N.C. Tree Farm Program, Inc.

Pittsboro Pesticide Safety School
2024-03-19 - 2024-03-20 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
This 1.5-day school is in person. School hours are 8:30 AM-5:00 PM on day one and 8:30-11:30 AM on day two. Only one category session may be chosen since the sessions happen at the same time.
For Pesticide Safety School details and additional info, please visit here: https://pesticidesafety.ces.ncsu.edu/event/2220596832/pittsboro-pesticide-safety-school/

Pittsboro Pesticide Safety School Online Registration Link

Pesticide Safety School
2024-03-19 - 2024-03-20 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
This 1.5-day school is in person. School hours are 8:30 AM-5:00 PM on day one and 8:30-11:30 AM on day two. Only one category session may be chosen since the sessions happen at the same time.
For Pesticide Safety School details and additional info, please visit here:
https://pesticidesafety.ces.ncsu.edu/event/2220596832/pittsboro-pesticide-safety-school/

Webinar: An Update on N.C. Forest Product Markets
2024-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | NC
North Carolina timber markets have seen a number of changes in recent months that impact woodland owners’ ability to sell their wood. In this webinar, you’ll learn about the current, emerging and future timber markets, new products and market trends that may impact your forest management decisions.

Snakes
2024-03-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Jones Lake State Park, 4117 N Carolina 242, Elizabethtown, NC, 28337, United States
Ever wonder what snakes species are at home in eastern North Carolina? Which ones are venomous?
Join a park ranger to explore the various snakes in this area and the other unique species found throughout our great state.
No registration required. Meet at the park visitor center.

Identification of Invasive Plants
2024-03-26 13:00 - 15:00 | virtual via Zoom
Our online workshop will provide an introduction to invasive plants and will help you to identify different species for the spring and summer. This session will take place via Zoom and will include a Q&A period with PRISM experts.
Cost: $10
This virtual session will be recorded. Those who register will receive access to the recording.

Registration begins on February 10, 2024. Register via eventbrite HERE.

Management and Control of Invasive Plants
2024-03-27 13:00 - 15:00 | virtual via Zoom
During our online workshop, you will learn how to best manage invasive plants during the spring and summer seasons. This workshop will take place via Zoom and will include a Q&A period with PRISM experts.
Topics covered in this session include:

Best seasonal practices for specific invasive plants
The right tools
Using manual & mechanical control methods
Methods for controlling invasive plants with careful use of herbicides
Planning a work schedule with best timings for multiple plants

Cost: $10
This virtual session will be recorded. Those who register will receive access to the recording.
Registration begins on February 10, 2024. Register via eventbrite HERE.

Nature's Innovation: Mountain Biomes and Native Plants
2024-04-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Hwy 105 S (Suite #6), Banner Elk, NC, 28604, United States
At Nature’s Innovation: Mountain Biomes and Native Plants, you’ll embark on a journey into the heart of ecological wonder at Grandfather Mountain State Park! Join us for a captivating event that delves into the intricate tapestry of nature, unveiling the secrets behind the breathtaking diversity that makes this mountain a living testament to the brilliance of the natural world. We will have plant experts on hand to talk about native species that grow on the mountain, native wildflowers that you can plant, and the best native plants for attracting and feeding birds. Local food, hands-on activities, and an afternoon ranger-guided hike will be available, so come prepared with a refillable water bottle, hiking boots, and a thirst for native plant knowledge.
This event is hosted by the NC Science Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park.

Bears for Beginners
2024-04-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Morrow Mountain State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park – Office Lawn 49104 Morrow Mountain RoadAlbemarleNC 28001, Albemarle, NC, 28001
Its the Year of the Bear for North Carolina State Parks. Learn the basics of bear biology, some fun facts and tips for staying safe.
All ages are welcome!
Meet on the Office Lawn.

Paddlefest 2024
2024-04-10 - 2024-04-12 | Merchant’s Millpond State Park, 176 Millpond Road, Gatesville, NC, 27938, United States
Come celebrate PaddleFest at Merchants Millpond State Park! From Wednesday, April 10 to Friday, April 12 we will host a series of programs including canoe tours, American Canoe Association kayak lessons, nature walks, history programs, bear talks, and s’mores-making.
Camping packages are available for each of the three nights. Each package includes a t-shirt, overnight camping, lunch for the day, and first access for program sign up. Packages are a great way to ensure that you have your choice of programs throughout PaddleFest. All water-based programs require reservations.
Registration can be done by calling our Visitor Center at 252-357-1191. Signups for the programs become available on April 1 for those interested in taking part without getting a package. Pricings are listed below:

$50 + tax for 1 night
$75 + tax for 2 nights
$100 + tax for 3 nights.

More information can be found by contacting our email at merchants.millpond@ncparks.gov or calling our Visitor Center at 252-357-1191.

