Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, & Caddisflies : June 29 - July 10 Dr. John Morse, Clemson University Natural history and taxonomy of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera), including systematics, ecology, and behavior of larvae and adults, with emphasis on those aspects important in ecological studies, biological monitoring of water quality, and sports fishing. […]

Biology & Conservation of Lichens June 29 - July 3 Dr. Jessica Allen, Atlanta Botanical Garden & Dr. James Lendemer, New York Botanical Garden (download syllabus) Lichens grow all over the world, from the arctic to the tropics, where they are important in a multitude of ways including serving as shelter for small invertebrates, and […]

Discover what crafty creatures are all around us! Catch insects, salamanders, and more to study how they survive and learn all about their life cycles. Registration required.

Find out the secrets to survival! Discover through games and art how animals hide in plain sight, forage for food, and live in strange worlds in our marvelous mountains. Registration required.

June 30th 9 pm-10 pm Nature Center Nights: Salamander Meander Kick off Highlands Nature Center’s summer season searching for salamanders in the Botanical Garden! Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join naturalists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This […]

Biology & Conservation of Lichens June 29 - July 3 Dr. Jessica Allen, Atlanta Botanical Garden & Dr. James Lendemer, New York Botanical Garden (download syllabus) Lichens grow all over the world, from the arctic to the tropics, where they are important in a multitude of ways including serving as shelter for small invertebrates, and […]

Discover what crafty creatures are all around us! Catch insects, salamanders, and more to study how they survive and learn all about their life cycles. Registration required.

Find out the secrets to survival! Discover through games and art how animals hide in plain sight, forage for food, and live in strange worlds in our marvelous mountains. Registration required.

The Highlands Nature Center will be open Sunday, July 5, 12 pm - 4 pm for July 4th Weekend.  

Biology of Southern Appalachian Fishes: July 6 - July 17 Dr. Mollie Cashner, Austin Peay University The southern Appalachians supports one of the richest fresh water fish faunas in North America and is part of an extensive southern/southeastern area that has well over 600 species. This larger region has been compared to a tropical rain […]

Imprints of Nature: Block Printing on Paper and Textiles with Sara Method July 7th - 9th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM In this three-day workshop students will learn how to carve nature-inspired images into rubber blocks and print them on paper and textiles. No experience in printmaking or art is necessary, this is an opportunity […]

Explore the wonders of the Blue Ridge on all-day hikes! Adventure to waterfalls in the area, take a dip in a mountain lake, and follow our streams as they rush down to rivers. Please Note: This camp includes an optional campout Thursday night on the Highlands Biological Station property. Campers will cook dinner and breakfast […]

July 7th 9 pm-10 pm Nature Center Nights: Starlight Stroll Unlock the history and mystery of the cosmos as we study the night sky! Hear stories of the stars from different cultures and learn to identify summer constellations. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.

July 7th - 9th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM In this three-day workshop students will learn how to carve nature-inspired images into rubber blocks and print them on paper and textiles. No experience in printmaking or art is necessary, this is an opportunity to have fun making art together. Learning objectives: 1. The student will […]

Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, & Caddisflies : June 29 - July 10 Dr. John Morse, Clemson University Natural history and taxonomy of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera), including systematics, ecology, and behavior of larvae and adults, with emphasis on those aspects important in ecological studies, biological monitoring of water quality, and sports fishing. […]

Explore the wonders of the Blue Ridge on all-day hikes! Adventure to waterfalls in the area, take a dip in a mountain lake, and follow our streams as they rush down to rivers. Please Note: This camp includes an optional campout Thursday night on the Highlands Biological Station property. Campers will cook dinner and breakfast […]

Fleshy Fungi of the Highlands Plateau: July 13 - July 24 Dr. Andy Methven, Savannah State University (download syllabus) Students will be introduced to the fleshy fungi (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) that occur on the Highlands Plateau during peak mushroom season. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of macro- and micro-morphological features in the identification […]

Get to know your nature neighbors! Go searching for salamanders in streams, come across caterpillars creeping through the Botanical Garden, and learn about animal life cycles. Registration required.

Spot the animals living all around us! Dig into the dirt, trek through streams, and look through your binoculars to uncover hidden habitats and the creatures that live there. Registration required.

July 14th, 9 PM- 10 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.

Fireflies 101 with Dr. Luiz Da Silveira on July 15 $125 July 15, 2-6 pm learn about fireflies; 6-8 pm dinner on your own; 8-10 pm view fireflies Did you know… That fireflies are beetles? That our planet is home to over 2,000 firefly species? That not all firefly species make light? That many fireflies […]

Biology of Southern Appalachian Fishes: July 6 - July 17 Dr. Mollie Cashner, Austin Peay University The southern Appalachians supports one of the richest fresh water fish faunas in North America and is part of an extensive southern/southeastern area that has well over 600 species. This larger region has been compared to a tropical rain […]

Spot the animals living all around us! Dig into the dirt, trek through streams, and look through your binoculars to uncover hidden habitats and the creatures that live there. Registration required.

Get to know your nature neighbors! Go searching for salamanders in streams, come across caterpillars creeping through the Botanical Garden, and learn about animal life cycles. Registration required.

Jump into where the wild things live! Explore the many kinds of homes in our forests, from the tops of trees to deep underground, and find out what animals live in each place. Registration required.

Step into an animal’s paws for the week! Create camouflaged creatures, study skulls, and get a bird’s eye view on life. Registration required.

July 21st, 9 PM- 10 PM Nature Center Nights: A Buggy Evening Experience the world of our smallest nocturnal creatures—insects! Learn to identify unique and beautiful insects then join naturalists to sample for fireflies, moths, and more in the Botanical Garden. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.

Fleshy Fungi of the Highlands Plateau: July 13 - July 24 Dr. Andy Methven, Savannah State University (download syllabus) Students will be introduced to the fleshy fungi (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) that occur on the Highlands Plateau during peak mushroom season. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of macro- and micro-morphological features in the identification […]

Step into an animal’s paws for the week! Create camouflaged creatures, study skulls, and get a bird’s eye view on life. Registration required.

Jump into where the wild things live! Explore the many kinds of homes in our forests, from the tops of trees to deep underground, and find out what animals live in each place. Registration required.

Conservation Genetics of Salamanders: July 27 - July 31 Dr. J.J. Apodaca, Tangled Bank Conservation The field of conservation genetics is rapidly emerging as an exceedingly vital component of conservation biology. This course focuses on salamanders to explore the fundamentals, cutting edge techniques, theories, and issues surrounding conservation genetics. Salamanders are one of the most […]

Mountains Piled Upon Mountains: William Bartram and Naturalists of the Southern Appalachians with Brent Martin on July 28-30 $325 July 28-30, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm William Bartram provides western North Carolina with one of our most important literary and artistic renderings of this landscape with his 1791 publication, Travels through North and South Carolina, […]

Create art inspired by and made with nature! Practice weaving, try your hand at pottery, and mix up your own plant-based paper. Please Note: An exhibition of campers’ works will take place Friday at 1:30pm in the Nature Center with refreshments provided. All are invited to view the artwork and converse with the young artists. […]

July 28th 9 pm-10 pm Nature Center Nights: Salamander Meander Kick off Highlands Nature Center’s summer season searching for salamanders in the Botanical Garden! Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join naturalists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This […]

Mountains Piled Upon Mountains: William Bartram and Naturalists of the Southern Appalachians with Brent Martin on July 28-30 $325 July 28-30, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm William Bartram provides western North Carolina with one of our most important literary and artistic renderings of this landscape with his 1791 publication, Travels through North and South Carolina, […]

Conservation Genetics of Salamanders: July 27 - July 31 Dr. J.J. Apodaca, Tangled Bank Conservation The field of conservation genetics is rapidly emerging as an exceedingly vital component of conservation biology. This course focuses on salamanders to explore the fundamentals, cutting edge techniques, theories, and issues surrounding conservation genetics. Salamanders are one of the most […]

Create art inspired by and made with nature! Practice weaving, try your hand at pottery, and mix up your own plant-based paper. Please Note: An exhibition of campers’ works will take place Friday at 1:30pm in the Nature Center with refreshments provided. All are invited to view the artwork and converse with the young artists. […]