Friday, June 14, 2024

Choose among optional afternoon activities:

1:30 pm - 5:00 pm The Art of Firefly Watching - A Three-Part Program at the Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center

• 1:30 pm Part One - The Natural History of Fireflies – A World View. We will share a worldly and a local perspective of this specialized group of charismatic insects who have so effectively harnessed the power of light. Introducing the natural history, diversity, and ecology of fireflies.

• 2:45 pm Part Two - Untangling the Radiance of Light – Firefly Recognition. Although firefly identification is at times challenging, even for the experts, this presentation will help you discern the major species we will be seeing this weekend that can be learned relatively easily. We will provide tips for how to distinguish flash patterns, flash durations, and even flash colors. We will introduce firefly anatomy as well as some very interesting firefly species that can be seen in southern Ohio.

• 4:00 pm Part Three - Explore the Paradoxical Lucidotas and Pyropogas - Explore the paradox of the lanternless day-flying fireflies at the Shawnee Nature Center, a short drive from the lodge. These diminutive, yet beautiful beetles will fundamentally change your understanding of the complex firefly world.

- OR -

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm Optional afternoon field trips - choose among:

• Chalet Nivale Preserve - One of Adams County’s many spectacular natural treasures, the incised stone walls of Silurian-Aged Dolomites provide sanctuary to some of the most high-quality, biodiverse waters in the state. In the wake of spring, the preserve’s alkaline soils harbor jaw-dropping displays of the increasingly rare Snow Trillium (Trillum nivale), inspiring the preserve’s namesake. This field trip is hiking-oriented with moderate hiking.

• Buzzards Roost Rock Preserve- The most popular of all trails in the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System is the one that leads to Buzzards Roost Rock, which stands like a giant limestone monument far above the waters of Ohio Brush Creek. The panoramic scene from this hilltop has been called Ohio’s most spectacular view.

• Lynx Prairie Preserve - Walk in the footsteps of Lucy Braun in this iconic alkaline shortgrass prairie. Lynx Prairie Trail weaves through wooded sections to reach open prairie remnants that boast grasses like the little blue-stem and the rare purple three-awn grass. Butterflies like the great-spangled fritillaries and countless swallowtails float about, allowing for a peaceful trek through a rare system.

• Elf Ear Barrens Preserve - Led by Bob Klips, Professor Emeritus at OSU, and author of the recently published book, Common Mosses, Liverworts, and Lichens of Ohio." For those of you wanting to dip your toe into the green world of mosses and lichens, here’s your chance to wet your feet with an expert teacher and field biologist. This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy hiking.

Dinner on your own. We will send you recommendations on places to eat for dinner with your registration confirmation.

6:45 PM Arrive in time to check-in and receive nametags and information packet.

7:00 pm KEYNOTE PROGRAM BEGINS!  Meet in the large conference room at Shawnee Lodge.

7:00 pm - 7:45 pm Indoor Presentation by Keynote Speaker Matthew Speights

• “The Discovery the Enigmatic Blue Ghost Firefly in Ohio” - A Story Presented by Matthew Speights - This is a special opportunity to hear the talented Cincinnati-based Naturalist, Matthew Speights, recall his seemingly improbable discovery of the extremely rare Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) in Southwestern Ohio. This enigmatic firefly with its steady, eerie blue glow, is only known from a handful of sites in the Southern Appalachians. Never before has the Blue Ghost been found within Ohio’s borders… Until now!

8:30 pm Friday Night Firefly Field Trips. After a very short break, we will begin gathering into our pre-arranged groups for our evening field trips to watch southern Ohio’s firefly spectacles. Details on where to meet and the names of your group’s leaders will be provided at that time.

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Saturday Field Trips: 10:30 am – Mid-Afternoon. Closer to the event we will send all registrants an email with details of all field trip options. You will be asked for your field trip preferences and a confirmation email will soon follow with all your field trip assignments.

• #1 Ohio Hanging Rock Preserve - Ohio Hanging Rock has been widely regarded as the most scenic and spectacular hiking trail in Scioto County. This preserve encompasses a large expanse of unbroken forest with breathtaking rock exposures and deeply cut hollows. Located just outside of the ancient Teays River Valley, these hills are rich in a closely intertwined natural and cultural history. This field trip is naturalist oriented with strenuous hiking.

• #2 Sandy Springs at Rock Run Preserve - Explore the immense sand deposits left behind over millennia along the scenic Ohio River Valley Bottom in Sandy Springs, Ohio. This rare system of Sand Dunes harbor magnificent floral displays of the State-Listed Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa), Ohio’s only native cactus, which will almost certainly be found while navigating these fascinating dunes (Fingers Crossed). Each flowering “pad” of the Eastern Prickly Pear blooms for just one single day!! This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy hiking.

• #3 Gladys Riley Golden Star Lily Preserve - The Gladys Golden Star Lily Preserve stands today as an excellent example of mature Mixed Mesophytic hardwood communities found in the Allegheny plateau region. These diverse forested slopes are most notably home to one of the rarest spring ephemerals in the Eastern United States, the Golden Star Lily (Erythronium rostratum). This field trip is naturalist-oriented with moderate to strenuous hiking.

• #4 Odell Creek at Shawnee State Forest - Odell Creek has seldom visitation in comparison to other parts of the Shawnee Forest but ask any savvy naturalist in the region and they will tell you it's time well spent with endless birding and peaceful wades along the pristine and biodiverse stream waters of Odell, exploring its array of fascinating aquatic species including the uncommon Rosyside Dace. Nothing brings out one’s inner child more than summer creeking! This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy hiking.

