Parent/Child Programs
Nature Nuts (age 3-5 with a parent)
You and your preschooler will go nutty for nature as children satisfy some of their curiosity about the world around them and parents share in the joy of discovery! We will start each session with a book about our topic and then follow it up with a brief investigative walk and a simple craft inspired by the theme of the class. Non-registered siblings are not permitted.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $11(R) $14(N)
Blue Jays
34982 Sat Jun 7 10-11 a.m.
Skunks
34983 Sat Jun 21 10-11 a.m.
Lizards
34984 Sat Jun 28 10-11 a.m.
Dragonflies
34985 Sat Jul 19 10-11 a.m.
Raccoons
34986 Sat Jul 26 10-11 a.m.
Caterpillars
34987 Sat Aug 2 10-11 a.m.
Hummingbirds
34988 Sat Aug 23 10-11 a.m.
Weekday Nature
Weekday Youth Nature
Curious Creatures (age 5-8)
Join the staff of the Stevens Nature Center for a fun investigation of nature and its creatures. This series is designed to satisfy children’s natural curiosity about what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in the nature preserve. Children will discover fascinating facts about wildlife, their habits, and their habitats through hikes, activities and crafts related to the featured creature.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $12(R) $16(N)
Scaly Skinks
34930 Mon Jun 2 10 a.m.-noon T2
Beautiful Blue Jays
34931 Thu Jun 5 10 a.m.-noon T1
Sensational Snakes
34932 Mon Jun 30 10 a.m.-noon TO
Crawdad Crawl
34933 Tue Jul 1 10 a.m.-noon TO
Awesome Otter
34934 Wed Jul 2 10 a.m.-noon TO
Daring Dragonflies
34935 Thu Jul 3 10 a.m.-noon TO
Terrific Turtles
34936 Wed Jul 16 1:30-3:30 p.m. T4
Fantastic Fish
34937 Wed Jul 23 1:30-3:30 p.m. T4
34939 Thu Aug 28 10 a.m.-noon T2
Flutterby Butterflies
34938 Tue Aug 26 10 a.m.-noon T2
Kids Fun-Days (age 5-8)
Teacher workdays and school breaks mean kids’ fun days at the Stevens Nature Center! Children will delight in learning through hands-on explorations of nature using their senses and their imagination! Each session will include indoor and outdoor investigations.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $12(R) $16(N)
Animal Athletes
Compare your abilities to those of an ant, frog, squirrel, and other amazing animal athletes and discover how uncommonly athletic some animals are!
34971 Fri Jun 6 10 a.m.-noon T1
34976 Fri Jul 25 10 a.m.-noon T4
Eye Spy
Come spy the world through animal eyes and learn about how creatures use their sight to help them survive.
34972 Fri Jun 13 10 a.m.-noon T1
Creek Critters
Dive into a world of fun and explore the creek in search of the critters that call it home!
34973 Fri Jun 20 10 a.m.-noon T1
Insect Safari
Crikey mates! We’re goin’ on a safari! We’ll adventure into field and forest in search of insects and other small creatures hiding in the brush.
34974 Fri Jun 27 10 a.m.-noon T1
Critter Communication
From raised voices and strange smells to body posture and movement, find out what all the critters are “talking about”.
34975 Fri Jul 18 10 a.m.-noon T4
Critter Construction Workers
Discover the methods and materials critters use for their construction projects as we explore the preserve in search of nature’s construction workers.
34977 Fri Aug 1 10 a.m.-noon T3
Treetop Traffic
Investigate the tree trunk traffic at Hemlock Bluffs and discover how birds, mammals, and bugs travel along the tree trunks without creating a traffic jam!
34978 Fri Aug 8 10 a.m.-noon T3
Animal Armor
Scales, shells, stingers, teeth, and claws…Oh my! Investigate the “armor” that animals use to protect themselves in the wild.
35786 Fri Aug 15 10 a.m.-noon T3
Life Down Under
Explore the preserve in search of bugs, worms, small mammals, and many other creatures that live much of their lives in the land down under our feet.
