N.C. Tree Farm Program, Inc.

Webinar: Balancing Objectives and Outcomes for Wildlife Habitat and Forest Management
2018-04-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
This webinar will discuss strategies for multi-use forestry, specifically managing forests for health and productivity while creating deer-friendly habitats.

Beginning Birder
2018-04-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Learn to identify common bird species found in this area. This class is designed for the beginner birder. Bring water and good hiking shoes. Ages 8-13.

Fly-tying Forum
2018-04-26 18:30 - 20:30 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
The Fly-tying Forum provides tyers with an opportunity to increase their skills. Open to fly-tiers of all skill levels, the fly patterns change each month as a way to encourage learning various new tying techniques and development of tying skills. Tyers aged 10 years old and up are welcome, however participants 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Mason Bee Homes: Craft
2018-04-27 08:00 - 17:00 | Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, 240 Park Entrance Road, Seven Springs, NC, 28578, United States
Worried about the bee population in your area? Craft some mason bee homes with a ranger and help your garden’s bees. Registration required! Call the Visitor’s Center @ (919) 778-6234 to reserve a spot.

Guided Kayak Fishing Experience
2018-04-27 18:00 - 20:30 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
This free clinic is the last in a series of three designed to give anglers and paddlers the information required to safely and successfully fish in sheltered waters from a kayak. This session features a hands on guided kayak fishing experience with Commission staff and volunteers. Destination to be decided.
This course is suitable for participants 16 years old and older. Participation in Introduction to Kayak Fishing Part I and Part II is required. A valid fishing license is required. Each clinic is limited to the first 6 people, and pre-registration is required. All equipment and materials will be provided.

America's Boating Course 3 Boating Safety Course
2018-04-27 18:30 - 2018-04-28 20:00 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
The basic boating knowledge topics include:

Introduction to Boating
Boating Law
Boat Safety Equipment
Safe Boating
Navigation
Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat
Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating

The course itself is free of charge. Participants may purchase the accompanying book for $25. Books may be picked up at the Pechmann Center in advance of the course. This course satisfies N.C. safe boating requirement for anyone under 26 years of age and has a proctored test. Any students who pass the test with an 80 percent or higher will receive a certificate of completion and wallet card

Fly Fishing 101
2018-04-28 08:00 - 17:00 | South Mountains State Park, 3001 South Mountain Park Avenue, Connelly Springs, NC, 28612, United States
Get Hooked! Join a volunteer angler for an introductory class on fly fishing. Please bring all personal equipment. Classes may vary based on interest and skill level of the participants. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission fishing regulations apply.
Class is offered every Sunday until August 19. Visit the South Mountains State Park website for a COMPLETE LIST OF DATES.
Start Location: Visitor Center

Tackle Rigging for Fly Fishing
2018-04-28 09:00 | Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Rigging tackle is one of the most important components of fly fishing. Learn how to create different tackle setups for fly fishing in a variety of situations. Create dropper rigs, euro style nymphing rigs and much more. The course will also cover material selection, techniques and care. Ages 12 and up.

Wildflower Walk: Grandfather Mountain
2018-05-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2018-05-06 14:00 - 17:30 | Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Hwy 105 S (Suite #6), Banner Elk, NC, 28604, United States
Join a park ranger for a guided wildflower walk in Grandfather Mountain State Park. Grandfather Mountain produces an amazing variety of wildflowers, which change from week to week, so join us throughout the season to experience the changes!
This hike is moderate and the pace will be slow – all experience levels welcome. We will see spring wildflowers of cove forest, northern hardwood forest, dry ridge, and early-mid succession forest environments.

Start Location: Boone Fork Parking Area (just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway)

Birding Hike
2018-05-05 09:00 | Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Take a short hike through the Pisgah National Forest as we learn to identify common bird species. This class is designed for the beginner birder. Good shoes, water & a snack are a must for this hike. Ages 12 & up.

Black Bears
2018-05-05 11:00 | Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 State Highway 128, Burnsville, NC, 28714, United States
Learn about the similarities and differences between the grizzly bear and the black bear. Learn their different behaviors, food sources and what to do if you see one.

