Community Calendar

The southern Appalachians are world-renowned for different types of fungi, from mushrooms to lichens, and are home to more than 2,000 species. Here’s a chance to learn about the lifestyle and habitats of fungi, as well as observe many kinds of fungal fruiting bodies, including mushrooms growing at higher elevations. Participants will learn how to identify them by size, shape and color. You will also inoculate a log with shiitake mushroom mycelium to take home with you. After an interactive introduction to the fungi kingdom, which includes inoculating the logs, we’ll take a short slow stroll in search of mushrooms growing on the mountain to collect representatives of different fungal families to study back in the classroom. Through this workshop and field exploration, you’ll learn about fungal habitats, toxicology and the important roles fungi play in the forest ecosystem. The workshop is designed for beginners, but veteran foragers will also glean new insights.This event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Limited to 12 participants.

💻 Join Apparo for our Sept. 11 & 18, 12-1 PM webinars, Storytelling with Your Phone: Simple Video Tools for Nonprofits (A 2-Part Series). Apparo's webinars are free, but require registration. Webinars will be recorded and shared for later viewing with those who register.

Here are the details:
⭐Learn how to create powerful, mission-driven videos using just your smartphone. In this hands-on webinar designed specifically for nonprofit professionals, you'll discover practical tips for filming, editing, and sharing compelling stories—without needing expensive gear or a tech team. Whether you're highlighting a client's success, sharing an event recap, or promoting volunteer opportunities, this session will help you confidently capture your nonprofit’s impact through mobile storytelling. Perfect for Executive Directors, communications staff, and anyone wearing multiple hats—this one-hour session is packed with real examples, free tools, and ready-to-use strategies to start telling your story today. Presented by Fela Davis, 23dB Productions.

Register today!

Subscribe to Apparo's newsletter to stay up to date on future sessions, and subscribe to Apparo's YouTube to watch past educational webinars for nonprofits.

This workshop is open to individuals studying for the NC Environmental Education Certification or those needing CE Credits to maintain their certification and will focus on salamanders in North Carolina. Hosted by Tanya Poole of N.C. Wildlife Commission and Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s own Interpretation and Education staff, this workshop will focus on the various types of salamanders in North Carolina, specifically those found in Western North Carolina. We will cover life cycles, habitats, identification, anatomy and much more, and hopefully spend time outdoors looking for salamanders. Participants will also test out activities they can take back to their classrooms. The program is open to all interested educators. All participants qualify for CEU and EE Criteria II or III credits. This workshop is free to attend, although advance registration is required. Limited to 25 participants.

October is one of the best times of year to stargaze at Grandfather Mountain. The air is cool and clear, and the summer constellations are still very prominent, with some early winter sights making their appearance later in the evening. Our goal for this class is to create a familiarity with the night sky and learn the basics of stargazing that can be applied on your own on any clear night throughout the year. We’ll start in the classroom by exploring some of the best print and digital resources for exploring the night sky and cover some of the basics of stargazing and how to orient to the night sky. We’ll also discuss the use of planispheres, star maps and star charts to find some of the most beautiful deep sky wonders that can be seen through binoculars or small telescopes. During the evening hours, we’ll be out at various viewing locations on the mountain, practicing our stargazing skills while looking for meteors and learning about some of the most prominent stars, constellations and other objects visible this time of year. This event costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Limited to 15 participants.