Orienteering
2025-02-24 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, 240 Park Entrance Road, Seven Springs, NC, 28578, United States
Join us at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park for a beginner orienteering program! During this program we will discuss how to use a compass and how to navigate with the compass over terrain. We will complete a short navigation course at the end to tie our skills together!
A limited number of compasses will be provided, but feel free to bring your own!
Meet at the cliff overlook at 2pm.
Please email rebecca.browder@ncparks.gov to register.

Learn To Hunt (LTH) Turkey Hunting 101 Webinar #1
2025-02-25 19:00 - 20:30 | virtual via Zoom
Webinar #1 Biology for Hunters, Regulations, Where to Hunt and Scouting
WEBINAR MUST READ!
1. Webinar login link will be emailed to all registrants following the close of registration.
2. Do not share your webinar link with anyone as capacity is limited.
3. Post-webinar Q&A sessions will be limited to topic only.
4. Webinar recordings will be distributed to all registrants following processing; please be patient.

NOTE: For webinar related questions only, email lth@ncwildlife.org

Learn To Hunt (LTH) Turkey Hunting 101 Webinar #2
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | virtual via Zoom
Webinar #2 Firearms, Ammo, Clothing, Footwear and Misc. Equipment

WEBINAR MUST READ!
1. Webinar login link will be emailed to all registrants following the close of registration.
2. Do not share your webinar link with anyone as capacity is limited.
3. Post-webinar Q&A sessions will be limited to topic only.
4. Webinar recordings will be distributed to all registrants following processing; please be patient.
NOTE: For webinar related questions only, email lth@ncwildlife.org

Black Bears: Looking for the Signs
2025-02-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Hammocks Beach State Park, 1572 Hammocks Beach Road, Swansboro, NC, 28584, United States
This program will go over everything Black Bears discussing the type native to North Carolina, habitat, and most importantly the signs of black bears. Meet in the auditorium for a 30-minute indoor session followed by a 45-minute outdoor potion where guests look for the different signs.
Target audience – adults and children 8 yrs & up. There is no signup.

Learn To Hunt (LTH) Turkey Hunting 101 Webinar #3
2025-02-28 19:00 - 20:30 | virtual via Zoom
Webinar #3 Hunting Techniques and Strategies

WEBINAR MUST READ!
1. Webinar login link will be emailed to all registrants following the close of registration.
2. Do not share your webinar link with anyone as capacity is limited.
3. Post-webinar Q&A sessions will be limited to topic only.
4. Webinar recordings will be distributed to all registrants following processing; please be patient.
NOTE: For webinar related questions only, email lth@ncwildlife.org

Learn TO Hunt (LTH) Turkey Hunting Workshop
2025-03-01 08:00 - 17:00 | NC
Learn TO Hunt (LTH) Turkey Hunting 101 Workshop
Saturday, March 1 (8 A.M. – 5 P.M.) Waynesville NC. NOTE: Attendee requirements noted below MUST be completed prior to attendance and additional workshop details (including actual address) will be distributed to all qualifying registrants 3 or more days prior to the event.
NOTE: While all are welcome to attend, this course was specifically developed with the following people in mind:

Individuals who have never hunted or have not actively hunted for more than 3 years.
Individuals who lack the social support to hunt (i.e. have no readily available hunting family members or friends).
Individuals whose licenses may have lapsed (inactive hunters), including those who have never harvested big game.

ATTENDEE REQUIREMENTS:

Hunter Safety Certification
Valid North Carolina Hunting License NOTE: Big game tags required for big game LTH (e.g., deer, turkey and bear)

For LTH-related questions email lth@ncwildlife.org
For Licensing questions contact Customer Service @ 833-950-0575

Carnivorous Plant Hike
2025-03-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Join park staff on a guided hike through the captivating ecosystems where carnivorous plants, including Venus flytraps, thrive in their natural environment. As you explore the terrain, we will share insights into the unique adaptations that allow these plants to trap and digest insects. You’ll have the chance to observe the flytraps, along with other fascinating species like sundews and pitcher plants. This immersive experience offers a deeper understanding of these extraordinary plants and the delicate ecosystem they inhabit.

Reding Trees: Winter Tree and Bud Identification Workshop
2025-03-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC, 28774, United States
Carrie Blair uses slides, books and samples of leaves & twigs to illustrate how you can determine the genus, and often the species as well, of all of our locally growing native trees, with some ornamental and introduced trees. After watching her power point program, a walk outside will guide participants to identify common trees up close. Carrie will share a long list of tree field guides (beginner to advanced) that she recommends. You are welcome to bring your own tree identification books and a long twig (at least foot long) recently cut from a living tree showing buds and leaf scars to identify.
The workshop is free and open to the public but classroom space is limited so please register to attend at this link: https://northcarolinanativeplantsociety.wildapricot.org/event-5995874

N.C. Bradford Pear Bounty Tree Exchange: Elizabeth City
2025-04-05 09:00 - 11:00 | NC
This program encourages homeowners to remove their landscape Bradford pear or other planted cultivars of Pyrus calleryana (e.g., Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Aristocrat) and replace them with free, native trees. Homeowners who want to participate in this event must pre-register and bring proof of tree removal to the event. Replacement trees are in 3-gallon containers and there are many native species to choose from. Up to 5 pear trees can be removed for up to 5 free replacements. First come first serve for tree species selection.
This exchange is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required to ensure tree pick-up runs smoothly.

Party for the Pine: The Old Tree is turning 477!
2025-04-05 10:00 - 15:00 | Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Road, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, United States
Join the celebration for the oldest known living longleaf pine, learn how prescribed fire keeps the longleaf forest healthy and appreciate the natural beauty of the Sandhills of North Carolina.
Explore an Old Growth Forest, speak with local educators and conservationists, eat food, listen to live music, and so much more!

Birthday Cake
Guided Hikes to the Old Tree
Live Music
Live Prescribed Burn
Games
Raffles
Vendors

Hurricane Helene Forest Recovery Workshop: Hendersonville
2025-04-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Henderson County Extension Office, 100 Jackson Park Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Forest landowners suffered a tremendous loss of investment when Hurricane Helene leveled 822,000 acres of forestland. Many have been scrambling to determine what options are available to restore their forests to something desirable and manageable. In this workshop, N.C. State Extension Forestry will present information on the following topics to help landowners more successfully recover:

Taxes and Investment Decisions in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
Cost Share Opportunities and Resources Available for Recovery
Forest Management After Hurricane Helene
Fire Prevention and FireWise After Hurricane Helene

There is no cost for this event. Seating is limited to 50 attendees. All participants must register by calling the Henderson County office at 828-697-4891. For more information, please contact Western Area Forestry Agent Nathan Gatlin via email at npgatlin@ncsu.edu or by phone at 336-651-7330.

Frog Frenzy
2025-04-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Hammocks Beach State Park, 1572 Hammocks Beach Road, Swansboro, NC, 28584, United States
Batrachology or bust! It’s not easy being green, but frogs sure love it! In this program you will learn about some of the frogs we get to see and hear around the park, their life cycles, and some of their natural features that make them so unique. We will experiment with different objects to recreate our own frog sounds, their jumping habits, and so much more! Ribbit! Registration required.

Night Hike at Gorges
2025-04-10 20:00 - 21:00 | Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC, 28774, United States
Learn all about the nocturnal animals in Gorges State Park! We will be exploring the trail after dark with flashlights to look for animal eye-shine and to listen for sounds in the night. Stay at the Park Visitor Center after the hike for a small campfire and smores. We will be meeting at the Outdoor Amphitheater behind the Visitor Center building.
This program is being presented in collaboration with the 2025 NC Science Festival.

Burn, Baby, Burn!
2025-04-11 15:30 - 17:00 | Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, 625 Virginia Cates Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join a Ranger on a one mile hike around the site of a prescribed burn at Occoneechee Mountain to learn about prescribed fire, how we use it to improve the ecosystem, and how it can make future wildfires less dangerous. Meet at the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area parking lot. Wear hiking shoes and bring water; this program may include hiking off trail.
Spaces are limited, and registration is required. To sign up, call (984) 250-1370 or click the Register button to email eno.river@ncparks.gov. Please include the number of guests in your party and a phone number where you can be reached if the event is changed or canceled.

Mushroom Science for Beginners
2025-04-11 18:00 - 19:30 | NC
Mushroom science, or mycology, is a fascinating subject with a dab of mystery, beauty, and… slime? These hardy forest dwellers aren’t animals, plants, or molds—so what are they? Whether you like mushrooms on your pizza or have been spooked by a fairy ring, kids of all ages will enjoy learning more about fungal science at this program.
Attendees should come ready for quiet observation and active analysis, and they are welcome to bring in samples of mushrooms from their own property. Place any samples in a paper bag, and do not ingest any mushrooms found, as they may be poisonous.
Please note: collecting mushrooms is prohibited in North Carolina State Parks. There will be no foray as part of this program.

Yancey and Mitchell County Post-Helene Forestry Event
2025-04-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Burnsville Town Center, 6 South Main Street,, Burnsville, NC, 28714, United States
Yancey and Mitchell County Landowners: Are you still wondering what to do with your damaged forest? Come learn from agencies, non-profits and businesses about what resources are available to landowners.
Topics Include:
• Wildfire Mitigation
• Debris Removal and Forest Mulching
• Forest Restoration
• Non-native Invasive Species Control
• Stream Restoration
• Landslide Seeding
Register for FREE, lunch included.

Spring into Mushrooms
2025-04-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Eno River State Park, 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC, 27705, United States
Join a Ranger on a one and a half mile hike along Pump Station trail to look for some of the mushrooms that may be springing up around the park. We may find a common one, or something you have never seen before, but either way, this hike will make you more of a fungi!
Meet at the upper parking lot of Pump Station access; wear hiking shoes and bring water.
Spaces are limited, and registration is required. To sign up, call (984) 250-1370 or click the Register button to email eno.river@ncparks.gov. Please include the number of guests in your party and a phone number where you can be reached if the event is changed or canceled.

Webinar: Spotted Lanternfly in North America: Insights, Impacts, and Preparing for the Future
2025-04-16 14:00 - 15:30 | NC
Learn about the biology and management of the invasive spotted lanternfly, debunk common myths and gain updates on how human-mediated transport is driving its spread. Experts will share the latest findings on cold tolerance thresholds and their role in assessing the risk of northward expansion.

Spring Migration at the Eno
2025-04-17 09:30 - 11:00 | Eno River State Park, 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC, 27705, United States
Join a Park Technician on a guided hike around the Piper Cox House and Buckquarter Creek trail during spring bird migration to look for migratory birds and year-round residents of Eno River. Meet at the Piper-Cox House parking lot, second right past the entry gate. Wear hiking shoes and dress for the weather.
Spaces are limited, so registration is required. To sign up, call (984) 250-1370 or click the Register button to email eno.river@ncparks.gov. Include the number of guests in your party and a phone number where you can be reached if there are changes to the event.

N.C. Tree Farm Program Annual Meeting
2025-04-24 08:30 - 15:00 | First Fruits Farm, 2805 E. River Road, Louisburg, NC, 27549, United States
The N.C. Tree Farm Program will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting on April 24 at First Fruits Farm in Louisburg. Register by mail or online by April 14.
The Annual Meeting includes a field tour focused on agritourism, pond management, bird and wildlife habitat, and sustained yield forest management. The awards ceremony will recognize our volunteers’ contributions, the Inspector of the Year and the Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.
First Fruits Farm is a 1,000-acre farm founded by former NFL player Jason Brown. Rooted in faith and service, the farm’s mission is to fight hunger and promote health by growing and donating fresh, nutritious food to those in need. Since its inception, First Fruits Farm has provided more than 2 million pounds of produce to communities across North Carolina.
Learn more about First Fruits Farm and the Brown family in these features on CBS’s On the Road With Steve Hartman, NBC’s Today and the PBS’s Growing a Greener World

Basic Chainsaw Safety & Maintenance
2025-04-24 17:30 - 19:30 | FIND Outdoors, 49 Pisgah Hwy, Suite 4, Pisgah Forest, NC, 28768, United States
FIND Outdoors is excited to host a chainsaw safety course, presented by STIHL. Attendees will learn:

The operator’s PPE (What to wear, what not to wear, OSHA requirements and further recommendations)
Chainsaw features and functions. (Safety features, how to use, when to use, etc)
Basic Operation (How to start, how to hold, how to make basic cuts, reactive forces)
Basic Maintenance (Chain sharpening, chain replacement, air filters, fuel filters, spark plugs)

Wildflower Walk
2025-04-27 13:30 - 14:30 | Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC, 28774, United States
Join a ranger on a hike on Raymond Fisher Pond Trail to find and identify spring ephemeral wildflowers of Gorges State Park. Be prepared for a 1.6 mile hike and dress for the weather.
Meet at Rainbow Falls Trailhead.

Living With Fire in North Carolina: Webinar
2025-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
This webinar offered by the N.C. Tree Farm Program will address wildfire risk in the wake of Hurricane Helene and how to protect your home from wildfire. In addition, the presenters will discuss how to reduce wildfire risk, including land management options such as prescribed burning.

Forest Farming Webinar: Introduction to Pawpaw
2025-06-05 18:30 - 20:00 | NC
Discover the art and science of forest farming in this engaging session, where you will explore the cultivation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for food, medicine, and art. This session will highlight the pawpaw—North America’s largest native fruit—covering its growth, care, and potential uses. Whether you are interested in harvesting for personal enjoyment or generating income, this introduction will provide valuable insights into agroforestry practices.

What will you learn?

Identifying pawpaws
Understanding pawpaw biology
Exploring pawpaw habitat

Forest Farming Tour
2025-07-08 09:00 - 12:30 | NC
Join experienced forest farmer Ben Kitchen for a tour of his unique operation in a rich cove forest in Cherokee County, North Carolina. With decades of experience growing wild-simulated native herbs, Ben will guide participants through his multi-aged understory plantings. Learn about his stewardship approach and sustainable management practices for forest farming in the Southern Appalachians. Participants will have the opportunity to walk and talk with Ben, and seeds and planting stock may be available for purchase.

Learn To Hunt: Deer Hunting Workshop
2025-08-02 08:00 - 17:00 | NC
Whether you are new to hunting or an experienced hunter wanting to sharpen your skills, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has class options and expert instructors to help you prepare for the season! Workshop capacities are limited, so register early. Please review each workshop’s summary when registering.

NOTE: Attendee requirements noted below MUST be completed prior to attendance and additional workshop details (including actual address) will be distributed to all qualifying registrants 3 or more days prior to the event.
While all are welcome to attend, this course was specifically developed with the following people in mind:

Individuals who have never hunted or have not actively hunted for more than 3 years.
Individuals who lack the social support to hunt (i.e. have no readily available hunting family members or friends).
Individuals whose licenses may have lapsed (inactive hunters), including those who have never harvested big game.

ATTENDEE PREREQUISITES:

Hunter Safety Certification
Valid North Carolina Hunting License
NOTE: Big game tags required for big game LTH (e.g., deer, turkey and bear)

Planting Design for Wildlife: A Landscape Architect’s Guide to Supporting Wildlife Through Intentional Planting
2025-08-07 19:00 - 20:30 | NC
Join N.C. Wildlife Federation South Wake Conservationists Chapter for a webinar exploring how intentional planting design can support wildlife while meeting human needs. Presented by registered landscape architect Sara Donohoe, this webinar focuses on integrating ecological function into planting design through creative and practical strategies.
With expertise in native and habitat-based planting design, Sara will demonstrate how techniques like site analysis, plant layering, and color blocking can be used to create vibrant, resilient landscapes. Participants will learn how thoughtful plant selection and spatial organization can provide critical resources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife—all while enhancing the visual appeal and usability of a space.
This webinar is designed not only for landscape architects and designers, but also for gardeners, conservationists, and wildlife advocates interested in creating more ecologically supportive landscapes at any scale. Whether you’re designing a park or planting a backyard garden, this session offers practical tools and inspiring insights to help elevate the ecological impact of your work—while staying rooted in design excellence.

2025 Habitat Summit
2025-08-08 08:30 - 17:00 | The Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N Main St #2527, Mooresville, NC, 28155, United States
The Habitat Summit aims to provide practical land management advice to biologists, foresters, land managers conservation professionals, and landowners. This event hosts nationally recognized speakers with top-notch presentations on emerging research and applicable land management techniques.
The presenters come with a diversity of expertise covering a variety of topics in land management. The 2025 keynote speaker will be Dr. Marcus Lashley from the University of Florida. Concurrent sessions include presenters from Mississippi State University, Auburn University, N.C. State University, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Clemson University, N.C. State Parks and many more.

Storm to Stove: A Workshop for Timber and Firewood Processing After Hurricane Helene
2025-08-08 08:30 - 2025-08-09 16:00 | Hinton Center, 2330 Hinton Center Road, Hayesville, NC, 28904, United States
Though Hurricane Helene imposed widescale destruction on the mountains of North Carolina, opportunities are available to make the most out of the devastation. Two options you can pursue are to generate firewood and sawtimber. This two-day technical workshop at the Hinton Center in Hayesville will cover best practices for processing storm-damaged timber into firewood and other wood products. Experts will present on post-storm timber recovery, chainsaw safety, wood extraction methods, sawmilling, firewood production, drying, storage and safety. Hands-on demonstrations and technical discussions will provide practical insights into equipment, safety protocols and efficiency in wood utilization—from storm to stove. Whether you’re a landowner, forester or firewood professional, this workshop offers essential knowledge for maximizing wood resources.