• #5 Rock Run Preserve - A scenic commute west along State Route 52 will bring you to one of the largest and earliest Arc of Appalachia Preserves in Southernmost Ohio, Rock Run Wilderness. This 700+ Acre preserve is bordered to the north by extensive swaths of mature Shawnee State Forest wilderness encompassing eastern and western flanks of the Lower Twin Creek Valley. Its upper hillsides are lined with massive beds of Buena Vista Sandstone, a historically significant quarry building stone in the Midwest. This field trip is hiking-oriented with strenuous hiking.

• #6 Raven Rocks Preserve - Raven Rock is a promontory of Mississippian age sandstone overlooking the Ohio River Valley. While various legends exist as to how the hill received its name, from the air, it takes on the shape of a bird with outstretched wings. Today, the preserve continues to offer a panoramic view of the Ohio River valley. The preserve is home to the potentially threatened blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and the state endangered small-flowered scorpion weed (Phacelia dubia). This field trip is hiking-oriented with strenuous hiking.

Evening Dinner Options: Dinner is not included in the registration. Details will be provided to all registrants. Alternatively, cabins have their own kitchens, the Lodge has a full-service restaurant, and Portsmouth has several good restaurants.

7:00 pm KEYNOTE EVENING PROGRAM. Meet in the large conference room at Shawnee Lodge by 6:45 pm

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Indoor Presentation by Keynote Speaker Ben Pfeiffer

• “An Illuminating Look into the Fireflies of the Deep South” - An Educational Presentation by Ben Pfeiffer - Ben, A Texas-based conservationist and founder of Firefly Conservation & Research, will take you on an illuminating virtual journey through the wilds of Texas and into the mountainous regions of the east. Ben will present his research on Texas firefly taxa with an emphasis on fireflies that occur in nearby river basins and riparian areas. He will show how to identify common firefly species and discuss specific threats that are causing fireflies to disappear in many areas of the United States. For the naturalist and conservationist, Ben will also talk on how to create a good habitat for fireflies, plants that help them, and ways you can contribute to saving these iconic beetles.

8:30 pm Saturday Night Firefly Field Trips. After a very short break, we will begin gathering into our pre-arranged groups for our evening field trips to watch southern Ohio’s firefly spectacles. Details on where to meet and the names of your group’s leaders will be provided at that time.

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Sunday Field Trips: 10:30 am – Mid-Afternoon. Closer to the event we will send all registrants an email with details of all field trip options. You will be asked for your field trip preferences and a confirmation email will soon follow with all your field trip assignments. Your choice of the following: 

• #1 Quiverheart Gorge Preserve - Tucked away within the rolling hills of northeastern Adams County, Quiverheart Gorge Preserve is home to the largest dolomite gorge and waterfall in the entire county - a sister steep-sided canyon to the Highland Sanctuary, filled with stunning rock formations. Quiverheart is an ecological safe haven, endowed with both geological drama and soul-satisfying serenity for visitors of all interests. This field trip is both naturalist & hiking-oriented with moderate to strenuous hiking.

• #2 Kamama Prairie Preserve - “Ka-ma-ma”, the Cherokee word for butterfly, is a gracefully succinct name for the rare alkaline shortgrass prairie community that is protected inside this preserve, with some of the richest Lepidoptera diversity in the state, including many rare butterfly and moth species alongside a plethora of rare plant communities. This might be the most spectacular gem of the entire Arc Preserve system. This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy to moderate hiking.

• #3 Plum Run Prairie Preserve - Plum Run Prairie offers compelling landscapes throughout the entire year. Spanning 140 acres, the preserve may be the only place in Ohio with intact communities of two prairie communities: a tallgrass prairie typical of the midwestern plains, and an eastern shortgrass prairie known as a cedar glade. Along parts of the trail, swaying seas of Big Blue Stem and Indian Grass give the visitor a window into what it feels like to walk through a tallgrass prairie. Amongst the shortgrass prairies, giant and numerous Allegheny Ant Mounds are situated all throughout the preserve. This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy to moderate hiking.

• #4 Walking in the Footprints of the Sacred at Tremper Mound Preserve and the Great Portsmouth - Here you can visit what was the largest ceremonial earthwork complex ever constructed by the indigenous Hopewell culture over 2,000 years ago. Composed of multiple satellite earthwork sites connected by miles-long promenades, this complex spanned multiple states and multiple counties. We will explore what is left of these ancient monuments and take a look at the vast collections of masterful artworks placed within the earthen architecture of these sites at the Southern Ohio Museum in Downtown Portsmouth. This field trip is cultural history oriented with easy hiking and periodic caravaning.

• #5 Mosses of Elf Ear Barrens Preserve - Pleated Foxtail Moss, Grey Reindeer Lichen, Maidenhair Pocket Moss & Horn Cups
  Led by Bob Klips, Professor Emeritus at OSU, and author of the recently published book, “Common Mosses, Liverworts, and Lichens of Ohio.” For those of you wanting to dip your toe into the green world of mosses and lichens, here’s your chance to wet your feet with an expert teacher and field biologist at a true bryophyte and lichen hotspot. This field trip is naturalist-oriented with easy to moderate hiking.

Depart for home.