BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Grandfather Mountain - ECPv6.18.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://grandfather.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Grandfather Mountain
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260725T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260725T150000
DTSTAMP:20260515T141154Z
CREATED:20260415T205456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T141154Z
UID:10001813-1784973600-1784991600@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Family Field Course: Grizzly Family Foraging
DESCRIPTION:Embark on a wild adventure with The Grizzly Forager on the mountain in search of mysterious treasure made by wasps\, which explorers of old gathered and made into ink – the same ink that was used to sign the Declaration of Independence! Arthur\, Sybbie and their dad\, John\, will guide you through the process of how to forage for oak galls and turn them into usable ink. \nOak Gall ink was the standard European writing and drawing ink from the 5th to the 19th century\, used for vital documents like the Magna Carta\, Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings\, Bach’s manuscripts and you guessed it\, The Declaration of Independence! It is made by mixing tannin-rich oak galls (wasp larvae nurseries) with other ingredients\, creating a permanent\, waterproof\, deep black pigment. You will head out on a forage to find them (and possibly some other fab wild foods along the way)\, before bringing them back to camp\, starting a fire and making the ink as a group! \nThe Grizzly Forager is an aspirational social media account with the primary aim of inspiring parents to get outside with their kids via the art of foraging. Arthur\, Sybbie\, and their mum and dad\, John and Christina\, create wholesome and visually appealing posts and reels that aim to educate\, inspire and encourage kids of all ages to safely experience the outdoors and develop a deep love and connection with nature. Their content covers a broad range of topics\, from wild food identification and safety\, cooking and recipes\, wildlife\, nature-inspired lifestyle activities\, and ecological and environmental issues. Christina is a Clinical Psychologist and John is an educator\, professional photographer\, foraging enthusiast and author of The Grizzly Forager’s Guide to Family Foraging. \nProgram Itinerary\n10 a.m. – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions\n10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Foraging with Arthur and Sybbie\n12 – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery\n12:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Make oak gall dyes at the Outdoor Learning Space\n2:30 – 3 p.m. – Wrap up and evaluations \nTickets\nThis event costs $35 for adults and $29 for adults who are members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. The event cost is $20 per child and $18 for kids eligible to receive a discount via a Bridge Club Group Pass – plus tax. \nRegistration opens on this page on May 22 at 10 a.m. \nBridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets.\nYou will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase. \nNon-Bridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets. \nThis is a family field course. Children ages 5 and up are welcome\, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent 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. \nEquipment: \n\nDaypack with enough room to carry extra clothing\, water\, lunch\, camera\, etc.\nWater Bottle\nSunglasses\nSunscreen\nNotebook and pencil\n\nEquipment specific to this course:  \n\nFlight feather from the wing of a large bird (if you want to try to make a quill)! Grandfather Mountain will have feathers available too.\nA small foraging basket to collect your findings.\n\nRefunds/Cancellations \nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/family-field-course-grizzly-family-foraging/
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LGRRibbon-246.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260801T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260801T160000
DTSTAMP:20260529T182303Z
CREATED:20250506T153435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T182303Z
UID:10001408-1785578400-1785600000@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Adult Field Course: Exploring Natural Communities of Grandfather Mountain
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an in-depth exploration of the natural community types found on Grandfather Mountain. In this class\, you’ll learn to recognize distinct habitats by studying their characteristic flora\, fauna and environmental conditions. Guided by ecological principles and scientific tools\, we’ll examine how factors such as elevation\, topography\, soil composition and microclimates shape these unique ecosystems and provide habitats for some of the rare and endangered species that we’ll see during our exploration. This workshop will enhance your ability to classify habitats and deepen your understanding of the complex interplay between species and their environments. \nElizabeth Trott and Leigh Ann Emery have served as Interpretive Park Guides for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation since 2021 and 2022\, respectively. Both are NAI Certified Interpretive Park Guides\, and both are nearing completion of the North Carolina Environmental Educator certification. Elizabeth and Leigh Ann both have an immense passion for all aspects of nature. They often spend their time\, both at work and personally\, exploring Grandfather Mountain and sharing their passions with anyone that will listen. \n \nProgram Itinerary\n10:00 – 10:15 – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions\n10:15 – 11:30 – Classroom introduction to Natural Communities of Grandfather Mountain\n11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch at Wilson Center\n12:00 – 3:30 – Exploring different Natural Communities on the Mountain (shuttle provided)\n3:30 – 4:00 – Wrap up/Evaluations \nTickets\nThis event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. \nRegistration opens on this page on June 1 at 10 a.m. Limited to 20 participants. \nBridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets.