Carnivorous Plant Hike
2023-09-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-09-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-09-30 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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 discuss the different types of carnivorous plants we have at the park, including the Venus flytrap.
Also, 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.
Pre-registration not required. Meet at the Flytrap Trail parking area at the end of Nature Trail Lane.
This is an outside program. The trail is wheelchair accessible.

Canoe Hike
2023-09-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Carvers Creek State Park, 2505 Long Valley Road, Spring Lake, NC, 28390, United States
We will be learning the basics of canoeing and then trying out our new skills by maneuvering through the cypress swamp. This is a slow and calm paddling experience and great for beginners or for those who want to get a closer look at the cypress trees.
Registration is required; click the Register button or email carvers.creek@ncparks.gov or call (910) 436-4681 to reserve your spot.
There is a limit of 10 participants for this program. Participants must be at least 8 years old to participate.
Meet at the rain shelter. Please allow approximately 15 minutes to walk from the parking lot.

Third Wednesday Bird Walk
2023-09-20 08:00 - 10:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Join park staff to look for resident and visiting birds on a guided bird walk, from 8-10 a.m., at Carolina Beach State Park. No experience is necessary; all are welcome.
Pre-registration is not required. Plan to meet at the marina, and we will walk from there. The hike will be approximately 2 miles long over flat terrain and run for approximately 2 hours.
Bring your own binoculars, drinking water and insect repellent.

Identification of Trees of the Piedmont
2023-09-23 09:00 - 13:00 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
The abundant trees and forests are among the appealing aspects of central North Carolina. With the right tools and some careful observation, identifying the species of trees around you provides a way to better understand and appreciate your environment. Knowing a tree’s identity can help you make appropriate management decisions, including diagnosing problems, determining if it is invasive, or assessing how species can support wildlife. While smartphone identification apps are improving, their accuracy is usually limited to the genus level, and that accuracy is dependent on the quality and context of the photo. Relying on phone apps also degrades observational skills that cultivate a deeper appreciation of nature. Instead, we should learn how to identify local trees by carefully observing the morphology and form of their leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit.
Join Matt Jones (Extension Horticulture Agent) and the Master Gardener Volunteers of Chatham County for a hand-on workshop about how to identify trees in the North Carolina Piedmont. Participants will learn about plant morphology and the terminology helpful for identification, as well as how to find and use dichotomous keys for plants in our region. We’ll then practice using these keys in the classroom with sample tree parts. The workshop will conclude with a brief hike at White Pines Nature Preserve to learn about some of the field characters to ID local trees.
QUESTIONS? Contact N.C. Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center by calling 919-542-8202 or email matt_jones@ncsu.edu

Monarch Mountain Festival
2023-09-23 11:00 - 15:00 | Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC, 28774, United States
Join Gorges State Park in a celebration of the 2023 Monarch Butterfly Migration! Gorges State Park lies along the monarch’s migratory route, and the butterflies can be seen at the park during this time, flying on their way south to the high-elevation fir forests in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring. There will be educational programming, kids crafts and activities, native plants, food trucks, music and more!

Waterfowl Hunting 101 Webinar
2023-09-26 19:00 - 20:30 | NC
Are you curious about waterfowl hunting or looking to up your game?
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Ducks Unlimited will host a free online seminar on waterfowl hunting, followed by a question and answer session.
This webinar is part of the Getting Started Outdoors (GSO) hunter education series. The series is geared toward beginners who are new to hunting, but all are welcome.
Click the link below to register and receive the meeting link and the full details.
Contact Walter (Deet) James, Jr. with any questions at Walter.James@ncwildlife.org or call (984) 202-1387.
REGISTER HERE!

Bat Management and Fire in the Southeast: Webinar
2023-09-27 13:00 - 14:00 | virtual via Zoom
Bats are important to forested ecosystems and often interact with fire. Recently, several bat species have been placed on the Endangered Species list. This webinar will describe the bats in the Southern region that have been listed, and will summarize how these bats can be affected by wildland fire, and the regulatory requirements that may affect prescribed burning. We will also provide an overview of the current DoD Bat strategy in support of their military and conservation missions. Additional resources that will be helpful to land managers will be provided. Following the presentation there will be time for audience Q&A with the speakers.
REGISTER HERE

Restoring Oak Forests
2023-10-03 08:30 - 2023-10-04 15:00 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
This advanced training for professionals & experienced landowners will teach the silvicultural techniques required to establish oak forests.
There are plenty of oak forests in North Carolina right now, but trends show that we are not replacing them with new oak forests after harvest. The probability of replacing an existing oak stand with a new one by just cutting it down and letting it grow back is zero or unacceptably low. If we are going to reverse this troubling trend, we need to implement better oak restoration techniques now.
Regenerating oak is more of a process than an event. It is one of the most difficult management prescriptions to undertake and requires specific silvicultural knowledge and proper site analysis to implement correctly. During this two-day advanced workshop for natural resource professionals and experienced landowners, experts will share their experience and knowledge on how to successfully regenerate and manage oak. Attendees will learn through classroom and field instruction how to implement the necessary silvicultural techniques to ensure that oak trees are part of our next forests.
CFEs pending. Estimated 10.5 hours.
Cost is $75-$125

