Discover Your Environment Through Our Educational Programming
Winter Programs: Waterfowl Birding and Winter Hiking Series
Join the Outdoor Adventure section for special winter programs you cannot do anywhere else! Get the best of view of incoming migratory birds in our winter waterfowl birding pontoon boat rides. The Piedmont Bird Club will be with us to help identify rare and special visitors to our lakes. Or join us for our Winter Hiking Series, the first Saturdays of December, January, February and March.
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 Tours depart Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm from Lake Townsend Marina, 6332 Townsend Road, Brown Summit, NC 27214. Participant minimum is four and maximum is twelve. Binoculars are available upon request and life jackets are provided. Fee is $4 per person. Call 336-373-3741 to reserve a seat.
| December 2 & 9 |
January 6, 12, 19, 27 |
| February 3, 9, 17, 23 |
March 3, 9, 17, 24 |
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 Join us as we hike our local parks and trails to explore nature in winter! We will visit four local parks/trails near Greensboro, showcasing the recreational opportunities at our doorstep. On the hikes we focus on enjoying and exploring the nature around us and sharing that experience with our fellow hikers. We hike at a leisurely but purposeful pace and do not seek to finish the hike as fast as possible.
All hikes are free for everyone. The hike schedule is subject to change and dependent on weather conditions. Registration is required. Please call 336-373-3741 to sign up or e-mail us with any questions.
December 1 at 10 am
Greensboro Watershed Trails: Laurel Bluff and Reedy Fork
Distance: 7.5 miles
Approximate Time: 4.5 hours
Type: Loop
Pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, and dress in layers. Halfway through the hike, we will stop for lunch and a short break. Meet at the trail head for Laurel Bluff. The trail is on the east side of Lake Brandt Road, approximately a quarter of a mile north of Lake Brandt Marina, south of the Lake Brandt spillway. Ample parking is available.
January 5 at 1 pm
Hagan Stone Park: Chatfield Trail
Distance: 4 miles
Approximate Time: 2 hours
Type: Loop
Start your new year with a great hike at Hagan-Stone Park. Bring water and dress in layers. Meet at the Trail Center parking lot, the first parking area on the left after entering the park. Hagan-Stone is located at 5920 Hagan-Stone Park, Pleasant Garden.
February 2 at 1 pm
Greensboro Watershed Trail: Nat Greene
Distance: 6.5 miles
Approximate Time: 3.5 hours
Type: Out & Back
Enjoy leaf-free views of Lake Brandt on this easy-to-moderate trail. Dress warm, bring water and snacks. We will follow the Nat Greene Trail. Following the hike, we will head to Natty Greene’s Pub to warm up after our brisk walk in the woods. Meet at the Lake Brandt Marina parking lot. The Nat Greene trail leaves from the back corner of the parking lot near the picnic shelter. Lake Brandt Marina is located at 5945 Lake Brandt Rd.
March 2 at 1 pm
Greensboro Watershed Trail: Piedmont Trail
Distance: 5.5 miles (2.75 miles one-way)
Approximate Time: 3 hours
Type: Out & Back
This trail will trace the northern shore of Lake Brandt. This easy to moderate hike will pass cherry trees and stands of cedar trees. Keep an eye out for whitetail deer, wild turkeys or an Eastern Bog Turtle. Dress warm and bring prenty of water and a snack. Meet at the parking area on Lake Brandt Road, about 1/3 mile north of the Lake Brandt Marina, 5945 Lake Brandt Rd., on the west side of the road. Carpooling is encouraged as parking could be limited.
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Environmental Education
Our mission is to bring local residents a broad spectrum of environmental classes, which provide a better understanding of the world around us. The Growing the Greenway series is sponsored by Greensboro Parks and Recreation, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Greensboro Beautiful.
| Growing the Green Way |
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 Experience the rewards of gardening through our quality educational classes. Learn how to grow your own vegetables, landscape for conservation, cultivate gardens in the shade, organically control pests, and much more! View the class calendar and to sign up e-mail or call Pam Marshall at 336-375-5876. Be sure to indicate class choice and date.
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Public and Private School Educational Opportunities
Looking for extracurricular learning for your students? Join us at the Lake Higgins or Lake Townsend classroom for environmental education classes that are hands-on and make learning fun. We can also travel to your school or even pick your class up and bring it to one of our facilities if transportation is needed (advanced registration is required to reserve bus).
| Flora and Fauna |
Geography |
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- Animals & Snakes of the Piedmont
- Fishing (classroom & pond)
- Birds of Prey
- Beavers
- Plant & Tree ID Interpretive Hike
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- Orienteering
- Geocaching
- Hydrologic Cycle
- Lake Ecology
- Soils, Fossils, Rocks & Minerals
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More Information:
Students must be in at least first grade for the following programs: fishing, soils, rocks and minerals, geocaching, orienteering and the hydrologic cycle. The school must provide one adult for every 10 students per class. Staff is available for class programming Wednesdays through Fridays. The fee is $2 per student on site and $25 per class off site. Please call 336-373-3816 or e-mail us to book a program or find out more about scheduling.
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Custom Programming
Don't see your topic or area of study in the above programs? Contact us and we will design a customized class just for you!