Highlands Nature Center

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🚧 The Highlands Nature Center will be temporarily CLOSED for renovations from August 16 through the end of the year.Thes...
08/04/2026

🚧 The Highlands Nature Center will be temporarily CLOSED for renovations from August 16 through the end of the year.

These important improvements will help preserve our historic building and ensure it can continue inspiring curiosity and connecting our community to the natural world for generations to come.

The renovation project includes:
🏛️ Structural improvements to preserve the historic building
🐦 Bird-friendly, energy-efficient windows
💧 Foundation and drainage upgrades to better protect the building

There's still time to visit before construction begins! The Nature Center will remain open through Saturday, August 15, during regular summer hours, Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

While the building is closed, the grounds will remain open, and educational programming will continue through outdoor programs and outreach activities.

The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. Nature Center operations and educational programming are provided and funded by the Highlands Biological Foundation.

🌎🔬 Final Zahner Conservation Lecture of the Season this Thursday!Plastic pollution is a growing concern, even in the for...
08/03/2026

🌎🔬 Final Zahner Conservation Lecture of the Season this Thursday!

Plastic pollution is a growing concern, even in the forests and waterways of the Southern Appalachians.

Join us for "Plastic Pollution on the Plateau: An Overview of Microplastics Research in the Southern Appalachians," presented by Highlands Biological Station's Associate Director, Jason Love.

This lecture will explore what we know about microplastics in our region, including how these tiny particles move through the environment and make their way into soils, headwater streams, rivers, and wildlife. Learn about ongoing research from HBS and other scientists working to better understand the impacts of plastic pollution across the Southern Appalachians.

📅 Thursday, August 6
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM
💲 Free Admission

This free program is sponsored by Highlands Biological Foundation members Paul Manos & Diane Lennox.

LEARN MORE: highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/ -pollution

🐍 Looking for something wild to do on a Friday afternoon?Stop by the Highlands Nature Center today at 2:30 PM for our Sn...
07/24/2026

🐍 Looking for something wild to do on a Friday afternoon?

Stop by the Highlands Nature Center today at 2:30 PM for our Snake Feeding program. Watch our resident snakes in action and learn how these remarkable reptiles find food, survive in their habitats, and play an important role in healthy ecosystems.

Our Naturalists will share fascinating facts about snake behavior, adaptations, and conservation while helping visitors separate myth from reality. Whether you're a longtime reptile enthusiast or simply curious about the natural world, this program offers a unique opportunity to get an up-close look at some of our most misunderstood wildlife.

🕝 Fridays this summer at 2:30 PM
📍 Highlands Nature Center
💲 Free program

This program is provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

🌙🐛 Millipede Night Crawl - Registration Now Open! 🐛🌙Ever wondered what’s happening on the forest floor after dark? Join ...
07/22/2026

🌙🐛 Millipede Night Crawl - Registration Now Open! 🐛🌙

Ever wondered what’s happening on the forest floor after dark? Join our Naturalists for a fascinating nighttime adventure as we search for millipedes (+ other bioluminescent critters) and discover the important role these many-legged decomposers play in keeping our ecosystem healthy.

📅 Tuesday, August 4
⏰ 8:00–9:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome
💲 FREE | Registration required

Come explore, learn, and see the forest from a whole new perspective after sunset. 🌿✨

Register today: https://highlandsbiological.org/naturecenternights/ -4

This free program is provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

📚🌿 Don’t Miss the Final NatureTime StoryTimes of the Season with Ms. KK at Highlands Nature Center!✨ Remaining dates wit...
07/20/2026

📚🌿 Don’t Miss the Final NatureTime StoryTimes of the Season with Ms. KK at Highlands Nature Center!

✨ Remaining dates with Ms. KK:
📅 July 21 (tomorrow!)
📅 July 28
📅 August 4

Join us at 10:30am on Tuesdays for fun stories and silly songs that brings the outdoors to life. Ms. KK’s engaging StoryTimes are a favorite summer tradition and a wonderful way for children to explore nature through imagination and play.

Geared toward elementary-aged children, but all young nature explorers and their families are welcome!

🎟 Free program
📍 Highlands Nature Center

Don’t miss your last opportunity this season to experience StoryTime with Ms. KK before summer comes to a close!

This free program is provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

🌿🌸🌼 Join us for this week’s Zahner Lecture featuring Dana Beach, founder and former Executive Director of the South Caro...
07/20/2026

🌿🌸🌼 Join us for this week’s Zahner Lecture featuring Dana Beach, founder and former Executive Director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and Board Member of Butler Parklands.