Down East Landowner Prescribed Fire Association Kick-off Meeting
2023-10-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Craven County Extension Center, 300 Industrial Dr., New Bern, 28562, United States
A kick-off meeting for the Down East Landowners PBA will be held for landowners in Pitt, Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico, Lenoir, Jones, Carteret, and Onslow counties that have an interest in prescribed burning.
The purpose of the meeting is to expand the prescribed burning capacity in central eastern North Carolina through peer-to-peer networking, providing support to new burners, and showing the resources currently available to those who wish to conduct prescribed burns on their property. In short, it is people coming together to learn about and apply prescribed fire on the landscape.
The format of the meeting will be quite informal – after introductions and the meal, a brief presentation will be given on what a Prescribed Burn Association is, followed by a review of the tools and personnel available to help you conduct burns on your property this winter. Throughout the meeting, you are encouraged to meet your fellow landowners, exchange ideas and contact information.
Dinner from Moore’s BBQ will be provided by the North Carolina Tree Farm Program.
Register by email to bryan.hulka@ncagr.gov. If you have any questions, please feel to contact Bryan Hulka at 252-229-8268.

Pender County Tree Farmer Breakfast & Forestry Tour
2023-10-12 08:30 - 11:30 | NC
Meet and visit with other woodland owners who are passionate forest stewards. Share stories about your Tree Farm and learn from the experiences of other Tree Farmers.
Learn about:

Understory control methods
Timber stand management
Longleaf pine restoration
Carnivorous and native plants
Conservation easements
Conservation Stewardship Program

The event will begin at Patriots Hall, Moores Creek National Battlefield, 40 Patriots Hall Dr., Currie, NC 28435
Please dress for the weather.
Register by October 3 by calling 919-917-8646 or email to nctreefarm@gmail.com

ForestHer NC Coastal Region Gathering
2023-10-14 08:30 - 15:00 | Cool Springs Environmental Education Center, 945 Cool Spring Road, New Bern, NC, 28560, United States
Join ForestHer for the Coastal Regional Gathering at Cool Springs Environmental Education Center to learn how forests protect our coastal waterways.
Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 Check in
9:00 – 10:30 Interpretive Wetlands Walk
10:30 – 11:15 Coastal Land Trust – Protecting our Land and Water
11:15 – 12:15 Macroinvertebrates – What is that in the water!?
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch provided by Weyerhaueser
1:00 – 3:00 (optional) kayaks and canoe available for paddling on the creek. Your feet will probably get wet. A guide will be on hand to help those who want it.

Registration is $10 and includes lunch and the watercraft.
Registration deadline October 9.

Silviculture and Regeneration of Oak Woodlands
2023-10-17 11:30 - 13:00 | virtual via Zoom
Save the date for Blue Ridge PRISM’s Fall Meeting. We are delighted to host Dr. David Carter of Virginia Tech who will talk about managing forests for oak regeneration. There will also be a brief Blue Ridge PRISM update. Registration details forthcoming.

Rowan County Tree Farmer Breakfast & Forestry Tour
2023-10-18 08:30 - 11:30 | NC
Meet and visit with other woodland owners who are passionate forest stewards. Share stories about your Tree Farm and learn from the experiences of other Tree Farmers.
Learn about:

The importance of planting the right tree on the right site
The impact of thinning and not thinning pine stands
Determining the best site preparation method for your land
How markets may drive management decisions

The event will take place at 5150 River Road, Richfield, N.C.
Please dress for the weather and walking in the woods.
Register by October 8 by phone to 919-917-8646 or email to nctreefarm@gmail.com.

Spongy Moth (Formerly Known as Gypsy Moth): Recent Impacts, Spread, and Management of a Non-Native Defoliator
2023-10-18 13:00 - 14:00 | virtual via Zoom
Dr. Tom Coleman (Entomologist & Slow the Spread Program Manager – US Forest Service) will discuss spongy moth biology, management techniques, and give an update on its current range in the U.S.

Spongy moth, Lymantria dispar, (formerly the gypsy moth), is a defoliator that can feed on over 300 plant species, making it a significant threat to U.S. forests. Originating from France, its spongy appearing egg masses can be laid on most any surface making this pest easy to move unknowingly to new areas. Although it was originally brought to the U.S. in the late 1800’s with the hopes of creating a silk industry, its escape has since led to millions of acres of forest and urban areas being defoliated. Defoliated trees are more susceptible to disease and mortality. In this webinar, Dr. Tom Coleman will give an update on spongy moth in the U.S. and discuss ways that you can help stop the spread.

Introduction to Invasive Plants & Introduction
2023-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | virtual via Zoom
Our online workshop will provide an introduction to invasive plants and will help you to confidently identify different species in the autumn and winter seasons. This session will take place via Zoom and will include a Q&A period with PRISM experts.
This virtual session will be recorded. Those who register will receive access to the recording.
Registration via Eventbrite HERE.

All About Pollinators! Part 3
2023-10-26 13:00 - 14:30 | virtual via Zoom
Save the date! Registration coming soon.

