Tuesdays on the Trail
Head outdoors on Tuesdays in June and July to discover our area’s unique biodiversity protected by Land Trust preserves. Each summer, local experts lead children on explorations of topics including archaeology, water ecology, animal tracks, tree identification, and more!
- Cost: FREE but only available for Land Trust members at the Trailblazer (Family) level or above. Not a Land Trust Member? Join today! You can also find additional adventures available for non-members here.
- Reservations: Land Trust members at the Trailblazer (Family) level or above only. Reservations are required. Space is limited. Please register using parent/guardian’s information (name on your Land Trust membership) and select spots for the number of children only. Adults do not need to reserve a spot for themselves. Registered participants will receive an email with full details closer to the event. There are no waitlists for these events. If spaces become available, registration will reopen so please check back if you’re interested in attending.
- Ages: 6-12 years. An accompanying adult is required for all programs.
- What to Bring: We recommend closed toe shoes, long pants, bug spray, sunscreen, and water.
- Time: All programs will be from 9-11 AM (unless otherwise noted)
Summer 2023 Schedule
Macroinvertebrates: Starting Life Underwater
Tuesday, June 6 at 9 AM
Did you know that many insects start their lives in the water? It’s true! While in their larval stage, many insects make their homes in streams, ponds, and lakes. During this Tuesday on the Trail, we’ll be learning about these critters, also known as macroinvertebrates. Naturalist Lynne Weninegar will lead our exploration of Fagan Creek at the Cleermont Trailhead of the Monte Sano Nature Preserve.
Activity Leader: Botanist and expert naturalist Lynne Weninegar
Location: Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Cleermont Trailhead) – 506 Cleermont Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Hunters in the Sky
Tuesday, June 13 at 9 AM
How are owls able to hunt at night? Just how do hawks spot their prey from over a mile away? Can a kestrel really hover in the air? Birds of prey are remarkably equipped to find, hunt, and capture their prey. During this Tuesday on the Trail, participants will learn about the adaptations that make these birds the hunters they are. Our friends with RISE Raptor Project Inc. will be with us for the morning at the Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve.
Location: Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve – 1263 U.S Hwy 72 East, Huntsville, AL 35811
Directions: Coming from Huntsville, cross Chapman Mountain on Hwy 72 and u-turn at Moores Mill Road. When safe, get into the merge lane on the right (plenty of time). When the silver guard rail ends, be ready to turn right onto the paved entrance. Drive through the gate and down the gravel road to the parking area at the bottom of the hill.
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Wildflowers and Everything Else
Tuesday, June 20 at 9 AM
Walking through the woods with a skilled and knowledgeable naturalist is a fantastic experience. During this Tuesday on the Trail, naturalist Randy Crouse will help participants learn about plants and animals the group sees along the trails of the Blevins Gap Nature Preserve. This is an opportunity not to be missed!
Activity Leader: Expert naturalist Randy Crouse
Location: Blevins Gap Nature Preserve – North (Fanning Trailhead) – 2275 Cecil Ashburn Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35802
Note: This preserve has several trailheads. Be sure you come to the right one! To get to the Fanning Trailhead from Huntsville, take Carl T. Jones Drive and turn onto Cecil Ashburn Dr. Proceed .4 miles to the entrance of the Southeast Church of the Nazarene (2275 Cecil Ashburn Dr.) The trail entrance is located in the north east corner of the parking lot behind the church.
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Fungi: Mushrooms are Cool
Tuesday, June 27 at 9 AM
The living organisms we’ll be learning about during this Tuesday on the Trail are neither plants nor animals – they’re fungus! Some of them we know by a more common name: Mushrooms. This event will be led by education committee member Jesse Akozbek of Feral Forging, a local organization dedicated to teaching people about the natural world.
Activity Leader: Forager and naturalist Jesse Akozbek
Location: Green Mountain Nature Preserve (Alum Hollow Trailhead) – 13800 South Shawdee Road, Huntsville, AL 35803
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Trees: More Than Just Really Big Plants
Tuesday, July 11 at 9 AM
Trees are some of the biggest – and most important – living things on Earth. During this Tuesday on the Trail, participants will learn what trees are and how they fill their role in the forest ecosystem. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to complete a simple art project.
Activity Leader: Tim Gels, Land Trust of North Alabama Education Director
Location: Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve – 1263 U.S Hwy 72 East, Huntsville, AL 35811
Directions: Coming from Huntsville, cross Chapman Mountain on Hwy 72 and u-turn at Moores Mill Road. When safe, get into the merge lane on the right (plenty of time). When the silver guard rail ends, be ready to turn right onto the paved entrance. Drive through the gate and down the gravel road to the parking area at the bottom of the hill.
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Exploring Hickory Cove Nature Preserve
Tuesday, July 18 at 9 AM
Hickory Cove Nature Preserve, Land Trust of North Alabama’s newest nature preserve, sits on more than 140 acres of the mountains to the east of Huntsville. During this Tuesday on the Trail, participants will explore nearly 2 miles of hillside trail, passing both natural and manmade points of interest. This isn’t a difficult hike, but it might not be appropriate for younger hikers. We’ll take a slow pace, but 2 miles is still 2 miles!
Activity Leader: Tim Gels, Land Trust of North Alabama Education Director
Location: Hickory Cove Nature Preserve – 1500 Trailhead Main St, Huntsville, AL 35811
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.
Rainbow Mountain: Rock Gardens and Beaches
Tuesday, July 25 at 9 AM
Rainbow Mountain, located near the heart of Madison, is the site of our last Tuesdays on the Trail event of the year. This walk will be an “out and back” trip, sticking to the ridgeline of the mountain. We’ll walk past Balance Rock, explore an ancient beach, and spend some time climbing around the boulders of a limestone rock garden.
Activity Leader: Tim Gels, Land Trust of North Alabama Education Director
Location: Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve – 230 Stoneway Trail, Madison, AL 35758
If this event is canceled due to weather or trail conditions, we will send a notification to the email address you use to register.