Educator Workshop: WILD About Salamanders
September 13, 2025 @10:00 am - 4:00 pm
NOTE: This Educator Workshop is intended specifically for educators — not the general public.
This workshop is open to individuals studying for the NC Environmental Education Certification or those needing CE Credits to maintain their certification and will focus on salamanders in North Carolina.
Hosted by Tanya Poole of N.C. Wildlife Commission and Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s own Interpretation and Education staff, this workshop will focus on the various types of salamanders in North Carolina, specifically those found in Western North Carolina. We will cover life cycles, habitats, identification, anatomy and much more, and hopefully spend time outdoors looking for salamanders. Participants will also test out activities they can take back to their classrooms.
The program is open to all interested educators. All participants qualify for CEU and EE Criteria II or III credits.
This workshop is free to attend, although advance registration is required. Limited to 25 participants. Registration opens here July 15 at 10 a.m. Click here to register.
What to Bring?
Your time will be spent indoors and outdoors and all programs are held rain or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment and footwear are very important. Please bring a daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing (i.e., extra layers, rain gear), water, lunch, notepad/paper, pen/pencil, etc.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can get wet and muddy.
Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch, although there is a restaurant on site.
Additional Information
Educational Experience Forms will be available for certification hours and Continuing Education Credit for the instructor to sign off on. Grandfather Mountain may also serve as Criteria III – Site visit hours, but these hours must be gained outside of the time that the workshop takes place (i.e., prior to or after the workshop). Staff will be available to sign off on these site visit forms.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend the educator workshop that you are registered for, please let us know five days in advance of the workshop. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, please call 828-833-6332 or email judi@grandfather.com.
About Grandfather Mountain Educator Workshops
Grandfather Mountain’s Educator Workshop series invites educators to take advantage of the mountain’s classroom in the clouds. This is an opportunity to learn and have fun, while earning certification as an environmental educator in North Carolina. These programs offer credits with Criteria I, II and III programs. All workshops take place at Grandfather Mountain and may include some walking, so participants are encouraged to bring appropriate footwear and be prepared for inclement weather. Learn more about this year’s lineup.