"André Michaux in North America: Revealing the Botanical Treasures of the Carolinas"

Travel back to the late 18th century as Dana explores the remarkable legacy of French botanist André Michaux and his expeditions across the Carolinas and Southern Appalachians. Through stories of discovery, science, and adventure, learn how Michaux helped document North America’s rich plant diversity, including the fascinating tale of the rare Oconee bell (Shortia galacifolia).

📅 Thursday, July 23
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
🎟 FREE Admission

This free lecture is sponsored Highlands Biological Foundation members Ruthie & Berry Edwards.

Whether you're passionate about botany, history, conservation, or the natural wonders of our region, this is a lecture you won’t want to miss.

LEARN MORE: https://highlandsbiological.org/foundation/events/zahnerlectures/ -michaux

🌙🦋 It’s Moth Week in North Carolina! 🦋🌙From July 18–26, join the NC Moth Week Citizen Science Initiative and help real s...
07/20/2026

🌙🦋 It’s Moth Week in North Carolina! 🦋🌙

From July 18–26, join the NC Moth Week Citizen Science Initiative and help real scientists learn more about the incredible moths that share our state.

Getting involved is easy:

✨ Find a safe outdoor spot at night
✨ Turn on a light. Moths are attracted to light, especially bright white lights.
✨ Take at least 10 photos of the moths you observe.
✨ Upload your photos to iNaturalist.
✨ Report your participation by August 16 and claim your NC Moth Count patch or sticker.

REPORT HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgAQHFSZZxnhCo-0hBdB-h32oBczBOdmjDgZhLWxFP0BDsNg/viewform?pli=1

No moth identification skills are required. Just bring your curiosity and a camera.

Every observation helps support ongoing research and contributes valuable data for scientists.

Visit ecoexplore.net to find a moth-viewing event near you and get ready to discover the amazing diversity of North Carolina’s nighttime pollinators.

ecoEXPLORE .org

🦎 Registration is now open for Nature Center Night: Salamander Meander!Venture out after dark with our Naturalists in se...
07/14/2026

🦎 Registration is now open for Nature Center Night: Salamander Meander!

Venture out after dark with our Naturalists in search of one of the Plateau’s most elusive amphibians.

Join us as we explore cool, damp forest habitats and uncover the quiet, hidden lives of salamanders and the important role they play in our mountain ecosystems.

📅 Tuesday, July 28
🕗 8:00 - 9:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome
💚 FREE, but registration is required

Come experience the forest in a whole new way after dark and discover what stirs beneath the leaf litter once the sun goes down. 🌿🔦

Register today: https://highlandsbiological.org/naturecenternights/ -28

This free program is provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

🐍 Animal Encounter at the Nature Center!Join us on Monday, July 13 at 2:30 PM for this week’s Animal Encounter as we exp...
07/13/2026

🐍 Animal Encounter at the Nature Center!

Join us on Monday, July 13 at 2:30 PM for this week’s Animal Encounter as we explore the question: What makes a snake a good neighbor?

We’ll take a closer look at why snakes are important and beneficial members of our ecosystems, and why they play a key role in keeping nature in balance.

Meet Jack, our Eastern Rat Snake, and learn more about one of the Southern Appalachians’ most misunderstood (and helpful!) reptiles.

📅 Monday, July 13
🕝 2:30 PM
💚 FREE and open to all ages
No registration required

Stop by the Nature Center and get to know one of our wild neighbors up close!

This free program is provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

📚🐛 Join us for a special StoryTime at the Nature Center!On Tuesday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m., local author and Highlands n...
07/10/2026

📚🐛 Join us for a special StoryTime at the Nature Center!

On Tuesday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m., local author and Highlands native Betsy Melvin Batten will be our guest reader for this week's StoryTime. Betsy will share a live reading of her recently published children's book, "Lizzy's Strange Pet," a fun and engaging story that introduces young readers to the fascinating world of praying mantises.

Children and families are invited to enjoy the story, learn fun facts about nature, and meet the author behind the book.

📅 Tuesday, July 14
⏰ 10:30 a.m.
📍 Highlands Nature Center

This special event is part of our free summer StoryTime series, held every Tuesday morning at the Nature Center. We hope to see you there!

Program provided by Highlands Biological Foundation.

Address

930 Horse Cove Road
Highlands, NC
28741

Telephone

+18285262623

Website

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