Join us at the Nature Center to make your very own Bark Book! Enjoy a stroll through the forest to create unique texture impressions of different tree bark patterns, and learn some tips and tricks to help you identify your findings. Making your own Bark Book is a great way to explore nature, learn about […]

Spring is right around the corner, and we’re already seeing some fresh pops of green! We will kick off the ecoEXPLORE Botany Field Season with a plant scavenger hunt along the Botanical Garden trails and the Boardwalk. Participants will work to complete a plant identification challenge while gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world […]

Join us at the Nature Center to make your very own Bark Book! Enjoy a stroll through the forest to create unique texture impressions of different tree bark patterns, and learn some tips and tricks to help you identify your findings. Making your own Bark Book is a great way to explore nature, learn about […]

Become a wildlife explorer and discover what’s living right in our backyard! Join us at the Highlands Nature Center to participate in an ecoEXPLORE BioBlitz. As a nationwide Citizen Science event, the purpose of a BioBlitz is to find and identify as many different species as possible in a specific area over a short period […]

Become a wildlife explorer and discover what’s living right in our backyard! Join us at the Highlands Nature Center to participate in an ecoEXPLORE BioBlitz. As a nationwide Citizen Science event, the purpose of a BioBlitz is to find and identify as many different species as possible in a specific area over a short period […]

Become a wildlife explorer and discover what’s living right in our backyard! Join us at the Highlands Nature Center to participate in an ecoEXPLORE BioBlitz. As a nationwide Citizen Science event, the purpose of a BioBlitz is to find and identify as many different species as possible in a specific area over a short period […]

Become a wildlife explorer and discover what’s living right in our backyard! Join us at the Highlands Nature Center to participate in an ecoEXPLORE BioBlitz. As a nationwide Citizen Science event, the purpose of a BioBlitz is to find and identify as many different species as possible in a specific area over a short period […]

May begins Herpetology Season! Hop, slither, or slide down to the Highlands Nature Center to learn about the reptiles and amphibians we share the world with. Connect with one of our Education Specialists to learn more about what ecoEXPLORE challenges are offered in May, and stay tuned to find out about the upcoming Salamander Meanders! […]

2 Credit Hours May 4–8, 2026 Instructor: Dr. Paul McKenzie, Retired Endangered Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Volunteer and Independent Contractor This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the identification, morphology, and ecology of grasses native to the Southern Appalachian region. Through a combination of lectures, lab-based keying exercises, and immersive field excursions, […]

May begins Herpetology Season! Hop, slither, or slide down to the Highlands Nature Center to learn about the reptiles and amphibians we share the world with. Connect with one of our Education Specialists to learn more about what ecoEXPLORE challenges are offered in May, and stay tuned to find out about the upcoming Salamander Meanders! […]