Come enjoy a kid-friendly, not-scary, evening filled with guided walks, live wildlife and costumed characters! Event is geared for kids ages pre-school - elementary. Trail guides will lead a group of 20 people along the gently rolling, luminary-lit trail, stopping at 6 stations along the way so you and your family can learn about the wild creatures of the night (bring your flashlights!). First available ticket for a trail time is 6:00pm and we will fill each remaining slot every 10 minutes, with the last group leaving at 8:00pm. Estimated time on the trails is 50 minutes. Remember to dress for the weather - entire event is outside!

PRE-SALE TICKETS ONLY - Sales begin on Thursday, October 1

Please call 937-698-6493 or email info@bruknernaturecenter.com. Payment will be due within 5 days (cash or check is preferred but can accept credit or debit card - a 3% processing fee will be applied to credit card payments). If payment is not received within 5 days, your spot will open for another group. Please note: you will not be able to add anyone the night of the event.

COST:

$5 per person for BNC Members * $7 per person for nonmembers

Children ages 2 and under are free!

TICKETS SENT VIA E-MAIL

Tickets will be emailed about 5 days prior to date booked. Arrival time, trail time, and departure time will be stated in this email. Please read it carefully as we have limited parking. Show your ticket when you arrive for your scheduled night (phone or print).

CANCELLATION POLICY

If groups decide to cancel, there will be no refund. If BNC cancels the event due to high wind or heavy rain, we will move your date to our “rain date” which will be Sunday, November 1. No refunds will be given if groups cannot make this alternate date

PLEASE NOTE: Entire BNC grounds (trails and building) will close at 3:00pm on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25 and October 31 and November 1 so staff can set-up for Haunted Woods.

Come enjoy a kid-friendly, not-scary, evening filled with guided walks, live wildlife and costumed characters! Event is geared for kids ages pre-school - elementary. Trail guides will lead a group of 20 people along the gently rolling, luminary-lit trail, stopping at 6 stations along the way so you and your family can learn about the wild creatures of the night (bring your flashlights!). First available ticket for a trail time is 6:00pm and we will fill each remaining slot every 10 minutes, with the last group leaving at 8:00pm. Estimated time on the trails is 50 minutes. Remember to dress for the weather - entire event is outside!

PRE-SALE TICKETS ONLY - Sales begin on Thursday, October 1

Please call 937-698-6493 or email info@bruknernaturecenter.com. Payment will be due within 5 days (cash or check is preferred but can accept credit or debit card - a 3% processing fee will be applied to credit card payments). If payment is not received within 5 days, your spot will open for another group. Please note: you will not be able to add anyone the night of the event.

COST:

$5 per person for BNC Members * $7 per person for nonmembers

Children ages 2 and under are free!

TICKETS SENT VIA E-MAIL

Tickets will be emailed about 5 days prior to date booked. Arrival time, trail time, and departure time will be stated in this email. Please read it carefully as we have limited parking. Show your ticket when you arrive for your scheduled night (phone or print).

CANCELLATION POLICY

If groups decide to cancel, there will be no refund. If BNC cancels the event due to high wind or heavy rain, we will move your date to our “rain date” which will be Sunday, November 1. No refunds will be given if groups cannot make this alternate date

PLEASE NOTE: Entire BNC grounds (trails and building) will close at 3:00pm on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25 and October 31 and November 1 so staff can set-up for Haunted Woods.

Come enjoy a kid-friendly, not-scary, evening filled with guided walks, live wildlife and costumed characters! Event is geared for kids ages pre-school - elementary. Trail guides will lead a group of 20 people along the gently rolling, luminary-lit trail, stopping at 6 stations along the way so you and your family can learn about the wild creatures of the night (bring your flashlights!). First available ticket for a trail time is 6:00pm and we will fill each remaining slot every 10 minutes, with the last group leaving at 8:00pm. Estimated time on the trails is 50 minutes. Remember to dress for the weather - entire event is outside!

PRE-SALE TICKETS ONLY - Sales begin on Thursday, October 1

Please call 937-698-6493 or email info@bruknernaturecenter.com. Payment will be due within 5 days (cash or check is preferred but can accept credit or debit card - a 3% processing fee will be applied to credit card payments). If payment is not received within 5 days, your spot will open for another group. Please note: you will not be able to add anyone the night of the event.

COST:

$5 per person for BNC Members * $7 per person for nonmembers

Children ages 2 and under are free!

TICKETS SENT VIA E-MAIL

Tickets will be emailed about 5 days prior to date booked. Arrival time, trail time, and departure time will be stated in this email. Please read it carefully as we have limited parking. Show your ticket when you arrive for your scheduled night (phone or print).

