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.

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.

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.

There is always something changing in the Highlands Botanical Garden! Take a guided tour to see what's new in our demonstration gardens and among the hundreds of species that call our campus home. Tours are on the 1st Monday of every month from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tours are weather dependent. This tour will be live streamed on the HBS Facebook page (@highlandsbiologicalstation). The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. For more information, call (828) 526-2623.

Highlands Biological Foundation has partnered with Yoga Highlands to bring you Yoga in the Garden. Grab your yoga mat, and join Rachel Kinback (CYT 500) of Yoga Highlands on the 1st Monday of the month (May-August) for virtual yoga in the Botanical Garden. The video will be posted on the HBS Facebook page at 5:30 p.m. Come connect with nature and unwind your mind and body from the bustle of Mondays. These yoga sessions are free to the public, but donations are accepted.

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.