DESTINATIONS

School

Field trip experiences at the Western North Carolina Nature Center aim to educate students about life cycles, animal adaptations, habitats, and more. Activities include building a mock habitat, designing birds out of play parts, role-playing as bees, and meeting the center’s live ambassadors. Programs for preschool groups are also available, which involve fun camouflage games, stories, songs, and more. All programs are available on weekdays from August-April. Reservations are required for guided and self-guided school group visits.

supports classroom learning in:
Science.

topics covered:
Biology, ecology, environmental studies, ecosystems, animal science, conservation, habitats, animal adaptations, pollination, camouflage, echolocation, locomotion, fossils, soil, decomposition, anatomy, physiology, life cycles, language arts.

contact info
Name: Keith Mastin
Phone: 828-259-8082
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, High School Group Size: 10 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 30 minutes-1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Bring Your Own, Available for Purchase, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee

ABOUT

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Students, scouts, and homeschoolers can connect with native plants and the local wildlife of the Southern Appalachian Mountains on field trips to the Western North Carolina Nature Center (aka WNC Nature Center). The center is home approximately 150 native animals such as coyotes, river otters, turtles, black bears, bobcats, and over 300 bird species. Groups can explore the center’s Trillium Nature Trail on a hike along the Swannanoa River, the Western North Carolina Farm, Red Wolf Run, Black Bear Ridge, and other areas. The center hosts a variety of educational programs, workshops, events, and more throughout the year for groups of all types.

contact info

Hrs: Daily 10AM-5PM.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Nature Exploration Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

One single tree can provide the oxygen required for two human beings and over 8,000 sheets of paper. Trees can also clean the soil and air by absorbing harmful pollutants. So what have you done for a tree lately? Nature centers and state parks provide a hands-on environment to discover facts about native plants and animals, as well as ways to preserve these natural resources.

View Lesson Plan>>

Scouts

Scout groups can work on Nature, Bird Study, Hiking, and a variety of other badges on field trips to the Western North Carolina Nature Center. With activities such as building a mock habitat, designing birds out of play parts, calculating how far animals travel during migration, and more, scouts will get a better understanding of the animals and plants native to the Western North Carolina region. Scouts can also enjoy hiking the trails and even attend the center’s events such as Camping Day, Howl-O-Ween, and the Cataloochee Valley Family Campout.

supports scout badges in:
Science.

topics covered:
Biology, ecology, environmental science, ecosystems, animal science, conservation, habitats, animal adaptations, pollination, camouflage, bird study, hiking, locomotion, fossils, soil, decomposition, anatomy, physiology, life cycles.

contact info
Name: Keith Mastin
Phone: 828-259-8082
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, High School Group Size: 10 minimum. Program Type: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities, Self-Guided Activities. Recomm. Length of Visit: 30 minutes-1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Bring Your Own, Available for Purchase, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee

ABOUT

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Students, scouts, and homeschoolers can connect with native plants and the local wildlife of the Southern Appalachian Mountains on field trips to the Western North Carolina Nature Center (aka WNC Nature Center). The center is home approximately 150 native animals such as coyotes, river otters, turtles, black bears, bobcats, and over 300 bird species. Groups can explore the center’s Trillium Nature Trail on a hike along the Swannanoa River, the Western North Carolina Farm, Red Wolf Run, Black Bear Ridge, and other areas. The center hosts a variety of educational programs, workshops, events, and more throughout the year for groups of all types.

contact info

Hrs: Daily 10AM-5PM.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Nature Exploration Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

One single tree can provide the oxygen required for two human beings and over 8,000 sheets of paper. Trees can also clean the soil and air by absorbing harmful pollutants. So what have you done for a tree lately? Nature centers and state parks provide a hands-on environment to discover facts about native plants and animals, as well as ways to preserve these natural resources.

View Lesson Plan>>

Homeschool

Allow your homeschoolers to learn more about the native animals and plants of the Western North Carolina region at the WNC Nature Center. Activities include building a mock habitat, role-playing as bees, designing birds out of play parts, and meeting the center’s live ambassadors. Activities such as for fun camouflage games, story time, and sing-a-longs are available for younger homeschoolers. Homeschool groups are also welcome to take a self-guided tour of the nature center with an animal sketching activity, alphabet search, or scavenger hunt (available upon registration),.

topics covered:
Biology, ecology, environmental studies, ecosystems, animal science, conservation, habitats, animal adaptations, pollination, camouflage, echolocation, locomotion, fossils, soil, decomposition, anatomy, physiology, life cycles, language arts.

contact info
Name: Keith Mastin
Phone: 828-259-8082
Email: [email protected]

INFO

Grade Level: Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, High School Group Size: Day Trips, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities, Self-Guided Activities. Program Type: 10 minimum. Recomm. Length of Visit: 30 minutes-1 hour. Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies.Recommended Ratio of Youth to Chaperones: Varies. Registration: Online, Phone, Email. Food Options: Bring Your Own, Available for Purchase, Outdoor Seating. Cost: Fee

ABOUT

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Students, scouts, and homeschoolers can connect with native plants and the local wildlife of the Southern Appalachian Mountains on field trips to the Western North Carolina Nature Center (aka WNC Nature Center). The center is home approximately 150 native animals such as coyotes, river otters, turtles, black bears, bobcats, and over 300 bird species. Groups can explore the center’s Trillium Nature Trail on a hike along the Swannanoa River, the Western North Carolina Farm, Red Wolf Run, Black Bear Ridge, and other areas. The center hosts a variety of educational programs, workshops, events, and more throughout the year for groups of all types.

contact info

Hrs: Daily 10AM-5PM.

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by FieldTripDirectory.com

Nature Exploration Lesson Plan

FUN FACTS

One single tree can provide the oxygen required for two human beings and over 8,000 sheets of paper. Trees can also clean the soil and air by absorbing harmful pollutants. So what have you done for a tree lately? Nature centers and state parks provide a hands-on environment to discover facts about native plants and animals, as well as ways to preserve these natural resources.

View Lesson Plan>>