Start Location: Upper Summit Parking Lot

Park Invaders
2018-05-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Eno River State Park, 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC, 27705, United States
Native, non-native or invasive? Join our park naturalist for a hike on Buckquarter Creek Trail to identify invasive species that bloom, crawl, and creep in the park.
Bring work gloves and closed toe shoes, sunscreen/a hat, and long sleeves/long pants to minimize ticks. This is a great opportunity for high school students to gain some citizen scientist experience and brush up before their AP Environmental Science Exam. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fire in the Toolbox
2018-05-06 15:00 | Weymouth Woods, 1024 N Fort Bragg Rd, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, United States
Join a ranger to learn how land managers use fire as a tool to benefit plant and animal communities. See some of the tools used and planning that takes place to safely prepare for using fire on the landscape. The program will conclude with a short walk to see the effects of recent fire.

Introduction to Pier Fishing
2018-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
This is a two-part program consisting of a 1.5 hr. classroom seminar followed by an optional field trip to a coastal pier on May 22nd, 2018. Topics include the bait, tackle and techniques needed to catch a variety of fish from the pier. You must attend the seminar to be eligible for the fishing trip. Program is limited to ages 15 and up.

Air Quality 101 for Foresters and Prescribed Burners
2018-05-10 13:00 - 14:30
This webinar will cover topics such as national ambient air quality standards, ozone, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nonattainment areas in the Southeast, regional haze and more. In addition, there will be presentations on state air quality planning and perspectives.
Presenters are from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the North Carolina Department of Air Quality.
REGISTRATION is required.

Becoming an Outdoor Woman: Fly Fishing Weekend
2018-05-11 - 2018-05-13 | North Mills River Recreation Area and Campground
For women of all skill levels who want to learn more about fly fishing.
In the stream ecology session, discover tiny aquatic species that support a much larger food web. Explore a mountain
stream and search for aquatic organisms using nets and kick seines to help understand what types of flies work best on the
water. Then learn to tie flies that mimic the natural fish food you find in the river. In the Basic Equipment session, get
the scoop on proper waders, wading shoes, vests and other items that make fishing fun. Finally, learn knot-tying, fly-casting and presentation. Our experienced instructors emphasize the importance of basic casting techniques and offer one-on-one instruction to help participants practice their moves. Sunday morning you’ll get to practice and enhance all your new found skills with guided fishing on the North Fork Mills River.

Fun in the Forest
2018-05-11 16:30 - 17:30 | Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, 625 Virginia Cates Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Investigate trees, the parts of trees and how they live. Study the trees of Occoneechee Mountain and their life cycle. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Start Location: Occoneechee Parking Lot

Wildflower Walk: Grandfather Mountain
2018-05-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Hwy 105 S (Suite #6), Banner Elk, NC, 28604, United States
Grandfather Mountain produces an amazing variety of wildflowers, which change from week to week, so join Grandfather Mountain rangers throughout the season to experience the changes! This hike is easy- all experience levels welcome. Perfect for someone who does not want a long hike and still see a lot of wildflowers. See spring wildflowers of rich and acidic coves.

Start Location: Profile Trail Head (4198 Hwy 105 South)

Introduction to Kayak Fishing (Level II)
2018-05-11 18:00 - 20:15 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
Prepare to get wet, this free clinic is the second in a series of two designed to give anglers and paddlers the information and skills required to safely and successfully fish in sheltered waters from a kayak. This clinic meets at the Lake Rim Boating Access area and features sessions with Commission staff and volunteers. Topics include: launching and landing, paddle strokes, anchoring, and safety. After the basics, we will test our skills fishing for largemouth bass and panfish on Lake Rim.
This course is suitable for participants 16 years old and older. Participation in Introduction to Kayak Fishing Part 1 is required. A valid fishing license is required. Each clinic is limited to the first 6 people, and preregistration is required. All equipment and materials will be provided.

