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 food for animals from snails to caribou. In this course you will have a chance to learn about lichens in one of their centers of diversity, the southern Appalachians. We will take field trips to a variety of habitats to explore the species and ecological diversity of lichens. Lab work will cover lichen chemistry, morphology, and identification. At the end of the course you will have a new perspective on the diversity, evolution and ecology of lichens. * We will go on field trips to explore a variety of lichen communities characteristic of the southern Appalachians. Field trips will take place in natural areas up to 1.5 hours drive from HBS. Up to a total of 5 miles of hiking per day can be expected on days we go in the field. For all-day field trips you will need to pack a lunch. Prerequisites: General biology, ecology, basic understanding of evolution, and prior experience with basic skills of microscopy is strongly recommended.

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 forest in terms of its diversity, which is not equaled by any other temperate area. The course will focus on the diversity, evolution, biogeography and behavior of fishes primarily in the Southern Appalachians. During the course students will engage in a number of fish collection techniques, including seining and in-stream snorkeling (these streams are cold, so wetsuits are a must). Students will learn to identify the major families and genera both in the field and in the lab, learn basic fish identification techniques with a subset of focal species, and conduct field and lab-based observational studies. Regular lectures and discussion of current peer-reviewed journal articles will enhance and compliment the field experiences. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, zoology, or permission of the instructor. Click here to apply.

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 to have fun making art together. Learning objectives: 1. The student will learn a history of block printing techniques. 2. The student will learn how to translate photographs and sketches of plants into simplified drawings for carved patterns. 3. The student will learn how to hand-carve flexible rubber blocks. 4. The student will learn how to print the blocks on paper and textiles. Each day will begin with a demonstration of the techniques to be covered for the day and we will have some work time before breaking for lunch. After lunch, students will have time to practice their techniques and make prints. Basic materials will be supplied and covered by the materials fee (TBD). Students will leave the workshop with tools, materials and finished printed items. Note: We will be going into the field at the station to draw and sketch on the first day, so please dress accordingly. Sara Method is an artist living and working in the mountains of western North Carolina. Her work engages the environment through a variety of media including fibers, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Method’s reduction linocuts investigate the abstracted patterns observed in the landscape during her daily commute while her photography and textiles focus on growth and life-cycles that exist on the periphery in the world of plants, fungi, mosses, and lichen. Method received her BA in Painting from Salem College in 2002, an MA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame in 2008 and is a 2020 MFA candidate in Studio Art at Western Carolina University. Click here to apply.

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 over a fire, play games, and learn basic outdoor skills. This camp also includes an optional kayaking trip down the Little Tennessee River all day Friday. Registration required.

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 learn a history of block printing techniques. 2. The student will learn how to translate photographs and sketches of plants into simplified drawings for carved patterns. 3. The student will learn how to hand-carve flexible rubber blocks. 4. The student will learn how to print the blocks on paper and textiles. Each day will begin with a demonstration of the techniques to be covered for the day and we will have some work time before breaking for lunch. After lunch, students will have time to practice their techniques and make prints. Basic materials will be supplied and covered by the materials fee (TBD). Students will leave the workshop with tools, materials and finished printed items. Note: We will be going into the field at the station to draw and sketch on the first day, so please dress accordingly. Sara Method is an artist living and working in the mountains of western North Carolina. Her work engages the environment through a variety of media including fibers, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Method’s reduction linocuts investigate the abstracted patterns observed in the landscape during her daily commute while her photography and textiles focus on growth and life-cycles that exist on the periphery in the world of plants, fungi, mosses, and lichen. Method received her BA in Painting from Salem College in 2002, an MA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame in 2008 and is a 2020 MFA candidate in Studio Art at Western Carolina University. Click here to apply.

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. Insects will be collected from diverse mountain stream habitats, and identifications will be performed in the laboratory. Students may opt to take the Society for Freshwater Science’s Taxonomic Certification exam of eastern EPT to genus at the end of the course (http://www.sfstcp.com/). Prerequisites: General biology, ecology, or permission of instructor Click here to apply.

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 over a fire, play games, and learn basic outdoor skills. This camp also includes an optional kayaking trip down the Little Tennessee River all day Friday. Registration required.

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 of genera and species as well as the ecological role of fungi in the ecosystem. Additional topics may be added depending on student interest. The daily routine will consist of a morning lecture followed by a field trip until early afternoon. Transportation on field trips will be in a biological station van. Collections will be examined and identified after returning from the field and an opportunity provided to assemble a collection of dried fleshy fungi. Microscopes and chemical reagents necessary for accurate species determinations will be available for use. The laboratory will be open in the evenings for additional study of collections. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, ecology, or permission of instructor. Click here to apply.

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.

