Dunbar Cave State Natural Area will present many nature programs this summer.

Upcoming events include: Native American Artifacts, Nature Hike, Bats and Cave Salamanders, Childrens’ Theatre, Cooling at the Cave and so much more!

Programs are free unless noted otherwise. All programs require reservations by the deadline listed. Programs with no reservations by the deadline are canceled.

All programs begin at the Visitor Center unless another site is listed.

Children must be accompanied by an adult (one adult for each three children). The age limits are definite – please do not sign up a child who is too young or too old for the program. Call 931.648.5526 for reservations.

Sunday, July 24th

Native American Artifacts

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Ages: 7-12

Long ago Native Americans lived in what is now Tennessee. Come see and learn about artifacts they left behind and what they were used for.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 22nd.

Don’t Feed the Geese!

Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Ages: All ages

Observe the geese and discuss the importance of migration and why we shouldn’t feed the animals.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 22nd.

Monday, July 25th

Nature Hike

Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Ages: 5 and up

Hike the Short Loop (1 mile) and learn about plants and animals found in the park.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 23rd.

The Geography of Tennessee

Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Ages: 8 – adult

Discuss and learn about the various regions that Tennessee has to offer.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 23rd.

Bats and Cave Salamanders

Time: 8:00pm – 9:15pm
Ages: 8 to adult

Stick around after the park closes and view some of the nocturnal delights that emerge from our cave once day turns to night. Bring a flashlight!

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 23rd.

Tuesday, July 26th

Recycling

Time: 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Ages: 5 to adult

View a short presentation on how and why to recycle.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 24th.

Sinkhole Geology

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Ages: 8 to adult

Understand how and why the earth opens up beneath our feet … and houses… and streets! Short indoor presentation plus a hike on the Short Loop Trail to see actual sinkholes.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 24th.

Thursday, July 28th

Beginning Birding

Time: 8:15am – 10:15am
Ages: Adults

Birding is a fun hobby – learn the basics with this program. Bring binoculars.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 26th.

Bats Are Fun

Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Ages: 5 – 8

Learn about bats through videos, books and games.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 26th.

Friday, July 29th

Trees Are Terrific Hike

Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Ages: 7 to adult

Learn the trees of the region on our one mile trail.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 27th.

Hike Down Idaho Springs

Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Ages: 8 to adult

Observe the original stream that flows from the cave and see how the landscape looked before the formation of Swan Lake. Bring old shoes and clothes that can get wet and muddy.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 27th.

Night Hike

Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Age: All Ages

Walk the Short Loop trail (1 mile) with a Ranger at night as we explore the woods and lakeshore for nocturnal critters such as owls, deer, frog, and raccoons. Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 27th.

Saturday, July 30th

Childrens Theatre Craft Activity

Time: 10:30am – 11:00am
Age: All Ages

Join us for a crafty activity that leads in to the performance later.

Reservations By: 4:30pm July 29th.

Childrens’ Theatre – Animal Tales – A flood of Friends

Time: 11:00am

Performance by the wonderful actors, dressed up as animals. No reservations needed.

Childrens Theatre Craft Activity

Time: 12:30pm – 1:00pm
Age: All Ages

Join us for a crafty activity that leads in to the performance later.

Reservations By: 4:30pm July 29th.

Childrens’ Theatre – Animal Tales – A flood of Friends

Time: 1:00pm

Repeat performance of the 11:00 presentation.

No reservations needed.

Cooling at the Cave

Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Age: All ages

The Friends of Dunbar Cave present music, games and refreshments at the cool cave entrance. Refreshments for a donation, t-shirts and postcards available to purchase.

Sunday, July 31st

Native American Artifacts

Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Age: Ages 7-12

Long ago Native Americans lived in what is now Tennessee. Come see and learn about artifacts they left behind and what they were used for.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 29th.

Don’t Feed the Geese!

Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Age: All ages

Observe the geese and discuss the importance of migration and why we shouldn’t feed the animals.

Program Leader: Jerrod Manning, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Reservations By: 4:30pm July 22nd.

Dunbar Cave State Natural Area will present many nature programs this summer.

Upcoming events include: Evening Trail Hike, Beginning Birding, Children’s Theatre Craft Activity, Children’s Theatre, “Animal Tales” and so much more!

Programs are free unless noted otherwise. All programs require reservations by the deadline listed. Programs with no reservations by the deadline are canceled.

All programs begin at the Visitor Center unless another site is listed.

Children must be accompanied by an adult (one adult for each three children). The age limits are definite – please do not sign up a child who is too young or too old for the program. Call 931-648-5526 for reservations.

