSFORMERS,

healing the land, escalating biodiversity, increasing life-density

Join wetland ecologist Thomas Biebighauser at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary for this hands-on wetland building workshop!Tom has likely built more wetlands than any other living person on earth. He lives, breathes, and has a sixth sense for how to coach them back to lands they once previously occupied. This is an outdoor field course. Tom will present you with an indoor introduction to creating wetlands on Thursday evening at the Appalachian Forest Museum. Friday and Saturday will be spent in the field when Tom and the workshop’s attendees will build TWO WETLANDS together - hands on -from beginning to completion!

During this event Tom will not only be directing the process of wetlands construction, but will be teaching::

  • the basic principles of wetlands construction

  • an introduction to hydric soils and the basics of hydrology

  • what factors to consider when selecting an appropriate location

  • how to recognize and delineate wetland soils,

  • how to establish native wetland plants following the construction.

  • how to anticipate what life forms will find and use the pond

  • what our landscapes have lost over the last 250 years, and the capacity we have to reverse those losses

Friday will be spent in the field constructing a small to medium-sized wetlands using heavy equipment. On Saturday, we will build a pond from scratch with our Yes, with shovels! This is a REAL educational immersion, and the hands-on education will serve you when you return to your home canvases.

Both wetlands constructed during this workshop will be in full action next spring - attracting breeding amphibians and lush populations of aquatic insects, which in turn will support an entire cascade of higher life forms. SCROLL DOWN FOR WORKSHOP PREPARATIONS & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Location: The education headquarters for this event will be the Appalachian Forest Museum at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (HNS). Field sites will be located at Ridgeview Farm Preserve and God’s Country Preserve

Attendance: Workshop attendance will be limited to no more than 20 people to guarantee a personalize experience.

Leader/Instructor: The leader for this event is Tom Biebighauser, A Wildlife Biologist and Wetland Ecologist. You can learn more about Tom here.

Lodging: Lodging at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary is not necessary, but is highly encouraged since we will be spending the entire weekend here. For questions on lodging options, please email or call: Elijah Crabtree - (740) 703-2633 / elijah.crabtree@gmail.com

Meals: This course includes a Friday and Saturday lunch at Ridgeview Farm. All lodges have fully equipped kitchens and dining facilities, so we ask that you bring your own food supplies for all other meals. We will also recommend local options for meals if you wish to go shopping for ingredients or eat out.

Cancellation policy.  In case of cancellation, refunds will be granted in full up until October 5th, 2026. After that time, all payments are final and if not used, will be recorded as a tax-deductible donation to the Arc of Appalachia. Registrations are transferable. If transferring your registration to another party, please be sure to give us the recipient’s name and email.

What should I bring? 

  • Cell phone for directions, emergencies, and for taking pictures

  • Personal care items: Soap, shampoo, etc.

  • Informal outdoor clothing for both wet and dry weather

  • Leg Waders or Chest Waders

  • Raingear is recommended as this course will go on rain or shine. Consider a wide-brimmed hat to shed the rain.

  • Water bottle and day pack to carry your lunch.

  • Notebook or clipboard, pen, pencils, and paper (for sketching and field notes).

  • Food. Bring your own food supplies for meals through the weekend.

  • First aid kit appropriate to your needs

  • Optional. Insect repellent for ticks, see details below. We will also bring some to share.

Cell phone coverage and the internet. Most cell phones work at the Highland Nature Sanctuary. If Wi-Fi is needed, the Appalachian Forest Museum has free guest Wi-Fi during operating hours. No Wi-Fi is provided in our lodging.

Comfort in the out-of-doors. Please be prepared for hiking in both cold and relatively warm weather, as this program is scheduled for November, which could bring us 60-70 degree days or three inches of snow! We will be spending most of our time outside in the field at multiple sites with rugged terrain. In south-central Ohio, our temperature highs in early to mid-November average around 55-60 degrees, with lows averaging around 30-35 degrees. We encourage you to check the weather forecast before you pack.

Flying in? Participants may fly into either Cincinnati or Columbus. Both airports are roughly an hour and a half from the Appalachian Forest Museum. 

Emergency Messages. Emergency messages for course participants can be left at the mainline of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (937) 365-1935 during daytime hours. Education staff cell phones will also be provided to you.

Should I prepare for ticks, chiggers, biting insects and poison ivy? You will have minimal but possible exposure to Poison Ivy. The leaders know the plant well and will help you avoid exposure. If you do touch the leaves, washing vigorously with soap within an hour avoids reactivity in most people. If these challenges are new for you, let us know and we will do our best to orient you to them and minimize exposure. No exposure to insects is not a realistic expectation for field studies but we do our best. We have also developed a fantastic homemade repellant for flying insects, ticks, and chiggers made of essential herbal oils that is stunningly effective and 100% natural.

Please click here to learn about the considerable hazards presented by ticks and chiggers and prepare your own insect repellant that is safe to use, affordable to make, and will give you the confidence to enjoy the outdoors.

Questions or interest in making lodging reservations:


For event & lodging information:

Elijah Crabtree, Naturalist Educator at (740) 703-2633
Email: elijah.crabtree@gmail.com

Cassidy Drummond, Education Coordinator at 937-794-3360
Email: cassidy.arcofappalachia@gmail.com