Discover the wonders of nature this summer!

We are excited to announce the first of our scheduled workshops for this summer! As we get closer to summer we will be adding new workshops, so be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for the Station newsletter HERE.

Explore, Learn, and Grow: Summer Workshops for All Levels

Summer workshops at Highlands Biological Station are:

 

  • Great for beginning and advanced students – most have no pre-requisites
  • Hands on and engaging
  • Taught by expert instructors from a variety of backgrounds
  • Designed for adult learners
Exhibits and Programs at Highlands Nature Center

The Lost Shortia: HBS Oconee Bells 2025

March 16, 2025, 10AM – 6PM

Dr. Jim Costa, Executive Director & Professor, Highlands Biological Station & Western Carolina University

A day of exploration to learn about the ecology and curious history of the “lost and found” Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) and see some of the largest remaining populations of this rarity at peak bloom in its native habitat!

$200/person

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K-12 School Outreach with Highlands Nature Center

Pressed & Preserved: A Botanical Workshop

May 14, 2025, 2 – 4PM

Dr. Kathy Mathews, Botany Professor & Director of the WCU Herbarium

In this workshop, we’ll explore pressed plant specimens in the HBS herbarium and learn about the importance of preserving plants. Participants will collect and press plants, either from the field or their own garden, with a hands-on lesson in using herbarium presses. We’ll also cover creating labels and post-processing techniques, with the option to dry your plants at HBS or at home.

$100/person

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Register

Summer Nature Camps at Highlands Nature Center

Paper Botanicals: Spring Flora

Great White Trillium – May 22, 2025, 9AM – 3:30PM
Vasey’s Trillium – May 24, 2025, 9AM – 3:30PM

Cynthia Woodsong

Celebrate spring with paper Trillium workshops!

In celebration of the much-loved spring trilliums, HBS will host two paper botanical workshops.

Participants will use crepe paper to make life-size and realistic replicas of these Trillium species, while learning about the botanical characteristics of this genus.

$100/person, per session

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Register

Summer Nature Camps at Highlands Nature Center

The Nature of Drawing: Naturalist's Sketchbook

June 6, 2025, 9AM – 4PM

Preston Montague, ASLA, PLA

Explore the art of observation and storytelling by creating sketches that bring moments in nature to life. Participants will learn basic drawing techniques with pen, pencil, and colored pencils, making this workshop ideal for beginners and welcoming to those with intermediate skills. Led by artist and landscape architect Preston Montague, this course inspires a deeper connection to the natural world through art and creativity.

$200/person

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Exhibits and Programs at Highlands Nature Center

Mindful Birding, with Topher Stephens

June 10, 9 – 11:30AM

Topher Stephens

Mindful Birding is a practice of slowing down and deepening our awareness of nature by appreciating each bird we encounter with curiosity and presence. Unlike traditional bird walks focused on identification, this workshop emphasizes mindfulness, using birds as guides to connect with the landscape and our own sense of wonder. No prior experience with birding or mindfulness is needed—just an open mind and a willingness to observe with fresh eyes.

$100/person

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Register

Summer Nature Camps at Highlands Nature Center

Learning Birdsongs, with Topher Stephens

June 10, 1 – 3:30PM

Topher Stephens

Designed to help participants identify local birds by their songs and calls using a simple, systematic approach. After a short presentation covering key sound qualities like pitch, rhythm, and repetition, we’ll head outdoors to practice listening, describing, and memorizing birdsongs using mnemonic devices and vocal imitation. No birding or musical experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to tune into the language of the forest!

$100/person

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Register

Summer Nature Camps at Highlands Nature Center

Botany Bootcamp

Session 1: July 2, 2025, 9AM – 4:00PM
Session 2: July 3, 2025, 9AM – 4:00PM

Break from 11:30AM – 1:30PM each day

Dr. Paul Manos, Duke University

Botany Bootcamp is a hands-on workshop designed to introduce participants to the diverse plant life of the Highlands Plateau. Through a combination of short lectures and interactive activities, we’ll explore fundamental botanical concepts, focusing on the structure and growth habits of common native plants found on the grounds of the Highlands Biological Station. No prior experience is needed—just a curiosity for the natural world! Join us as we magnify tiny plant details, sketch flowers and leaves, discuss our observations, and sharpen your botanical skills in a fun and engaging environment.

$200/person per session

Register

Exhibits and Programs at Highlands Nature Center

The Art of Seeing: Learn to see like an artist and professional photographer in the garden.

August 5, 9AM – 1:30PM  

Gwen Greenglass,  Master Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer.

Join us for an enjoyable adventure in the garden where you will learn how to see and capture light with your camera of choice.  You will gain an understanding of how to photograph images that express both what you see and feel while walking through the garden.  During classroom time, prompts, setting intentions and other techniques will be introduced as a way to enhance your creativity.  Interactive discussions and feedback will be provided throughout the workshop.

Basic knowledge of how to use your camera or phone to take pictures is recommended.

Basic mobility is needed as we will be walking to different areas of the property.

Please bring:
Camera of Choice:  DSLR, Mirrorless, Compact or Smartphone.
Something to write or record suggestions and thoughts.
Garden Pad to kneel or sit-on for photographing images close to the ground (if desired).
Bring Lunch and Water

$200/person

Register

Exhibits and Programs at Highlands Nature Center

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.

$200/person

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Register

Explore the Botanical Gardens

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

Animals at Highlands Nature Center