\nYou will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase. \nNon-Bridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets. \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses\, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent 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. \nEquipment:\nDaypack with enough room to carry extra clothing\, water\, lunch\, camera\, etc.\nWater Bottle\nSunglasses\nSunscreen\nSturdy hiking boots or closed-toed shoes are required\nNotebook and pencil\nLong pants and preferably long-sleeved shirts are strongly encouraged as we will be walking through the woods. \nRefunds/Cancellations\nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals. \nLearn more about the adult field course series.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/adult-field-course-natural-communities/
LOCATION:Grandfather Mountain\, 2050 Blowing Rock Highway\, Linville\, NC\, 28646\, United States
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Natural-Communities-1.jpg
GEO:36.0850742;-81.8462718
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway Linville NC 28646 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2050 Blowing Rock Highway:geo:-81.8462718,36.0850742
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260806T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260806T160000
DTSTAMP:20260617T141935Z
CREATED:20250512T152938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T141935Z
UID:10001409-1786010400-1786032000@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Adult Field Course: Fungi in the Cloud Forest
DESCRIPTION:This event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list\, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name\, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving. \nThe southern Appalachians are world-renowned for different types of fungi\, from mushrooms to lichens\, and are home to more than 2\,000 species. Here’s a chance to learn about the lifestyle and habitats of fungi\, as well as observe many kinds of fungal fruiting bodies\, including mushrooms growing at higher elevations. Participants will learn how to identify them by size\, shape and color. You will also inoculate a log with shiitake mushroom mycelium to take home with you. After an interactive introduction to the fungi kingdom\, that includes inoculating the logs\, we’ll take a short slow stroll in search of mushrooms growing on the mountain to collect representatives of different fungal families to study back in the classroom. Through this workshop and field exploration\, you’ll learn about fungal habitats\, toxicology and the important roles fungi play in the forest ecosystem. The workshop is designed for beginners\, but veteran foragers will also glean new insights. \nJulie Mullis has been smitten with all aspects of fungi for the past 25 years\, starting when she keyed out an interesting-looking mushroom during a slow\, rainy park ranger season. She has taught many fungi programs and workshops for the community and for the parks where she has worked. She is currently in her 14th season as an interpretive ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway\, currently working north of Boone at Brinegar Cabin in Doughton Park. She has also enjoyed seasons as an environmental educator in Tongass National Forest in Alaska\, W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkesboro and at Grandfather Mountain. \n \nProgram Itinerary\n10 a.m. – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions\n10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Interactive illustrated discussion on the fungi kingdom and the key families \n\nFungal lifestyles and how they eat\, grow and reproduce\nImportance of fungi to humans and other organisms\nIntriguing representatives of various fungal families\n\n12 – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch (Bring your own or purchase from Mildred’s grill)\n12:30 – 2 p.m. – Inoculate shiitake logs\n2 – 3:15 p.m. – Stroll along Woods Walk Trail to look for mushrooms and other fungal fruiting bodies\n3:15 – 4 p.m. – Discussion back in classroom about mushrooms and fruiting bodies found on stroll with wrap up and evaluations \nTickets\nThis event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Registration opens on this page on June 8\, at 10 a.m. Limited to 12 participants. \nThis event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list\, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name\, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving. \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses\, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent outdoors. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing\, equipment and footwear are very important. \nEquipment:\nWater Bottle\nDaypack with rain jacket\, snack and possibly binoculars\nPencil/Pen and Notepad \nEquipment Specific to this Course:\nClothes you don’t mind possibly getting wax or sawdust on\nField guides (if you have them)\nHand lens for up close observations of mushrooms and other fruiting bodies\nCell phone for taking pictures or uploading identification app \nRefunds/Cancellations\nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals. \nLearn more about the adult field course series.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/adult-field-course-fungi/
LOCATION:Grandfather Mountain\, 2050 Blowing Rock Highway\, Linville\, NC\, 28646\, United States
