Cloverlea Foundation

Click here for our programming and more ways to get involved!

Cloverlea History Around the Holidays (REGISTRATION LINK)
Saturday, November 8, 2025
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cloverlea Farmhouse at the Claytor Nature Center (enter through the main gate at 1844 Woods Road, and drive across the farm road through the property, exit through south gate via Cloverlea Lane - ONE-WAY traffic!)

Step into history this holiday season at the Cloverlea Farmhouse! Join us for an afternoon celebrating the legacy of the Cloverlea Farm and the families who lived and worked the land over the years.

What to Expect:

Relax in the Gardens – bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy the outdoor setting and mountain view, or go for a hike on a nearby trail
Gifts to share – offerings from Cloverlea Foundation, Claytor Nature Center, Riddle on the Harp, Southern Flavoring, and local history collaborators
Local historical organizations with resources on display (Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library, Jones Memorial Library)
Cemetery Walks at 2 PM and 3 PM, exploring prior-owner family history.
Holiday nature crafts and ornament making with local master naturalists
Visits and photos with Santa "Old Fuzzy Face" with a stunning mountain backdrop
Live Holiday Music in the great room by RIDDLE ON THE HARP from 2-3p, featuring selections from their Christmas album.
Seasonal Refreshments – charcuterie platters, hot chocolate, and apple cider provided by Hopwood and LaRue Catering.
Family Portrait Station – optional add-on, with a UL photography student capturing portraits for the holiday season.
Guided Farmhouse Tours every 30 minutes
Historical Displays – artifacts, postcards, portraits, and bird prints on view throughout the house.

Registration:

Free – Explore the grounds and guided cemetery tours
$20 per family – Includes full farmhouse tour (proceeds support the History Project)
$5 per family – Optional family portrait add-on

Organized by: Cloverlea Foundation
Hosted by: Claytor Nature Center
With student support from the University of Lynchburg History Department, Randolph College History Department, and the University of Lynchburg Art Department, plus contributions from local historians, Riddle on the Harp, and contributions from other community organizations. Proceeds will help fund upcoming history interpretive signage at the Center!

Come for the history, stay for the holiday cheer!

Vision: With the help of the Cloverlea Foundation, the Claytor Nature Center will be a destination for environmental education and sustainability offering meaningful connections to people and the planet.

Mission: We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the fulfillment of A. Boyd Claytor III's legacy by helping Claytor Nature Center connect and engage with the Bedford community, and beyond, through mutually beneficial partnerships and programming.

We hope to share Boyd Claytor's vision, by reviewing the fundamentals of his significant financial contributions, his preserved resource donation, and his lifelong purpose for the Nature Center. This includes telling the history of the land and the Claytor's contributions to the community and their love of nature.
We want to take action to help fulfill those intentions, in compliance with his gift agreement and the conservation easement terms, especially given the willingness of capable and dedicated volunteers and community members.
We are separate non-profit entity made up of stakeholders and community members who are passionate about Claytor Nature Center. We aim to serve as a friends-of organization to support and volunteer there, with programming and activities.

Since the gift of the property and endowment to Lynchburg College in 1998, the University of Lynchburg has done impactful work over the last 25 years to build an infrastructure and to introduce and implement some of the possibilities for the Claytor Nature Center in Bedford County, while tied and aligned with the University goals and mission. In this time of reorganization and re-prioritization, the opportunity for strategic partnerships and collaboration is more important than ever.

Those who have been a part of Claytor Nature Center's history in various capacities are eager to help bring the dream that Boyd Claytor had for his farm and estate to fruition. If you want to contribute time or join our efforts, please connect with us either by joining the email list, learning about other ways to Get Involved, or by reaching out to us at info@cloverleafoundation.org.

Updates - Be sure to check back often.

7/29/24 - We emailed our contact list with message to say that plans for membership options are forthcoming, and we are continuing to work on our partnership proposal to UL. Thank you for all of your overwhelming support; we can tell that our community is ready to stand with us and advocate for Claytor Nature Center!

7/31/24 - Created page for Founding Members, with their connections and links to their contributions.

