One hallmark of Ohio’s forest is the fleeting collage of fall color. Once the leaves fall, do you feel a little lost until the familiar green forest returns in the spring? Then, join Arc of Appalachia, Director of Land Stewardship, Brent Charette, for Trees by Bark, Twig & Fruit, Reading the Winter Forest. Through this course, participants will become comfortable identifying over 40 tree species by the bark, twigs, fruit, or silhouette. We’ll add new tools to your tree identification toolbox, including the use of dichotomous keys, smartphone apps, bark rubbings, and more. Repetition, shared experience, exploring all the clues available, reinforced by evening recaps, will elevate your tree identification IQ.

Questions or interest in making lodging reservations:
For event & lodging information: Cassidy Drummond, Education Coordinator at 937-794-3360
Email: cassidy.arcofappalachia@gmail.com

Cancellation policy.  In case of cancellation, refunds will be granted in full up until October 6, 2025. 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.

Lodging. Lodging at the Sanctuary is optional but highly encouraged since we will be exploring the Sanctuary both during the day and into the night. The cost is $50/night in a room shared with another registrant of the same gender, and $85/night for a private room.

Meals. The course includes one lunch. All lodges are equipped with fully equipped kitchens and dining facilities. Participants are asked to bring their own food supplies. Please plan to provide a packed lunch on Friday, which will be eaten at the Appalachian Forest Museum with your colleagues. We will also provide local options for meals.

What should I bring? 

• Binoculars with the capacity for close-up focus (if you don’t have a pair, 8x42 is a good option). 

• Cell phone for plant ID apps, navigation, and photography

• A light separate from your phone. Flashlights and headlamps are encouraged (don’t forget to pack the charger or the rechargeable batteries!)

• Raingear

• Water bottle and day pack to carry it in

• A day pack or fanny pack to carry things into the field

• Walking sticks to support being on your feet all day.

• A notebook or clipboard, pen, pencils, and paper (for sketching and field notes)

• Weather-appropriate clothing, remember to think “layers.” It can be cold in the morning and warm later in the day

• Depending on the weather, bring a warm hat and gloves, or a wide-brimmed hat for shade

• Personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.);  Sunscreen if you use it (note some are more environmentally friendly than others)

• Sunglasses if you are sensitive to bright sunlight

• First aid kit appropriate to your needs

• Biting insects, including ticks, should not be an issue this time of year as long as we have had some hard frosts.

Cell phone coverage and the internet are limited. Please note that the Sanctuary is in a rural location in the foothills of the Appalachians. Cell phone coverage is spotty, and connectivity depends on your phone service company. However, limited Wi-Fi is available at the Museum headquarters where we will be spending a lot of time, while a short drive to Highway 50 connects to nearly every service provider.

Comfort in the out-of-doors. We will spend most of our time in the field, so please pack clothing that will allow you to be comfortable in a variety of weather conditions. In southern Ohio, daytime temperatures in November can range from the high fifties to the mid-forties. We encourage you to check the weather forecast before you pack. Night-time lows are equally variable, anywhere from the high twenties to mid-thirties.

Flying in? Participants may fly into either Cincinnati or Columbus. Both airports are 1 hour and forty-five minutes away from the Sanctuary. Shuttles are not available, so participants may need to rent a car.

Emergency Messages. Emergency messages for course participants can be left at the mainline of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (937) 365-1935 during daytime hours.

Poison Ivy. You will have minimal but possible exposure to poison ivy. In any case, the leaders know the plant well and will help you avoid exposure. If you do touch the leaves or vines, washing vigorously with cold water and soap within an hour avoids reactivity in most people.

Should I prepare for insects?  Generally, the Sanctuary is not a buggy place for biting insects by November. During an unusually warm autumn, we experience very few to no mosquitoes at the Sanctuary. You may encounter several species of ticks in the open fields, and chiggers in tall grass if you choose to wander into them (which is a good reason not to), and a few deer flies in low moist areas. That said, our tick population here is lower than in most southern habitats. If any of these challenges are new for you, let us know, and we will do our best to orient you. No exposure to at least some insects in southern Ohio is not a realistic expectation for outdoor fieldwork. Since we do have ticks in our southern Ohio preserves, please read the notes below.

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