Programs
Advance registration is required for all programs.
Call the park office at
919-387-2117, and we’ll get you registered!
Trail Tales
Enjoy storytime at the American Tobacco Trail! Each story will focus on an animal we might see along our easy stroll down a section of the trail. Bring a blanket or use the grass! Don’t forget the strollers for those little ones. Geared toward ages up to 8 years.
$3/child w/parent or $5/family
“Stranger in the Woods” by Carl R Sams II and Jean Stoick
Thursday, December 10, 10–11 a.m.
Meet at the New Hill Parking Lot
Is there such a thing as a nice and friendly stranger? There is in this book! Come discover who the stranger was that the animals in the woods found and what surprises the stranger brought! Help us make a special treat for the animals to enjoy and take a hike with us to see which
animals are out during the winter.
“Chi p.m.unk Song” by Joanne Ryder
Thursday, January 21, 10–11 a.m.
We’ll become a part of our book as we pretend to be chipmunks preparing for winter! Help your child make a chipmunk mask to use as we scamper down the Trail imagining we are chipmunks for the day. Meet at the New Hill Parking Lot.
“A Garden for Groundhog” by Lorna Balian
Thursday, February 4, 10–11 a.m.
What do groundhogs do all day anyway? We’ll find out as we read our story and then take a walk to look for evidence of groundhogs along the Trail. Our time will end with a fun Groundhog’s Day activity! Meet at the White Oak Church Parking Lot.
“Fox “ by Kate Banks
Thursday, March 11, 10–11 a.m.
“Am I ready?” Fox asks. Fox cannot wait to get out on his own but first he has a lot to learn from his parents. Find out how his parents help prepare him to be out on his own. Afterwards, we’ll take a walk to see if our Trail would be a good place for fox to live. Meet at the New Hill Parking Lot.
Programs at the New Hill Parking Lot
1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Road, Apex, NC 27502
Advance registration is required for all programs. All programs are $3/person or $5/family.
Autumn Bike Ride
Sunday, November 22, 2–3:30 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Head on out to the American Tobacco Trail with the family and your bikes for an afternoon spent cycling down the Trail! We’ll stop along the way to check out the exciting things that are happening along the Trail such as leaves turning colors, beaver activity, deer tracks and more! Participants should be able to ride a distance of two miles. Helmets are required.
Owl Prowl
Friday, December 4, 5:15–6:15 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Owls are actively calling to claim their territory this time of the year. We’ll walk along the Trail to listen for owls that might be calling. Learn about the different owls that live in our area, their amazing adaptations, and how to identify them by sight and sound.
Wilderness Survival
Sunday, February 21, 2–3:30 p.m.
$4/person or $7/family
Would you know what to do if you were stranded in the woods? Learn how to stay warm and dry by building a debris shelter and starting a fire. We’ll keep our fires going to roast some marshmallows and enjoy some s’mores!
Beaver Bodies
Saturday, February 27, 2–3:30 p.m.
Beavers have some pretty cool adaptations that allow them to live and work in an aquatic environment. Learn all about these adaptations as we play a fun beaver dress up game and enjoy a hike down to Beaver Creek in search of beaver activity and lodges. We’ll make a beaver and beaver lodge of our own using recycled materials!
Sly as a Fox
Sunday, March 28, 2–3 p.m.
Fox sightings are becoming more commonplace, yet fox are by nature, illusive and shy animals. Learn what fox like to eat, where they sleep, and how to tell they’ve been around, as we hike in search of evidence of fox! We’ll practice listening with “fox ears” and “walking like a fox” in this fun, hands-on program. Some “real” foxes will be on display and each participant will get to make a fox track to take home!
Programs at the White Oak Church Parking Lot
1305 White Oak Church Road, Apex, NC 27523
Advance registration is required for all programs. All programs are $3/person or $5/family.
Holiday Ornaments from Nature
Saturday, December 5, 2–3:30 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Natural items can be turned into great holiday ornaments and special gifts for friends and family. Help us gather some items from nature to be used to create one of a kind ornaments that will be cherished for years to come! Some tasty hot chocolate will keep us warm and get us in the holiday spirit!
Evening Owl Hike
Friday, February 5, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Winter is a busy time for owls! Learn what they are up to this time of the year as we take an evening stroll through the woods. We’ll listen for owls calling, talk about the different owls that inhabit our woods, and explain how these amazing raptors are able to hunt in the dark.
Winter Tree Detectives
Saturday, February 6, 2–3 p.m.
The leaves are gone but that’s okay, we can still identify trees by looking at the many clues they provide! Become a tree detective by examining things like bark, twigs and buds that provide all the evidence we need to help us identify trees in winter.
Spring Peepers
Saturday, February 20, 2–3 p.m.
Spring Peepers may be small but they pack a big punch – with their voice that is! Hearing these tiny little frogs is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. Learn how to identify these songsters as we go searching for them in our pond. We’ll play some hoppin’ good games and make a fabulous frog craft.
Visions of Vultures
Sunday, March 14, 2–3 p.m.
Ever wonder what those big black birds soaring in the sky are up to? Get to know our local vultures as we look high in the sky for these fascinating birds. A costumed vulture will appear during this fun and informative program that will end with a take it home vulture craft!
Welcome Bird Boxes at the Trail
We are pleased to dedicate five new bird boxes to the White Oak Church Parking lot! These boxes are expressions of Peace and the artwork of Karin Baumeister-Rehm of Apex. Learn more about Nesting for Peace at http://www.nestingforpeace.com.
On The Wing
With elegance pure and astounding quick grace
feathered wings hold and lift skyward young birds
from balanced branch to swift outstretched skies
imagination liberates hope’s next great words.
Within hidden powers of freedom’s early flights
bodies find altitude up on the airs
to warble bright melodies enchanted with sound
while watching to harbingers to peacefully prepare.
Fledglings sing for higher visions for the world
we bask in concordance of chords and delight
beauty’s thoughts and emotions unfolding
outward from our cores to burst into light.
© Drew Becker
03/2008