Brukner Nature Center - Special Events

Special Events

Brukner Nature Center's First Annual Photo Contest!

BNC's "Nature Through the Lens" Photo Contest is open to all photographers! Photos must be taken at Brukner Nature Center and can be of wildlife, plants, landscapes, or people enjoying the outdoors! Children 16 years old and under can enter our youth competition, while all other photographs will be juried in our general photo competition. Selected entries will be put on display in the Heidelberg Auditorium and for the youth competition in our new children's art gallery in the meeting room. Entries must be framed and delivered by September 8th and the opening will be held on September 25th with a special reception and Autumn Equinox Concert at 7pm. Prizes will be awarded for the regular and youth competitions and will be chosen by a jury. Those who wish to sell their photographs are welcome to do so, with proceeds going towards our wildlife. For more details on our rules and regulations for this competition download the entry form or call us at 698-6493. Have fun snapping away and enjoying all the beauty right here at Brukner Nature Center!

Future Naturalists Overnight Adventure!

Do you love camping? Do you love exploring forests with cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife? This overnight is perfect for you! We will be spending both days discovering the woods of John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve in Green County and learning the basics no leave no trace camping as we set up tents and cook our meals in the state park. Leave the confines of home and head out into the woods with us on this epic overnight! Join us for s'mores and adventure as we discover a different part of Ohio.

August 12 at 9am - August 13th at 4pm. Registration begins on May 1st; space is limited so call soon! Ages 12-14. Member fee $25.00, non-member fee: $35.00.

Brukner Nature Center's 5K Mosquito Run!

Registration Form

BNC’s first annual Mosquito Run will be held on Saturday, July 26. This challenging 5K course starts and finishes in the parking lot and winds up and down the woodland trails. Steep hills, rough terrain and voracious insects will be involved! All participants will enjoy yummy refreshments, great door prizes, a cool bandana to commemorate the event and awards to the swift! Pre-registration deadline and fee of $20 is due by July 7. Late and same day registration is $25. For more information call BNC at 937-698-6493, e-mail us at info@bruknernaturecentercenter.com, download a registration form at our website, www.bruknernaturecenter.com, or stop by and pick up your registration form today!

Creating Art in Nature!

Meet us at the picnic tables as we use the woods to inspire creativity. We'll have a craft planned for the day and help you and your kids put together neat pieces of artwork that can be taken home. Great for all ages and free and open to the public!

June 30th 2-3pm
July 17th 2-3pm
July 29th 2-3pm
August 18th 2-3pm

Summer Discovery Days!

Outdoor fun for the whole family! We'll be exploring the woods, stomping in the streams, digging in the soil, and meeting some of our Wildlife Ambassadors up close and personal! This is a chance for families to enjoy a guided nature program with a naturalist and utilize many of the resources BNC has to offer. Pre-registration requested. Open and free to the public.

Sunday, June 15th 2-4pm
Sunday, July 13th 2-4pm
Sunday, August 10th 2-4pm

Cincinnati Zoo Excursion!

BNC naturalists are excited to take you child on a one day trek to explore the wonderful world of animals at the Cincinnati Zoo. This is a chance for children to learn about biomes around the world and the diversity of wildlife this planet hosts! Kids will bring packed lunches and good walking shoes as we spend the entire day checking out everything from pachyderms to pythons! Join us for this special BNC program just for kids! We'll meet at BNC at 9am and return at 4:30pm. Space is limited so don't wait! Program fee includes admission to the zoo and transportation.

July 31st 9am - 4:30pm
Registration begins May 1st
Ages 8-11
Member fee: $20, non-member fee: $25

Summer Art Exhibit features Doug McLarty

Doug McLarty’s “Nature By Design” photographic series employ eye catching botanical designs, unusual floral combinations and whimsical creations to examine the rich nuances of nature. His artistic vision combines a sculptor’s sense of form, a painter’s sense of composition and a cinematographer’s sense of light to capture archetypal portraits of nature. For the past 40 years Doug McLarty has photographed landscape and botanical images throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Florida and the western United States. Much of his extensive portfolio was created using traditional black and white film capture and darkroom processing techniques.

Over the past 6 years Doug has gradually moved into digital photography and now makes digital images exclusively. Doug credits British sculptor, environmentalist and photographer Andy Goldsworthy and glass artist Dale Chihuly for inspiring his current works in the ‘Nature by Design’ series. Doug McLarty resides in Xenia, OH.

We are thrilled to have this awesome photography as our Summer Nature Art Exhibit in the Heidelberg Auditorium. The exhibit will open at an 8pm reception following the Summer Solstice Concert on June 26th and will run through September 21st. A percentage of the proceeds from the sales of this exhibit will support the mission of Brukner Nature Center.