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 can be identified by their species-specific flash pattern? That over a dozen firefly species can be found on the Highlands Plateau? Come join Western Carolina University entomologist Dr. Luiz Da Silveira for our first “Fireflies 101” workshop, where participants will learn about the natural history of fireflies, ways of observing and telling them apart, and what we can do to make our gardens more “glowing.” The workshop will conclude with a night walk around the Highlands Biological Station grounds and Botanical Garden, where we will learn to identify the fireflies we encounter and decipher their light-flash conversations. Dr. Luiz Da Silveira is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Western Carolina University. He received his Ph.D. in Ecology at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Afterwards he worked one year as a post-doc at the University of Georgia. Luiz specializes on the taxonomy of South American fireflies and on global biogeography of the Lampyridae. Click here to apply.

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 forest in terms of its diversity, which is not equaled by any other temperate area. The course will focus on the diversity, evolution, biogeography and behavior of fishes primarily in the Southern Appalachians. During the course students will engage in a number of fish collection techniques, including seining and in-stream snorkeling (these streams are cold, so wetsuits are a must). Students will learn to identify the major families and genera both in the field and in the lab, learn basic fish identification techniques with a subset of focal species, and conduct field and lab-based observational studies. Regular lectures and discussion of current peer-reviewed journal articles will enhance and compliment the field experiences. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, zoology, or permission of the instructor. Click here to apply.

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.

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.

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 of genera and species as well as the ecological role of fungi in the ecosystem. Additional topics may be added depending on student interest. The daily routine will consist of a morning lecture followed by a field trip until early afternoon. Transportation on field trips will be in a biological station van. Collections will be examined and identified after returning from the field and an opportunity provided to assemble a collection of dried fleshy fungi. Microscopes and chemical reagents necessary for accurate species determinations will be available for use. The laboratory will be open in the evenings for additional study of collections. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, ecology, or permission of instructor. Click here to apply.

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 endangered vertebrate groups in the world and are extremely diverse in the southern Appalachians, making them an ideal focal group for an introduction to the world of conservation genetics. In this short course, participants will become familiar with how to design, carry out, and interpret a conservation genetic study. We will also focus on learning to identify, work with, and appreciate the local salamander diversity. Participants will become acquainted with commonly used laboratory techniques and current literature pertaining to the conservation genetics of salamanders. This course is designed for students and others interested in working in the field of wildlife management that want to learn more about conservation genetics. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, ecology, or permission of instructor. Click here to apply.

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. Registration required.

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, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws. Participants will explore the western North Carolina landscape and writings of William Bartram through daily field trips, readings, and meetings with authors. At the end of the three days, students will have experienced the landscape of Travels firsthand and will have gained insight into the 18th century literary and intellectual world of Bartram, along with the cultural and natural history of western North Carolina at that time. Cherokee history of this area and era will be a focus, as will the art and descriptions of the southeast through the eyes of other early explorers, such as Andre Michaux and Mark Catesby. Brent Martin lives in the Cowee community in western North Carolina where he and his wife Angela Faye Martin run Alarka Institute, a nature, literary, and art based business that offers workshop and field trips. He is also the part-time director of the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society. He has served as the Southern Appalachian Regional Director for the Wilderness Society, Executive Director of Georgia Forestwatch, and Associate Director of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. He has an M.A. and ABD in History from Georgia State University and is a recipient of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Southern Environmental Leadership Award. A collection of his natural history essays, The Changing Blue Ridge Mountains: Essays on Journeys Past and Present was recently published by History Press. Click here to apply.

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 program is weather-dependent.

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, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws. Participants will explore the western North Carolina landscape and writings of William Bartram through daily field trips, readings, and meetings with authors. At the end of the three days, students will have experienced the landscape of Travels firsthand and will have gained insight into the 18th century literary and intellectual world of Bartram, along with the cultural and natural history of western North Carolina at that time. Cherokee history of this area and era will be a focus, as will the art and descriptions of the southeast through the eyes of other early explorers, such as Andre Michaux and Mark Catesby. Brent Martin lives in the Cowee community in western North Carolina where he and his wife Angela Faye Martin run Alarka Institute, a nature, literary, and art based business that offers workshop and field trips. He is also the part-time director of the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society. He has served as the Southern Appalachian Regional Director for the Wilderness Society, Executive Director of Georgia Forestwatch, and Associate Director of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. He has an M.A. and ABD in History from Georgia State University and is a recipient of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Southern Environmental Leadership Award. A collection of his natural history essays, The Changing Blue Ridge Mountains: Essays on Journeys Past and Present was recently published by History Press. Click here to apply.

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 endangered vertebrate groups in the world and are extremely diverse in the southern Appalachians, making them an ideal focal group for an introduction to the world of conservation genetics. In this short course, participants will become familiar with how to design, carry out, and interpret a conservation genetic study. We will also focus on learning to identify, work with, and appreciate the local salamander diversity. Participants will become acquainted with commonly used laboratory techniques and current literature pertaining to the conservation genetics of salamanders. This course is designed for students and others interested in working in the field of wildlife management that want to learn more about conservation genetics. Prerequisites: Introductory biology, ecology, or permission of instructor. Click here to apply.

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. Registration required.