Arboretum Excursions: Highlands Biological Station

with Patrick Brannon

Saturday, April 12 | 1 - 4 pm

BRN | Elective

Join us on an Arboretum Excursion to Highlands Biological Station! Choose your adventure: reserve a spot in one of our vans with other lifelong learners, or meet us on your own.

Since 1927, the mission of WCU’s Highlands Biological Station has been to foster education and research focused on the rich biodiversity of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Through its Nature Center exhibits, hands-on educational STEM programs, and immersive biological field experiences, HBS seeks to instill a greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our region and the natural world. Participants in this workshop will have opportunities to tour the Station’s facilities such as the Nature Center exhibits, research laboratories, and Botanical Garden Trails - which feature more than 500 species of native plants including old-growth hemlock trees.

Although scientists working at Highlands Biological Station have conducted research on a wide variety of species over the years, no group of animals has been studied more thoroughly than salamanders. After the tour, participants will learn about the region’s high biodiversity including salamanders, and then be given an opportunity to collect and identify species in an onsite stream. Please bring shoes that can potentially get wet (these need not be “water shoes”; old sneakers are fine).

Please visit www.highlandsbiological.org for additional information.This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Patrick Brannon is a naturalist and educator at the WCU Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, NC. He holds a M.S. in Biology from Appalachian State University, and conducts research on the ecology of both salamanders and small mammals. In addition, Patrick presents a wide variety of K-12 school programs and educator workshops throughout the region.

Host or Publisher The NC Arboretum Adult Education Programs