The Arc of Appalachia
2011 Wildflower Pilgrimage
Event Orientation Schedule and
Contact Info
 

During the Event, visit the Pilgrimage Information Center at the

  Appalachian Forest Museum (AFM), Friday-Sunday from 8am to 5 pm
Questions at any time? Call 937-365-1935.
 

April 15-17, 2011 Southern Ohio Wildflower Pilgrimage
   twelve naturalist-led field trips to choose from on Saturday and Sunday   
   ten trails registrants can hike on their own     world-class wildflower displays

  
   One of the world's greatest natural spectacles is the grand showcase of wildflowers gracing the world's temperate forests in the spring. Located at the southern edge of the glacial advance, and also occupying the edge of the Appalachian foothills, the Arc of Appalachia region has one of the richest wildflower displays to be found in America's Eastern Forest. This event is timed to catch the flowering trilliums - one of the showiest of all the species. On Saturday and Sunday, participants may choose from twelve guided field trip destinations, each group with usually no more than fifteen people, led by experienced naturalists and botanists. Each hike begins in the morning and end in early to mid afternoon. You may also hike selected trails without a guide and these are listed on a separate webpage. Most of the self-guided trails are at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, and they are among the most beautiful and flower-drenched in the Arc of Appalachia region.
 

    The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, with its fourteen preserves, is the main sponsor of this event. However, the Pilgrimage could not "go on" without the generous participation from our partner organizations who are sharing their distinguished botanists and naturalists to be our able leaders. See our opening page for the full list of partners, and here for a list of leader names.

    The Check-in location and information Center for the Pilgrimage will be located at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary's Appalachian Forest Museum. Click here for directions.  Specific directions for guided hike trailheads will be provided on-line to all confirmed registrants. Upon check-in at the Appalachian Forest Museum, participants will receive a packet of detailed information, including maps to the self-guided trailheads, an orientation & ID booklet as to what is in bloom and where to find it, and a Car Pass to access all trailheads. For an introduction to the history and natural history of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, consider attending the Friday evening program, to be held at the Appalachian Forest Museum.

How do I obtain lodging?
Registrants need to book their own lodging, but we make it easy for you by giving you a list of detailed recommendations, along with contact information. The Sanctuary offers limited but excellent lodging -- two  group lodges  (10 to 14 people) and two cabins housing 2-4 people each. Lodging reservations at the Sanctuary should be done separately from the registration form.  See Lodging & Maps for all of the lodging possibilities in our five country Arc of Appalachia area, including the Sanctuary.

Hiking Difficulty Levels:    

There is no such thing as a perfectly flat wide, trail in the Appalachia foothills where these field trips lead. However, there is a range of difficulties among them and all field trips are rated in the field trip descriptions. Trail enjoyment  is in no way associated with trail difficulty. Click here for the rating descriptions.

Evening Dinner & Programs at the Appalachian Forest Museum

7:30 pm FRIDAY Evening Program (free to all registrants)
  A Voice for the Forest --   The Story of the Arc of Appalachia
Accompanied by breathtaking photography, Nancy Stranahan, Co-Director of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, will tell the story of how a small grass-roots effort went from trying to save a small tourist park in southern Ohio to becoming a regional preservation effort that works on behalf of America's Eastern Forest's natural biodiversity. Here is a tale that will leave you with a sense of hope for the future, and one that will take you on a visual tour of the Arc of Appalachia's collection of botanically significant preserves.  Held at the Appalachian Forest Museum.

Serving 6:30 pm SATURDAY Dinner followed by evening program. 
  Dinner in the Woods. A delicious and substantial meal will be cooked and served on the grounds of the Appalachian Forest Museum, and will accommodate both vegetarians and meat eaters. If the weather is nice we will eat outside under out spacious picnic shelter. Please bring a sweater or jacket for comfort as the temperature drops in the evening. If the weather doesn't cooperate, we will eat inside.

SATURDAY Evening Program. Two times to choose from: 5:30 pm OR 7:30 pm, either before dinner or afterwards to accommodate the largest number of participants.
  Program yet to be announced.
 Because our evening programs usually fill up to capacity, we regret that this event must be limited to dinner guests.

Be sure to visit the Sanctuary's Appalachian Forest Museum over the weekend, and its beautiful bookstore and gift shop. Among other artists, the store features the art of Ohio nature artist, Ann Geise, who is one of our invited hike leaders for the weekend, and whose work is shown to left.
 

Meals

Saturday dinner and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday will be served at the Appalachian Forest Museum. Packed lunches may be ordered Saturday and Sunday, but unlike earlier years, the lunches will not be delivered to the trailhead. Instead, please plan on picking up your packed lunches at the Appalachian Forest Museum sometime during the breakfast hour in the morning. You may also pack your own lunch, of course. In all cases please carry water to drink, and a daypack to carry your lunch in. Local dining for Friday and Sunday night suppers is available in the small town of Bainbridge (five miles away).
 

