• Birding the Craggies and Black Mountains

    Explore the higher elevations of the Southern Appalachians and look for some of the area’s most exciting birds. Expert guide Kevin Burke will help you look for the many species of warblers, vireos, and hard-to-identify Empidomax Flycatchers in higher elevations in spring. Other higher elevation breeding birds include Common Raven, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Winter […]

  • Summer Flora Identification – Field Version

    In this entirely field-based class led by Naturalist Scott Dean, you will learn to identify native mountain flora on the trail, training your eyes and using a non-technical dichotomous keying system. Study the characteristics of plant families and the basics of plant communities all in place. While the focus is on summer wildflowers and trees, […]

  • Ferns & Fern Allies A

    Learn about the biology and identification of regional ferns. The workshop will be comprised of a classroom lecture and discussion of the biology and classification of this interesting group of plants, and a field trip to Bent Creek and the neighboring Blue Ridge Parkway. Students should dress comfortably for short walks and bring a hand […]

  • Walking Meditation & Qigong

    Experience the deep peace and simple joy of slow walking meditation in the Plants of Promise Garden at the Arboretum. Each walking meditation practice begins with a series of very gentle Qigong movements. Qigong is an easy, mindful movement practice that supports the body's natural healing processes, promotes healthy circulation, invites a sense of inner […]