Details

There are over 25 species of snakes in LBL, only 4 of which are venomous. We’ll teach you how to recognize some common native snakes, including the venomous ones, and how to share the outdoors with these misunderstood creatures.  Program free with NS admission.

Would you like a guided tour of the animal exhibits in our backyard? Let one of our naturalists give you the inside scoop on the stories and habits of our resident wildlife, including the red wolves, owls, and bobcat, just to name a few.   Program free with NS admission.

Surprise, gotcha!! Stealthy animals such as bobcats, owls, and wolves sneak up and surprise their prey under the cover of darkness. Unlike ninjas, however, these animals eat the victims of their attacks. Meet a few of "nature’s ninjas" up close and discover the secrets of their wily ways. 

In honor of National Get Outdoors Day there will be Free Admission to Woodlands Nature Station!

Get up close and personal with reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, salamanders, and turtles. We’ll introduce you to several ambassadors from the cold-blooded world as we explore the fascinating ways these slimy and scaly critters survive.  *Ideal for Home Educators   Program free with NS admission.

Happy Birthday!! LBL is 50 years old and we are having a party. Join us and our resident animals as we celebrate 50 years of conservation at LBL. There will be puppet shows, special live animal programs, games, crafts, and special visits by the party grand master, "Smokey Bear," throughout the day. Join us for all or any of the day’s programs and activities listed below.  Program will be held rain or shine.  Program free with NS admission

Meet Smokey Bear – Smokey will make scheduled appearances throughout the day.  Bring the kids to meet Smokey and pose for some great pictures.  Free with NS admission.

11:30am - Eagle Encounter  – Ever wanted to meet a live eagle up close and personal!? Come learn all about eagles and their conservation history from special guest Eileen Wicker, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, who will be presenting a rescued bald eagle.   Free with NS admission.

1pm - “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” Puppet Show  –  Do you know the real story of the “Three Little Pigs”? Come to this puppet show to meet Mr. Alexander T. Wolf, who will tell his side of this classic fairy tale. Ideal for Home Educators.  Free with NS admission.

2pm - Eagle Encounter –  Ever wanted to meet a live eagle up close and personal!? Come learn all about eagles and their conservation history from special guest Eileen Wicker, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, who will be presenting a rescued bald eagle.   Free with NS admission.

3pm - Restoring Our Roots –   Travel back into LBL's history with us to discover an endangered habitat called the "Barrens."  To help us discover this threatened habitat, we will meet some live animals that make the "Barrens" their home, such as barn owl, pine snake, groundhog, turkeys, and more. In the present, you can see some of the restored “Barrens” that the Land Between the Lakes has been returning to its original glory. Ideal for home educators.  Free with NS admission.

6-8:30pm - Conservation Canoe Trip – Join us for a scenic canoe trip on one of Lake Barkley’s bays. As we search for the lake’s wildlife visitors, we will learn more about the conservation stories of some of the wild residents, such as beaver, eagle, osprey and more. Beginners are welcome!  $25 per canoe. Cost does not include same day NS admission. NS closes at 5pm. Registration limited. Reservations and full deposits required. Call (270)-924-2020 to reserve your space.

Join us for this tour featuring critters that have journeyed “back from the brink” of extinction, such as the bald eagle, white-tailed deer, red wolves, and more.  Free with NS admission.

LBL hosts the biggest land mammal in the US (bison) and the smallest (pygmy shrew). It has the largest bird (pelican) and the smallest (ruby-throated hummingbird) in Kentucky/Tennessee. Get up close and personal with some of LBL’s monsters and miniatures, such as our giant snapping turtles and our tiny screech owl, when you visit Nature Station.  Program free with NS admission.

Would you like a guided tour of the animal exhibits in our backyard? Let one of our naturalists give you the inside scoop on the stories and habits of our resident wildlife, including the red wolves, owls, and bobcat, just to name a few.  Program free with NS admission.

The search to find ‘The Voice” of the Animal Kingdom is on! Join us at Nature Station for our spin-off of the hit TV show, “The Voice.” We will learn about animal communication as we watch different animal voices battle it out for the title of “Best Voice of the Animal Kingdom.” Come help us decide which animal is worthy of this grand title.  Program free with NS admission.

Celebrate the amazing spectacle of these tiny birds. On Friday evening, enjoy dinner in our backyard gardens amongst the hummingbirds. Then, join us for the main festival,  Sat. nd Sun. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Land Between The Lakes, this year’s Hummingbird Festival will include fun programs, exhibits,and activities centered around the history of hummingbirds, as well as the importance of protecting them into the future. See the listings below for more information.   $6 for adults; $4 for kids ages 5-12; Fee for ages 4 and under

Fri., Aug. 2:  6-8pm - Dinner with the Hummingbirds Have you ever dined while surrounded by dozens of hummingbirds? Enjoy a delicious catered meal while you sit outside amongst these feathered wonders, who are relishing in their own tasty meal at our backyard feeders.  Also, see an up-close demonstration of a tiny hummingbird being banded for the purpose of studying and conserving these amazing creatures.   $20 per person. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.

Sat., & Sun. Aug. 3 & 4 - 10am-4pm - Hummingbird Festival  If you like hummingbirds, delight in watching more of these flying gems in one place than you can count! This year, we will be focusing on the “Past, Present, and Future” of hummingbirds, as well as other native animals whose natural histories have been discovered through public education. Stop by anytime, as there will be a variety of programs, demonstrations, and activities going on throughout the weekend. Bring the whole family…there will be plenty for kids to do too! Be sure to check online for further updates about the weekend’s schedule of programs and activities. Program will be held rain or shine.

Did you know red wolves used to roam throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and most of the Southeast? What happened to them? Visit with our resident red wolves and learn the story of one of the most incredible animals to inhabit the South. We'll also discuss how they slipped to the brink of extinction and their challenging road to recovery.  Program free with NS admission.

PEEE-YEW!!  What’s that smell? Some animals choose to bathe while others just plain stink! Join us at Nature Station to learn about animals that don’t have the best perfumes. You will also meet some live examples!  Program free with NS admission.

A what? A whistle-pig? First hint: it’s not a pig! Second hint: it can whistle! Third hint: it can make you “chuck-le”! Still not sure? You’ll have to come to this program and meet a real “whistle-pig” to find out what kind of animal it is.  Program free with NS admission.