Menu
The Sanctuary has an excellent reputation for its memorable meals, which can be ordered in a full weekend package, or ordered individually. All meals are served, or in the case of lunch, picked up, at the Appalachian Forest Museum. Please see registration form for fees.

7:30 to 8:30 am Saturday Breakfast: TES Farm egg omelet with sauteed mushrooms and cheeses, sausage, muffins, yogurt, juice, coffee & tea

Packed Lunch on Saturday (pick up in am):
  Meat:  Chicken salad sandwich with grapes and  walnuts
  Vegetarian: Chicken salad sandwich with grapes and  walnuts
  All lunches include fruit, snacks and dessert.
 

6:30 pm Saturday "Dinner in the Woods" served outdoors:  Large Sanctuary Salad with our own house dressing, Homemade hearty soup, cornbread and butter, warm homemade biscuits smothered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream

7:30 to 8:30 am Sunday Breakfast: Samson Woods griddle cakes WITH REAL MAPLE syrup, sausage, juice, tea, coffee

Packed Lunch on Sunday (pick up in am): Choose Meat or Vegetarian:
  Meat: Shellbark Woods Sandwich: Smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and shredded lettuce on rye bread;
  Vegetarian: Barrett's Farm Bagel: Cream cheese bagel with herbs, ground nuts, radishes, cucumbers, and avocado
  All lunches include fruit, snacks and dessert.

Price for the Pilgrimage:

The registration form will guide you among your  options which are as follows.

Full Weekend Package includes wildflower guide, trail maps, all five meals, evening programs,
and Saturday and Sunday guided hikes:

 Single $114.00  Couples: $214.00
 

Prices  "A la Carte"

Friday Evening Program   free
Single Day Field Trip  $35.00
Arc of Appalachia Wildflower Guide sold separately * for sale at AFM for $4.50

Saturday Dinner & Evening Program $15.00
Saturday & Sunday Breakfasts $8.50

Saturday & Sunday Lunches (picked up at AFM during breakfast) $8.50

How to Register:

    To register for the event, first go to the field trip web page and select the guided field trips that interest you. Pick three or four, if you can, and we will do our best to give you your highest choices. To aid you, a field trip shortlist lists all of the guided hikes in a condensed space. Hikes are open unless marked, please disregard any full hikes on your list of choices. Once you've chosen your favorites and have decided on your meals and optional programs, visit the registration form page, fill it out, and click on the submit button. You will be directed to a confirmation page with payment instructions. Within a few business days, follow up with a mailed check or credit card number (a check is immensely preferred as it keeps our costs down and is easier bookkeeping for our staff). We will confirm your registration and your assigned field trips by email within a week of receiving your emailed registration. If we don't get your check shortly after your registration arrives, we will notify you. Otherwise, consider yourself successfully registered. A few weeks before the event, directions to the guided hikes will be sent to you by email. Please run them off and carry them with you. ALL GUIDED FIELD TRIPS MEET AT THEIR RESPECTIVE TRAILHEADS, Distance to the various trailheads from the Appalachian Forest Museum are noted in hike descriptions.
 

What if I need to cancel?
Regrettably, because of the large amount of staff time involved with registration, meals and guided hike fees cannot be refunded within a two week window prior to the event. However, registrations are transferable to other parties (we appreciate you letting us know the names of the new parties). All cancellation fees will be confirmed as fully tax-deducible donations -- going to a very good cause!

What's blooming where?
You can click here (excel sheet) to compare flower sightings in the past for some of the hike destinations. This list is far from complete, but it will give you an idea on what to expect. Note: some destinations have high diversity but not a lot of show, and other places have lower diversity but are loaded wildflower showcases, so diversity should not be your only considered factor.

What about children?
Guided hikes often move at too slow a pace for children. Nevertheless, we love children! Parents may use their own discretion whether a guided hike would be appropriate. Because of the limited space in each trip, no youth discounts apply.

What should I bring:
Pack or order a lunch. Carry bottled water. Run off directions to the guided hike(s) a few weeks before the event when you are supplied with a web link. Print off your email with field trip assignments and schedule. Wear sturdy shoes that can get a bit wet if you have a creek crossing. If your hike mentions you are eating on the trail, consider packing a piece of plastic that you can sit on so you can relax on the ground during your lunch break without getting wet. Prepare for possible primitive bathroom breaks in the woods. Consider binoculars, camera, wildflower field guide and/or a walking stick.

If it Rains.
Field trips will go on rain or shine.
 

Connecting is the first step to saving the forest.

e-mail linkup.adm@highlandssanctuary.org
and ask to join our mailing list to receive Nature Notes, educational program notices, and volunteer opportunities