Zahner Lecture 3

Highlands Nature Center

Lecture 3 - Microplastic Pollution in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems Featured Speaker: Austin D. Gray, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences; Virginia Tech Date: Thursday, June 29th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Jennifer & Forrest McConnell and Jennie Stowers. Plastic pollution poses one of the greatest global risks to freshwater and marine ecosystems. […]

Free

A Buggy Evening

Highlands Nature Center

July 5th (Register HERE)          9 - 10 PM FREE, all ages welcome Registration required Experience the world of our smallest nocturnal creatures—insects! Learn to identify unique and beautiful insects then join naturalists to look for fireflies and nocturnal creepy crawlies in the Botanical Garden. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This […]

Free

Zahner Lecture 4

Highlands Nature Center

Lecture 4 - The Geology That Has Shaped the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau Featured Speaker: Bill Jacobs, Geology Enthusiast and Author of Whence These Special Places – The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley Date: Thursday, July 6th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Anne & Dick Goodsell: The Claude Sullivan Geology Initiative The Highlands-Cashiers […]

Free

Introduction to Brightfield and Fluorescence Microscopies

Highlands Biological Station 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, United States

Instructor: Dr. Bob Youker (Western Carolina University) In this lecture/lab course, students will learn how to prepare their field samples for brightfield and fluorescence microscopic examination. Students will also learn how microscopes generate images, the experimental conditions needed for optimal imaging of their specimens, and learn basic image processing techniques for analysis. The course will […]

Owl Prowl

Highlands Nature Center

July 11th (Register HERE)                                            Time: 7pm – 7:45pm FREE, all ages welcome Registration required Who-oo goes there? Join Balsam Mountain Trust for a special meeting with their live owl ambassadors and learn more about these […]

Free

Going Batty

Highlands Nature Center

July 12th (Register HERE) Time: 9pm-10pm FREE, all ages welcome 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.

Free

Zahner Lecture 5

Highlands Nature Center

Lecture 5 - History of National Forest Management in the Chattooga River Watershed, and the Compelling Case for a New Mission for the Forest Service Featured Speaker: Buzz Williams; Emeritus Executive Director & Program Specialist, Chattooga Conservancy Date: Thursday, July 13th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Bryding Adams & Bob Rathburn, Lynda […]

Free

Folklore & Explore

Highlands Nature Center

July 18th (Register HERE)      9 - 10 PM FREE, all ages welcome Registration required Curious about old wives’ tales, superstitions, & Sasquatch?  Explore the natural, night-time beauty of the Botanical Garden while unearthing fascinating tales of Appalachian lore. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.

Free

Folklore & Explore

Highlands Nature Center

July 19th (Register HERE) 9 - 10 PM FREE, all ages welcome Registration required Curious about old wives’ tales, superstitions, & Sasquatch?  Explore the natural, night-time beauty of the Botanical Garden while unearthing fascinating tales of Appalachian lore. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.

Free

Zahner Lecture 6

Highlands Nature Center

Lecture 6 - Bird Talk: An Exploration of Avian Communication Featured Speaker: Barbara Ballentine, Ph.D.; Associate Professor; Western Carolina University Date: Thursday, July 20th Time: 6pm – 7pm Cost: FREE Sponsored by Miriam & Vernon Skiles and Mary Todd & Jimmy Davis. Birds use acoustic, visual, and even olfactory signals in social contexts that are […]

Free