CANCELLATION POLICY

If groups decide to cancel, there will be no refund. If BNC cancels the event due to high wind or heavy rain, we will move your date to our “rain date” which will be Sunday, November 1. No refunds will be given if groups cannot make this alternate date

PLEASE NOTE: Entire BNC grounds (trails and building) will close at 3:00pm on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25 and October 31 and November 1 so staff can set-up for Haunted Woods.

Join us for our Dine to Donate at Hickory River, located at 135 S. Garber Dr. in Tipp City, on Wednesday, October 21 from 11:00am – 9:00pm. Hickory River will donate a percentage of your food bill to help support our Wildlife Ambassadors at BNC.

Simply mention Brukner Nature Center when you order – so easy! Good on dine-in, carry-out or drive-thru orders.

Please make plans to join us for the 2026 Art of Nature event on Sunday, October 4 from 4:30pm-7:30pm and support Brukner Nature Center’s mission of wildlife conservation through environmental education. Come meet our featured artist, Sharon Hester and discover her passion for pencil & graphite art as you enjoy local wines, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and unique silent auction items.

Sharon Hester is a wildlife biologist and artist based in Lake City, Florida. She began her professional career with an internship at Brukner Nature Center, and now works as a biologist for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sharon combines her passion for wildlife with a lifelong love of drawing to create detailed colored pencil and graphite artwork. Her work reflects her deep connection to wildlife and the joy she finds in observing and honoring the natural world. Sharon is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Society of Animal Artists.

Reservations will begin in August - stay tuned!

“Drawn from the Wild” by Sharon Hester

At 7:00, enjoy homemade refreshments featuring local ingredients while you delight in our new exhibit of colored pencil and graphite masterpieces by our Art of Nature featured artist, Sharon Hester. Sharon is a wildlife biologist and artist based in Lake City, Florida. What’s cool is that she began her professional career with an internship at Brukner Nature Center! She now works as a biologist for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sharon combines her passion for wildlife with a lifelong love of drawing to create detailed colored pencil and graphite artwork. Her work reflects her deep connection to wildlife and the joy she finds in observing and honoring the natural world. Sharon is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Society of Animal Artists.

At 7:15, we’ll settle into our seats to hear from our featured speaker, Katie Weddle, BNC Wildlife Educator, sharing her love of bats and their amazing adaptations, natural history and conservation!  And I’m sure you’ll have the chance to meet our ambassador bat as well! 

Admission for this seasonal celebration is free, so plan to attend and bring a friend!

Join us for our Dine to Donate at Buffalo Wings & Rings, located at 989 E. Ash St. in Piqua, on Wednesday, September 23 from 5:00 – 8:00pm. Buffalo Wings & Rings will donate a percentage of your food bill to help support our Wildlife Ambassadors at BNC. Simply mention Brukner Nature Center or use code “DONATE” at checkout – so easy! Good on dine-in or carry-out orders.

Our Interpretive Building will be closed on Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. Our trails, however, will remain open from sunrise to sunset so stop out for a hike with your family and friends!

Join us for our Dine to Donate at Chipotle, located at 1934 W. Main St. in Troy, on Wednesday, August 26 from 4:00 – 8:00pm.  Chipotle will donate a percentage of your food bill to help support our Wildlife Ambassadors at BNC.  Simply mention Brukner Nature Center or show a flyer at the register before you checkout – so easy!  If you prefer to do pick-up, please use code L4GLXCM.  Good on dine-in or carry-out orders.  

Click here for a flyer!

Calling all adults with an interest in becoming a trailguide at Brukner Nature Center for our school groups.  This is a great opportunity for adults of all ages who simply want to get more involved at BNC!  We are continually in need of kind folks who enjoy the outdoors and sharing that love with kids!  Groups are typically preschool age – elementary age students but occasionally we do have older groups.  Training for handling the wildlife ambassadors and fun tips on what to do during the hike, will be provided by staff.  Most fieldtrips are 1 to 2 hours in length weekdays and weekends.  You just need a great attitude, a burning curiosity and a desire to show kids how to learn about the wild woods, fields and streams!  It’s really fun and quite rewarding!   Interested adults may complete a volunteer form at www.bruknernaturecenter.com/volunteering.

Please call 937-698-6493 or email info@bruknernaturecenter.com if you plan to attend.

No obligation – but we hope you get hooked – it’s so rewarding!

