Free programs offered at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in September

Press release from N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission:

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is offering seven workshops in September.

The workshops, which are free, are open on first-come, first-serve basis and registration is required by registering online.

Sept. 3 and Sept. 13 – Nature Nuts: Coyotes from 9 to 11 a.m.  Open to ages 4-7. Come spend the morning with Pisgah Center staff and learn about the newest canine to call North Carolina home. Activities include reading a coyote story, creating a coyote-related craft, and spending time outdoors.

Sept. 3 and Sept. 13 – Eco-Explorers: Raising Trout from 1 to 3 p.m. Open to ages 8-12. Learn about trout hatchery operations at the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery, located next door to the Pisgah Center. Participants will take part in an outdoor activity that simulates trout life and will feed the fish.

Sept. 3 – Wildlife Photo Hunt Competition from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open to all ages. Bring a camera, running shoes and a competitive spirit. Teams will stalk, find and photograph different wildlife species and their corresponding signs to earn points and win prizes. Teams can range from one to five members. Only one camera per team is needed although each team member can bring a camera.

Sept. 24 – National Hunting and Fishing Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to all ages. Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Pisgah Center by participating in hands-on activities for the whole family. Activities include: outdoor cooking, tree stand safety, fly tying and casting, tracking and much more. No registration is required.

Sept. 30 – Women’s Introduction to Fly Fishing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to female participants 12 and up. Learn the basics of fly fishing, such as equipment, knots and casting. Finish the workshop by spending a couple of hours fishing the Davidson River. All materials are provided. Participants should bring a lunch.

The Pisgah Center will introduce its “Sow It, Grow It, Show It” exhibit at the Mountain State Fair, which runs from Sept. 9-18. The exhibit will focus on trout and trout hatchery production activities. It will be located in the Davis Center exhibition building on the grounds of Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, in Fletcher, just west of Asheville. The exhibit will open from 3-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday through Sunday, except Sunday, Sept. 20, when the exhibit will close at 9 p.m.

 Sign up online (www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah) for any program listed above. In addition to the public programs listed above, the Commission offers group programs for 10 or more people who call to schedule a program. Groups can schedule the date, time and topic of the program. For more information on group programs or the public programs listed above, call 828-877-4423.

The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is located near Brevard, just south of Asheville, by the Davidson River in Transylvania County. The center features nature trails and five large aquariums representing aquatic mountain habitats. The center is adjacent to the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery, where trout are raised in 54 raceways. The center is open Monday through Saturday from April through November and Monday through Friday from December through March. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

For more information on the Wildlife Commission’s four wildlife education centers and other activities and events, visit www.ncwildlife.org/learning.