Explore land, water, and history with River Fields!
River Fields is excited to partner with the Home of the Innocents for eight nature-based programs in 2026. Part of our mission is building the next generation of environmental stewards. We’re honored to be doing that with the Home. These programs are made possible through the generosity of River Fields’s Board of Trustees and members, as well as by grants from the LG & E and KU Foundation and the Louisville Water Foundation.
Program Sign up
Programs are free and available to members only. If you’re not a member, go to https://riverfields.org/ways-to-give/ to become one. Then, to secure your spot(s), email kristin@riverfields.org with the program name and how many guests. Reservations are required. Members can bring one guest free of charge to any programs.
Level of difficulty/accessibility is described for each program, but please email kristin@riverfields.org with questions!
Last fall's giant tree walk with local tree devote Joe Walker
Secrets of a late winter forest: Winter tree ID and more!
Sunday, February 22, 10:00 AM. Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm
Unlock the mysteries of trees in the deep winter with horticulturalist Renee Frith, and find clues of how to ID trees when they aren’t wearing leaves! Slow pace for about a mile with little elevation gain on a dirt trail with some uneven terrain.
Wildower and wildlife tour
Sunday, April 19, 10:00 AM. Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm
Follow wildlife biologist Gary Libby through the fresh spring landscape of Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm as he identifies native wildflowers. See if you can spot the once-endangered running Buffalo clover. Slow pace for about a mile with little elevation gain, on an earthen trail that goes over some uneven terrain.
Birding tour
Sunday, May 10, 10:00 AM. Hays Kennedy Park and Garvin Brown Nature Preserve
Take an ornithological odyssey with Lee Payne through Hays Kennedy Park and our Garvin Brown Nature Preserve to seek out songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. The walk will also include a brief talk about the rich history of the neighborhood, one of the area’s earliest free Black settlements. Slow-paced for about two miles on flat, smooth terrain that alternates between earthen trail and grass field.
Edyalmoor Estate tour
Sunday, June 28, 10:00 AM. Meetup at Kingfish on River Road
Come with biologist Gina Bergner to stroll and hear stories about the places, people, and plants that make up the historic wonder of the private estate of Edyalmoor. Slow pace, mostly flat, for less than a mile on grass.
Garvin Brown nature walk + cyanotype workshop
Sunday, July 12, 10:00 AM. Garvin Brown Nature Preserve
Learn from biologist Gina Bergner about the natural history of Garvin Brown and capture your experience by making a cyanotype print from natural materials you gather there! Slow pace for about two miles on flat, smooth terrain that alternates between dirt trail and grass field.
Paddling tour on Harrods Creek + waterways cleanup
August, date TBD, 10:00 AM. Harrods Creek, location TBD In partnership with River City Paddle Sports
Get out on the water, be a good waterway steward, and have a blast! We’re partnering once again with River City Paddle Sports to paddle our way down the creek while we talk about creek ecology, look for waterfowl, and do a little cleanup. This program requires getting in and out of a canoe and paddling slowly for about two hours. Beginners are welcome: Voyageur canoes hold several people and are very stable and easy to paddle. Personal orientation devices will be provided and required.
Monarch Butterfly Adventure
September, date TBD, 10:00 AM. Garvin Brown Nature Preserve In partnership with Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Immerse yourself in the magic of monarchs – from their astonishing migration to the plants they depend upon to their widespread cultural significance, presenter Bob Jones covers it all! We’ll start with a short classroom presentation at Waterfront Botanical Gardens and then proceed to Garvin Brown Preserve, nets and tags in hand so we can track the monarchs on their epic journey. The classroom portion is fully accessible. Slow pace for about two miles on flat, smooth terrain that alternates between dirt trail and grass field.
Fall Tree Walk
October, date TBD, 10:00 AM. Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm