Our Bucket Raffle proceeds will benefit Friends of Scioto Brush Creek. The mission of FoSBC is to maintain and improve the water quality of Scioto Brush Creek through education, awareness and involvement of local residents. Founded 1997, Non-profit status in 2006.
Spring Nature Safari ~ May 1-3, 2026
Exploring the Hills of Southern Ohio. Registration is open, visit the link below!
Join us at the Shawnee State Lodge & Conference Center, nestled amidst the beauty of Shawnee State Forest. This event offers a perfect blend of expert-led field trips, engaging presentations, exciting night excursions (weather permitting), and lively social gatherings. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist, a family seeking an unforgettable outdoor experience, or simply someone who loves the great outdoors, this event is designed just for you. Come and immerse yourself in nature’s wonders!
We are thrilled to announce our return to Shawnee on the weekend of
May 1-3, 2026 for the Spring Nature Safari: Exploring the Hills of Southern Ohio. Spring is the ideal time to witness the incredible diversity of life found in Shawnee State Forest, Adams County and surrounding areas. Our primary objective will be to observe the vibrant Spring native wildflowers and orchids that adorn the landscape. Our home base will be the Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center, providing a comfortable and convenient location for our exploration. Our past safaris have proven that there is always something new and fascinating to discover over the weekend.
Registration is open! Your
registration fee of $185 includes two buffet dinners on Friday and Saturday night, two Friday and Saturday evening keynote presentations, Saturday day trips and evening hikes weather permitting. You have the option to purchase a to-go breakfast and bagged lunch for your field trip on Saturday at an additional cost or bring your own. Link is below.
Lodging: You may call to reserve your lodge room or cabin at Shawnee Lodge at 1-800-282-7275 and be sure to use the code Nature Safari Block. I believe they have a few bunk rooms in the lodge and cabins open. Camping is available as well. We have a block of discounted rooms reserved at the Holiday Inn in Portsmouth until April 28. You can click here to register: Spring Nature Safari. If you would like to call the hotel, let the front desk know that you are with the Spring Nature Safari block or the block code SNS. Hotel phone number is 740-354-7711 and front desk agents are available 24/7. Holiday Inn is about 11-12 miles from Shawnee.
Due to facility obligations, refunds can not be offered
6 weeks before the event.
2026 Nature Safari Weekend - Registration Link Below!
May 1-3, 2026 | Scioto & Adams Counties, Ohio, with our basecamp at Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center in Portsmouth, OH.
Day Trips: On Saturday, expert-led field trips will visit diverse areas to search for wildflowers and explore the forest canopy and understory for native trees and shrubs. Participants will see many common plants, orchids, and scads of wildflowers, along with specialized trips focusing on birds, herps, salamanders, butterflies, moths, and any other local wildlife we can find! It's also a good opportunity to spot nesting wood warblers such as Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, Worm-eating Warblers, Blue Grosbeaks, Chuck-will’s-widows, whip-poor-wills, and possibly early migrants passing through.
- Friday Evening Welcome & Program:
Check-in and registration 4:30 pm.
Pizza Buffet at 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
7:15 Welcome
Presentation by Brian Jorg, The Wonderful Diversity of Southern Ohio’s Wildflowers.
Brian will take us on a visual journey through southern Ohio’s rich and diverse wildflower display. He will cover some well-known favorites as well as the botanical gems that are a rare find. Covering orchids, trillium, iris and everything in between, this photographic trip through southern Ohio’s will be a great pre-cursor to any spring hike. Brian F Jorg is the Native Plant Manager at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Bowyer Farm, where he leads initiatives including pollinator projects and the cultivation of over 300 native plant species for conservation and public sales. He also manages the Oak Program, growing thousands of oak trees annually for community projects, and oversees bird banding and avian population monitoring at the wetland, which has documented 211 bird species to date. - Saturday Field Trips & Dinner and Presentation:
Guided day hikes begin 8:00 - 8:45 am. We will be exploring rich, diverse ecosystems to find interesting flora and fauna. The registration link has available lunch or breakfast options at an additional cost.
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner buffet
7:15 - Announcements
Presentation by John Howard, Timber Rattlesnakes, Mysterious Icons of the Wilderness.
John, an expert in local ecology, will share his knowledge about Timber Rattlesnakes with us. He will also share information about current research projects and his personal experience participating and studying these exotic, beautiful and valuable woodland species. John is a freelance naturalist and wildlife/nature photographer and researcher who specializes in prairie ecology, butterflies, botany, and herpetology and is adept in many other facets of the great outdoors. An avid conservationist and one of Ohio’s leading naturalists, John is a board member of the Appalachian Wildlife Research Institute and works closely with his brother Vince Howard on research projects involving timber rattlesnakes, kirtlands snakes and other animals. - Optional night-time activities are weather and wildlife dependant and will be announced during the weekend.
- Sunday Wrap-Up and Farewells:
Optional early Bird Walks around the lodge
Safari Vendors & Exhibitors
Interested in being a vendor or exhibitor? Email Kathy at for approval and details at info@midwestnativeplants.org.
- Ann Geise Art
- Natives in Harmony
- Midnight Maille Weaver
- Nora Steele Art
- OhiYo Jewelry
- Ohio State University Tick Lab - The latest info on Ticks.
What Made It Special in 2025
We had a fantastic time at this event, which attracted approximately 165 attendees over the weekend and an additional 30 who came on Sunday to hear Doug Tallamy speak. It went so well, we hope to be back again next year, in 2026. Subscribe to our mailing list to be alerted first of all events hosted by the Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc.
This weekend was in honor of Cheryl Harner, past trip leader, speaker and team member who left us far too soon. We were fortunate enough to be able to donate $1,500 in Cheryl Harner’s honor to the Ohio Nature Conservancy, Edge of Appalachia System, one of Cheryl’s preferred beneficiaries, from event proceeds. Additionally, we utilized $1,500 to establish the Cheryl B. Harner Wonder Fund, a scholarship fund specifically designed for individuals aged 18 and above.
We were delighted to welcome three students to the event using our White Oak Scholarship, which we offer to young individuals passionate about nature who are under the age of 18 and can attend the event accompanied by an adult.
We want to thank all of you who worked the weekend by offering presentations, leading day and/or evening field trips, that made this event a great success. And most of all to our attendees! Enjoy this video created by one of our trip leaders Don Cipollini, who co-lead a trip with Dave Todt to Raven Rock Nature Preserve.
Note: This area is accessible by permit only from ODNR.
Bloodroot
Courtyard watercolor, Wendy Partridge
What’s Next?
Planning is already underway for future Safari events—featuring a similar loop of presentations, explorations, and community engagement. Want to be among the first to know? Join our mailing list or contact us for updates.
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
~ Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
