EVENTS CALENDAR
July 18th,
5-10pm and
July 19th,
6:30-10:30am
BioBlitz! Explore.Photograph.Contribute
Enjoy nature and contribute to science, simply by taking pictures on your phone! Pinecrest is hosting an all-taxa biodiversity index, meaning we want to include all forms of life that we can observe onsite. Beginners welcome!
Start at the info table upon arrival with an intro based on your familiarity of iNaturalist and our site. then explore on your own. You’ll find roaming experts out in the field doing their own studies who can help answer your nature questions.
Additional plant and wildlife information tables provided by local experts including:
-Tennessee Naturalist and Pinecrest Education Director Charity Siebert
-Mammals with UT Martin-Somerville Biologist Richard Rucker
-Habitat Harry
-Grounded Nature
-Herpetology with Freed-Hardeman University
-Mammals with UT Martin-Somerville Biologist Richard Rucker
-Habitat Harry
-Grounded Nature
-Herpetology with Freed-Hardeman University
<<<<Friday, July 18>>>>
5-10pm: Open explore and observations
5-10pm: Open explore and observations
6:30pm: Herpetology ID and Monitoring Talk with Dr. Brian Butterfield of Freed-Hardeman University
https://www.facebook.com/share/16Fj1Pzgfa/
https://www.facebook.com/share/16Fj1Pzgfa/
7:30pm: Nocturnal Biology Hike – group night hike to Overlook info: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EvuQc9k2G/
<<<<Saturday, July 19>>>>
6:30-11:30am: Open explore and observations
7:00am: Rise and Shine Hike with Dr. Richard Rucker of UT Martin-Somerville
RSVP or just show up!
No experience necessary. All ages welcome.
Group hikes depart promptly at time shown. Please dress for insect prevention and rough terrain of approximately 1 mile.
Prepare in advance by downloading iNaturalist. If you currently use iNaturalist, please join the Pinecrest Biodiversity Project and see our progress Current users can simply join the Pinecrest Biodiversity Project.
Free admission, donations welcomed!
Stay the night in a cozy cabin, call the office at 901-878-1247 for rates and reservations.
Contact Charity@camppinecrest.org with questions and to RSVP.
Fri. July 18, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nocturnal Biology Night Hike
Explore the night among the fireflies as we the veil of sunlight dissipates. Get hands-on interactions with the fireflies and as we explore other special wildlife areas that may yield more beautiful nocturnal wildlife finds. If we have a clear night we’ll see thousands of stars and take dark sky readings.
Bring a flashlight or headlamp (the best ones are low lumens plus a red or blue light filter). Please, no intense lights.Loose long sleeves and a mosquito head net provide good protection without excessive bug spray that can harm the wildlife we protect.
Please spray insect repellants far away from others and wash hands thoroughly to protect any wildlife we may collect by hand.
This event is open to all. No pets.
Pay what you can, suggested $5 donation to support our environmental education programs.
Pay what you can, suggested $5 donation to support our environmental education programs.
Arrive by 7:15 for the hike to depart promptly at 7:30pm.
Fri. July 18, 2025
6:30 – 7:15 PM
Herpteology 101: Monitoring midsouth reptiles and amphibians
Learn about local reptiles and amphibians with Freed-Hardeman University herpetologist Dr. Brian Butterfield. You’ll also learn why monitoring their populations, like during our BioBlitz, is important. This event is in conjunction with the BioBlitz.
All ages, Pay what you can. Suggested $5 donation to support our environmental educaiton programs. Stay after for the Snappy Sync Firefly Hike
April 4, 2025
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Trail Maintenance Days
It’s time to work on the new Outdoor Learning Trail and the Yellow Trail behind the Tiyak Homeschool cottage. The public is welcome to help alongside our staff, Naturalist volunteers, and the Homeschool Trail Team. Staff will show everyone the areas to work, trail work how-to, and safety. Most of the work is lopping small branches, raking, removing small roots, and blazing. We’ll provide snacks. Some tools are available, but we request volunteers to bring any personal tools they may have such as loppers, rakes, shovels, and small handsaws. Contact Charity@camppinecrest.org with questions and to RSVP.
April 9, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Little Explorers
Fur, Feathers, Scales, and More! – All the forest younglings are hatching or growing and discovering the world they share with us. Discover what makes different animals unique as we look, listen, and touch. We’ll also practice wildlife safety so we can protect ourselves and our forest friends. Plus, a special egg hunt just for our Littles!
April 11 – April 12, 2025
5:00 PM – 10:30 AM
Play In The Pines
Kids bring their favorite adults and spend the night at camp!
Find out about summer camp or just hang out. Enjoy a night hike, s’mores over the campfire, arts/crafts, games, and nature activities. After dinner, grown-ups will appreciate the Q&A session on summer camp details while our seasoned counselors entertain the kiddos.
$45/adult and $35/kid
Supper and breakfast plus private lodging and activities are included.
Supper and breakfast plus private lodging and activities are included.