Beginning Fly-tying Course
2018-05-12 08:00 - 2018-05-13 17:00 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
This Fly-tying Course is designed to provide the student with a basic knowledge of fly tying tools, materials, patterns, and tying techniques. We teach the course in progression beginning with simple fly patterns and steadily advance toward more complex flies allowing the students to build on their skills. In this course, students will complete 6 fly patterns over approximately 8 hours of instruction.

Leave It to the Beavers
2018-05-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Lake Norman State Park, at 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC, 28166, United States
Join a Ranger to learn about North America’s biggest rodent, the beaver. Learn about beavers then paddle into Park Lake to find evidence of these tree-gnawing neighbors. Registration is required due to limited canoe space (10 participants). Call 704-528-6350 to register. Program is weather permitting.

Start Location: Visitor Center

Wildflower Walk
2018-05-12 13:00 | Elk Knob State Park, 5564 Meat Camp Road, Todd, NC, 28684, United States
Walk with a ranger along the Beech Tree Trail to see the wildflowers and learn a bit about their nature. Meet at the trailhead parking lot.

Dangerous Plants and Animals
2018-05-12 14:00 | Falls Lake State Recreation Area, 13304 Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest, NC, 27587, United States
Learn about the plants and animals to be cautious around at Falls Lake. Snakes, bugs and poison ivy are all part of the natural world, so make sure to be safe while sharing it.

Start Location: Amphitheater at Holly Point

Bald Eagles: Jordan Lake
2018-05-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, 280 State Park Road, Apex, NC, 27523, United States
Bald Eagles learn to fly in the spring as other bird parents return to Jordan Lake to raise their own families. Learn about this large raptor returning migrants that make the lake their home for the summer. Doc Ellen and Ranger McMurray will be on hand using both talk, photos and mounts to showcase the diverse population of birds we have here at the lake. After the talk, we will talk a short walk behind the visitor center to observe the trees and skies for our feathery friends. No RSVP required, just show up!

Start Location: Visitor Center, directly off of Hwy 64

Mammals of Mt. Mitchell
2018-05-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 State Highway 128, Burnsville, NC, 28714, United States
Join a ranger to learn about the diversity of life found here at Mount Michell State Park, what they eat and where you might be able to see these mysterious creatures.

Start Location: Upper Summit Parking Lot

Wildflower Hike
2018-05-13 14:00 - 17:00 | Elk Knob State Park, 5564 Meat Camp Road, Todd, NC, 28684, United States
Join a ranger on a hike around the Beech Tree Trail to see some of the spring ephemerals in bloom. Meet at the trailhead parking lot.

Wildflower Walk: Grandfather Mountain
2018-05-13 14:00 - 17:30 | Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Hwy 105 S (Suite #6), Banner Elk, NC, 28604, United States
Grandfather Mountain produces an amazing variety of wildflowers, which change from week to week, so join us throughout the season to experience the changes! This hike is moderate and the pace will be slow – all experience levels welcome. We will see spring wildflowers of cove forest, northern hardwood forest, dry ridge, and early-mid succession forest environments.

Start Location: Boone Fork Parking Area (just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway)

Adapting Wildfire Management to 21st Century Conditions
2018-05-16 13:00 - 14:00
This Critical Issues webinar explores recent trends in wildfires and changes in contributing factors and drivers of these hazards. The webinar will feature case studies of wildfire policy and management strategies in the western and southern United States.
REGISTER HERE.

Soft Plastics Lure Making Class
2018-05-16 18:30 - 20:30 | John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28304, United States
Fishing with soft plastics can be highly effective technique for landing lunkers on any fishing outing and there are 1000s of varieties and colors of plastic lures on the market to choose from. But what if you could make these lures affordably at home? In the Pechmann Fishing Education Center’s Soft Plastics Lure Making Class, you can learn to make your own plastic fishing lures and enjoy the satisfaction of catching fish with your creations. Our workshop teaches the basic techniques for molding a variety of Soft Plastic lures used for fishing in both Saltwater and Freshwater. This is a great parent/child activity that enhances the fishing experience.
