Category: Events

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Calendar Citizen Science Community Conservation Events

Volunteer for Bats: Help Monitor Species in NC

NC Wildlife Resources Commission Community Science Program is looking for volunteers interested in helping with NABat (a bat acoustic monitoring survey) around Roxboro, NC. You will be acoustically recording their echolocation calls, which allows us to determine what species are in the area. Bats are extremely important parts of ecosystems and provide essential functions such as pollination and agricultural pest control. Volunteers will help collect valuable data that get input into a continent-wide database used by scientists all over the country to conduct research. The survey consists of attaching a microphone to the top of the volunteer’s vehicle and running it to a tablet in the car to record acoustic signals from bats. The route spans about 20 miles. All equipment and training are provided.  The route window takes place July 1-11th and the volunteer should survey two nights within that window.

You should join us if you’re interested in:

•     Aiding in the collection of scientific data

•     Looking for volunteer credit hours

•     Seeing what bat species live in your area!

•     Learning how to use an acoustic recording device

•     Joining a community of volunteers spanning across the state

Here is a link to our NABat homepage: https://nc-wild.org/nabat/

And here is a link to the Orientation materials on that website: https://nc-wild.org/nabat/training/

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Citizen Science Community Conservation Events

Moth event – June 6

Backyard Butterflies, a Hillsborough-based nonprofit dedicated to Lepidoptera education and community outreach, announces the return of the Hillsborough Moth Crawl on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM. The rain date is Sunday, June 7 at the same time and locations. Part citizen science, part community celebration, the Hillsborough Moth Crawl invites participants of all ages and experience levels to spend an evening visiting multiple mothing locations across Hillsborough, observing and documenting the remarkable diversity of moths and other nocturnal insects drawn to special lighting. Whether you are a curious newcomer or a seasoned moth’er, young or old, join us for an evening of spectacular, unparallelled mothing resulting in the epic achievement of Mothing Your Way Across Hillsborough!

Three Locations, One Unforgettable Night This year’s event spans three beautiful natural areas in and around Hillsborough:

  • Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC-86, Chapel Hill) — a 152-acre historic farm property managed by Orange County Parks and Recreation
  • Brumley Forest Nature Preserve (3055 New Hope Church Rd, Chapel Hill) — a conservation preserve managed by Triangle Land Conservancy
  • Confluence Natural Area (4214 Highland Farm Rd, Hillsborough) — a low-impact natural preserve protected by the Eno River Association Experienced volunteers will be on hand at each location to help identify moths and other nocturnal visitors throughout the evening.

What’s New for 2026 The Moth Crawl has expanded this year with a new location and several exciting additions. CLAWS, a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, will join the event at Blackwood Farm Park with a live presentation called Frenemies, A Love Story — featuring owls, hawks, and falcons, and exploring how these predators share a role in the ecosystem alongside the moths they hunt. Participants will also have the chance to meet everybody’s favorite corvids, Grip and Lark, and hold one or both birds on their arm. The North Carolina Entomological Society will host hands-on, family-friendly insect activities at Confluence Natural Area. A free, exclusive Leaf Miner Workshop led by local expert Tracy Feldman will also be offered on Friday, June 5 at Durant Nature Preserve as both a community learning opportunity and a resource for Moth Crawl participants.

Friendly Competitions and Citizen Science The Moth Crawl features two optional competitions for those who want to take their evening to the next level. The iNaturalist Contest encourages playful participation in citizen science through observation and species documentation. The Grand Moth’er Challenge is a timed individual competition testing field observation skill across multiple biodiversity-based challenges, with premium moth equipment and the official title of The Grand Moth’er on the line. All contestants submit observations through iNaturalist, contributing real data to ongoing citizen science efforts.

Inclusive, Festive, and Family-Friendly The Moth Crawl is designed to welcome everyone — curious newcomers, seasoned naturalists, families, and children alike. Costumes are enthusiastically encouraged. Moth wings, antennae, sequins, and full cryptid fantasy are all equally at home alongside hiking boots and headlamps. There is no experience required and no judgment offered — only an open invitation to step into the dark and see what arrives! Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp, wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and apply insect repellent. Sunscreen is also recommended, as UV lights will be in use.

