Community Calendar

Grandfather Mountain is an amazing diversity hotspot for breeding birds in the southern Appalachians with more than 120 species detected during the nesting season. From warblers to hawks to hummingbirds, migration is a wondrous period of the year for birders and nature enthusiasts alike. Taught by Steve Dowlan, a retired natural resource specialist for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, this course provides the opportunity to visit several locations on the mountain to learn about the diversity of migrants, the timing and mechanics of migration, and hopefully see dozens of species using Grandfather as a staging area on their long flights to Central and South America. Our classroom program will take a deeper dive into the science of migration and some of the technology unlocking the secrets of bird movement. Registration opens online on July 20 at 10 a.m.

October is one of the best times of year to be stargazing 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. This course also takes place during the time of the Orionid meteor shower, so hopefully some of these celestial fireworks will grace our skies during our nighttime observing. Join astronomer, educator and author Stephan Martin 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. The course begins in the classroom and transitions to various viewing locations on the mountain, practicing stargazing skills while looking for meteors and learning about some of the most prominent stars, constellations and other objects visible this time of year. The moon will be near first-quarter which makes for a wonderful time to study its many craters, rays, seas and other features. Registration opens online on Aug. 17 at 10 a.m.