Highlands Biological Station

Nature Center opens for spring hours (reservations required)
2021-04-02 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
After more than a year of closure, the Highlands Nature Center will be opening its door to visitors once more beginning Friday, April 2nd! Spring hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free reservations are required to visit.
To ensure the safety of our community and beyond, visiting the Nature Center will look a little different this year. As part of our COVID-19 measures, we have implemented a free reservation system to ensure that only one extended household or group is in the Nature Center at one time. Masks are required of all guests, and hands-on exhibits (including our Kids Discovery Room) are currently closed. Restrooms are for staff only. Nature Center staff will clean the center in-between guest visits.
Click HERE to reserve a 30 minute slot to visit the Nature Center. We hope to see you soon!

Grasses of the Southern Appalachians
2021-05-17 - 2021-05-21 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
GRASSES OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS, with Dr. Paul Mckenzie, USFWS (Emeritus)

Sedges of the Blue Ridge
2021-05-24 - 2021-05-28 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
SEDGES OF THE BLUE RIDGE with Dr. Dwayne Estes, Austin Peay University

Cliff & Rock Outcrop Communities of the Southern Appalachians
2021-05-24 - 2021-05-28 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
CLIFF & ROCK OUTCROP COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS with Ms. Laura Boggess, Mars Hill University and Mr. Gary Kauffman, USFS

Biology and Conservation of Birds
2021-05-31 - 2021-06-11 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF BIRDS with Dr. Rob Bierregaard, Drexel University & Academy of Natural Sciences

Biology of Southern Appalachian Salamanders
2021-05-31 - 2021-06-11 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
BIOLOGY OF SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN SALAMANDERS with Dr. Joe Pechmann, WCU and Dr. Ken Kozak, University of Minnesota

Salamander Meander
2021-06-01 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Salamander Meander
Dates: June 1st, June 29th, & July 27th
Time: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: FREE
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.

Starlight Stroll
2021-06-08 21:00 - 22:00, 2021-07-06 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Starlight Stroll
Dates: June 8th & July 6th
Time: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: FREE
Unlock the history and mystery of the night sky as we study the stars! Hear stories from different cultures and learn to identify summer constellations. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! This program is weather-dependent.

Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, & Caddisflies (Session 1)
2021-06-14 - 2021-06-25 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MAYFLIES, STONEFLIES, AND CADDISFLIES (SESSION 1) with Dr. John Morse, Clemson University (Emeritus)

Southern Appalachian Mammals
2021-06-14 - 2021-06-26 | NC
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MAMMALS with Dr. Ed Pivorun, Clemson University and Dr. Rada Petric, UNC-Greensboro

Going Batty
2021-06-15 21:00 - 22:00, 2021-07-13 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Going Batty
Dates: June 15th & July 13th
Time: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: FREE
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.

A Buggy Evening
2021-06-22 21:00 - 22:00, 2021-07-20 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
A Buggy Evening
Dates: June 22nd & July 20th
Time: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: FREE
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.

Biology and Conservation of Lichens
2021-06-28 - 2021-07-02 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF LICHENS with Dr. Jessica Allen, Eastern Washington University and Dr. James Lendemer, New York Botanical Garden

Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies (Session 2)
2021-06-28 - 2021-07-09 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MAYFLIES, STONEFLIES, AND CADDISFLIES (SESSION 2) with Dr. John Morse, Clemson University (Emeritus)

Salamander Meander
2021-06-29 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Salamander MeanderDates: June 1st, June 29th, & July 27thTime: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcomeCost: FREE
Join the Highlands Nature Center as we search 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.

Biology and Identification of Ferns
2021-07-05 08:00 - 2021-07-09 17:00 UTC | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
BIOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION OF FERNS with Dr. Joey Shaw, UT-Chattanooga

Field to Database: Collecting Biodiversity Data in the Age of Global Databases
2021-07-12 - 2021-07-16 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
FIELD TO DATABASE: COLLECTING BIODIVERSITY DATA IN THE AGE OF GLOBAL DATABASES with Dr. Joey Shaw, UT-Chattanooga

Fleshy Fungi of the Highlands Plateau
2021-07-12 - 2021-07-23 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
FLESHY FUNGI OF THE HIGHLANDS PLATEAU with Dr. Andy Methven, Eastern Illinois University (Emeritus)

Conservation Genetics of Salamanders
2021-07-26 - 2021-07-30 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
CONSERVATION GENETICS OF SALAMANDERS with Dr. J. J. Apodaca, Tangled Bank Conservation

Research Applications of Drones in Landscape Ecology
2021-07-26 - 2021-07-30 | Highlands Biological Station, 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS OF DRONES IN LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY with Dr. Susan Cohen and Mr. Fleming Talton, UNC at Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment

Salamander Meander
2021-07-27 21:00 - 22:00 UTC | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd., Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Salamander Meander
Dates: June 1st, June 29th, & July 27th
Time: 9pm-10pm Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: FREE
Join Highlands Nature Center as we search 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.

Nature Center Hours
2021-11-06 10:00 - 16:00 UTC, 2021-11-13 10:00 - 16:00 UTC, 2021-11-20 10:00 - 16:00 UTC, 2021-11-27 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | NC
The Nature Center will be open from 10 AM – 4 PM. Advanced reservations suggested for groups of 6 or more. Admission is free.

Nature 101 - Rock 'N Roll
2021-11-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | NC
What makes a rock, a rock? To find out, join the Highlands Nature Center for their November Nature 101 program “Rock ‘n Roll”! Beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16th, you will learn how to identify rocks on campus, then put your knowledge to the test during a half-mile hike. Your rock-filled adventure will end at Sunset Rock, which is owned and protected by the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. This event is weather dependent. Reservations and masks are required. To reserve your spot, visit https://highlandsbiological.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/highlandsbiological/eventRegistration.jsp?event=728&

Thanksgiving
2021-11-25 - 2021-11-26 | NC
Station and Foundation offices will be closed for Thanksgiving. The Botanical Garden will be open dawn-dusk but no staff will be on-site.