35787 Fri Aug 22 10 a.m.-noon T2
Eco-Express (age 8-12)
Take the fast track to nature in these hands-on studies of nature and ecology at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. Children will enhance their appreciation for the environment as they increase their understanding of nature through outdoor investigations, projects and activities.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $12(R) $16(N)
Birds of the Bluffs
Practice your bird identification skills by sight and sound at Hemlock Bluffs. You’ll also take home a field guide sheet and a CD of some common bird calls to help you continue building your bird watching skills.
34948 Thu Jun 5 1:30-3:30 p.m. T1
Wild Life!
From mayflies that live a day to turtles that live a century, learn about some fascinating life cycles as we explore the preserve looking for animals living a wild life!
34949 Thu Jun 12 1:30-3:30 p.m. T1
Wet ‘n’ Wild
Explore Swift Creek to discover that from the top of the water to the rocks or mud beneath, it’s a wet ‘n’ wild world for many creatures at Hemlock Bluffs!
34950 Thu Jul 3 1:30-3:30 p.m. TO
Bugs, Birds ‘n’ Buds
Join us for this investigation of pollination and seed dispersal to discover some of the ways birds, bugs, and flowers work together in nature.
34951 Thu Jul 17 1:30-3:30 p.m. T4
Predators!
From birds of prey to insects that don’t see the light of day, it’s a “dog eat dog” world at Hemlock Bluffs. Find out who eats who along the fantastic journey called the food web.
34952 Thu Jul 24 1:30-3:30 p.m. T4
Crafty Kids! (age 6-10)
Discover how ‘crafty’ nature can be in an environment that encourages a sense of wonder and creativity. Join the staff of the Stevens Nature Center as nature inspires our creations and increases our enthusiasm about the world around us. Each hands-on session will focus on a specific nature topic. Some projects may get ‘messy’, so dress to get dirty!
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $17(R) $22(N)
Terrific Terrariums
Discover how life can be contained in a jar as we create terrific terrariums that require little to no care after their creation.
34921 Tue Aug 26 1:30-3:30 p.m. T2
SUN-sational Sun Art
Experience the power and capture the beauty of sunlight with the projects you create in this “SUN-sational” program.
34922 Thu Aug 28 1:30-3:30 p.m. T2
Weekend Nature
Curiosity Club (age 5-6)
Children will embrace science and nature at the Stevens Nature Center while developing skills and knowledge to satisfy their curiosity about the natural world around them. In these introductory nature programs, children will learn about nature through hands-on explorations in the preserve along with fun activities and crafts.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $12(R) $16(N)
Fathers of the Forest
Discover which fathers of the forest help protect, feed, and teach their young as we search for animals and their families in the preserve. After our exploration, we’ll make a special gift for dad to show how thankful we are for him!
34923 Sat Jun 14 10 a.m.-noon
Critter Carpentry
A six-legged sawmill? A feathered drill? Chisel teeth? Discover the amazing critter carpenters of the forest and find out what tools they use to craft their homes as we admire their carpentry in the wood of logs, snags, and trees in the preserve.
34924 Sat Jun 28 2-4 p.m.
Toadally Awesome
Find out why toads are “toadally” awesome in this nighttime search for bumpy, jumpy creatures. You’ll learn to identify common toads while discovering their interesting habits and habitats.
34925 Sat Jul 19 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This Old Tree
One old tree can provide a home for many creatures including squirrels, woodpeckers, tree frogs, beetles, raccoons and more! Come be a house hunter with us as we search for the best wildlife tree houses in the preserve!
34926 Sun Jul 27 2-4 p.m.
Radical Reptiles
In a stream, in a tree, on a log, or on the ground, reptiles are radical all around! Discover the adaptations and importance of reptiles as we explore the secret nooks and crannies of the preserve in search of lizards, turtles and snakes.
34927 Sat Aug 2 2-4 p.m.
Silly Squirrels
Silly squirrels and their acrobatic skills can be amusing to watch! Discover some of the reasons for the rowdy behaviors of squirrels and find out that squirrels may not be as silly as they seem.
34928 Sat Aug 16 10 a.m.-noon
Creepy Crawlies
Explore the amazing world of insects, spiders and other small creatures that often live in our gardens and yards. You’ll discover that many of our local “creepy crawlies” are truly good guys to have around!