Join us on Friday, August 21st as we hike in search of bats and record their unique acoustics. We will also discuss common bat myths while meeting a real live bat! Bats are one of the most misunderstood night-flying creatures. Even though they are rarely seen, Ohio is home to 13 different species that surprisingly help us. From eating pests that destroy crops to devouring disease-carrying mosquitoes, bats are beneficial to have around!

Registration is required and limited to 20 people.

Please call 937-698-6493 or email info@bruknernaturecenter.com if you would like to attend our Night Hike with Katie Weddle, BNC Wildlife Educator. Deadline to register and pay is Wednesday, August 19 by 5:00pm. Payment is non-refundable if you are unable to attend.

$5/person for BNC Member

$7/person for nonmembers

Camp runs from August 3 - 7

Camp runs Monday - Friday from 9:30am - 11:30am

Did you know that a snake’s venom can help us medically? They have a protein called contortrostatin that we can use to treat cancers! Or that a hawk can see a mouse scurrying on the other side of a football field? Have you ever heard that black bears are endangered in Ohio? We’ll learn all of these amazing things and more as we get “Wild About Wildlife”! Join in the fun as we hike through the woods to use our ‘animal senses’, dissect owl pellets, go creek stomping, and more!

COST FOR EACH SUMMER CAMP:

$75/child for BNC Members or $100/child for nonmembers

Deadline to register is the Wednesday before each camp begins. See pre-registration details to the right.

How to register for camp:

• Email info@bruknernaturecenter.com or call Monday – Friday at 937-698-6493.

• Provide your child’s name, age, grade entering in the fall, phone number, email, and shirt size (if ordering a shirt).

• Wait for an email to confirm pre-registration and follow payment details and deadline that is provided (5 days to make your payment).

Withdrawal Policy: Reimbursement of payment registration is not available for any program cancellation within two (2) weeks of the start of a program. Cancellation occurring more than 2 weeks prior to the start of a program, will receive a 50% refund.

Camp frun from July 27 - 31

Camp runs Monday - Friday from 9:30am - 11:30am

Did you know that a snake’s venom can help us medically? They have a protein called contortrostatin that we can use to treat cancers! Or that a hawk can see a mouse scurrying on the other side of a football field? Have you ever heard that black bears are endangered in Ohio? We’ll learn all of these amazing things and more as we get “Wild About Wildlife”! Join in the fun as we hike through the woods to use our ‘animal senses’, dissect owl pellets, go creek stomping, and more!

COST FOR EACH SUMMER CAMP:

$75/child for BNC Members or $100/child for nonmembers

Deadline to register is the Wednesday before each camp begins. See pre-registration details to the right.

How to register for camp:

• Email info@bruknernaturecenter.com or call Monday – Friday at 937-698-6493.

• Provide your child’s name, age, grade entering in the fall, phone number, email, and shirt size (if ordering a shirt).

• Wait for an email to confirm pre-registration and follow payment details and deadline that is provided (5 days to make your payment).

Withdrawal Policy: Reimbursement of payment registration is not available for any program cancellation within two (2) weeks of the start of a program. Cancellation occurring more than 2 weeks prior to the start of a program, will receive a 50% refund.

Join us for our Dine to Donate on Thursday, July 23 at Fifth Street Brewpub, located at 1600 E. Fifth St., in Dayton. 

The event is from 4:00 – 10:00pm and what is cool is that we will be raffling off items donated from Fifth Street Brewpub and BNC from 5:30 – 8:30pm; don’t worry, you don’t need to be present to win!  Fifth Street Brewpub will also donate a percentage of your food bill to help support our Wildlife Ambassadors at BNC.

Thank you for your support!

Camp runs Monday - Friday from 9:30am - 11:30am

There are many types of scientists who like to study wildlife. Ornithologists enjoy looking at birds with binoculars. Herpetologists roll over logs to find salamanders and snakes. Entomologists like to sweep nets across prairies in search of insects. And, mammologists can identify tracks made by mammals in the mud. Join us this summer as campers will get to become these wildlife scientists! We will use microscopes to look closely at bugs, observe the behaviors of the live wildlife we meet, plus much more! These activities and many more will help the campers hone-in on their naturalist skills!

COST FOR EACH SUMMER CAMP:

$75/child for BNC Members or $100/child for nonmembers

Deadline to register is the Wednesday before each camp begins. See pre-registration details to the right.

How to register for camp:

• Email info@bruknernaturecenter.com or call Monday – Friday at 937-698-6493.

• Provide your child’s name, age, grade entering in the fall, phone number, email, and shirt size (if ordering a shirt).

• Wait for an email to confirm pre-registration and follow payment details and deadline that is provided (5 days to make your payment).

