Explore the wonders of the Blue Ridge on all-day hikes! Adventure to overlooks in the area, take a dip in a mountain stream, and see how the world changes as we go from high on mountaintops to low in the valleys. Please Note: This camp includes an optional campout Thursday night on the Highlands Biological Station property. Campers will cook dinner and breakfast over a fire, play games, and learn basic outdoor skills. This camp also includes an optional zipline trip through the Highlands Aerial Park Friday afternoon. Registration required.

Fishes of the Tuckasegee with Jason Meador June 16th, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM Western North Carolina has the richest aquatic diversity in the state. Come see fish unique to this area, understand why they are found here and why they are vulnerable to extirpation. Learning objectives: Electrofishing Lower Caney Fork to assess stream quality using fish as bio-indicators. Students will learn electrofishing methods for wadeable mountain streams and fish identification. Snorkel the Tuckasegee River. Students can observe fish (and other aquatic organisms) in their natural environment. Develop a better understanding of the importance of aquatic habitat and sources of habitat loss. Observe interactions among aquatic organisms. We will begin with a presentation to cover an introduction of the area, safety, endemic species, and methods (30 minutes), 45 minute drive to E Laporte Park, electrofishing (1 hour), break for lunch, and then snorkel (1.5 hours). Price of workshop includes wetsuit and snorkeling gear. Jason Meador is Mainspring’s Conservation Trust’s Aquatic Programs Manager. He is responsible for engaging youth and adults in the community in the work of Mainspring. He coordinates stream restoration activities and the Biomonitoring Program. Jason received his B.S. in Marine Sciences from North Carolina State University (2004). He later completed his M.S. in Forestry and Natural Resources (2008) with a concentration in fish/wildlife populations, specifically working with freshwater mussels. Click here to apply.

June 16th, 8:30 PM- 9:30 PM Nature Center Nights: Going Batty Discover the nocturnal mammals who take to the skies! Learn about the fascinating world of bats, then join naturalists in the Botanical Garden to seek them out. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.