Merchants Millpond State Park

The 760-acre millpond is more than 190 years old and has developed into complex, mature ecosystems. Students will learn about the diverse habitats and wildlife that live here when they visit the park.

Preview your trip on the web: Merchants Millpond State Park

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• American Field Guide A collection of online videos that explore many aspects of America's wilderness from animals to earth and space to public policy.
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Wildlife Species and Habitat Information A North Carolina Wildlife Resources site with detailed information about wildlife resources and management in the state. Information about animals such as the wood duck, white-tailed deer, beaver, wild turkey, quail, sea turtles, and predators such as various owls, osprey, black bear, wild boar and the gray fox is found here.
• Lesson plan: Create a wetland scene Students will learn about the different types of freshwater wetlands, and the factors that threaten their health. Finally, they will study specific examples of wetland areas of the U.S. and what is being done to protect them.
• Experience North Carolina's state parks with EELEs An EELE is an Environmental Education Learning Experience -- a site-specific program offered by the North Carolina state parks system. EELEs include pre-visit activities, on-site activities and post-visit activities, but they do not necessarily have to be used in conjunction with a group visit.

Related pages

• Medoc Mountain State Park: Learn about the ancient mountain range that was once in this area and the forces that wore it down to what is seen today when you visit Medoc Mountain State Park.
• Raven Rock State Park: Located along the fall zone where the Piedmont becomes the Sand Hills, Raven Rock State Park "is a testament to the forces that have shaped the land."
• South Mountains State Park: One of the state's most rugged parks, South Mountains State Park offers a number of activities. Rangers are available to teach students about the mountain watershed and the importance of water stewardship.

Related topics

• Learn more about Gates County, North Carolina, amphibians, animals, ecosystems, habitats, mammals, natural history, reptiles, science, state parks, swamps, and wildlife.

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One of North Carolina’s rarest ecological communities, Merchants Millpond State Park is a unique mingling of coastal pond and southern swamp forest. A wide variety of plant and animal life offer an excellent natural experience. At its upper end lies Lassiter Swamp, "an ecological wonderland containing remnants of an ancient bald cypress swamp, and the eerie enchanted forest of tupelo gum whose trunks and branches have been distorted into fantastic shapes by mistletoe." A variety of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as beaver, mink and river otter make their homes here.

Interpretive programs on the park’s cultural and natural history are conducted throughout the year. Contact the park office at (252) 357-1191 or merchants.millpond@ncmail.net to schedule an exploration for your group or class.

Educational materials about Merchants Millpond State Park have been developed for grades 4-6 and are correlated to North Carolina’s competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The Merchants Millpond program introduces students to basic animal characteristics, focusing on the beaver. Majors concepts covered include adaptation, habitat, beaver-human similarities, animal signs and stewardship. Accompanying the program is a teacher’s booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators.

The North Carolina State Parks website offers a search feature for finding the plants and animals that can be found at each state park. Using the drop-down menus, you can choose a park and either an amphibian, bird, reptile, mammal, fungus, insect, or vascular plant. You can search within each group by family, scientific name, or common name. There are photographs from the state parks and fun facts for some of the species.

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