Withdrawal Policy: Reimbursement of payment registration is not available for any program cancellation within two (2) weeks of the start of a program. Cancellation occurring more than 2 weeks prior to the start of a program, will receive a 50% refund.

PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY FULL

For kids entering grades 6 - 12th

BNC has a variety of habitats and diverse wildlife in part because we’re next to the Scenic Stillwater River. Known for its slow moving, clean and clear water, the Stillwater River is home to many pollution-intolerant fish and macroinvertebrate species. Join us as we explore while tubing the calm and cool waters; along the way we’ll use nets to catch critters, wear snorkeling masks to observe the underwater habitat and watch for mammals and birds along the shorelines! Maximum of 8 kids each day. Lunch will be provided.

Cost is $30 for BNC Members and $40 for nonmembers

Registration Guidelines:

Email info@bruknernaturecenter.com or call Monday – Friday at 937-698-6493. Provide your child’s name, age, grade entering in the fall, phone number and email. Wait for an email to confirm pre registration and follow payment details and deadline that is provided.

Withdrawal Policy: Reimbursement of payment registration is not available for any program cancellation within two (2) weeks of the start of a program. Cancellation occurring more than 2 weeks prior to the start of a program, will receive a 50% refund.

CAMP IS CURRENTLY FULL

Camp runs Monday - Friday from 9:30am - 11:30am

There are many types of scientists who like to study wildlife. Ornithologists enjoy looking at birds with binoculars. Herpetologists roll over logs to find salamanders and snakes. Entomologists like to sweep nets across prairies in search of insects. And, mammologists can identify tracks made by mammals in the mud. Join us this summer as campers will get to become these wildlife scientists! We will use microscopes to look closely at bugs, observe the behaviors of the live wildlife we meet, plus much more! These activities and many more will help the campers hone-in on their naturalist skills!

COST FOR EACH SUMMER CAMP:

$75/child for BNC Members or $100/child for nonmembers

Deadline to register is the Wednesday before each camp begins. See pre-registration details to the right.

How to register for camp:

• Email info@bruknernaturecenter.com or call Monday – Friday at 937-698-6493.

• Provide your child’s name, age, grade entering in the fall, phone number, email, and shirt size (if ordering a shirt).

• Wait for an email to confirm pre-registration and follow payment details and deadline that is provided (5 days to make your payment).

Withdrawal Policy: Reimbursement of payment registration is not available for any program cancellation within two (2) weeks of the start of a program. Cancellation occurring more than 2 weeks prior to the start of a program, will receive a 50% refund.

BNC’s Interpretive Building will be closed on Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. Our trails, however, will remain open from sunrise to sunset so after celebrating with family bring everyone out and take a stroll along our woodland trails!

‍ ‘Kenya Adventure’ by Michael McKay and Textile Art by Lisa Hoblit

At 7:00, enjoy homemade refreshments featuring local ingredients while you delight in our new art exhibit featuring the artistic quilts of Lisa Hoblit!  Lisa is a self-taught textile artist who has been transforming fabric into quilts for many years.  Although she continues to use traditional quilting designs for their classic appeal, she also explores improvisational and organic shapes inspired by the surrounding natural world.  Lately Lisa has been exploring fabric collage accented with thread painting.  Using a fabric collage method to create animals, plants, and scenery generates layers of texture and complexity suggestive of those found in nature.  Using small bits of fabric gives new life to those little pieces that would otherwise end up in the landfill.  Lisa plans to continue to quilt for both artistic expression and stress therapy for many more years.  You can find her wares in her Etsy shop at the following link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Quiltinnovation

At 7:15, we’ll settle into our seats to enjoy an engaging account of BNC Wildlife Educator, Michael McKay’s recent trip to Kenya to visit the Mutinda Wildlife Center.  We have been lucky to host several staff members from the Center at BNC for internships over the years and were delighted when we received a Hartstein-Favorite Foundation grant to send Michael to visit and learn from them!  Sit back and enjoy the adventure!

Admission for this seasonal celebration is free, so plan to attend and bring a friend!

Join us for our Dine to Donate at Old Scratch Pizza, located at 19 E. Race St. in Troy, on Wednesday, June 17 from 4:00 - 9:00pm. Old Scratch Pizza will donate 20% of all sales to Brukner Nature Center when a flyer is mentioned or presented. If ordering online, please use code GIVE20. Click here for a flyer!

