Spring Nature Safari

Exploring the Hills of Southern Ohio

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! 

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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. On Saturday we will host expert led field trips to some incredibly diverse areas searching for wildflowers. We we will also explore the beautiful forest canopy and understory, where we can find native trees and shrubs. This is an excellent time to spot returning nesting wood warblers, including Cerulean warblers, Worm-eating warblers, Blue grosbeaks, and whip-poor-wills. We may even catch a glimpse of early migrants traveling through the area on their way to breeding grounds further north. Additionally, we will organize specialized trips to uncover the hidden wonders of the region. These trips will focus on finding various plants, as well as herps, salamanders, snakes, fish, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and a wide range of other wildlife, some of which are only found in the hills of Southeast Ohio. We hope you will join us on this exciting adventure!


Your registration fee of $175 includes two buffet dinners on Friday and Saturday night, conveniently served in the lodge ballroom before our engaging keynote presentations. You will have the option to purchase a to-go breakfast and bagged lunch for your field trip on Saturday. We are still working on the agenda for the weekend so that we can open registration in late January. 


Lodging: You may call to reserve your lodge room or cabin now at 1-800-282-7275 and be sure to use the code “Nature Safari Block” to get your discounted rate until 3/1/26. After that date, discounted rates may not apply. Camping is available as well.


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 in the Hills of Shawnee and Ohio TNC / Edge of Appalachia preserve system. In addition, we visit Kamama Prairie, one of the Arc of Appalachia preserves. Our home base is at the Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center.


2026 Nature Safari Weekend

May 1-3, 2026 | Scioto & Adams Counties, Ohio, with basecamp at Shawnee Lodge

  • 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.  Lunches on-site. 
    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 nighttime activities are weather dependant and will be announced during the weekend.

  • Sunday Wrap-Up:
    Early Bird Walk around the lodge
    Optional breakfast buffet and farewell.

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.

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