34929 Sun Aug 24 2-4 p.m.
Eco-Explorers (age 7-9)
Children will expand their knowledge of nature and build their observation skills in these hands-on explorations of nature and ecology. Through outdoor investigations, projects and field activities, children will gain a better understanding of the world around them in an environment that encourages their sense of wonder, creativity and critical thinking.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $12(R) $16(N)
Night of the Firefly
Explore the magical nighttime forest of Hemlock Bluffs as fireflies light the night with a variety of colors and flashes. You’ll learn about fireflies and the other wildlife that share the night with these flashy creatures.
34941 Sat Jun 14 7-9 p.m.
Season of the Sun
Come to Hemlock Bluffs for some fun in the sun as we investigate the importance of the sun for plants and wildlife and discover why the sun holds the secret to survival on earth.
34942 Sat Jun 21 2-4 p.m.
Leapin’ Lizards
Learn about the adaptations and habitats of lizards as you learn to identify local lizards and discover the meaning behind some of their crazy body language.
34943 Sun Jun 29 2-4 p.m.
Wild and Endangered
Learn about why animals become endangered and discover what you can do to help. You’ll find out about some of the wildlife in danger in North Carolina and help create and protect important wildlife habitats at Hemlock Bluffs.
34944 Sun Jul 13 2-4 p.m.
Wildlife Detectives
Sneak along forest trails at night in search of wildlife and practice locating and identifying animals by sight, sound and the clues they leave behind. You’ll discover “who-dun-it?” at the preserve on this evening adventure!
34945 Sat Jul 26 7-9 p.m.
Dance of the Damsels and Dragons
Discover the amazing abilities and habits of damselflies and dragonflies throughout their life cycle as we investigate the wet and wild habitats where they “dance” and feed.
34946 Sun Aug 3 2-4 p.m.
Night Owls
Give summer break a send off and spend one last night as a “night owl” in a nighttime adventure at Hemlock Bluffs to search for owls, toads, bats and more!
34947 Fri Aug 22 7-9 p.m.
Teen Nature
Young Ecologists (age 10-12)
Pre-teens will build their self-esteem and make new friends while expanding their knowledge and appreciation of the environment. Each session is primarily a field excursion with a brief project or activity relevant to a specific nature topic.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $16(R) $21(N)
Nature’s Night Shift
Explore Hemlock Bluffs by sight and sound as day turns to night. We’ll listen for the calls of frogs, birds, and insects and watch for fireflies at the peak of their fantastic display. You’ll take home a night observation kit for your future nocturnal explorations.
35003 Fri Jun 20 7-10 p.m.
Reptile Safari
Search the preserve for its reptilian inhabitants and take part in the Box Turtle Collaborative Project, tracking the movements of the sometimes elusive Box Turtle throughout the park.
35004 Sat Jul 12 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Stream Stroll
Soggy shoes are not a problem on hot summer days when you get your feet wet on a stroll along and in Swift Creek and its tributaries in search of the reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects that are adapted to live in this rich, exciting, and constantly changing environment.
35005 Sun Aug 10 1-4 p.m.
Hemlock Nature Quest (age 13-18)
These three-hour workshops are designed to expand teens’ knowledge of local nature through hands-on field explorations, with occasional classroom investigations. Participants will also gain experience with scientific study methods, ethics, and etiquette.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $16(R) $21(N)
Box Turtles of the Bluffs
Help set the stage for Hemlock Bluffs’ exciting role in the Box Turtle Collaborative research project with Davidson College. We’ll collect data on turtles and their habitat and use mark and recapture methods to determine turtle distributions and populations within the preserve.
34959 Sat Jun 21 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Stream Investigation
We’ll spend the day studying the water quality of Swift Creek and its tributaries by collecting biological and chemical water quality data, and performing qualitative habitat assessments at various points along the creeks.
34960 Sat Jul 19 1-4 p.m.
Habitat Discovery
We’ll learn tree identification skills and habitat analysis
techniques as we study several sites in the park in order to determine what the Bluffs has to offer its various wildlife
inhabitants.