Control & Management of Invasive Plants
2023-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 | virtual via Zoom
During our online workshop, we will teach you how to best manage invasive plants during the autumn and winter 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
Using manual & mechanical control methods
Methods for controlling invasive plants with careful use of herbicides
Methods for controlling invasive plants without 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 via Eventbrite HERE.

Building Trails on Your Property: Webinar
2023-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
Whether you’re interested in wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting or controlling wildfire on your land, well-planned and constructed trails are key to providing the access you’ll need. This webinar will focus on important things to consider before building trails on your property, resources available to you for trail construction and maintenance, opportunities for tying into trail networks and general considerations for hosting people on your land.
REGISTER HERE

Oak Wilt Biology and Management
2023-11-15 13:00 - 14:00 | virtual via Zoom
Dr. Demian Gomez (Regional Forest Health Coordinator – Texas A&M Forest Service) will discuss oak wilt – what causes it and what you can do to manage it.
Oak wilt is a vascular tree disease that is known as one of the most destructive tree diseases in the U.S. It is caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum and can spread via root grafts to neighboring trees or through beetle vectors. Although its origin is unknown, it was first detected in the U.S. in the 1900’s and is now responsible for the mortality of thousands of oak trees each year. In this webinar, Dr. Demian Gomez will tell us more about oak wilt, its signs, symptoms, and what you can do to manage it.

Tree Identification in Winter
2024-01-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-01-16 17:30 - 20:30 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
Correct identification is a critical first step in making management decisions for any plant in the landscape or garden. Identification of tree species is of particular interest for landowners managing woodlands for wildlife or timber, for farmers with livestock browsing near potentially toxic species, and for naturalists seeking to enhance their familiarity with native trees. Many may be deterred by the esoteric terminology and specialized features used for tree identification. Fortunately, most woody plants can be readily distinguished by twig, bud, and bark characteristics, making winter a great time of year to learn the identity of trees and understory shrubs on your property. Join Matt Jones (Extension Horticulture Agent) and the Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Chatham County for a lecture and hands-on workshop on winter botany for landowners, landscapers, farmers, park managers, naturalists and anyone curious about trees. Participants will learn about the types of tree characters used for identification, as well as how to use free, online tools (such as dichotomous keys) from NC State University. Gain experience through both guided and individual practice identifying provided native tree samples.
The workshop costs $12 per person, which includes a 10x hand lens and light refreshments for all participants. Registration and fee payment is required by Jan.15th, 2024.
Read more at: https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/tree-identification-in-winter-2023/

Wednesday Bird Walk
2024-01-17 08:00 - 10:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Join park staff to look for resident and visiting birds on a guided bird walk, from 8-10 a.m., at Carolina Beach State Park. No experience is necessary; all are welcome.
Plan to meet at the marina, and we will walk from there. The hike will be approximately 2 miles long over flat terrain and run for approximately 2 hours.
Bring your own binoculars, drinking water and insect repellent.
No registration required.

Webinar: Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species From Pesticides
2024-01-17 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
When EPA registers a pesticide or reevaluates it in registration review, the Agency has a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that the pesticide registrations do not jeopardize the continued existence of federally threatened or endangered (listed) species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats.

Keeping Forests as Forests – Incentive Programs for the North Carolina Landowner
2024-01-24 18:00 - 19:30 | virtual via Zoom
Join the Forest Stewards Guild for an evening learning about ways to keep forests as forests. We will be joined by experts on tax incentive programs, conservation easements, and carbon markets. Come prepared with questions about your land!
Review the program agenda here.
Click here to Register.

Webinar with Tom Wessels, Forensic Forester
2024-01-27 09:00 - 10:00 | virtual via Zoom
Tom Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist and professor emeritus at Antioch University, as well as the author of Reading the Forested Landscape, Forest Forensics, The Granite Landscape, The Myth of Progress, and New England’s Roadside Ecology.
On Saturday, January 27 From 9:00 to 10:00 am using photographs submitted by participants Tom will demonstrate methods for reading forest landscapes the way we might solve a mystery.
If you have pictures of interesting things you have encountered, such as growth patterns, evidence of forest disturbance (either natural or human-made), or unique geological features, to be analyzed during the webinar send PICTURES to rircd2282@gmail.com .
For additional information and to register, please go to www.rircd.org

Biological Wonderland Hike
2024-01-27 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.
This is an outside program. The trail is wheelchair accessible.
No registration required.

Heirs Property Summit
2024-01-31 09:00 - 15:00 | NC A&T University Farm Pavilion, 3020 McConnell Road, Greensboro, NC, 27401, 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

Hunter Education Certification
2024-01-31 16:00 - 22:00 | Newland Town Hall, 301 Cranberry Street, Newland, NC
This course meets the hunter education requirement for all first-time hunting license buyers in North Carolina. Certification is accepted in every state and province in North America.
Courses are provided free of charge in all 100 counties throughout the year.
Pre-registration is required for courses.
Students must bring a pen or pencil to class.
DO NOT BRING FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION INTO THE CLASSROOM. If you carry personal protection firearms, you should secure these in your vehicle before entering the classroom.