Heirs Property Summit
2024-04-10 09:00 - 15:00 | Caswell County Cooperative Extension Center, 126 Court Square #211, Yanceyville, NC, United States
N.C. A&T and N.C. State Cooperative Extension are working together to educate the public about heirs property! We are hosting six heirs property summits across the state. Join us for hands-on training sessions that will provide valuable materials and guidance to avoid involuntary property loss, and protect and preserve family land for generations to come.
Attend our hands-on, practical workshop about heirs property! Learn about the origin and history of heirs property and estate planning and legal strategies to secure their land. Come to connect with resources and other technical assistance including some potential opportunities to listen from a panel who are dealing with heir’s issues.
Using an heirs property curriculum developed by Alcorn State University and SRDC in Mississippi, and utilizing the resources obtained through Train-the-trainer training by HPP project partners we are committed to delivering these educational training and materials for North Carolinians.
Registration is Free, lunch included

The Importance of Oppossums
2024-04-11 18:30 - 20:00 | NC
Join Union County Chapter as we hear from Mrs. Beda Trenning-Helms as she shares the importance of the opossum and why we all should respect this essential animal. Mrs. Beda has been a Master Gardener since 1997. She became a small animal rehabber in 2005. She is an active member of the Monroe Garden Club. In 2012, she published “Gods colors in entomology, flora, fauna, marine, and ornithology”. Her knowledge and experiences have allowed her to contribute greatly to the natural world.
Learn more and register here.

Carnivorous Plant Hile
2024-04-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Join a park ranger at the Flytrap Trail for a hike along the trails. We will learn about different habitats that exist within Carolina Beach State Park and how each habitat affects the plants and animals that call the park home.
Meet at the Flytrap Trail parking area at the end of Nature Trail Lane. The trail is wheelchair accessible.

Sassafras at an Impasse? An Update on Laurel Wilt in Southern Forests
2024-04-17 13:00 - 14:00 | NC
Laurel wilt is a vascular tree disease complex that was first detected in the United States in 2002 near Savannah, Georgia. It has since spread to several states across the southeast as far west as Texas and north to Virginia and Kentucky. Laurel wilt is caused by the pathogenic fungus Harringtonia lauricola (formerly Raffaelea lauricola) and primarily vectored by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB; Xyleborus glabratus). Although first observed in redbay trees, any member of the lauraceae family is a potential host for this disease that produces discolored, wilting foliage, and potential host mortality. Since its introduction to the United States, laurel wilt has been responsible for the death of millions of redbay trees plus a large number of sassafras trees. In this webinar, Dr. Bud Mayfield will give an update on laurel wilts progression across the southeast, its impact, and potential management strategies.

North Carolina Bird Atlas
2024-04-18 19:00 - 20:15 | virtual via WebEx
Calling all bird lovers, bird watchers, bird experts, and bird newbies! The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) has been leading the charge for the past three years in collecting data on bird species all over the state with the help of community partners and individuals, but with much ground still left to cover, they need YOU! Interested in becoming part of this giant community science opportunity but don’t know where to start? This is a webinar you won’t want to miss.

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: I Love it When a Plan Comes Together
2024-04-19 12:15 - 12:30 | NC
Join Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Adam Downing to watch as a field of cool season grasses becomes a field of native warm season grasses – and a haven for wildlife.
Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15 on March 22nd to watch the video and participate in a live chat.

Party for the Pine
2024-04-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Road, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, United States
Celebrate (with free cake) the oldest known living longleaf pine. Learn about the importance of prescribed fire and participate in a ton of fun events at this year’s Party for the Pine.
See the list of planned activities and schedule of events at Party for the Pine 2024 — Friends of Weymouth Woods (friendsofwewo.org).

Learn About Native Rattlesnakes
2024-04-22 18:30 - 20:00 | NC
Please join MARSH, a local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, to learn about our region’s native Rattlesnakes, the important role they play in our ecosystem, and how we can peacefully coexist with them. Participants will have the opportunity to observe live, captive snakes! Our speaker is Eric Bitler. Eric serves as the lead coordinator of venomous training programs for The Rattlesnake Conservancy.

All About Bats!
2024-05-02 19:00 - 20:30 | NC
We often overlook bats in North Carolina because of fear or indifference. Join the South Wake Conservationists as we dispel some myths about bats, educate about the importance of bats in our ecosystems, and highlight the difficulties facing bat populations – and what you can do to help! Allison Medford will guide us along our journey into the fascinating world of bats. Allison is a Wildlife Diversity Biologist with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Wild Turkeys in the Woods
2024-05-03 12:15 - 12:30 | NC
Join Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Jason Fisher as he discusses managing your woods for turkey habitat.
Simply visit the Facebook or YouTube page at 12:15 on March 22nd to watch the video and participate in a live chat.

Carnivorous Plant Hike
2024-05-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States

Guided Wildflower Hike
2024-05-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Holmes Educational State Forest, 1299 Crab Creek Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Join N.C. Forest Service rangers for a moderate, ¾-mile hike to observe and identify spring wildflowers! This unique forest ecosystem supports an incredible diversity of plant life and different wildflowers can be observed each month. Each hike is limited to 10 participants and will meet near the main kiosk in the parking area. We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, a water bottle, a camera and a wildflower field guide if you have one.
The program is free, but you MUST SIGN UP to participate. Call now (828 692-0100) or email (holmesesf.ncfs@ncagr.gov) to reserve your spot! The guided hikes will only last a few hours, but there is so much more at Holmes Educational State Forest to learn about and explore on your own time! We offer hiking trails, picnic areas, and a variety of educational exhibits. Category II, III NC EE certification and CEU credit are available upon request.

Heirs Property Summit
2024-05-08 09:00 - 15:00 | Robeson County Cooperative Extension Center, 455 Caton Road, Lumberton, NC, United States

Meet a Mushroom!
2024-05-09 18:30 - 20:00 | NC
Join the Union County Wildlife Chapter this month as we “Meet a Mushroom” and learn of all things fungi. Fungi are an important part of our ecosystems, acting as decomposers and benefiting plant communities. However, they provide an important food source for many species such as microbes, insects, reptiles and even mammals!

Birding Exploration
2024-05-10 08:30 - 10:30 | Holmes Educational State Forest, 1299 Crab Creek Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Join professional birder Kevin Burke for a birding exploration of Holmes Educational State Forest. Kevin has been leading tours and helping people get outside for most of his adult life. His passion for birds and birding has become a career. Kevin owns and operates Carolina Nature Tours with his wife. Here they lead a multitude of walks and talk about everything in nature. Kevin also is a full-time guide for VENT (Victor Emanuel Nature Tours). He’s led trips throughout much of the U.S. and especially loves going to the Pacific Northwest where he used to live. He has also led trips to Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
Learn more about Kevin’s trips through Carolina Nature Tours.
On this hike, we can expect to see/hear warblers (such as ovenbird, black-throated green warbler, hooded warbler, Louisiana waterthrush and Northern parula), tanagers (scarlet) and vireos (red-eyed and blue-headed) among other species. The program is limited to 15 participants. The group will meet in our main parking area at the amphitheater. It is recommended that you bring comfortable shoes, a water bottle, camera and bird field guide if you have one.

N.C. Coast Songbird Identification Workshop
2024-05-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Moores Creek National Battlefield, 40 Patriots Hall Dr,, Currie, NC, 28435, United States
Join us for a fun and educational workshop on identifying different types of songbirds and managing your land to provide invaluable habitats for them. Whether you’re a birdwatching enthusiast or just starting out, this workshop is perfect for all levels of experience. In this workshop we will walk through several different forest types, including wet pine (longleaf) savannas that have been managed by the National Park Service for nearly 30 years.

Caterpillar Crawl
2024-05-11 10:00 - 11:00 | NC
Located in Cumberland, Carvers Creek State Park features Long Valley Farm that offers multi-use trails through beautiful longleaf pine ecosystems. We’re on the hunt for caterpillars! Join our expedition to find the many caterpillars roaming the park and learn all about what they eat and how they change into butterflies! We’ll be specifically searching for monarch caterpillars.
This in-person event is free and open to all youth.
All participants must be pre-registered and accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Women's Chainsaw Workshop - Advanced Beginner
2024-05-16 08:30 - 16:30 | Lake James State Park, 7321 NC Hwy 126, Nebo, NC, 28761, United States
This course is designed to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for women who have some experience using chainsaws and would like to get more hands-on instruction and practice. Participants are required to have had training in basic chainsaw use and safety. In this class we will dive deeper into cutting techniques such as how to get out of common binds, more advanced limbing and basic felling.

Pond Management Webinar
2024-05-16 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
Register now for the N.C. Tree Farm Program’s webinar on Pond Management and learn about:

Pond design and construction considerations
Stocking ponds and harvesting Maintaining balanced fish populations
Common pond management problems and how to solve them

Insects: You'll Miss Them When They're Gone!
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:00 | NC
Did you know that insects play a crucial role in maintaining life on our planet? Dive into the world of insects with us! From pollination to decomposition, they are the unsung heroes of ecosystems worldwide. But many insect populations are declining rapidly. Join the Neuse River Hawks Conservationists as we uncover the importance of insects and discuss ways to reverse their declines. Whether it’s understanding the vital role of a dung beetle or appreciating the beauty of a butterfly, every insect has its place in the intricate web of life. Let’s work together to protect these tiny but mighty creatures for the health of our planet and future generations.

Public Forum About Chronic Wasting Disease
2024-05-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Cumberland County Extension Center, 301 East Mountain Dr., Fayetteville, NC, 28306, United States
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will host a community question-and-answer forum about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and North Carolina’s response to CWD on Tuesday, May 16 in Cumberland County. The public forum follows the state’s first detection of CWD in a hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Cumberland County and recent Emergency Powers enacted by the agency’s Executive Director Cameron Ingram. Those who hunt deer in Bladen, Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Robeson, Sampson or surrounding counties are encouraged to attend. Co-host, Carolina Sportsman Magazine, will stream the event through Facebook Live and the agency will also share the live feed on its Facebook page for anyone unable to attend.
Registration is not required.
