News

Due to icy trail conditions last week, we postponed the Groundhog Hike. But we’re gearing up for it this SUNDAY, FEB. 13. Come on out for an invigorating hike with plenty of time to head home and tune in to the Superbowl! (Go Joe !) Presented in honor of founder and friend John Knouse, this…

All of us at Athens Conservancy wish you a very happy, healthy holiday season! Thank you for being part of our organization – whether you’ve helped out as a volunteer or hiked our trails, attended events, explored the hills and forests around Athens County, donated to our efforts, or kept up with us via the…

It is with overwhelming gratitude that we announce a memorial fund has been established by Kate Kelley and Willem Roosenburg in memory of their daughter, Selinde Downey Roosenburg, and to protect the forests and fields of southeast Ohio for future generations. Selinde grew up building fairy houses in the woods, splashing in the creeks, and…

A key objective of Athens Conservancy is to preserve wild and scenic places, conserving lands that are valued by the community and connecting people with nature. Equally important is taking good care of the land over time – what we call stewardship. Board member Joe Brehm, in a recent presentation to community members, explained the…

Reach for the stars this GivingTuesday, and help us create a stargazing preserve! We’re delighted to be taking part in GivingTuesday on Nov. 30 – a global day of generosity that inspires people to come together in ways that enrich and transform their community. This #GivingTuesday we aim to raise funds to create a wonderful…

Athens Conservancy continues to expand and improve the publicly accessed lands in and around Athens County – so community members and visitors can hike, run, explore, bird-watch, or just mosey around our beautiful preserves. Please consider making a donation to support our local conservation efforts. Keeping our forests healthy is important, too, and it takes…

You’re an important part of our Conservancy community! Please join us for a virtual annual meeting via Zoom (or phone) at 6 pm on Thursday, Nov. 18. Learn about this year’s many activities — including new nature preserves to visit, new trails to hike, new partnerships in the community. And enjoy a talk by Athens…

Artwork unveiling! Here’s the fabulous block print created by local artist Savannah Freeman, as the centerpiece to our Spectacular Appalachia project. Savannah’s artwork – inspired by the wildflowers that bloom each spring in the Bluebell Preserve — will help spotlight Athens Conservancy’s natural lands and the unique spirit of Appalachian Ohio. The endeavor is supported…

Armed with shovels and saws, Pulaskis and weed-whackers, a rugged crew of trail builders is steadily cutting new trails through the Canaan Preserve. Up ahead, Delaney Gibbs deftly rescues delicate plants from the workers’ path, and finds new places for them to thrive. Delaney, who is close to finishing her master of science degree in…

Local artist Savannah Freeman will create a piece of art as the centerpiece for a new project spotlighting Athens Conservancy’s natural lands and the unique spirit of Appalachian Ohio. The project – dubbed Spectacular Appalachia – is supported by a seed grant from Ohio’s Winding Road, and is designed to enlist the talents of a…

Beyond the beauty of towering trees and colorful wildflowers, forests in Ohio are showcases for mushrooms of all kinds. Board member Joe Brehm recently trekked through Tucker Run Preserve, and reports that the fungi display was absolutely stunning, especially in the mature oak-beech woods. He snapped some photos of these mushrooms, from the Bolete, Amanita,…

A big part of Athens Conservancy’s nature preservation efforts is knowing what lives in the preserves. You can help explore the trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns, mushrooms, lichens, mosses, insects, spiders, salamanders, even birds and mammals that call these preserves their home! The Conservancy and the Athens Nature Center initiative have built a dedicated iNaturalist project…