St. Anne Woods and Wetlands: Flora & Fauna's Journal

The third Summer 2024 REFS Talk & Walk is on Wednesday, July 10, from 7-9 pm, and will be presented by NKU's own Dr. Yingying Xie. The topic is connections between woody plants and amphibians in vernal pools (of which there are many at REFS). Dr. Xie is an ecologist who studies phenology (timing of biological events like leafing out or blooming), so if you've been wondering what those new iNaturalist plant annotations are for, Dr. Xie can explain it all. :)

If you're interested in joining us, there's still time to sign up.

For the latest information and updates or to register, visit NKU's official REFS website: https://www.nku.edu/academics/artsci/about/centers/refs/register.html

Parking is available in front of the Field Station:
NKU Research and Education Field Station (NKU REFS)
99 Harrison Ct, Melbourne, KY 41059

And the fine print...
Class size: Limit of 20 people
Fee: Donating $10 to NKU REFS is encouraged
Please register via the REFS website at least 6 hours before the event.

Appropriate clothing/gear: The wetlands is an open field with chest-high vegetation in most areas, some of which is spiny. The trails are mowed or bare earth, but are often muddy. Mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy are all common residents of the area. The river bank also hosts stinging nettle. While we aim to keep the Talk & Walk hikes not-too-strenuous, proper clothing will allow for more flexibility and comfort while exploring the area. Wear clothing durable in the face of mud and bug spray. Long pants will provide protection from aggressive plants and can be tucked into socks to discourage ticks. Waterproof boots are suggested if you can't stand muddy socks, otherwise, a comfortable pair of sneakers with good treads and a spare pair of dry socks should do.

The 4th Summer 2024 REFS Talk & Walk is on Wednesday, July 24, from 7-9 pm, and will be presented by Dr. Steve Yanoviak (University of Louisville). The topic is ants. These under-appreciated, social insects are diverse, have interesting behaviors, and as the primary dispersers of several kinds of wildflower seeds (among other things) are critical to our local ecosystems. Come learn more about these fascinating little insects!

If you're interested in joining us, there's still time to sign up.

For the latest information and updates or to register, visit NKU's official REFS website: https://www.nku.edu/academics/artsci/about/centers/refs/register.html

Parking is available in front of the Field Station:
NKU Research and Education Field Station (NKU REFS)
99 Harrison Ct, Melbourne, KY 41059

And the fine print...
Class size: Limit of 20 people
Fee: Donating $10 to NKU REFS is encouraged
Please register via the REFS website at least 6 hours before the event.

Appropriate clothing/gear: The wetlands is an open field with chest-high vegetation in most areas, some of which is spiny. The trails are mowed or bare earth, but are often muddy. Mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy are all common residents of the area. The river bank also hosts stinging nettle. While we aim to keep the Talk & Walk hikes not-too-strenuous, proper clothing will allow for more flexibility and comfort while exploring the area. Wear clothing durable in the face of mud and bug spray. Long pants will provide protection from aggressive plants and can be tucked into socks to discourage ticks. Waterproof boots are suggested if you can't stand muddy socks, otherwise, a comfortable pair of sneakers with good treads and a spare pair of dry socks should do.