Sunday, June 19th

Evening Trail Hike

Time: 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Ages: All ages

This time of day is great for seeing wildlife such as deer. Come walk the Recovery Trail (2 miles) with a Ranger in the evening and beat the heat.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations: By Noon June 19th.

Tuesday, June 21st

Habitat: Cave Entrance

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Ages: All ages

We can’t go in the cave – or can we? We can visit the cave entrance and learn about the creatures and plants that live in this nice cool environment. Phoebes, spiders, salamanders and others call this place home.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 19th.

Wednesday, June 22nd

Nature Finds: Scavenger Hunt

Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Ages: 4 – 9

We will walk around the lake, look for interesting natural things and learn how they fit together.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 20th.

Thursday, June 23rd

Beginning Birding

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am
Ages: Ages 5 – 11

Learn birds by sight and sound in this program that introduces you to our most common birds.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 21st.

Life Cycle of a Lake

Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Ages: All ages

Join Ranger Adam for a walk around the lakeshore and learn all about “Swan Lake” and why it looks like it does.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 21st.

Friday, June 24th

Wildflower Hike

Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
Ages: 10-Adult

Learn the names and lore of the flowers on this hike to the cave and along the lake.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 22nd.

Evening Trail Hike

Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Ages: All Ages

This time of day is great for seeing wildlife such as deer. Come walk the Recovery Trail (2 miles) with a Ranger in the evening and beat the heat.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations: By Noon June 22nd.

Saturday, June 25th

Children’s Theatre Craft Activity

Time: 10:30am and 1:30pm
Age: All Ages

Please come out, make crafts and participate in the performances at 11:00am and 2:00pm.

Reservations: By 4:30pm June 24th.

Children’s Theatre, “Animal Tales”

Time: 11:00am and 2:00pm
Ages: All Ages

Actors from the Children’s Theatre will present these special stories. Meeting Location to be Announced – Check Sign Outside Visitor Center.

Reservations: No Reservations Needed.

Sunday, June 26th

Un-Nature Hike

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am
Ages: 6-adult

Unfortunately not all visitors throw away their trash properly – some leave it on the ground, which can hurt our animals. Give back to the park by hiking with the Ranger and removing these unnatural things.

Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Reservations: No Reservations Needed.

Wednesday, June 29th

Nature Detectives

Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Ages: 5 – 12

Learn about the clues and signs that animals leave behind in this indoor and outdoor program.

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 27th.

Thursday, June 30th

Insects

Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
Ages: 5 – 12

We’ll learn the different kinds of insects, catch and release them!

Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Reservations: By 4:30pm June 28th.

This event began with a children’s art project, involving coloring and cutting out leaves and making frog hats, later used in the audience participation portions of the skits. Two skits, The Squirrel and the Acorn and The Caterpillar and the Frog, were acted out at the cool cave entrance.

The Children’s Theater of Austin Peay

The stories were written and read by Joe Woztkiewicz, and acted by Mary Beth Smith, Chloe Smith and Reagan Smith and various small audience members. Jessica Lee organized the event, painted the wonderful backdrop, and made the costumes. All items were donated (such as the paint) or recycled – the costumes were made from things found at Goodwill – and will be reused in other presentations.

If you missed this, you missed a very entertaining morning – but you will have the chance to see the next presentation—

Animal Tales (or is it Tails?), on Saturday, August 28th, at 11:00am at the cave. Bring a chair or something else to sit on, bring snacks or a picnic if you like, and bring your children at 10:30am if they would like to take part in the craft activity beforehand and be in the skit afterward. This event is free (donations accepted by the group), for all ages and a great way to spend an hour outdoors, but in the cool cave breeze, learning about animals. Please make reservations for the craft segment so that enough materials can be provided for everyone – call 648 -5526 to make reservations (area code 931 if you are calling long distance). We hope to see you then!

View more photos of this event in our Photo Gallery.

Join Peter Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail when they meet Mr. McGregor, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mittens, Moppet and Tom Kitten, all in a colorful, wonderful revival of the Beatrix Potter classics in PETER RABBIT & FRIENDS at the Roxy Regional Theatre.  PETER RABBIT plays only four Saturday 2pm matinees on January 23, January 30, February 6 and February 13.

Adapted for the stage and directed by John McDonald, PETER RABBIT & FRIENDS features Mindy Wedner, Nathan Freeman, Melissa Dowty, Brian Veith, Bryan Zoppi and Jamie Farmer.  Tickets are $15 (adults) and $10 (ages 13 and under) and can be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9am-2pm, weekdays).