Venture into the woods as we go "herping" - an exciting outdoor exploration to sight slithering and plodding animals. You'll be turning over fallen logs, looking under rocks, and sticking your hands in the mud to uncover some of nature's most fascinating creatures.

Class will begin with a short presentation on safety protocols, ethical handling practices, a background on these reptiles and their habitats, and local turtle and snake ID techniques. Then, we will embark on a “critter crawl” around Horn Farm, where we'll venture off paths and into wet or muddy areas to discover these unique vertebrates.

The class is scheduled to optimize the likelihood of engaging encounters, however, spotting turtles and snakes is not guaranteed. Because herps are moving, living creatures, the success of our excursion may vary depending on weather conditions, seasonal variations, location, time, and pure luck. Despite this, the dynamic nature of wildlife ensures that there will always be interesting things (outside of reptiles and amphibians) to discover under logs and rocks, in creeks and vernal pools, and the rich tapestry of biodiversity at the farm will be sure to spark informative conversation regardless of what creatures we encounter.

We invite participants of all ages to join us on our herping adventure – from young tadpoles to old tortoises. We do ask, however, that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult and suggest that children under 3 may not be well suited for these activities.

Come equipped with a spirit of inquiry, a respect for the small, and a willingness to get your hands dirty, and you might be surprised at the multitude of life you can find right under your feet. We recommend that you bring:

• waterproof boots
• brightly-colored outdoorsy clothes
• a head covering (for ticks)
• long pants and socks, on the thicker side
• a raincoat or poncho (the class will move forward rain or shine)

**Online pre-registration is required to attend.  Visit this link to register  https://hornfarmcenter.org/civimessages/event/info/?reset=1&id=1052