Category: Events

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Community Conservation Events

Celebrating Arbor Day in Apex: Join Us on October 17th

Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, October 17th from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at the Forest Shelter at Pleasant Park.

Apex is excited to host its first stand-alone Arbor Day celebration as part of our continued commitment to being a Tree City USA community and supporting a healthy, thriving urban forest. The morning will include a commemorative tree planting and Arbor Day proclamation, opportunities for hands-on tree care and mulching, educational demonstrations focused on planting and caring for trees, and environmental organizations tabling with informational booths, crafts and activities for kids.

Address: 3400 Pleasant Plains Rd., Apex, NC 27502

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Community Conservation Events

Join Orange County’s Composting Program to Reduce Waste

How does it work?

Our neighborhoods have large Compost Now bins where neighbors can drop off their food waste 24/7 at a location that’s blocks from their house. Compost Now picks up the bins once a week and exchanges them for clean ones. The grant funding that we have pays for the Compost Now service and also pays for counter top bins that people can use to collect their food waste before bringing it to the larger bins.

Flier- Looking for New Neighborhoods-1Download
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Community Events

Explore the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Dr. Roland Kays

Retracing the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Dr. Roland Kays

Friday, August 14th from 7:30 – 9:00 PM at the Bass Lake Conference Center in Holly Springs. 

We ask that folks please register in advance so that we know how many people to expect. Learn more and register at the link here: https://southwakeconservationists.org/2026/06/29/retracing-the-lewis-and-clark-expedition-live-presentation-at-bass-lake-park-aug-14th/ 

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Community Conservation Events Partner Organizations

Explore Nature Journaling Workshop in Saxapahaw

Saturday, September 12

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Haw River Trailhead in Saxapahaw Village

Slow down. Look closer. Make connections. Nature journaling is a powerful practice that can help you sharpen observational skills and engage more deeply with our ecosystem.

This workshop will begin with a short lecture on the concept of nature journaling, including tips to jump-start your practice. It will also provide an overview of the Haw River watershed, including habitats, flora, and fauna. Participants will then take a short hike along the river to reinforce this information and search for drawing inspiration. Lastly, the group will spend time journaling on a common theme.

Participants will receive a resource guide that covers the ideas discussed, as well as Haw-specific journaling prompts and sample drawings. There is no artistic skill required. (We promise.) Children who can engage in the activities listed above are welcome to attend. Please bring water, a notebook (preferably unlined), and a pencil. Optional: pens, colored pencils, watercolors.

https://www.hawriver.org/events/nature-journaling-event

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Calendar Community Conservation Events

Garden Opening – June 20

Gardens Event InvitationDownload
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Calendar Community Conservation Events

Join Apex’s Pollinator Celebration: Community Event on June 27

Join the Town of Apex for its annual pollinator celebration, An Afternoon in the Garden, on June 27 from 3–5 p.m. at Apex Nature Park (2500 Evans Road). As a Bee City USA community and Monarch Pledge participant since 2020, Apex is committed to supporting native pollinators and educating the community about their importance. 

This event is a fun opportunity to connect with residents, share information about local environmental efforts, and celebrate pollinator conservation together. We would love to extend the opportunity to the Master Naturalist group! Whether you’d like to share the work you’re doing for your independent project, or represent an organization you work or volunteer for, we’d be happy to include you. If there are several people interested but they don’t want to run a table themselves, we could even put together a “Master Naturalist” table to share more information about this wonderful program and the work everyone is doing throughout the community!

The afternoon will feature local vendors, educational organizations, and interactive activities focused on native pollinators and environmental stewardship. Guests will also be able to participate in a community art project by helping paint a new garden shed and visit Town booths hosted by the Environmental Advisory Board and the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department. 

The event runs from 3-5pm and we ask that booths are fully set up by 2:30pm, as community members often arrive early. We can provide one table and 2 chairs, but you will need to bring your own pop up tents, tent weights, and any tabling materials and activities that you would like at your table. We expect around 150 guests.

Please let me know if this is something that your group would be interested in participating in, or if you have any questions that I can answer about the event. We would love to have you join us!

Thank you for your time and consideration! 

Contact Nora Skinner, Environmental Programs Coordinator for the Town of Apex, if your organization would like to have a table at this event. Email: nora.skinner@apexnc.org

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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.

Categories
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