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Adult-Field-Course-2-e1747078949742.jpg
GEO:36.0850742;-81.8462718
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway Linville NC 28646 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2050 Blowing Rock Highway:geo:-81.8462718,36.0850742
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T160000
DTSTAMP:20260529T183406Z
CREATED:20250505T163349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T183406Z
UID:10001407-1786528800-1786550400@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Adult Field Course: Appalachian Woodcraft
DESCRIPTION:The hardy settlers who made these mountains home were resourceful and made what they needed from what was at hand\, and what was at hand was wood. We will examine the types of things Appalachian people have made for themselves from the forests around them like chairs\, bowls\, spoons\, tool handles and more. We will also observe the tools they used to make these items. After taking a walk through the forest which was the pioneer’s lumber yard\, where we will identify trees and some of their uses\, we will focus on a hands-on project – each participant will make an example of that ubiquitous piece of pioneer woodcraft\, the hook. Made from a small\, forked tree branch\, often of rhododendron\, these hooks were found in homes\, barns and outbuildings to hang cloths\, tools\, horse harness and more on the wall in an organized fashion. \nJason Lonon is a craftsman and teacher living and working in the same valley his ancestors have called home since the 1840s. Concurrent to serving an apprenticeship in traditional woodworking\, Jason began blacksmithing as a teenager in the late 1990’s. Today\, Jason and a team of highly skilled craftsmen produce a line of specialty carving tools for traditional woodworkers. Over the years\, Jason has taught welding\, blacksmithing\, woodcarving and other skills in a wide variety of settings from the community college system to wilderness camps. \nProgram Itinerary\n10:00 a.m. – Welcome and Introductions\, Examples of woodwork\, tools and techniques\n11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Tree identification hike and lunch\n1:00-3:30 p.m. – Hands on project\n3:30-4:00 p.m. – Closing and evaluation \nTickets\nThis event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. \nRegistration opens on this page on June 12\, at 10 a.m. Limited to 12 participants. \nBridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets.\nYou will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase. \nNon-Bridge Club Members\, click here to purchase tickets. \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses\, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent 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. \nEquipment:\nDaypack with enough room to carry extra clothing\, water\, lunch\, camera\, etc.\nWater Bottle\nSunglasses\nSunscreen\nSturdy hiking boots or closed-toed shoes are required\nNotebook and pencil \nRefunds/Cancellations\nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals. \nLearn more about the adult field course series.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/adult-field-course-appalachian-woodcraft/
LOCATION:Grandfather Mountain\, 2050 Blowing Rock Highway\, Linville\, NC\, 28646\, United States
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Appalachian-Woodcraft.jpg
GEO:36.0850742;-81.8462718
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Grandfather Mountain 2050 Blowing Rock Highway Linville NC 28646 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2050 Blowing Rock Highway:geo:-81.8462718,36.0850742
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T140000
DTSTAMP:20260727T191002Z
CREATED:20260422T161734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T191002Z
UID:10001814-1789804800-1789826400@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Adult Field Course: The Birds of Grandfather Mountain: The Wonders of Migration
DESCRIPTION:This event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list\, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name\, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving.  \nGrandfather Mountain is an amazing diversity hotspot for breeding birds in the southern Appalachians with more than 120 species detected during the nesting season. But those numbers go up even more during spring and fall migration. Its position along the escarpment and the quality\, diversity\, and extent of forests and other habitats nearby make it a magnet for migrant species of all types. From warblers to hawks to hummingbirds\, migration is a wondrous period of the year for birders and nature enthusiasts alike. \nThis course provides the opportunity to visit several locations on the mountain to learn about the diversity of migrants\, the timing and mechanics of migration\, and hopefully see dozens of species using Grandfather as a staging area on their long flights to Central and South America. Our classroom program will take a deeper dive into the science of migration and some of the technology unlocking the secrets of bird movement. \n \nSteve Dowlan is a retired natural resource specialist\, formerly with the U.S. Forest Service in northwest Pennsylvania and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Oregon. He was the editor of Oregon Birds and the Journal of Oregon Field Ornithology in the 2000s. As a natural resource specialist for the BLM\, he conducted surveys and monitored known sites for northern spotted owls\, assisted with graduate research projects on harlequin ducks\, operated a MAPS banding station in the Old Cascades near Estacada\, conducted a study on fox sparrow subspecies in Oregon and assisted with training sessions for federal and state biologists who conducted standardized bird point counts in the Pacific Northwest. He has been a N.C. High Country resident since 2016 and is currently working on an independent study on common mergansers on the Watauga River. \nProgram Itinerary\n8:15 a.m. – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions\n8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Birding at a variety of locations on the mountain\n12 – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch break\n12:30 – 2 p.m. – Classroom presentation \nTickets\nThis event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. \nRegistration opens on this page on July 20 at 10 a.m. Limited to 15 participants. \nThis event is SOLD OUT. To be placed on the waiting list\, please email judi@grandfather.com with your name\, phone number and the number of tickets you are interested in reserving.  \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for this field course\, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent 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. \nEquipment: \n\nDaypack with enough room to carry extra clothing\, water\, lunch\, camera\, etc.\nWater Bottle\nSunglasses\nSunscreen\nHiking Books\nBinoculars\nNotebook and pencil\n\nEquipment specific to this course:  \n\nCellphone for taking pictures or uploading to an identification app\n\nRefunds/Cancellations\nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/adult-field-course-birds-of-grandfather-migration/
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AFC-Birds.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T230000
DTSTAMP:20260820T134834Z
CREATED:20260415T203401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T134834Z
UID:10001812-1792256400-1792278000@grandfather.com
SUMMARY:Adult Field Course: Grandfather's Starry Skies
DESCRIPTION:This event is SOLD OUT.  \nOctober is one of the best times of year to be stargazing at Grandfather Mountain. The air is cool and clear\, and the summer constellations are still very prominent\, with some early winter sights making their appearance later in the evening. This course also takes place during the time of the Orionid meteor shower\, so hopefully some of these celestial fireworks will grace our skies during our nighttime observing. \n \nStephan Martin has been a stargazer since he was very young growing up under dark skies of South Florida. Steve is also an astronomer\, educator and author who has taught astronomy and physics at colleges\, universities and learning centers across the US and internationally for over thirty-five years.  He has worked as an instrument specialist for the Hubble Space Telescope and as Observatory Supervisor at Williams College\, where he participated in scientific research expeditions around the world to study the dynamics of the solar corona during solar eclipses. \nJoin Martin to create a familiarity with the night sky and learn the basics of stargazing that can be applied on your own on any clear night throughout the year. The course begins in the classroom and transitions to various viewing locations on the mountain\, practicing stargazing skills while looking for meteors and learning about some of the most prominent stars\, constellations and other objects visible this time of year. The moon will be near first-quarter which makes for a wonderful time to study its many craters\, rays\, seas and other features. \nProgram Itinerary\n5 p.m. – Meet at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Introductions\n5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Classroom learning about the night sky and the use of astronomy resources\n7 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Evening observing with the program concluding at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery \nTickets\nThis event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax.\nRegistration opens on this page on August 17 at 10 a.m. Limited to 15 participants. \nThis event is SOLD OUT.  \nWhat’s included?\nYour program cost includes admission into the park\, field instruction and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for this field course\, as Mildred’s Grill will be closed to attendees. \nTips are not accepted for field courses. However\, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program. \nGeneral Clothing List\nMuch of your time will be spent 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. \nEquipment: \n\nDaypack with enough room to carry extra clothing\, water\, lunch\, camera\, etc.\nWater Bottle\nLayers of warm clothing including hats\, gloves and shoes\nBinoculars\nNotebook and pencil\n\nEquipment specific to this course:  \n\nA planisphere\, while not required\, can be helpful in learning the night sky and how it moves throughout the year. There are many good options available on Amazon\, but please be sure to purchase one appropriate for our latitude of 35 degrees north (planispheres for 30 or 40 degrees latitude will be fine).\nA Peterson Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (4th edition\, updated) is not required\, but an excellent guide to the night sky and its many features.\nA red flashlight for navigating paths at night and viewing star charts. These can be purchased through a local or online retailer or you can make your own by covering the lens of a standard flashlight with red cellophane or fingernail polish.\nAstronomy/Stargazing Apps\n\nRefunds/Cancellations\nAdult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for\, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. 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. \nWe ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants\, our staff\, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
URL:https://grandfather.com/event/adult-field-course-starry-skies/
CATEGORIES:Adult Field Courses,Featured Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grandfather.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AFC-Starry-Skies-e1747079007982.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR