Daily Programs
May 2021
Advanced Birding Identification
Have you wondered why some bird species are always easy to identify all of the time, some bird species are easy to identify some of the time, and some bird species seem to be almost impossible to identify all of the time? The answers can be found in the natural history of individual species. This course will explore such aspects of the lives of birds as seasonal plumage, molt, nestling growth, seasonal occurrence, habitat requirements, and similarities between related and…
Find out more »Landscape Potential: Introduction to Landscape Design
Consider the performance of your home landscape. Would you describe it as a fit, functional work of art that reflects your lifestyle and encourages outdoor activity? If not, join landscape architect, Preston Montague, for a design workshop that will help you make informed and confident decisions about issues facing you in the landscape. Preston will present tenets of landscape design he’s learned as a professional landscape architect as well as his approach to solving a range of problems that include…
Find out more »The Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble
From May 29-June 6, a series of 20-minute walks will highlight Grandfather Mountain’s rhododendron species and blooms.
Find out more »June 2021
Educator Workshop- Project WILD: Bears
Project WILD is a K-12 interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. All participants will receive the Project WILD activity guide and earn six hours of Criteria II or III credits toward their N.C. Environmental Education Certification (or 0.6 CEU’s). Homework option available to earn up to 10 hours or 1.0 CEU. About Our Environmental Educator Certification Programs Join the staff of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for the opportunity to learn more…
Find out more »July 2021
Growing Up WILD
Growing Up WILD is an early childhood program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and their habitats. While the workshop is primarily oriented toward educators that work with children ages 3-7, many of the activities in the guide can be adapted to a wider age range. All participants will receive the Growing Up WILD activity guide and earn six hours of Criteria I credit toward their N.C. Environmental Education Certification (or 0.6…
Find out more »August 2021
Grandfather Presents: David Sibley
Author, illustrator and avid birdwatcher David Sibley will open the 2021 Grandfather Presents lecture series. With his father being an ornithologist, birding has always been a major part of Sibley’s life ever since he was a child. He merged his encyclopedic knowledge with his skills as a self-taught artist to become one of America’s best-known field guide authors.
Find out more »Grandfather Mountain Photography Weekend
Take your photography skills to the next level — 5,280 feet above sea level, to be exact — at the Grandfather Mountain Photography Weekend, taking place Aug. 14-15. Additional cost. Registration required.
Find out more »Educator Workshop – Project WILD: Elk
Project WILD is a K-12 interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. All participants will receive the Project WILD activity guide and earn six hours of Criteria II or III credits toward their N.C. Environmental Education Certification (or 0.6 CEU’s). Homework option available to earn up to 10 hours or 1.0 CEU. About Our Environmental Educator Certification Programs Join the staff of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for the opportunity to learn more…
Find out more »September 2021
HawkWatch
All throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of the fall raptor migration. Participants can meet daily across the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Linville Peak, weather permitting.
Find out more »51st Annual Girl Scout Day
Girl Scouts are invited to join the park’s education staff for a fun-filled learning adventure on Grandfather Mountain. Participants can enjoy special scout activities and presentations. Plus, all Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership, and family members will receive discounted admission. Reservations are required by calling 828-733-2013.
Find out more »Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight
As night falls on Grandfather Mountain, guests can enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nocturnal residents. This program may include 1 to 3 miles of moderate activity. The participant limit for each workshop is 25 individuals. Cost is $50 per person (or $10 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club program), with registration required in advance. Upon registration, you will be sent detailed information on course meeting location and expectations.
Find out more »October 2021
The Fall Color Ramble
From Oct. 2-10, guests can enjoy 20-minute guided walks that highlight Grandfather Mountain’s fall colors.
Find out more »Late Summer Sketching
The naturalist’s sketchbook is full of drawings and observations of the outdoors that bring moments in nature to life! The way you arrange these drawings on a page, as well as the notes you take, can boost the storytelling quality of your sketches. Participants will learn how to tell a story through the arrangement of objects in a sketchbook, as well as basic observation and drawing techniques with pen, pencil, and colored pencils. Though designed for beginners, students with more…
Find out more »Grandfather’s Starry Skies
October 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. Our class is also during the time of the Orionid meteor shower, so hopefully some of these celestial fireworks will grace our skies during our nighttime observing. Our goal for this class is to create a familiarity with the…
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