| Cave | River Birch Room | Nature Discovery Pavilion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 | Cave Boat Tour (all ages) | ||
| 10:30 | Cave Boat Tour (all ages) | Geology Rocks! (ages 6-12) | Birds of the Wetland (ages 5-7) |
| 11:30 | Cave Boat Tour (all ages) | Geology Rocks! (ages 6-12) | Critters of the Cave (ages 8-12) |
| 12:30 | Cave Boat Tour (all ages) | Geology Rocks! (ages 6-12) | All About Arthropods (ages 12 and up) |
Lap children/babies can attend all activities for free unless otherwise specified.
Click a program title to view a description.
The Cave Boat Tour begins with a leisurely stroll in the valley as your guide shares stories and geographical facts. Then board a boat and duck your head under the Wishing Rock to enter the cave, where your knowledgeable guide will share more about the history, geology, and biology of Lost River Cave.
The boat tour is appropriate for all ages. Please note that all children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult.
Best for ages 6-12, this program introduces kids to rock and mineral properties through a hands-on lesson and then a scientific experiment. Kids will finish up gem mining at our sluice trough outdoors.
Mining rough is included in the cost of all student and younger sibling tickets, but more can be purchased separately in the gift shop day-of!
Compete for detritus, bugs, guano, and other vital sources of nutrients as one of five unique creatures found in Lost River Cave! This 45-minute program takes aboveground, but will give kids 8-12 an inside look at the complexities of cave food webs. Pairs excellently with the boat tour.
This program gives young children a dynamic, hands-on look at the habitat needs of birds. Kids will learn about how birds, like us, need food, water, shelter and space. The activity includes touchable samples and ends with a hands-on outdoor game.
Come take a deep dive into the insect world with Lost River Cave’s lead butterfly habitat curator and entomology expert Mark Wilhelm.
We’ll start in the Nature Discovery Pavilion with a presentation about the importance of bugs and an opportunity to meet some live insect specimens. Afterwards, we’ll make a short trek to Lost River Cave’s prairie restoration area with nets to observe live insects in the wild and discover the diversity and detail of the insect world.
Afterwards, an optional hike can give participants the opportunity to search for aquatic macroinvertebrates at Lost River Cave’s karst spring.
Young children and their older siblings alike will delight in a smorgasbord of themed sensory trays on the Nature Explore Playscape. Get your hands dirty with:
Then, get creative and leave your mark on a collaborative mural with eco-friendly paints!
These activities are offered by Flora Nye of You & I and will be free-flowing and non-ticketed. Donations are welcome if you and your children enjoy the activities!
Children must be supervised on the Playscape at all times; Lost River Cave and its affiliates will not provide supervision.
Stop by our registration table any time for a scavenger hunt your family can complete while hiking at the park!
Nope! Admission to our park is free and open to the public. Activities and tours can be booked individually.
Nope! Sign up for as many or as few activities as you’d like.
Parent tickets are required for the boat tour and the Geology Rocks program. Parents are welcome to sit in on all other programs for free with their participating child.
Flora Nye of You & I will be providing free-flowing sensory play stations in our Nature Playscape!
These activities, designed for a wide range of ages, are self-guided and free to participate in, but if you and your littles enjoy the stations, donations are encouraged.
Flora visits the Lost River Cave playscape twice weekly for Flora’s Forest Friends — hour-long classes full of music, stories, and child-led exploration.
Sure! Please just make sure the group doesn’t exceed 12 kids for every 1 responsible adult present.
If a program does not show a registration option for a younger child, they’re welcome to tag along with their parent and watch the activity.
Yes! Lost River Cave’s Trailside Treats will be serving hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, and crushed “Cave Ice”. You’re also welcome to enjoy a sack lunch at our picnic tables.
You’re welcome to purchase tickets for other members of your group if that’s easier for you. However, we won’t be offering large group booking discounts for this event.
Please call (270) 393-0077 ext 109 or email education@lostrivercave.org at least 24 hours before the start of your activity to guarantee a full refund.
Registration will close on Tuesday, September 15th — however, we anticipate activities filling up, so we recommend registering as soon as possible!