34961 Sat Aug 9 2-5 p.m.
Adult Nature
Adult Nature Programs (age 16 & up)
Stretch your legs, clear your mind, and experience nature at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. You’ll continue your lifelong learning through informative and educational nature walks that are focused on seasonal plant and wildlife activity.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Instructor: Mark Johns
Fees: $6(R) $8(N)
Birding by Ear
Explore the preserve for breeding birds and expand your bird watching skills by “birding by ear”. Binoculars will be provided for those who do not bring their own.
34917 Sat Jun 14 10:30 a.m.-noon
Insect Investigation
You’ll get a peek into the enormous diversity of summer insects thriving at Hemlock Bluffs. Equipment will be provided.
34918 Sat Jul 12 10:30 a.m.-noon
Botany Basics
Head out into the preserve for a field exploration to learn to identify the summer plants of Hemlock Bluffs.
35309 Sat Aug 9 10:30 a.m.-noon
Adult Nature Workshops (age 18 & up)
Do you want to try some garden projects, but don’t know how to get started? Learn by doing! Participate in the nature center’s Adult Nature Workshops and pick up tips, techniques, ideas and hands-on experience to get you started on your garden craft projects. Dress to get dirty and be prepared to take home the ‘fruits’ of your labor!
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $22(R) $29(N)
Let’s hear it for Hummingbirds!
Attract these wonderful winged jewels to your home by adding color and nectar to your yard.
34919 Mon Jul 21 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Bring on the Butterflies!
Create an instant butterfly container garden and take home plants to install in your garden to attract these winged wonders.
34920 Mon Aug 4 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Parent/Child & Family Nature
Junior Naturalist (age 5-8 with a parent)
Spend quality time with your child in these programs that encourage participants, young and old, to develop their naturalist skills and their understanding of local nature. Through outdoor investigations in the preserve, participants will become better acquainted with local plants and wildlife while enjoying a shared learning experience. One parent may attend with each child.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $8(R) $10(N)
Lounging Lizards
Explore the preserve in search of lizards lounging on logs, rocks, and trees while learning about the habits and habitats of our local lizards.
34962 Sun Jun 1 2-3 p.m.
Nature’s Touch-me-Nots
Get to know some of the plants and animals known to give people rashes, bumps, scratches and stings and find out how to avoid these touch-me-nots this summer…you’ll be glad you did!
34963 Sun Jun 15 2-3 p.m.
Call of the Wild
Follow the call of the wild on an evening adventure at Hemlock Bluffs. You’ll discover which creatures of the woods are making the most noise and why.
34964 Sat Jun 28 8-9 p.m.
Bat Basics
Get the basics on bats at Hemlock Bluffs! We’ll start off with a brief classroom presentation about local bats and then head outside to scan the sky for these night-flying, bug-eating mammals.
34965 Sat Jul 12 8-9 p.m.
Hidden Herps
Lizards, snakes, turtles and toads are often hidden in plain sight. Search the preserve for these hidden herps who have mastered the art of camouflage.
34966 Sat Jul 19 2-3 p.m.
A Dig Through Time
Travel back in the history of North Carolina to a time when our coast was under a vast ocean! We’ll spend the hour digging through the nature center’s fossil pile to discover fossils of the creatures that roamed the ancient sea and you’ll take home the fossils you find!
34967 Sat Jul 26 11 a.m.-noon
Night Magic
Colors fade from bright to gray and the nighttime critters come out to play! From bugs that glow on the forest floor to frogs that cling to windows and doors, discover how magical nature at night can be!
34968 Sat Aug 2 8-9 p.m.
Worm’s Eye View
Explore the forest floor as we take a look on the ground, under the leaf litter, in tunnels, and in holes to experience the world around us from a worm’s eye view!
34969 Sun Aug 10 2-3 p.m.
Bug Bonanza
Late summer is the time for a big bug bonanza, so indulge your curiosity about bugs. We’ll search the gardens and forest to see how many of our six-legged friends we can find. You will discover why it’s so important to have so many bugs around.
