Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, & Caddisflies : June 15 - June 26 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.

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.

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.

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. Click here to apply.

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.

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.

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 program is weather-dependent.

Celebrate the coming holiday with an Independence Day themed nature scavenger hunt at the Highlands Botanical Garden!  Beginning Thursday, July 2nd you and your family will be able to use our self-guided scavenger hunt guides to find plant species that resemble various colors and shapes that are associated with the 4th of July such as fireworks and stars. Scavenger hunt print outs will be available at the entrance to the Botanical Garden. Remember to leave natural objects where you find them. To combat the spread of COVID-19, we ask that once you take one, you keep it and take it home with you as we want to minimize visitors touching the same surfaces and don't want to find discarded guides in the garden. Remember to maintain social distance and wear face masks as mandated by the NC Executive Order. For more information on this scavenger hunt, please contact HBF Nature Center Education Specialist Paige Engelbrektsson at (828) 526-2623.

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.