Western North Carolina Nature Center

Like a field trip into the western North Carolina outdoors, this site will introduce you to the plants, animals and environs of the Southern Appalachians.

Preview your trip on the web: Western North Carolina Nature Center

Learn more

• 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.
• Threatened and Endangered Animals and Plants This site has listings of endangered species for each state and for countries other than the United States. It also lists those species that have been removed from the list and explains the rationale for why they have been removed from the list. The Service also maintains a list of plant and animals native to the United States that are candidates or proposed for possible addition to the Federal list.
• Lesson plan: Trees of North Carolina Students complete activities including tree and leaf identification, species comparison, online research, measurement, and creative writing in conjunction with monthly visits to the "Iredell County Outdoor Education Site"
• Lesson plan: Postcards from the edge: Endangered species Students learn about endangered species in the United States, some of the reasons they are endangered (e.g. habitat destruction or the introduction of invasive species), and what is being done to protect them. Students will choose one species to focus on and examine the reasons it is endangered, and why it is important to make an effort to save it.

Related pages

• Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Center: Located a few miles outside Columbia, North Carolina, the center provides programming dealing with ecology, ecosystems, and animals and their habitats to area school groups.
• Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs: Provides information about the natural history of the Hemlocks Bluff Nature Preserve and the plants and animals that live there.
• Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center: Offers a selection of informative, interactive and experientially-based programs in outdoor and environmental education.

Related topics

• Learn more about African pygmy goats, Buncombe County, Dominique Chickens, Eastern box turtles, Green Herons, Indian Peafowl, North Carolina, Red Devon cows, Rhode Island Red Chickens, Sicilian Donkeys, Southern flying squirrels, Virginia opossums, barred owls, biology, birds, bobcats, cougars, eastern cottontail rabbits, environmental science, farming, goats, gray wolves, mammals, nature centers, nocturnal animals, otters, predators, raptors, red wolves, science, screech owls, sheep, shrews, and striped skunks.

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Students can learn about native trees, habitats, animals and endangered species of the Western area of North Carolina on this website. There is also a web tour of the wildlife areas of the living museum. The areas of the tour include the petting area, predator habitat, otter habitat, nocturnal hall, nature trail, educational farm, and the main exhibit area of The Nature Center.

An academic guide is available for teachers planning a visit to the center and had many different program themes for all grade levels that are aligned with the NC Standard Course of Study. The Nature Center will also bring certain programs to schools in Buncombe County.

The Nature Center is located at 75 Gashes Creek Road in Asheville, NC. For information or to plan a visit, call (828) 298-5600.

Teachers, also see: Alternatives to the Animal Report by Melissa Thibault.

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