Stay on Saturday to attend the Family-Friendly One Mile Hike led by our biologist from 10-Noon at no extra charge
April 12, 2025
10:00 AM
Family Mile Hike with a Biologist
Explore the springtime forest with our biologist. Flowers, blooms, wildlife,and pollinators will be popping up bringing the woods to life. An easy one-mile hike for kids and first-time hikers as you go up and over a few hills, gaze out at the Overlook, and walk over the tall bridges.
Wear hiking boots or sturdy closed-toe, closed-heel shoes, preferably that cover the ankle.
BYO snacks and water. Please apply bug spray and sunscreen at least 100 feet from others.
Waivers must be signed by all participants. Arrive between 9:30-10am. Hike departs promptly at 10 am. Suggested donation of $5/person. Your donations help us continue to provide excellent public events like this one!
BYO snacks and water. Please apply bug spray and sunscreen at least 100 feet from others.
Waivers must be signed by all participants. Arrive between 9:30-10am. Hike departs promptly at 10 am. Suggested donation of $5/person. Your donations help us continue to provide excellent public events like this one!
RSVP and ask questions by contacting charity@camppinecrest.org
April 15, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tiyak Field school for homeschool
Spring Plants: Spring plants have been waiting patiently all winter, storing their energy, often underground. Forest flowers, green leaves, ephemeral emergence… let’s find what interests you and we’ll undertake our scientific analysis through dissection and population plotting while journaling our chosen microhabitats.
April 15, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Spring Celebration Field Trip Day
Hey teachers! Register your K-3 grade students for this perfect little spring field trip.
Our Naturalist staff will lead your students through the stations where they’ll learn about special farm animal younglings, springtime flora and fauna along a forest trail, meet a live animal and his stuffed woodland friends, practice campfire safety while roasting a marshmallow and singing a song, and create the silliest soup which gets them practicing botanical vocabulary. Space is limited. Register early. Bring lunches to stay and play after the event. $10/student, teachers free. Parents/Chaperones $5. Email charity@camppinecrest.org to register. Homeschool family? Ask if space is available!
April 25, 2025
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Trail Maintenance Days
It’s time to work on the new Outdoor Learning Trail and the Yellow Trail behind the Tiyak Homeschool cottage. The public is welcome to help alongside our staff, Naturalist volunteers, and the Homeschool Trail Team. Staff will show everyone the areas to work, trail work how-to, and safety. Most of the work is lopping small branches, raking, removing small roots, and blazing. We’ll provide snacks. Some tools are available, but we request volunteers to bring any personal tools they may have such as loppers, rakes, shovels, and small handsaws. Contact Charity@camppinecrest.org with questions and to RSVP.
April 29, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tiyak Field school for homeschool
Insects and Invertebrates: The buzz of spring is a timeless phenological (natural changes over time) joy. Powerful, energetic, and essential, we’ll compare some of the unique abilities of invertebrates with our own. We’ll also take time to look at qualities shared among different groups to help us understand the variety of their divisions and journal our charts.
May 9, 2025
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Trail Maintenance Days
It’s time to work on the new Outdoor Learning Trail and the Yellow Trail behind the Tiyak Homeschool cottage. The public is welcome to help alongside our staff, Naturalist volunteers, and the Homeschool Trail Team. Staff will show everyone the areas to work, trail work how-to, and safety. Most of the work is lopping small branches, raking, removing small roots, and blazing. We’ll provide snacks. Some tools are available, but we request volunteers to bring any personal tools they may have such as loppers, rakes, shovels, and small handsaws. Contact Charity@camppinecrest.org with questions and to RSVP.
May 13, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tiyak Field school for homeschool
Reptiles!: Visit with Doodle the Friendly Noodle, Pinecrest’s snake ambassador. We’ll look around for additional examples of the reptile world and make observations that help us identify their characteristics. What can we do to help ease our fears, or help others? How are reptiles related to our ecosystems? Journal our examples while we observe their natural environment.
May 14, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Little Explorers
Creeks, Clay, and Climbing – Now that it’s warm, it’s time for water and muddy play. The kids will have fun while we’re really learning about the water cycle, the different textures of soil types, and a glade-type habitat. Exploring the sandy-bottom creek and “Cheetoh Mountain” calls for bare feet, so bring shoes that are easy to get dirty feet back into, and don’t forget a change of clothes!
May 30, 2025
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Trail Maintenance Days
It’s time to work on the new Outdoor Learning Trail and the Yellow Trail behind the Tiyak Homeschool cottage. The public is welcome to help alongside our staff, Naturalist volunteers, and the Homeschool Trail Team. Staff will show everyone the areas to work, trail work how-to, and safety. Most of the work is lopping small branches, raking, removing small roots, and blazing. We’ll provide snacks. Some tools are available, but we request volunteers to bring any personal tools they may have such as loppers, rakes, shovels, and small handsaws. Contact Charity@camppinecrest.org with questions and to RSVP.