Add some adventure to your day.  Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is holding Adventure Day on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

Join the talented Shaker Village staff and partners for a FREE day packed with guided hikes, fishing, waterfalls, vista views and plenty of fresh air.  Adventure Day at Shaker Village welcomes guests to explore its 3000-acre backyard.

There will be many activities for everyone.  Kids can take part in Kids Fishing Day at the pond.  They can also learn how to identify some native insects during a “Creek Critters” adventure.  For adults, there are guided geocaching hikes, both on foot and on horseback, where guests can bring a hand-held GPS and search for hidden treasures.   On-site naturalists will lead an owl prowl that offers families an up-close encounter with secretive night-time predators.

For an additional fee, guests can ride along the village road aboard a horse-drawn wagon and learn more about the Shakers from an interpreter.  

The Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen will give guided horseback rides along Shaker Village’s 40-mile trail system, and the Kentucky Horse Council will present a “Horse Riders Lunch and Learn.”

“Adventure Day at Shaker Village is a great opportunity to get in touch with nature,” said Aimee Darnell, Publicist.  “It’s a day to take a break from the stresses of everyday life.  The Shakers made time for fun.  You should too.”

Guests can also participate in special activities that celebrate the Shakers’ annual break from their daily chores.  Sack races, games and special interactive music and dancing are part of the festivities.

For more information or to reserve a room at the Inn at Shaker Village, call 800.734.5611 or visit www.shakervillageky.org.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is owned and operated by Shakertown at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational corporation. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark from boundary to boundary by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

FREE ADVENTURE DAY SCHEDULE

Special Programs

• Kid’s Fishing / 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM / Village Pond – Kids under 16 are invited to fish the pond for the big one! Prizes for the smallest, largest and tagged fish. Tackle and bait will be provided.
• Horse Riders Lunch and Learn / 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM / Buck Winburn / The Stables – Presented by the Kentucky Horse Council. Purchase a sack lunch outside of the Craft Store and meet at the Stables for this educational program titled Don’t Leave Home Without It: Being Prepared on the Trail. You don’t need to ride to participate – meet some of the horses, learn about riding etiquette and more.
• Animal Tracks / 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM / Don Pelly / Welcome Pavilion – Will Drive to Nature Area – Explore the forest for animal homes, tracks and other signs of wildlife. Get animal tracking tips you can use in your backyard and learn interesting facts about the wildlife in your area.
• Owl Prowl / 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM / Don Pelly & Ben Leffew / Bird Blind Amphitheatre – Gather around for this night-time adventure and learn about these amazing creatures – and don’t be surprised if a few owls come in for a closer look at you.

Guided Hikes & Rides

• Bird Watching / 8:30 AM – 9:45 AM / Ben Leffew / Welcome Pavilion – Will Drive to Nature Area – Bird enthusiasts of all levels are invited to learn to identify migrating birds by sight and sound. Look and listen for Warblers, Tanagers, Orioles and Indigo Buntings. Distance: 1 mile / easy
• Accessible Trail / 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM / Jim Powell / Welcome Pavilion – Join Jim Powell for an exploration of the historic turnpike, Shaker sites, Kissing Bridge and more on our fully accessible trail. Meet at Welcome Pavilion and drive to accessible parking area. Distance: 1/2 mile / easy
• Ride with the Back Country Horsemen/ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Bob Cairns / The Stables – Presented by the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen. Bring your horse and enjoy a guided ride through fields, forests and creek beds. Before your ride, tour the Stables and paddock. Riding fee waived. No horses will be provided, please bring your own. Park trailers at the Stables, located in the West Lot.
• Mountain Bike Ride / 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM / Tim Coleman / Welcome Pavilion – Take a guided ride on our mountain bike friendly trails in the West Lot area. No bikes will be provided, please bring your own. Distance: 3-4 miles / moderate
• Wildflower Hike / 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM / Jim Gentry / Welcome Pavilion – Identify some of our early summer bloomers, including the Prickly Pear Cactus, Goats Beard and Bouncing Bet. Distance: 2 miles / moderate
• Walk Through Time / 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM / Ben Leffew / Welcome Pavilion – Descend 400 feet into the Kentucky River Gorge and observe the handiwork of the river as it has cut through rock over the past 2-3 million years. Distance: 3 miles / strenuous
• Ride with the Back Country Horsemen / 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM / Bob Cairns / The Stables – Presented by the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen. Bring your horse and enjoy a guided ride through fields, forests and creek beds. Riding fee waived. No horses will be provided, please bring your own. Park trailers at the Stables, located in the West Lot.
• Geocaching / 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM / Ben Leffew / Welcome Pavilion – Use your hand-held GPS to find “treasure” hiding in trees, under rocks and along foundations. If available, please bring a hand-held GPS. Distance: 1 mile / easy

ACTIVITES REQUIRING ADMISSION

• Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Tour Tour Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tour Admission: $15 Ages 13 & above / $5 Ages 6 to 12 / Free Ages 5 & Under
• Dixie Belle Riverboat Ride Ride Times: 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM (one-hour rides) Ride Admission: $10 Ages 13 & above / $5 Ages 6 to 12 / Free Ages 5 & Under Seating is limited. Please purchase a ticket early to assure availability. Schedule dependent on river and weather conditions. The Dixie Belle riverboat departs from Shaker Landing, located ½ mile from the main Shaker Village entrance. Please allow 20 minutes to drive from Shaker Village to the riverboat.
• Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride Ride Times: 11 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:15 PM, 2 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:30 PM (30-minute rides) Ride Admission: $5 Ages 6 & above / Free Ages 5 & Under Rides leave from the Carpenter’s Shop Craft Store. Schedule dependent on weather conditions.