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Hepatica Hike – SOLD OUT

April 14, 2024 | 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Two blooming blue wildflowers

Event is sold out. Please connect with us on another outdoor adventure.

Preserve Manager Dan Barringer will lead this off-trail exploration of a rarely visited section of the preserve. We’ll search the woods along Mine Run (a tributary of French Creek) to look for round-lobed hepatica, one of the earliest-blooming spring ephemeral wildflowers. Boulder-hop through Deep Woods to find other harbingers of spring like wood anemone, rue anemone, and early violets.  

This part of the preserve has mature forest with diabase rock outcroppings. Though it looks pristine today, it has a long history of human use, including small quarry pits used to source cobblestones. A long-gone nearby railroad line (the Warwick branch of the Wilmington & Northern Railroad, once known as the Boar’s Back, today part of the Horse-Shoe Trail) is lingering evidence of this industrial period that extended into the early 20th century. 

Where

Crow’s Nest Preserve
201 Piersol Road
Elverson , PA 19520
directions

When

April 14, 2024
1:00pm - 3:30pm

Crow’s Nest is the gateway to the Hopewell Big Woods, a 73,000-acre expanse of forest that reaches north into Berks County. Just next door, you’ll find French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, making Crow’s Nest part of one of the largest areas of protected land in the region.

The pristine French Creek runs through Crow’s Nest, flowing from French Creek State Park’s Hopewell Lake on its way to the Schuylkill River. The preserve’s streamside forest helps protect the creek’s water quality.

Wildlife abounds at Crow’s Nest! You may spot Wood Ducks or see signs of beaver construction along French Creek; hear the songs of Wood Thrushes, Vireos, and warblers in the dense forests; or track the footprints of fox, raccoon, and deer. The preserve is part of the Hay Creek/French Creek Forest Block “Important Bird Area” (a National Audubon Society designation).

Crow’s Nest is a haven for other wild creatures: children! For decades, the preserve has hosted both after-school programs and a summer day camp to help combat the nature disconnect today’s kids face. The preserve includes a NaturePlayGround to encourage creative, unstructured play, and hosts a variety of outdoor education programs for all ages.

  • Meet in the parking lot by the red Natural Lands kiosk.
  • The terrain is very rough and may be wet. Be prepared to walk a few miles.
  • Bring a water bottle and binoculars.
  • Please leave your four-legged friends at home.

Help us all stay safe:

  • If you are sick or feeling unwell, please stay home.
  • Masking is optional. Participants may choose to mask at any time.

Natural Lands is able to host more than 100 events a year thanks to the financial support of our members. If you aren’t yet part of our community of members, join us!

Registration

Event is sold out. Please connect with us on another outdoor adventure.

Cancellation:
Events may be cancelled due to inclement weather or low registration. In that case, we will make every effort to update our website and contact registrants. Note that we cannot offer refunds of paid registrations or ticket purchases, but rest assured that your donation will help us in our work to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors.

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Attendance at Natural Lands programs and events constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and electronic media. Images will not be identified using full names without written approval from the individual. Please notify Natural Lands staff if you would prefer that your photo not be used.

Participant Waiver:
By registering for this event, I, as the participant, and/or parent or legal guardian of a minor participant, do hereby understand and acknowledge that by participating, in this, or any, Natural Lands’ event or activity, I am agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless Natural Lands, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the “RELEASEES” herein).

I further acknowledge, agree, and represent that I understand the nature of the Program and related Activities and my and/or the Minor’s experience and capabilities, and believe that I and/or the minor are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity. I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions of participation.

I fully understand that: (a) the Program and related Activities involve risks and dangers of damage to personal property and serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death (“risks”); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my and/or the Minor’s own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or the negligence of the “releasees” as aforementioned; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I and/or the minor incur as a result of my participation or that of the Minor in the Activity.

I hereby release, discharge, and covenant not to sue Natural Lands or any of their “releasees” from all liability, claims, demands, losses, injuries, damage to property, or other damages on my and/or the minor’s account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the “releasees” or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement I, the Minor, or anyone on the Minor’s behalf makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.

I have read this Agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by registering for this event, and have done so freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

Find Yourself Outside

Are you up to the challenge? Explore all 20 of our featured preserves and Stoneleigh: a natural garden, and collect all the code words to receive a Natural Lands “Find Yourself Outside” t-shirt.

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A crowd of people sitting on haybales and camping chairs while the sun goes down.

Music. Without Walls.

Rock, roots, and rhythm. No matter what the style, music is better with nature as the backdrop.

So get your groove on this year with Natural Lands at these amazing events!

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Close up of a hand holding a pint of beer with the sun and grassy space behind

Pints on the Preserve

East Branch Brewing Company will be pouring suds on select Saturdays, beginning at 2:00pm. Enjoy refreshments with a take-your-breath-away view.

 

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