8/3/24 - Sent an update email to our contact list subscribers with a general update on the status of our efforts. We are finalizing the formation of the non-profit entity, and having ongoing positive conversations with University of Lynchburg about the possibility of a partnership.

8/12/24 - Positive progress continues with conversations with UL leadership, and more community support. Created page for Claytor History, with links to news stories and relevant pages about Claytor Nature Center's development, as well as context for our organization name.

8/16/24 - Sent an update email to our contact list subscribers. Founding members will meet next week to discuss the details of our proposed partnership with University of Lynchburg. For more details, be sure to join our email list.

08/22/24 - The Cloverlea Foundation Board of Directors recently met to approve some founding documents, and discuss our proposal terms for partnership with UL. Created page for our Vision.

09/06/24 - The Articles of Incorporation for the formation of Cloverlea Foundation as a nonprofit entity were approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

09/14/24 - We connected with visitors and shared about our plans with the community at the Blue Ridge Bee Festival in Bedford, VA and had great response of support!

10/07/24 - After more discussions with UL Leadership, the Cloverlea Foundation Board met again to discuss next steps toward a partnership. Also worked on more founding documents and details for the organization.

10/16/24 - Cloverlea Foundation hosted a small gathering for Claytor Day, the 26th anniversary of the gift of the Cloverlea Farm to Lynchburg College on October 16th, 1998. We met at the Claytor Nature Center Pavilion to reflect and acknowledge the significance of Boyd Claytor's gift, and contributions from others over the last 26 years.

11/26/24 - After a few weeks of administrative work, we're ready to share our options for Partnerships, Memberships (going live on 1/1/2025), and other ways to Get Involved. Also, we're finalizing details for our upcoming events, including 12/4/24 at the Randolph College Happy Earth Market from 12-5p, and 12/15/24 at UUCL Environmental Stewardship service at 10:30a.

1/1/25 - Cloverlea Foundation Membership is LIVE!

1/11/25 - Winter Walk in Nature was postponed due to winter weather, but we had a great virtual discussion about our goals for 2025 and how relationship-building and sustainability are a part of our plans!

2/1/25 - Membership is growing with over 30 members and partnering organizations. Join by 4/22/25 (Earth Day) to be a Founding Member!

02/12/25 - Update email sent including details about our upcoming Land Conservation Easements panel discussion at Claytor Nature Center on Wednesday, 2/26; open to the public - register here! Special member-only opportunity included before the program.

2/18/25 - Had our first Cloverlea Conversation monthly virtual meetup, with great casual discussion about local initiatives and things members would like to see from our programming. Cloverlea Foundation board members recently met with University of Lynchburg leadership and are continuing conversations and plans for collaborating in the future.

2/26/25 - Had a great Panel Discussion with area land conservation experts with 30 attendees from the community. See news article about the event from member and attendee, Shannon Brennan.

3/21/25 - Enjoyed a night of stargazing with members and partners from Blue Ridge Astronomy Club at the Belk Observatory

3/22/25 - Had a successful Walk with Nature and volunteer work day at Peaksville Place with partners from Friends of the Blue Ridge Peaks of Otter Chapter.

4/5/25 - Attended Bedford Parks & Rec THRIVE OUTSIDE FESTIVAL for a great event! We are over 60 members strong now, and growing! Join by 4/22/25 to become a Founding Member, and help at our volunteer Trail Clean-Up at Claytor!

April 2025 - Earth Day Trail Clean-up was a success, along with our monthly Cloverlea Conversation

May 2025 - Membership is almost at 70 individuals and several partners. We participated in the Claytor Centennial Celebration on 5/31. We also launched our Wellness in Nature Series, partnered with Pierce Street Gateway.

June 2025 - We're getting to know the new Director of Claytor Nature Center, with ongoing conversations for collaboration. The Summer Solstice Stargazing event at Belk Observatory was a huge success with 40 guests and 7 camping groups!

July 2025 - Our third Wellness Nature Program on social sustainability and wellness was a great discussion about interconnectedness and permaculture practices. Also, our 501(c)(3) charitable organization status was approved!

August 2025 - We held a few programs and volunteer days at Claytor! So glad to see the center back open and excited to help the new director Lindsay!