Community Events
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina believes that land conservation is a community effort. The more communities care about natural spaces, the easier they are to protect!
We offer various ways for ALL people to connect with nature and give back to the places you love through volunteering, educational workshops, outings and fundraising events.
Click on an image in the calendar or scroll down to sign up for your next adventure!
OBB Kids Craft Table
Volunteer to help kids (K-5) make their own native wildflower seed bombs at Glen Alpine Elementary’s Spring Fling as part of Foothills Conservancy’s environmental education program Our Big Backyard (OBB).
Email bwatkins@foothillsconservancy.org for more information if you are interested!
Mortimer Spring Trail Weekend 2024
The Mortimer Spring Trail weekend returns May 3-5, 2024!
The North West NC Mountain Bike Alliance is partnering with Foothills Conservancy and G5 Trail Collective, to maintain trails near Wilson Creek in Pisgah National Forest! Volunteers are invited to camp out or just come for the workday on May 4th, Saturday morning at 9 a.m. In addition, there will be several organized rides on surrounding trails. Free camping will be available for those who sign up for the trail work.
Any updates to the plan (weather, etc.) will be emailed to the RSVP list, so please SIGN UP using the button below, if you plan to attend.
Tentative Schedule:
May 3rd, 2024
Friday Ride – 4:00 p.m.
Friday Night Camping
May 4th, 2024
Saturday Trail Work – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday Afternoon Ride – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday Night Camping
For the trail work, bring sturdy footwear, work gloves, snacks/lunch, and water. Tools will be provided, but bring your own favorite tool if you have one.
NC Mountain Songbird ID Workshop
Join this partnership program hosted by Forest Her with guest speakers from Catawba Riverkeeper, and Foothills Conservancy for a fun and educational workshop on identifying different types of songbirds and managing your land to provide invaluable habitats for them. Whether you're a birdwatching enthusiast or just starting out, this workshop is perfect for all levels of experience.
Event Details:
Date: May 17, 2024
Time: 9am-11am
Location: Oak Hill Community Park and Forest, 820 NC-126, Morganton, NC 28655
Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the workshop starts to ensure that we can organize everyone and start on time.
Bring a packed lunch, and after the walk, we will regroup and discuss what we saw while enjoying a mini picnic at the park!
OBB Workshop: Certify Your Backyard!
This workshop is part of Foothills Conservancy's environmental education program Our Big Backyard. Join us the 3rd Sunday of every month to learn about what conservation efforts are happening in your backyard!
Join us in April for a FREE lunch and learn workshop about making a big difference with a small space! Enjoy an in-depth discussion about the benefits and process of creating a wildlife habitat regardless of space limitations. Stay afterward for lunch (deli sandwiches, chips, fruit & cookies) and a guided tour of our urban habitat project.
Volunteer Workday: Stream Restoration
On April 6, 2024 : Help restore a small eroded stream bank, in Oak Hill Community Park & Forest. Volunteers are needed to plant live stakes (cuttings of native plants) and seed native grasses and flowers to reduce sedimentation in our waterways and support local wildlife!
Volunteer Workday: Garden for Wildlife
Volunteer with Foothills Conservancy to help grow communities that value conservation! Join our Facebook group Volunteers of Foothills Conservancy for event updates and pictures.
Project Description: Students from the NC School of Science and Math have been transforming Foothills Conservancy's office space into a wildlife habitat for the last year! Come help them put the finishing touches on our gardens so we can officially certify our yard as a Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.
Volunteer Workday: Burke Litter Sweep!
Join us for a quick road side cleanup along Watermill Rd in Burke County, NC!
Volunteer Workday: Oak Hill Bike Trail
(All are welcome! You do not have to be a member of NCICL to join this workday.)
Stewardship Workshop Series: Stream Restoration
Stewardship Workshops are part of Foothills Conservancy's Our Big Backyard environmental education program. Join us each month to learn about different ways you can sustainably steward land in your backyard!
This is a 2 part educational, hands-on event intended for landowners & those curious about land conservation. In March, our topic is: Stream Restoration.
FREE event! Follow the link below for more details…
Burke County Community Hike
Burke County Community Hikes are open family and pet friendly events led by local trail groups every 4th Sunday at 3pm (locations vary).
On February 25th join Foothills Conservancy of NC staff on a guided hike through Oak Hill Community Park and Forest.
We will hike to the highest point in the park that showcases a view of the South Mountains. Plan to meet up afterwards at Brown Mountain Bottleworks for a celebratory drink!
Volunteer Trail Workday
Volunteers needed to help maintain 3 miles of hiking only trail in Oak Hill Community Park & Forest.
Difficulty Level: Easy/Moderate
Tasks include: Shaping tread, raking out drainage features, trimming shrubs & trees, picking up trash, fixing trail blazes & others.
What to expect: All volunteer workdays start with an icebreaker and safety briefing. FCNC staff will demonstrate how to use tools and what tasks are needed. Tools and safety gear are provided. Snacks & waters will be available too!
How to prepare: Please wear layers and close toed shoes. Bring a daypack with water bottle and anything else you may need to hike 3 miles.
Volunteer Workday: Save the Hemlocks!
RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER: NEW DATE = FEB 10
Join Foothills Conservancy and the Hemlock Restoration Initiative to protect hemlock trees from harmful, invasive pests!
Background: Hemlock trees in western North Carolina are an important and irreplaceable component of our forests. They are extremely shade tolerant and often grow alongside rivers and streams, which helps keep water temperatures cool. These trees have been suffering for over two decades from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect that can kill the tree in as little as four years.