34970 Sat Aug 23 2-3 p.m.
Family Programs (age 6 & up with parents)
Outdoor explorations of nature can strengthen family bonds while building awareness and appreciation of your natural surroundings. Spend some quality time experiencing the fun of nature at Hemlock Bluffs with your family. The fee for this series applies to each participant age 6-18 (no younger siblings) or to each adult couple without an accompanying child.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $11(R) $14(N)
Swift Creek Stream Search
We’ll walk through the remote areas of the preserve to get to a special area of Swift Creek where we’ll search the stream for wildlife and animal signs! Wear comfortable walking shoes and bug spray, and bring a second pair of closed-toe shoes for wading.
34954 Sun Jun 8 2-3:30 p.m.
Fireflies and Starlit Skies
Twinkle, twinkle little…firefly? Join us for this memorable program and experience the magic of the nighttime woods as fireflies twinkle in the forest like stars in the nighttime sky.
34955 Fri Jun 13 8-9:30 p.m.
Moonlight Mysteries
Discover some of the mysteries of the nighttime forest as we search for wildlife under the light of the moon!
34956 Fri Jul 18 8-9:30 p.m.
Moonlit Hike
Let the full moon guide us on a moonlit hike to search for creatures of the dark. No need to bring a flashlight, the moon will light the way for this adventure in the nighttime forest.
34957 Sat Aug 16 8-9:30 p.m.
Journey of a Lifetime
Spend the afternoon with us as summer ends and students get ready to go back to school. We’ll search for animals preparing for the journey of a lifetime and discover some changes they have experienced over the summer.
34958 Sun Aug 17 2-3:30 p.m.
Tales and Trails (All Ages Welcome!)
Experience nature in a whole new way as you and your family listen to and become a part of tales on the trails at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. Each session will focus on a specific nature concept and will include a topic-related craft for the whole family. Programs take place entirely outdoors. A slightly shorter program will take place in the event of rain.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: $26(R) $34(N)
Nature’s Night Lights
Craft some firefly flashlights to light our journey into the nighttime woods where we’ll watch for nature’s night life and hear tales about creatures of the nighttime woods.
34997 Sat Jun 7 7:30-9 p.m.
Wildlife Oasis
Find out the different reasons animals need water and create a refreshing oasis for wildlife that visit your backyard.
34999 Sun Jun 22 2-3:30 p.m.
Bountiful Butterflies
Learn about butterflies and decorate a container garden filled with flowers to attract bountiful butterflies to your home.
35974 Sun Jul 20 2-3:30 p.m.
An Abode for Mr. Toad
Hear toadally awesome tales while learning about toads and create an abode for the toads that live in your yard.
34998 Fri Jul 25 7:30-9 p.m.
Zip-Zappin’ Bats
Distinguish truth from tall tale about the zip-zappin’ night-flappin’ mammals of the sky and build a bat house for bats in your neighborhood.
35976 Fri Aug 8 7-8:30 p.m.
Jewels of the Garden
Learn about hummingbirds and then create a hummingbird feeder to encourage these “jewels of the garden” to come to your house.
35977 Sat Aug 16 6-7:30 p.m.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Workdays (age 6 & up with adults)
If you’re looking for a volunteer experience, community service, or conservation project for yourself or your group, join forces with the Stevens Nature Center staff to assist with preserve maintenance and improvements. Workdays will be cancelled if there is not enough interest expressed one week prior to the event. Call (919)387-5980 to register.
Location: Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs
Fees: FREE
National Trails Day Workday
Now in its 16th year, National Trails Day has grown to inspire nearly a million trail enthusiasts to flock to their favorite trails to discover, learn about and celebrate trails! Join us for a stream walk through the preserve to collect and reduce the litter in Swift Creek and its tributaries.
35000 Sat Jun 7 1-3 p.m.
Chestnut Oak Loop Trail Maintenance
Assist staff in spreading a much needed layer of mulch on the Chestnut Oak Loop Trail. The mulch will help protect our longest trail from erosion and provide a safety barrier over roots and rocks.
35001 Sat Jul 19 9:30-11:30 a.m.
35002 Sat Aug 9 9:30-11:30 a.m.