The University of Lynchburg’s Claytor Nature Center in Bedford County will celebrate its 25th anniversary from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. The event is free and open to the public, and the rain date is Sunday, Oct. 8.
The event will feature a scavenger hunt, art demonstrations, guided hikes, and tours of Cloverlea Farmhouse and the Belk Astronomical Observatory from 3-5 p.m. In addition to various vendors, there will be displays showcasing the research of University of Lynchburg students.
One of them is Maggie Kicklighter ’24, a Westover Honors Fellow and environmental sciences and sustainability major who developed a story map for the center over the summer.
From 5-7 p.m., there will be live music on the farmhouse lawn. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Porter House Catering.
Check out Claytor’s website for more information about this and other events, including workshops, retreats, and summer programs.
Claytor is open daily from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and for special events. A new membership and entry fee program helps support and maintain the research and recreation facility. Access to Claytor is free for University of Lynchburg students, faculty, and staff.
The late A. Boyd Claytor III donated the 18th-century Cloverlea Farm and farmhouse to then-Lynchburg College in 1998 to serve as an education and research center for environmental study and to preserve the land for future generations. In 2016, Lynchburg College alumnus Bob Kibler donated 21 acres of land to expand the Claytor Nature Center to its current 491 acres.
Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Claytor contains freshwater streams, woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, rare plants, wildlife, and a portion of the Big Otter River. Claytor also boasts a hiking trail system, small-group campground, and amphitheater.
