2026 Spring Campaign
Support FREE Environmental Education
Watch the swamp pink bloom as donations grow. Color rises from the base, bringing each program to life along the way.
At Highlands Biological Foundation, we open the door to discovery by making nature-based learning available to all. Through free, year-round programming, we invite our community to explore, ask questions, and build meaningful connections with the natural world of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. This work is made possible by supporters like you.
Your gift to our Spring Giving Campaign helps keep these experiences accessible and impactful. Whether it’s a child’s first encounter with native wildlife, an evening spent learning from a visiting scientist, or a quiet walk through the Botanical Garden, your support ensures these moments continue to inspire curiosity and care for the environment.
Your gift supports:
Engaging community programs
From daily summer activities at the Nature Center to beloved seasonal events like Enchanted Forest, we create opportunities for all ages to connect with nature.
Hands-on learning experiences
Families and children explore the natural world through ecoEXPLORE challenges, StoryTime, and up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors.
Broadening our reach
Through Nature on the Go!, we bring interactive, nature-based education into the community, connecting more people to the wonders of the Plateau.
Upcoming FREE Programs
Funded by HBF Supporters Like You!
Nature Center Nights
Tuesday nights, starting June 2nd in the Botanical Gardens
Salamander Meander
Millipeade Night Crawl
Owls: Masters of the Night
What Bat is That?
Wild Encounters
Daily Programs at the Nature Center
Starting June 1 at the Nature Center
Mondays – Animal Encounter
Tuesdays – Storytime
Wednesdays – Garden Tour
Thursdays – ecoEXPLORE Club
Fridays – Snake Feeding
Saturdays – Craft in Nature
Zahner Lecture Series
Thursday nights, starting June 11th at the Nature Center
This year’s Zahner Lecture Series explores topics from arthropods and venomous snakes to Appalachian geology, wildlife connectivity, and emerging environmental research.
ecoEXPLORE Challenges
Monthly
Each month, kids can take part in fun, hands-on nature challenges at the Nature Center. Explore the outdoors, make wildlife observations, and become a community scientist with ecoEXPLORE. Stop by to see what this month’s challenge is all about.
Seasonal Walks
Monthly
Throughout the year, the Nature Center offers guided walks that celebrate the changing seasons on the Highlands Plateau. From spotting birds in the early morning to discovering blooming wildflowers, curious fungi, colorful fall leaves, and winter-blooming witch hazel—each walk is a chance to explore and connect with nature.
Outreach
Monthly
Each month, our education specialists bring nature-based learning into the community with themed outreach programs. From local libraries to after-school groups, these engaging lessons introduce kids and families to the wonders of the natural world through hands-on activities and interactive presentations.
NC Bioblitz
Yearly
The NC Bioblitz is part of the City Nature Challenge, a friendly citizen science competition between cities & regions all over the world. Upload observations to iNaturalist, and help Western NC win against the rest of the state!
Enchanted Forest
Halloween Event
Each year, the Highlands Botanical Garden transforms into a magical, family-friendly Halloween adventure! Dress up in your favorite costume, trick-or-treat along the trails, and discover the wild side of Halloween with fun nature facts and festive surprises.
Make Your Impact Today
Your gift brings free nature education to life across the Plateau, creating meaningful experiences for all ages. Every donation helps spark curiosity and connection.
