The Little’s Hour
The Little’s Hour
Bring your young ones (3-6 year-olds) for an hour of books, songs, games, and fun learning about nature with Gina This week we'll be learning all about worms and how to get your wiggles out.
Bring your young ones (3-6 year-olds) for an hour of books, songs, games, and fun learning about nature with Gina This week we'll be learning all about worms and how to get your wiggles out.
Family Field Day "Pollinator Party" on Saturday, August 5th, with drop-in activities at the Nature Center from 10:00-2:00. An event for all ages, 1-100. Activities include: Making Pollinator Plant Seed Bombs, Honey Tasting, Pollinator Games, A Pollinator Craft, A Pollinator Scavenger Hunt
Meet at the Nature Center to show and/or share in the bounty (floral & food) from staff and neighbors' gardens. Folks are encouraged to bring cut flowers and veggies from your gardens. Don't have one? No worries! Join us and share in the bounty. Maybe you'll find inspiration for next year. At a minimum, we […]
Many shy, unassuming plants have secret talents! Join Amy to meet some of our wild neighbors and learn about their healing gifts. We'll take a hike on the Sugarloaf Creek Trail, meet both common and rare medicinal plants, and perhaps even sample a little wild herbal tea. Meet at the Nature Center.
A hands-on nature craft that combines colorful yarn and nature elements to create a unique woven art piece. Bring yarn if you have it. Geared for adults and kids accompanied by an adult.
Bring your lunch to the Nature Center Library to learn about typically villiified plants of the garden and outdoors and what value they hold for all of us. You may just leave referring to a certain plant as "sister ivy."
Friday, 18th 2:00-4:00 PM-Snorkeling in Bethel with Gina and Rachael for some native fish! BYO SNORKEL if you have it, but we will have some extra on hand. Water shoes are also encouraged! Grab lunch and milkshakes after at Jukebox Junction! Welcome to jukebox junction (jukeboxeat.com)
The Smokies are renowned for their spring wildflowers, but what about the fruits and seeds those wildflowers make? On this hike with Michael, we'll focus on the seeds and fruits of of wildflowers and shrubs and the strategies they use to disperse. This is not a foraging class. Most of these "fruits" are not edible […]
What is the story with all those crazy vines in certain areas of our forest? On this Trust Trek with Michael, we will learn about the vines of the Preserve and discuss their upsides and downsides. Trail to be determined.
Join Amy for a fun and interactive introduction to bird language. We'll learn how to identify the songs of some of the birds commonly found on the Preserve. We'll also learn why the birds are singing, and what their assorted calls, warbles, shrieks, and twitters can tell us about the hidden life of the forest. You'll come […]
Learn to make beautiful nature art with only a hammer, cloth, and some plant material. Bring your own hammer and flowers for printing, if you have them. Geared for adults.
What did Balsam Mountain Preserve look like 75 years ago, or 100 years ago? What trees, birds, and animals made their homes here, and how did the humans make their living off the land? Hike with Gina and learn about tree loss, invasives, and the past and future of our forests.
Let's go tubing! And maybe talk a little natural history too. We are blessed to have some fine crystal clear waters in our backyard that can make for a cooling respite from the summer heat. Deep Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes it easy to tube a beautiful creek. This is not a […]
Join us at the Nature Center to kick of the Labor Day weekend. We'll have a firepit and supplies for smores. We are also dreaming up other fun stuff. BYOB. Bring a blanket or camp chairs. Parking will be limited. Please carpool.