BEE Kind | Forest Bathing Walk (5/20)
HBS North Campus 111 Lower Lake Road, Highlands, NC, United StatesSaturday, May 20th | 5 – 8 PM | Register HERE Highlands Biological Station’s North Campus (111 Lower Lake Road) $20/ person | Registration required Join Robin Hancock of Renewal by Nature for a forest bathing walk through the Highlands Botanical Garden. This rather intense, yet relaxed, practice renews us in a way that allows our inner peace and health to radiate beyond the Forest Therapy walk and positively impact our day to day experiences. In addition to the psychological and emotional benefits, Forest Therapy has a positive impact on human physiology in the form of improved biometric measures and function. Each walk is 3 hours in length, and consists of a series of invitations crafted to encourage the participants to connect with nature through their senses. Events are rain or shine, unless the weather is threatening. Mental health awareness starts with kindness! This event is being held as part of BEE Kind, an initiative from the Counseling Center of Highlands and Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation to raise awareness about the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
BEE Kind | Forest Bathing Walk (5/21)
HBS North Campus 111 Lower Lake Road, Highlands, NC, United StatesSaturday, May 21st | 9 AM - 12 PM | Register HERE Highlands Biological Station’s North Campus (111 Lower Lake Road) $20/ person | Registration required Join Robin Hancock of Renewal by Nature for a forest bathing walk through the Highlands Botanical Garden. This rather intense, yet relaxed, practice renews us in a way that allows our inner peace and health to radiate beyond the Forest Therapy walk and positively impact our day to day experiences. In addition to the psychological and emotional benefits, Forest Therapy has a positive impact on human physiology in the form of improved biometric measures and function. Each walk is 3 hours in length, and consists of a series of invitations crafted to encourage the participants to connect with nature through their senses. Events are rain or shine, unless the weather is threatening. Mental health awareness starts with kindness! This event is being held as part of BEE Kind, an initiative from the Counseling Center of Highlands and Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation to raise awareness about the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Pollinator Party Walk
Highlands Nature CenterSunday, May 21 | 2 - 3:30 PM | Registration required HERE FREE admission This Endangered Species Day, join Mainspring Conservation Trust & Highlands Nature Center for an easy stroll through the Highlands Botanical Garden to learn about some of our endangered pollinators, from bees & wasps to butterflies & moths! Meet at the Highlands Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road).
Introduction to Plant Ecophysiology in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Highlands Biological Station 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, United StatesInstructor: Dr. Howie Neufeld (Appalachian State University) A short course on basic plant ecophysiology instrumentation and techniques, designed for beginners and advanced students alike. Students will learn the operating principles behind plant gas exchange (photosynthesis and transpiration), pigment extraction, and plant-water relations. This will include measuring plant water stress and hydraulics, which is how plants move liquid water in their stems. Students will become proficient in the use of portable gas exchange systems, pressure chambers for measuring water stress, hydraulic conductance systems, and fluorescence systems for measuring leaf stress. Much of the course will be field-based and measurements will be done on native plants in the lab and field; weather permitting, students will take field trips to different plant habitats in the Southern Appalachians and learn about the environmental factors governing growth and survival in these unique areas. After mastering the instrumentation and theory during the first week, students will work in groups to plan and conduct a field experiment during the second week, the results of which will be presented at a mini symposium at the conclusion of the course. Pre-requisites: Students must have completed the introductory biology sequence at their institution
NCN: Salamander Meander (Members Only)
Highlands Nature CenterFriday, May 26 | 9 – 10 PM Limited spaces | Registration required HERE (registration opens Monday, May 22) FREE admission, donation appreciated Kick off Highlands Nature Center’s summer season by searching for salamanders in the Botanical Garden! Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join our Education Specialists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! We will meet in the amphitheater behind the Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road). This program is weather-dependent.
NatureTime StoryTime
Highlands Nature CenterMay 29 | June 12 | June 19 | June 26 10:30 AM Highlands Nature Center FREE | No registration necessary Join local storyteller Ms. KK at the Highlands Nature Center as she reads fun books and sings silly songs all about the great outdoors. After the StoryTime fun, Ms. KK will take you on an interactive adventure walk! This program is geared towards elementary-aged children, but all nature explorers are welcome. New Nature Themes each week (such as): Cute Critters, Buggin’ Out, Frogs & Reptiles Oh My!, Going Camping, and More! About Ms. KK: A beloved storyteller, Ms. KK always puts her heart, energy, and infectious personality into every performance. Her enthusiasm and overall love of books is contagious. Ms. KK believes that when you open a book it opens up a world with endless possibilities. Whether she is performing virtually or in person, Ms. KK will make sure everyone has fun! Honestly, if I can make a child smile it makes my whole heart shine. Ms. KK taps into her former acting, improv, and voice-over skills as well as my years as a storyteller on YouTube and in Public libraries, to make every performance full of fun and joy!
Nature Center Holiday Hours
Highlands Nature CenterHighlands Nature Center is Open for Memorial Day Weekend! Extended Holiday Hours: Sunday, May 28, 12 – 4 PM FREE admission
NCN: Salamander Meander
Highlands Nature CenterLimited spaces | Registration required Tuesday, May 30 | 9 – 10 PM | Register HERE FREE admission, donation appreciated Search for salamanders in the Botanical Garden! Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join our Education Specialists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! We will meet in the amphitheater behind the Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road). This program is weather-dependent. This program is open to the public.
NCN: Salamander Meander
Highlands Nature CenterLimited spaces | Registration required Wednesday, May 31 | 9 – 10 PM | Register HERE FREE admission, donation appreciated Search for salamanders in the Botanical Garden! Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join our Education Specialists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Please bring a flashlight for this adventure! We will meet in the amphitheater behind the Nature Center (930 Horse Cove Road). This program is weather-dependent. This program is open to the public.
Southern Appalachian Mammals
Highlands Biological Station 265 North 6th St, Highlands, NC, United StatesInstructors: Dr. Rada Petric (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Dr. Ed Pivorun (Clemson University) This course will emphasize the mammalian fauna of the Southern Appalachians. We will have traditional lectures on mammalian anatomy, evolution, orders, physiology and ecology for about 1 ½ hours every morning. Field work will emphasize live trapping techniques. Mammals tend to be nocturnal. Thus, all traps will be set out in the late afternoon and will be checked early the next morning. These efforts will allow the student to become familiar with as many living local species of mammals as possible. The field work will examine the importance of specific habitats for the distribution and density of specific species. After a short break, we will move into the lecture setting until noon. In the early afternoon, after lunch, we will spend another 1 ½- 2 hours to do some more of the traditional mammalogy labs on anatomy, identification and keying. An interactive DVD/flash drive provided to each student contains high resolution images of the skulls of each species native to the Appalachian forests. This is an excellent study aid that is used in conjunction with the actual skulls and study skins of each species. Pre-requisites: Introductory biology, zoology, or permission of the instructor.
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