September 2020
2nd Saturday Bird Walk
Bring your binoculars and discover the birds that visit and live in Chisholm Creek Park. No birding experience is needed. Expect 1–2 miles of walking on paved paths. The walk will last about 90 minutes. Meet at the Great Plains Nature Center parking lot and practice social distancing!
Find out more »Quivira/Cheyenne Bottoms Field Trip
Meet at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and bring a lunch. This is prime migration time for shorebirds at these nationally renowned locations. Note that this is on Sunday!
Find out more »Meeting Program – Cowbirds: villainous mobsters or falsely maligned native species? A biologist’s perspective. By Sarah Winnicki
Brown-headed Cowbirds are notorious for their breeding system called "brood parasitism"-- they lay their eggs in the nests of hundreds of other bird species, forcing those birds to feed their ravenous young. They've been painted as dastardly villains, but what are they really? In this program, I'll walk through the biology of cowbirds, paying close attention to the ways they interact with their host species in Kansas and the current state of cowbird biology research. Sarah Winnicki is a PhD…
Find out more »Monarch Tagging Nature Day at Chaplin Nature Center
This family program celebrates nature and the amazing monarch butterfly migration. Participants can learn about the migration and how to properly capture and tag monarchs. Guided nature hikes to the Arkansas River, live reptiles and a seldom seen bird egg collection are all part of the celebration. Admission is free.
Find out more »October 2020
Chaplin Moon Walk/Run (2k+)
October is a great time to take an evening stroll under the light of the moon. This 2k plus walk or run will take place along the edge of the Center’s tall grass prairie trail. Along the trail, stations will award glow sticks to those who choose to stop, and answer moon or nature questions related to the night. If you plan on running the trail be sure to bring a head lamp. The trail will consist of a variety…
Find out more »2nd Saturday Bird Walk
Bring your binoculars and discover the birds that visit and live in Chisholm Creek Park. No birding experience is needed. Expect 1–2 miles of walking on paved paths. The walk will last about 90 minutes. Meet at the Great Plains Nature Center parking lot and practice social distancing!
Find out more »Chisholm Creek Park Cleanup
Join us after the second Saturday bird walk to collect trash and keep our adopted park looking nice. Bring gloves, we'll provide trash bags along with coffee and donuts. Meet in the GPNC parking lot.
Find out more »Meeting Program – Forest Park Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight by Mark H. X. Glenshaw
Mark H.X. Glenshaw is an award-winning naturalist who has closely observed and documented the lives of Great Horned Owls in Forest Park, a large urban park in St. Louis, Missouri, since December 20 05. Mark's work with Great Horned Owls involves extensive outreach as each year he gives dozens of talks across Missouri and Illinois (this is his first talk in Kansas!) and leads scores of owl prowls in Forest Park. Mark is a Missouri Master Naturalist and a volunteer for…
Find out more »Great Salt Plains NWR Field Trip
One of the best birding spots in Oklahoma, Great Salt Plains should have Sandhill Cranes and lots of waterfowl. Meet at the refuge headquarters and bring lunch. If you don't want to drive down that morning, overnight camping is possible at the state park and cabins are available by reservation. Motels are available in nearby Cherokee, OK.
Find out more »November 2020
Night Hike at Chaplin Nature Center
Trails officially close at dusk, but during this special program participants can experience the trails at night. This guided walk will start with a short indoor session on how we will use our senses in the absence of flashlights, listening skills, and walking quietly. Dress for the outdoors and wear sturdy shoes. No flashlights on the trail.
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