Stamp Cards and Swag All registered participants receive event swag at check-in. Stamp cards collected across locations enter participants into a drawing for a limited edition 2026 Hillsborough Moth Crawl T-shirt featuring the year’s Spokes-moth, the stunning Io Moth (Automeris io), illustrated by artist Jade Shepard of the Perpetual Pen.

Sponsorship Opportunities The Moth Crawl has launched a formal sponsorship program for individuals, businesses, and organizations who want to help sustain the event. Sponsorships start at $50 and include exclusive swag and perks.

RegistrationTo learn more about The Hillsborough Moth Crawl and register for the event, visit the event webpages at https://www.backyardbutterflies.org/moth-crawl or directly from the ticketing website

https://events.humanitix.com/the-hillsborough-moth-crawl-2026.

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Community Conservation Events Partner Organizations

Webinar: Safe Mosquito Control Strategies

New Hope Bird Alliance is co-hosting with Toxic Free NC a webinar on Wednesday night regarding mosquito strategies.  Please attend if possible and share through your networks.  We are initiating an outreach and education campaign to help prevent mosquito fogging and also any spraying by Counties.

Please join us and help spread the word about this upcoming webinar on May 6 from 6-7 pm! 

Fight the Bite: Safe and Healthy Mosquito Strategies

We’ll be joined by Jacqueline Buenrostro of Xerces Society for a conversation about mosquitoes, disease risk, ecological impacts of insecticides, and preventative sustainable solutions for homes and neighborhoods to safely manage mosquitoes as the weather warms up. Participants will leave with information and resources they can share with neighbors. Spanish interpretation will be provided. 

Register here: tinyurl.com/DurhamMosquitoes

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Calendar Community Conservation Events

Save All We Can Training: Chinese Wisteria

Last fall, NC-IPC held four Save All We Can trainings, covering plant identification, tool techniques and tips for organizing events. This year, we will hold more specialized trainings. On May 3rd, Steven Feuerstein will do a training that focuses on techniques for dealing with the dreaded Chinese Wisteria, with an added focus on event management.

Chinese wisteria is a real tree killer. It’ll quickly wind its way up the trunks of trees, big and small, tightening as it grows, damaging the trunk. And it spreads out across branches and crowns, covering it with thick foliage and heavy flowers. Given enough time, it will snap 30 foot tall trees in half – and kill them.

REPLACE

And that’s not all. It sends out runners into the understory, accelerating the “takeover” of an entire forest. It grows in bush form (when there’s nothing nearby to climb), limiting mobility of animals through the woods.

REPLACE

Techniques for effectively dealing with Chinese wisteria (and other invasive vines like kudzu) differ from those used with trees and shrubs, like Chinese privet. In addition, the different forms of the plant offer a variety of opportunities for volunteers to help (for example, kids can pull up runners).

This training will cover how to deal with:

Vines growing up trees: you’ll learn how to not only save the trees in the short term, but also have the most enduring impact (because it’s gonna be growing back!).

Runners spreading into the woods: follow the leader and roll ‘em up. It’s fun, fast and has a big impact!

Bushes filling the understory: don’t try to fight your way through. Instead, follow Steven’s patented (😎) back-step technique.

In addition to tips on dealing with this species, we’ll also explore how to assess a wisteria horror-scape and plan out an event, making the best use of your volunteers.

We provide all the tools and gear used during the training. You come dressed for outdoor work (close-toed shoes, long pants, long-sleeved shirt) and with a bottle of water. All attendees are enrolled in the Dauber Exchange (and go home with a dauber).

For more information and to register: https://rewildearth.net/ords/r/rewildearth/re/about-this-event-non-modal?p66_event_id=7834

Categories
Community Conservation Events Partner Organizations

Tri-County Conservationists coming events

Pollinator Garden Renovation in Saxapahaw, Sun Apr 19, 9-11amJoin us as we rebuild a pollinator garden at the Hawbridge Upper School in Saxapahaw. Tasks include weeding, transplanting, and dividing native perennials, and then watering and mulching. The garden is a long, curving bed at the entrance to the school. We will have some gloves and tools but please bring your own shovel or trowel if you can.Registerhere.

