Highlands Biological Station
2025 Summer Workshops
Discover the wonders of nature this summer!
Our summer workshops are officially set, and we can’t wait to welcome you to campus this season. Whether you’re diving into a new subject or deepening your expertise, there’s something for everyone at Highlands Biological Station.
Explore, Learn, and Grow: Summer Workshops for All Levels
Workshops at HBS are:
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Great for beginning and advanced students – most have no prerequisites
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Hands-on and engaging
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Taught by expert instructors from a variety of backgrounds
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Designed for adult learners
Join us this summer and be part of a dynamic learning community! Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter here to stay connected.
Bartram's "Rare and Elegant Flowering Shrub"
September 10, 1 – 5PM
Dr. Jim Costa, Highlands Biological Station & Western Carolina University & Cynthia Woodsong
In 1765, botanists John and William Bartram discovered the rare Franklinia alatamaha along Georgia’s Altamaha River, naming it after Benjamin Franklin. Mysteriously, the plant went extinct in the wild by the late 1700s and now survives only in cultivation from seeds and cuttings collected by the Bartrams. HBS executive director Jim Costa and paper flower artist Cynthia Woodsong will lead a special program celebrating Franklinia, featuring a lecture on its history and biology, a visit to a blooming specimen, and a hands-on workshop to create paper replicas of its striking white flowers. Participants will experience this unique plant both in nature and through artistic creation, with all materials provided.
$80/person
Explore the Botanical Gardens
Phone:
Address:
111 Lower Lake Road
Highlands, NC 28741
Hours & Admission:
FREE! From dawn to dusk please feel free to explore our trails. We just ask that you please adhere to the guidelines below.
Guidelines:
- All pets must be properly leashed and cleaned up after.
- Stay on the marked trails to protect the plants.
- Do not pick or remove plant material.
- Do not leave trash on Station grounds.
- Please watch for uneven terrain, rocks, and roots.
North Campus
Explore the Botanical Gardens
Phone:
Address:
111 Lower Lake Road
Highlands, NC 28741
Hours & Admission:
FREE! From dawn to dusk please feel free to explore our trails. We just ask that you please adhere to the guidelines below.
Guidelines:
- All pets must be properly leashed and cleaned up after.
- Stay on the marked trails to protect the plants.
- Do not pick or remove plant material.
- Do not leave trash on Station grounds.
- Please watch for uneven terrain, rocks, and roots.
North Campus
