Get Wild! Find your next adventure with TLC. View and register for upcoming events, or search by category for different types of events.
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Join us for an afternoon of food and fun to celebrate our local farmers!
Help us gather at our Williamson Farm and Nature Preserve to celebrate local agriculture, support Williamson farmers, and connect over shared values of land conservation, sustainability, and food systems. Purchase fresh produce from local vendors in our Farmers and Vendor Market while enjoying live music and fun activities around the preserve! This is a free event but preregistration is required.
Schedule of Events
12:00pm – Open for business!
1:00-1:45 – Joey Pilot and His Popcorn Poppers performs
1:30-3:00pm – Chickasaw Plum/Keyline Design Hike (lead by TLC and Leaf & Limb Staff)
Join TLC’s Land Stewardship Manager East, Patrick Boleman, on a short hike around Two Pond Loop and the Chickasaw Plum Field. The hike will showcase various habitat restoration projects and will include areas normally not open to the public. In addition to the native Chickasaw plums, hikers will see TLC’s passive agricultural water management system in the Plum Field.
2:30pm – History Tour of the Williamson Property & buildings (lead by TLC staff)
TLC’s Director of Land Protection & Stewardship, Leigh Ann Hammerbacher, will talk folks on a journey of the Williamson’s Preserve centuries-long history in agriculture through historic buildings on the property, including a tenet farmer schoolhouse turned USDA research station and a 19th century church.
2:30 – 3:15pm – Joey Pilot and His Popcorn Poppers performs
4:00pm – Thanks for Coming!
*schedule is subject to change*
Farmers & Vendors
- Karen Community Farm (food and produce)
- Urban Community AgriNomics
- Ayers Family Farm
- Footprints in the Garden
- Horn + Wren Farm
- Dylan Traister Ceramics
- Mr. Puebla Tacos
- Copperhead’s Craft Burgers
- Lumpy’s Ice Cream
- Crankarm Brewing
Parking
Please navigate to the public preserve parking lot at 4409 Old Country Mial Rd, Raleigh NC, 27610 and enter via Smithfield Rd to avoid road closures. If you are using Apple Maps, you will need to put “4409 Mial Plantation Rd” in the GPS, as it has not been updated yet. As you arrive, please look for staff along Old Country Mial Rd wearing yellow vests and TLC shirts. They will direct you to the correct parking area.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We will have masks available if you would like to wear one during an event. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC for some family friendly bug discovery!
Caterpillars, beetles and bugs are getting into the swing of summer just like us! Come investigate the crawlers of Johnston Mill Nature Preserve with an insect search through the forest. Learn how to safely catch and release insects for observation and find out what makes them special!
Get Wild! Hikes and activities are most appropriate for the 8-12 age range. Bring sun protection, a water bottle, and shoes that can get muddy. Please register all members of the family attending, including children and adults.
This is a free event, but preregistration is required:
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We will have masks available if you would like to wear one during an event. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC and Wake Audubon for this wonderful birding walk!
Our wonderful partners at Wake Audubon have joined TLC to lead a hike on the second Friday of each month at our Williamson Nature Preserve. Join this wonderful morning stroll and see what birds you can find. This hike will be just under 2 miles around the Two Pond Loop at the preserve. Please wear good walking shoes and layers, bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. We suggest that you leave your furry friends at home for this hike as they may scare away wildlife viewing opportunities. This is a free event, but pre-registration is required.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, you will be contacted by email for a call on cancellation or postponement. At our Williamson and Brumley South Nature Preserves, due to the multi-use trail systems, we close the trails to the public if there has been rain to try and prevent erosion and detrimental impact. Please note that this event falls under this category and will be cancelled if the trails are closed.
Come join us for our First Saturday birding hike at our Brumley North Nature Preserve!
Did you know that Brumley North is the #2 Hotspot for birding in the state? Our Brumley Birding hike will be led by co-members of both TLC and the New Hope Bird Alliance. We will meander on an easy 1.5 mile hike over about 2 hours with many stops along the way. Please wear good walking shoes and layers, bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. We suggest that you leave your furry friends at home for this hike as they may scare away wildlife viewing opportunities. This is a free event, but preregistration is required.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, you will be contacted by email for a call on cancellation or postponement. At our Williamson and Brumley South Nature Preserves, due to the multi-use trail systems, we close the trails to the public if there has been rain to try and prevent erosion and detrimental impact. You will also be contacted by email if the event is capable of being held, but the trails are closed.
Got Compost? Garden Pals are here to help!
