A team of high school students focus on environmental sciences while participating in a regional competition-style academic event held at the Fernald Preserve.
The staff at the Fernald Preserve is available to address schools, scouts, senior groups, and other organized groups on a variety of topics relating to the site’s history, mission, groundwater remedy, ecological restoration, environmental sciences, wildlife, ecology, and green building features. Nature and history programs can be customized to meet your group’s specific objectives.
To schedule a program or for more information, please email us at Fernald@lm.doe.gov or call us at 513-648-3330.
To view the Meeting Space and Program Request Policy, Fernald Preserve, Ohio, Site click here.
The Fernald Preserve, Ohio, Site offers a variety of public programs, privately scheduled programs/speakers, and meeting spaces, in addition to regular visitors center hours, trails, and wildlife viewing areas. Meeting spaces and site-related nature, environmental science, and history programs are available year round.
Save the Date: 20th Anniversary of Fernald Cleanup
Sept. 19, 2026
Fernald Preserve celebrates 20 years of the successful remediation of the site and subsequent long-term stewardship. Join us for an open house and special event programs from 2-4pm. Details to follow.MAPS Bird Banding
May-August
E-mail Fernald@lm.doe.gov to be placed on our notification list for dates.
Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship, or MAPS, is a long-running study of breeding birds and their dispersal pattern across the country. Because of the weather-dependent nature of this program, dates and times will be decided on a week-by-week basis. Join our notification list to get updates on when this program will be taking place.Self Guided: Uranium’s Path
August 1-31
In 1962, tensions were reaching their peak in the Cold War, culminating in the Cuban Missile Crisis in October. Fernald filled an important role in the nation’s nuclear defense program and would see peak production around this time. Walk along the Weapons to Wetland Trail (0.25 mile) to see where Fernald fit into this network along with other sites that served the U.S.’s nuclear defense program.Moth Night
Friday, Aug. 7, 9 p.m.-midnight
Moth nights are back for the season, so come out and take a 1-mile hike with us to check some lights for these nocturnal insects. This program covers unpaved and sometimes uneven trails, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Preregistration is required.Perseid Meteor Shower Watch Nights
Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, 9 p.m.-midnight
The annual Perseid meteor shower is here, so come watch the skies for those brilliant streaks! Bring a chair or a blanket and sit around the visitors center. There may even be some great wildlife watching if you keep your ears and eyes open.Beaver Sit
Saturdays, Aug. 15 and 22, 8-9:30 p.m.
Beavers are ecosystem engineers who have shaped many of the ponds around the preserve. Bring a chair and come out to watch these busy rodents paddle out of their lodges and swim around the ponds. Preregistration is required.Night Hike: Hickory Trail
Friday, Aug. 28, 9-10:30 p.m.
The days are hot, so come out and enjoy the preserve at night. This night hike will cover approximately 3 miles of unpaved and sometimes uneven trails, so sturdy shoes are a must. Participants are encouraged to bring flashlights.Book Club: Midnight in Chernobyl
Saturday, Aug. 29, 6-7 p.m.
Midnight in Chernobyl is a comprehensive historical account of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, detailing the events of April 26, 1986, and their aftermath. Come out and discuss this book with our staff and others who have read it.The Community Meeting Room, Resource Room, and outdoor Program Shelter were designed to be used by the public when they are not in use by Fernald Preserve staff. These facilities are available free of charge for noncommercial use by organized groups.
Seating capacity for the Community Meeting Room is 120 for theater seating and 80 for conference seating.
Seating capacity at standard tables in the outdoor Program Shelter is 58.
The seating capacity in the Resource Room is 8 (at a conference table).
The application review process to reserve these facilities could take up to two weeks.
To make a room reservation or for more information, please email us at Fernald@lm.doe.gov or call us at 513-648-3330.
To view the Meeting Space and Program Request Policy, Fernald Preserve, Ohio, Site click here.