Invasive Removal, Carolina North, Chapel Hill, Sat Apr 25, 9-12pm

Join NCWF Tri-County Conservationists Chapter and volunteers from the Chapel of the Cross for an invasive removal workday in Chapel Hill! For decades, large Chinese privet has been growing into trees along Bolin Creek at Carolina North Forest. These privet trees have been washing seeds downstream into neighboring natural areas, spreading aggressively throughout the watershed. Come help us put a stop to that by removing privet and breaking the branches down into habitat piles for countless birds and small mammals to use.

Register here.

Brumley South Preserve Bi-Montly Restoration Maintenance Events

Join us to check on and maintain the 500 native saplings planted in the 10 Brumley Oases! Tasks may include mending fences, watering plants, and removing small invasives from inside the oases. Come for an hour or stay for two if you like.Sun Apr 26, 2-4pm Register here.Fri May 8, 5-6pm Registerhere.

Sun May 24, 2-4pm Register here.

Birding Hike at Guilford County Farm Preserve, Sun May 3, 5-8pmCome join the two NCWF chapters, Triad Wild and Tri-County Conservationists,  on a guided birding hike at Guilford County Farm Preserve, which straddles the Guilford-Alamance County border.  

Register here.

Adams Tract invasive removal, Carrboro Sun May 17, 2-4pm

Five years ago volunteers cut invasives at Adams Tract and now it’s time to head back over and continue these important efforts! This event is a collaboration between the Town of Carrboro, ReWild NC, and Tri-County Conservationists chapter. 

We will meet at the information kiosk by the main parking lot. We’ll hand out all the PPE and tools you’ll need to give our non-human friends (native species of plants and animals) a needed bit of support.

Register here.

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Community Conservation Events

Join Oak Crest’s Habitat Restoration Tour

The Oak Crest community in Chapel Hill has been actively restoring habitat by removing invasive plant species and allowing the native seed bank to restore the site naturally. The native seed bank has responded so well that the New Hope Bird Alliance awarded the site a Bird-Friendly Habitat Certification. Ongoing management is essential for this site’s success. We invite you to join us for a site tour, an overview of the restoration process, and a hands-on training session covering several methods for treating invasive Wisteria. Treatment of invasive Privet and Tree of Heaven will also be discussed. We’ll have some tools (hand pruners, loppers, daubers) and gloves to share, but feel free to bring your own if you have them. There is no physical address to the site, the posted address is across the street. The project leader will be there early. Look for a white truck.

https://rewildearth.net/ords/r/rewildearth/re/about-this-event-non-modal?p66_event_id=8354&clear=66&session=31459161833509

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Calendar Community Events Partner Organizations

Grand Opening of NC’s 1st Certified Forest Therapy Trail

The Rocky Water Path is now a fully Certified Forest Therapy Trail at the Confluence Natural Area (4214 Highland Farm Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278) and on Saturday April 18th, the Eno River Association will celebrate the grand opening with a Guided Forest Bathing Walk with Aimee Vandemark. This will be the first Certified Trail in our area and only the fourth in the state (the others are all in Western NC).  The Rocky Water Path is a winding path through open fields, dense forest with beautiful birdsong, and travels alongside the West Fork of the Eno River. This self guided forest bathing experience will provide visitors with a variety of opportunities for rest, reflection and connection with nature. 

Register at:

Register on Eventbrite
Categories
Calendar Citizen Science Community Conservation Events

Join the NC Moth Project’s Exciting Meet & Greet

Join us for a special Mothy Meet & Greet with the NC Moth Project on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 PM, for an evening designed to introduce you to the magic and mystery of moths and to share how you can take part in our Monthly Mothing program happening March through November.

This one-hour presentation will offer an entertaining introduction to moths, why they matter, and why scientists and community members survey them. We’ll explore how moth surveys are conducted, what equipment is used, and how everyday nature lovers can contribute valuable data to science. You’ll also learn more about the NC Moth Project itself and how it connects people across the state through citizen science.