Plan: Foothills Conservancy is partnering with the Hemlock Restoration Initiative to chemically treat hemlock trees, on our preserve lands, for protection from the hemlock wooly adelgid. Volunteers will learn how to ID hemlocks and be given a demonstration of treatment methods before being paired up with experts for the day. We will work in groups of 2-4 dispersed over approximately 5 acres.
How to prepare: Expect to walk up to 2 miles on uneven and steep terrain. There are no trails, we will be navigating through the woods together. No restrooms on site, just mother nature!
Please wear close toed shoes, dress in layers, bring a backpack, and pack your own lunch! (Extra snacks and waters will be available)
Notes: Due to chemicals used during this event, volunteers must be 18+
Explore Our Big Backyard: Hemlocks
Join us for an afternoon of learning all about Hemlock trees!
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) is partnering with Foothills Conservancy to demonstrate chemical treatment methods that protect hemlock trees by controlling an invasive pest known as the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).
Background: Hemlocks are an important and irreplaceable component of western NC forests. These trees have been suffering for over two decades from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect that can kill the tree in as little as four years. However, hemlock management is simpler and less expensive than ever before!
Plan: This hands-off demonstration will be useful for landowners, natural resource managers and tree care professionals. We will use the trees on-site to practice assessing hemlock health to determine the best treatment options, and HRI staff will demonstrate the HWA chemical treatment methods used on national forest and state lands. These methods are available to all private landowners in NC without obtaining a license or certification. We will also discuss applicator and environmental safety, special considerations and guidance for hiring a tree care professional.
NC Pesticide Credits (3) are pre-approved for categories G, L, N, D, and X. ISA credits can be obtained post-event.
How to Prepare: The program is free, but registration is required. Please sign up, using the link above, by Wednesday, January 17th. Email outreach@savehemlocksnc.org or call 828-252-4783 with questions about the event.
NOTE: in case of inclement weather Sunday (2/4/23) is our backup date.
Power in Pints @ Hillman Beer
Foothills is the recipient at the Old Fort Location for Power in Pints for the month of December. Lets all gather in Old Fort for Happy Hour. Invite your friends!
Sweep Up the Southeast!
The Venture Unknown Foundation, a community based overlanding/off roading group, invites you to join their quest to clean up natural spaces! They are partnering with Foothills Conservancy and A Clean Wilson Creek to tackle a historic dumping site on 93 acres of land directly along the Wilson Creek corridor.
Wanna join for the stewardship day (Dec 2nd) of the clean up only and not camp?
Team Captain: Ben Skinner
Area: Wilson Creek Pisgah NF (North Carolina)
Rally point: 6785 Brown Mountain Beach Rd, Lenoir, NC 28645 (note if wanting to camp please see rally camp details on the camping RSVP option.
Time: 10am drivers meeting
Lake James Watershed Symposium
Join Lake James Environmental Association, Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, and Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina for a day of sharing our collective knowledge of the state of the watershed, updates on progress since last year's symposium, and networking for the protection of the Lake James Watershed.
There is no cost to attend this event and lunch is provided to all attendees.
Oak Hill Park: Grand Opening!
3+ years in the making, we are excited to announce we are ready to open Oak Hill Community Park and Forest to the public. Please join Foothills Conservancy at the grand opening of Oak Hill Park on Saturday, October 14th.
Schedule for Saturday's Grand Opening
Beginning at 10:00 am on Saturday, Executive Director Andrew Kota, along with other members of Foothills Conservancy, will share remarks and then we'll cut the ribbon. Following the ribbon cutting, members of Foothills Conservancy will lead guided hikes and mountain bike rides on the newly built trails.
10:00 am - Ribbon Cutting with our community
10:15 am - Noon - Nature Crafts for Kids
10:15 am - Guided Stewardship Hike (2.5 miles)
10:30 am - Guided Mountain Bike Ride (5 miles)
6:00 pm - Sunset Stroll
Remember, as of 10:00 am on Saturday Oct 14th, the park is officially open to the public. You're welcome to join us for the scheduled guided hikes & ride or explore the park at your own leisure! It's YOUR park to explore!
What is Oak Hill Park?!
Oak Hill Park is a free community resource made available for the enjoyment of all people by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. It includes a 75 car parking area at the trail head, 5 miles of multi-use trails and 2.5 miles of hike-only trails with 15 additional miles of trail being planned out!
This is just the beginning and we are excited to share this beautiful community resource with you as we continue to build trails, programs, and additional infrastructure in the park to meet the needs of our community!
Where is Oak Hill Park?!
Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Morganton, and 1.5 miles west of Freedom HS. You can get there by entering this address into your GPS: 820-NC 126, Morganton, NC 28655
Where do I Park?
Parking is located 1000 feet into the park from NC-126 on the right hand side of the gravel road.
Some History....
In 2020, FCNC purchased and permanently protected this 652-acre property to create a space where everyone is welcome to connect with nature in different ways. It was a community effort to raise the funds to purchase this property and work with us to create the master plan which included our collective vision for this property.
Oak Hill Park is a place to demonstrate sustainable land management, participate in environmental education, interact with nature, and enhance community wellness and personal health through outdoor recreation.
Is there access to water and toilets at Oak Hill Park?
There are three port-a-johns at the trail head (one handicap). At this time, there is no water on-site. Please bring your own water bottles & snacks. Remember to practice Leave No Trace principals and carry out any trash that you bring into the park.
We can't wait to see you all out on the trails in the park!