Breaks Interstate Park to Hold Second Annual Nature Weekend- Sept. 20th- 21st

Breaks Park Naturalist Jayd Raines
 introducing a group of onlookers
 to an Eastern Hognose Snake.

Have you ever wanted the opportunity to meet a snake face to face? How about a chance to have a close encounter with a bird of prey? Get the chance to experience these things and more at Breaks Interstate's Second Annual Nature Weekend! This event will kick off on Friday the 20th at 6:00 PM and will continue all day Saturday, concluding Saturday evening.

The event will kick off at 6 o'clock Friday evening with "Things My Grandma Taught Me" a program from retired KY Park Naturalist John Tierney. This program will teach you about things in nature that old timers used to treat various ailments, why they used them and how. At 7, you will get the chance to meet Breaks Park Naturalist Jayd Raines, as well as some of his slithery friends from around the Southeastern United States in his program "The Wonderful World of Snakes". At 8:30 PM, journey out to Nature Drive to meet biologist Jason Butler as he sets up a mist net for bats. This is a trapping technique used to catch bats for biological research. This will also give you the chance to get an up close look at one of the most misunderstood animals around.

Saturday will be full of events and activities that range from geocaching, medicinal plant hikes and birding to a geology hike, stream ecology field trip and a chance to meet Tony Scales, a geologist and book author who will be at the Visitor Center, selling and signing copies of his wonderful book about the park entitled "The Breaks".

Saturday evening will be full of excitement starting at 6 o'clock as Mitch Whitaker (Letcher County Extension Agency) presents "Raptors Alive" where we will learn about and get to see real live hawks and owls. Following this program will be VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist Johnny Wills, who is presenting on the recent Elk release program in SW Virginia.

There is will fun and excitement for all ages. The only admission fee is the Park's standard parking fee of $2.00 per car and $10.00 per 11 passenger van/bus.

For a detailed schedule of activities for the weekend, visit this LINK. Activities are subject to change.

I can be reached by emailing me HERE or by phone at 276-865-4413 ext. 3213