2026
Build a bloom – January 10, 2026
Master Naturalist Cynthia Woodsong, of Woodsong Botanicals, will lead a class on building Trilium grandiflorum from paper. This class will be held at the Orange County Extension Center, 9-1:00pm. There is a $25 material fee, which you can bring to class. We only accept cash. Please have exact change.
Trilium walk – April 1, 2026
Environmental Educator, Anglea Hawkins, will lead us on a lunchtime Trilium walk at the Hemlock Bluff Nature Preserve. We will meet this, and other charismatic, spring ephemerals. Space is limited. We will send a signup to members of the 2026 class first, any additional spaces will be opened to alumni. Participants will need to sign the Center’s waiver.
Fireflies – Spring 2026
North Carolina is home to several fireflies, including some potentially new species.
- April 7th, Zoom: 12:30-1:30pm – Richard Joyce, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society, will introduce us to their Firefly Atlas project and how you can get involved. Watch recording.
- Preview videos on how to do a firefly survey.
- Watch a short video and read the article from NC State University entomologist Dr. Clyde Sorenson. He introduces us to fireflies found in our area, including a potential new species – the Carolina Blue Ghost
- Richard Joyce will lead firefly walks at three locations in our area. All outings begin with at 7:30pm with a brief introduction to fireflies, walks begin after sunset (approximately 8:15pm), concluding 9:30pm. We will be navigating uneven terrain in the dark, if you have a headlamp with a red filter please feel free to bring it along. NC Firefly species checklist.
Bumble bees – Spring 2026
The Xerces Society’s Bumble Bee Atlas is a conservation initiative to track and conserve bumble bees. Participating in the activities below equip you to contribute to the Bumble Bee Atlas, one of the foremost citizen science efforts in the country.
- April 20, 12:30-1:30pm via zoom. Avery Young, Conservation Biologist, Xerces Society will introduce the work being done in the South East, why bumble bees matter, and the impact data collected by citizen scientists has on conservation. Recording
- May 2nd 2-4:00om. Debbie Roos, Chatham County Extension Agent and Anglea Hawkins, Environmental Educator from Hemlock Bluff Nature Preserve, will lead field training at the Chatham Co Pollinator Garden. Learn how to swing a net, identify, photograph, and record bumble bees. This will be limited to 20 participants.
- Group survey (date & time TBD). Our first bumble bee survey will be at Bluestem Conservation Cemetery.
Geology Hike at Fairy Stone State Park – May 2, 2026
May 2, 2026 – 8:30-5:00pm – We will visit and learn from park rangers about the usual geology of Fairy Stone State Park.
Information about Fairy Stone State Park
Itinerary:
- We will meet at the back of the Hillsborough Walmart parking lot (501 Hampton Pointe B, Hillsborough, NC 27278) at 8:30 and carpool up to Virginia. Please call or text if you can not find us: 801-644-4209. It is ~200 miles round trip.
- We should arrive at 11, with time to eat our lunches. Please bring your own bagged lunch.
- Class will be 12-2.
- After class, we will go down the road to the hunt site.
- You can stay and hunt for as long as your car wants to. We are allowed to remove small amounts of fairy stones for personal collection only.
Please plan to pitch in about for gas and wear weather-appropriate clothing and good shoes. Bring bug spray, a bagged lunch, and plenty of water.
Right now, we are not accepting registrations for family or friends.
Value of fire – Summer 2026
- Read: When it all burns (2025) Jordan Thomas. Anthropologist and California firefighter explores our history with fire.
- Date TBD, Zoom: Mart Bumgarner, Extension Agent, Orange County and founder of the Triangle Prescribed Burn Association will introduce the role of prescribed burning in land management and how you can get involved.
2025
JULY 7, 2025 – iNaturalist
Citizen Science and iNaturalist with Sam Kieschnick – iNaturalist is a powerful tool for capturing and sharing observations. Getting to know who lives in the world around you fosters connections and can help shape land management policies. Sam is an Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks & Wildlife, an iNaturalist expert, and passionate environmental educator.
AUGUST 16, 2025 – Prescribed Burning
Mart Bumgarner, Orange County Extension Agent, will introduced us to Prescribed Burning. Used properly, fire offers many environmental benefits;
- Improve forest health
- Increase habitat for wildlife
- Control undergrowth/reduce invasive species of plants
- Reduces fuel loads in the forest thus reducing forest fire potential
- Aid tree propagate (e.g. longleaf Pine)
- Opens the understory for wildlife
Some of the resources Mart mentioned in his presentation:
- Fire-Resistant Landscaping in NC
- Plant Toolbox – detailed plant profiles include fire resistance
- Triangle Prescribed Burn Assocation
- USA Forecasted Fire Danger interactive map
- Using Fire to Improve Wildlife Habitat
- Wildfire Current and Historical Maps
October 4, 2025 – Day trip – Fairy Stone State Park
We will visit and learn from park rangers about the usual geology of Fairy Stone State Park. Save the date, more details to follow.