For kids entering grades 6 - 12th

BNC has a variety of habitats and diverse wildlife in part because we’re next to the Scenic Stillwater River. Known for its slow moving, clean and clear water, the Stillwater River is home to many pollution-intolerant fish and macroinvertebrate species. Join us as we explore while tubing the calm and cool waters; along the way we’ll use nets to catch critters, wear snorkeling masks to observe the underwater habitat and watch for mammals and birds along the shorelines! Maximum of 8 kids each day. Lunch will be provided.

Program is Full - 2nd date is set for Wednesday, July 8. See details on that date.

BNC’s Interpretive Building will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. Our trails, however, will remain open from sunrise to sunset so gather family and friends and come out and hike the beautiful woodland trails!

Join us for our Dine to Donate on Wednesday, May 20 at Buffalo Wild Wings located at 2313 W. Main St. in Troy.  The event is from 4:00pm – 9:00pm so stop out for dinner and Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 15% of your food bill to help support our Wildlife Ambassadors at BNC.  Good on dine-in or carry-out. 

Must show a digital or printed flyer to your server when you place your order - click here for flyer. 

Thank you for your support!

Come join intrepid BNC staff, Bird Club Members and volunteers as we sit in a 17 foot circle in the parking lot and tally every bird species seen or heard from that small island!  This annual 12-hour fundraising event is held to share the fun and excitement of birdwatching with others, to encourage an interest in this lifelong hobby and to raise funds for our Wildlife Ambassadors.  Did you know that you can see over 400 different bird species in the state of Ohio!!  How cool is that?!  Come learn the call of the eastern phoebe, try out a spotting scope, then make a pledge for each species we record and support our mission!  We typically record 50-60 species in this one day!  Every pledge adds up to help us feed our birds each year!

Join us for this month’s Dine to Donate on, Wednesday, April 22 , at Hickory River Smokehouse, located at 135 S. Garber Dr., Tipp City.

The event is from 11:00am – 9:00pm.  Hickory River Smokehouse will donate 20% of the sales to help support our wildlife ambassadors when a flyer is presented at check-out or shown on your smart phone, or simply mention Brukner Nature Center – how easy is that!  This is good for dine-in, carry-out or drive-thru.   

Click here for a flyer!

If you enjoy running or hiking on woodland trails, you’ll love BNC’s 5K Run Wild for Wildlife on Saturday, April 18! The race winds through blooming woodlands along trails with steep hills and rough terrain – a challenging and beautiful course! Held rain or shine. Pre-registration event only!

ENTRY FEE with a cool T-shirt

Deadline: Wednesday, April 1

• $25/person for BNC Members or $30/person for nonmembers

• Registrations must be postmarked by Thursday, March 26 or left in our drop-box by Wednesday, April 1.

ENTRY FEE with NO cool T-shirt

Deadline: Wednesday, April 15

• $20/person for BNC Members or $25/person for nonmembers

• Registrations must be postmarked by Thursday, April 9 or left in our drop-box by Wednesday, April 15.

Registration forms are available at www.bruknernaturecenter.com/5k-run. Encourage your family and friends to join you and make it a day to remember!

Geared just for students in 5th – 12th grade who are members of Brukner Nature Center and have an interest in birding. High quality binoculars and field guides are provided for meetings and field trips!

As waterfowl migration begins to wind down the warmer temperatures often begin bringing in the smaller migrators! Many of the songbirds arriving early in this month wintered in the southern parts of the country including tree swallows, hermit thrushes, and yellow-rumped warblers while later in the month we see the arrival of some of the first neotropical species including various vireos, warblers and orioles! Join us as we hike the BNC woods keeping our eyes high in the trees where many of these species like to rest on their journey north.

Please contact Brian for more detailed information at brian@bruknernaturecenter.com!

We have BIG News to Share... Miss June is retiring this spring so she can spend more time with her family and grandkids (who live on opposite coasts). As you all know, Miss June is PEEP! She coordinates, teaches, writes lesson plans and remembers every student she has had for the past 17 years as the Director of Education (33 years teaching PEEP)! Her enthusiasm to bring the wonders of wildlife and nature to all kiddos is so magical and endearing. Miss June has a gift for teaching and inspiring others and we thank her for choosing to do that here at Brukner Nature Center!

To honor Miss June, we are hosting an Open House at Brukner Nature Center on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00am – 12:00pm in the Meeting Room! Anyone wishing to say good-bye to Miss June is encouraged to stop out, write your well wishes, or share a memory/photo as we celebrate and reflect on the huge impact Miss June has had over the years. Written notes and photos can be dropped off at the front desk or email them to allison.drieling@gmail.com. Miss June would love to see all the friendly faces that made her smile every day here at BNC.

We hope you can make it!