Join TLC at our Williamson Nature Preserve Ag Pavilion for a day full of compost crafts, sustainability lessons, and fun! We will learn about food systems and why it’s important to know where our food comes from.
This event is most appropriate for the 8-12 age range. Bring sun protection, a water bottle, and shoes that can get muddy. Please register all members of the family attending, including children and adults.
This is a free event, but preregistration is required:
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We will have masks available if you would like to wear one during an event. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Come join us for our astronomical series: Friday Under the Stars!
Raleigh Astronomy Club will be hosting a monthly night sky viewing session at one of our private sites that will only be open for this event. The old site for Three Bears Acres will be the perfect location for star viewing fun so bring a blanket or chair and we will see you there!
Because this is a private preserve, we ask that you leave furry friends at home. We suggest that you bring a picnic blanket or chair to stargaze in, a red flashlight, warm layers, and snacks and a water bottle. Please remember to pack anything that you bring in, back out with you and we can’t wait to see you amongst the stars! This is a free event, but preregistration is required. Make sure to save your spot below!
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC for some family friendly plant exploration!
Plants talk, eat and breathe just like we do! Learn about the mysterious workings of these leafy green beings with a hike full of plant ID, activities and storytelling. Get to know the amazing diversity of N.C. native plants and how plants use clever problem-solving to survive!
Get Wild! Hikes and activities are most appropriate for 3rd – 5th grade age range. Bring sun protection, a water bottle, and shoes that can get muddy. Please register all members of the family attending, including children and adults.
This is a free event, but preregistration is required. The registration link will be posted a month before the program date, so keep an eye on our events calendar.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We will have masks available if you would like to wear one during an event. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC, in partnership with Backyard Butterflies, for the first date of our Moth Night Series!
We will be using UV lights and collection sheets to explore moths in the dark! This is a great way to explore our preserve after dark and participate in citizen science by submitting your findings on iNaturalist. This is a free event, but registration is required.
Moth Night is for all ages and experience levels, although we do suggest more parental guidance for children under 8 years old. Please remember to bring bug spray and wear long pants or snug fitting clothing, as it will be very buggy in the event area. We also suggest bringing a picnic blanket or chair, and a flashlight as this event will continue after dusk. There is no potable water at Brumley preserve so please bring a full water bottle.
This event is weather-dependent. Registrants will be notified in advance about any cancellations.
If this event is full, please email Amaya Horner at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC in discovering the many plant and animal species of White Pines!
[caption id="attachment_3097" align="alignnone" width="400"]
Musk turtle investigation at the Brumley Nature Preserve BioBlitz.[/caption]
A bioblitz is a rapid inventory of the species in a given area in a short period of time. Come learn from TLC staff and local experts while helping record the rich biodiversity of White Pines Nature Preserve! Hikes will go out throughout the day focused on plants, insects, and aquatic animal species. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or new to species identification, come sharpen your skills or gain some new ones while recording as much White Pines flora and fauna as possible.
Each hike will start off with a quick iNaturalist tutorial and some information on the basics of plant and animal ID. Using the iNaturalist ID tool and the ID skills of Hike Leads & the group we’ll work together to explore and identify the many species that contribute to the rich biodiversity of White Pines Nature Preserve.
Register for the 10 a.m. plant species hike with TLC staff Hannah Royal and Laura Warman here:
Register for the 1 p.m. plant species hike with TLC staff Matt Rutledge and Emma Childs here:
Insect, herpetology, and aquatic species hikes to be announced!
If the hike you want to attend is full, please email Meera Butalia at [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
Join TLC for some family friendly nocturnal investigation!
Keep cool and feed your curiosity by joining us for this evening exploration! Learn about the animals who thrive at night and test out some of their tools to make their way through the dark. Experience Brumley Nature Preserve through the ears of a bat, the eyes of an owl, and the nose of an opossum!
Get Wild! Hikes and activities are most appropriate for 3rd – 5th grade age range. Bring sun protection, a water bottle, and shoes that can get muddy. Please register all members of the family attending, including children and adults.
This is a free event, but preregistration is required. The registration link will be posted a month before the program date, so keep an eye on our events calendar.
Current Mask Policy: TLC seeks to build a supportive, mask-friendly environment in all collaborations with staff and the public. Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated, or if that makes you feel most comfortable. We will have masks available if you would like to wear one during an event. We also encourage those eligible to be vaccinated to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot. If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms, please stay home and attend a program another day. Our top priority is to create a safe environment for our community. Thank you for your understanding.