Monthly Mothing nights provide ongoing, hands-on experience that builds real field skills over time. With regular participation, you’ll learn valuable identification skills, document a variety of nocturnal insects, and experience the seasonal changes and rhythms of moths, all while beginning your lifelong journey of becoming a moth’er!

And if the weather is suitably “mothy” after the presentation, we’ll step outside to set up a light sheet and see which late-winter moths come in to visit. It’s a relaxed, welcoming way to learn, connect, and maybe meet your first moth of the season! 

Visit https://www.backyardbutterflies.org/mothy-meet-greet-rsvp/ to register for the Mothy Meet & Greet and to learn more about the Monthly Mothing program.

Event flyer for the Mothy Meet & Greet with the NC Moth Project, featuring details about the event, date, time, and activities focused on moth observation and photography.

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Community Events

Dig Deeper lecture series: Rethinking the American Landscape

A lecture series exploring sustainable gardening practices

  • Introduction to Ecological Gardening (Mar 8th)
  • Helping HOAs Go Native (Apr 12)
  • Embracing the Imperfect Garden (May 17)

Orange County Public Library, Southern Campus (Drakeford Complex, Carrboro

https://orange.ces.ncsu.edu/2026/01/dig/

Categories
Calendar Community Conservation Events

Tri-County Conservation Events

Join us for more native tree plantings in Brumley South Preserve in Chapel Hill! See 3 separate dates below. This is a collaboration between our chapter, Triangle Land Conservancy, ReWild Earth, and Project Pando.

We have cleared, fenced, and started planting in 7 areas designated as “Oases”. We will be continuing to plant the over 500 native trees and shrubs we have procured for this winter season. Kids are welcome!

There is also an invasive plant removal in Pittsboro set for March 17th.

Sun, Feb 8, 2 PM – 4 PM – Brumley South Preserve, Chapel Hill

Location: Brumley SchoolHouse of Wonder Entrance (3223 New Hope Church Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514)

Register here: https://triangleland.volunteerhub.com/vv2/event/d62ac0a2-3713-4140-90e5-17d12f65e149

Sun, Feb 15, 2 PM – 4 PM – Brumley South Preserve, Chapel Hill

Location: Brumley SchoolHouse of Wonder Entrance (3223 New Hope Church Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514)

Register here: https://triangleland.volunteerhub.com/vv2/event/d8cf2565-250d-4d4f-bf7c-23c4ede14961

Invasive Plant Removal Workday – Haw River, Pittsboro, Mar 17th

Join Friends of Lower Haw invasive plant removal workday with State Parks biologists Tuesday Mar 17.  Volunteers do not have to stay the entire time, even though the biologists and their crew will be working until 3:00 pm.

Date: March 17, 2026

Time: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (or whenever you need to leave)

Location:  Haw River Access at 4551 US Hwy 15-501 N, Pittsboro

Register: No registration needed but you need to watch the video below if you want to paint with herbicide.

Directions: Meet in the large parking lot on US 15-501 at the Haw River between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. If headed south on US 15-501 from Chapel Hill, the parking lot is on the right before crossing the Haw River. If headed north on US 15-501 from Pittsboro, make a U-turn after crossing the Haw River, then head south on US 15-501 and the parking lot will be a short distance on the right.

Meet in the parking lot at 9:30 am and stay however long you want to help. We will be working in the Pegg Tract area of the Lower Haw River State Natural Area, located upstream of the Bynum Dam by US Hwy 15-501. Invasive plant workdays involve identifying and removing non-native plants using clippers, pruners, saws, and other non-motorized hand tools. Learn about invasive plants and removal techniques. Bring your own loppers or hand pruners, work gloves, insect repellent, and water. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, and closed toe shoes. There are no restroom facilities at this location. Youth volunteers ages 12 to 17 are welcome to participate if accompanied by an adult.

Based on new regulations, volunteers who may be interested in applying herbicide are now required to watch the new NCDA required training video (34 minutes) for non-licensed pesticide applicators before attending the workday.  Link to 34-minute video on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsjgHmolqgE.  If you are not interested in applying herbicide, then you are not required to watch the training video in order to volunteer for the workday.

THANK YOU for your ongoing support!