Payment and registration form must be received to confirm your spot in our programs. Please note that all payments must be made using cash, check or money order (made out to "Wake County Parks") – park staff do not have the ability to take credit cards.
To register, complete and sign the
registration form and return it with payment by mail or bring by the park office. For more information and to check availability about the following programs, contact the park at 919-387-4342 or email
harris.lake@wakegov.com.
Our staff also offers public programs at the American Tobacco Trail! Check out the ATT Programs page for details.
Click on a program series and learn more about our offerings:
(For children ages 1–3 w/adult)
Discover the natural world through stories, hands-on nature activities, games, crafts and more.
Ages 1–3 years with an adult; 10–11 a.m.
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Fee: $4/child
*New Quarter Special: 3 programs for $10 (April–June)*
Friday, May 2
Find a Frog (or Toad)
How are frogs and toads different? How are they similar? Meet some of these amazing amphibians up close and take home a fun craft.
Friday, June 6
Ladybug Helpers
Everyone loves ladybugs! And for good reason: they are very helpful garden predators. Read a special ladybug story and search for them at the park.
(For children ages 3–5 w/adult)
Get up close with nature! Discover amazing things in the park as we explore nature "hands on" through games, crafts, hikes and more.
Ages 3–5 years with an adult; 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (**new time**)
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Fee: $4/child
*New Quarter Special: 3 programs for $10 (April–June)*
Find a Frog (or Toad)
How are frogs and toads different? How are they similar? Meet some of these amazing amphibians up close and take home a fun craft.
Friday, June 6
Ladybug Helpers
Everyone loves ladybugs! And for good reason: they are very helpful garden predators. Read a special ladybug story and search for them at the park.
Unless otherwise noted, these programs are open to all ages. A water bottle is suggested for all programs. Please register at least 2 days in advance!
Fee: $5/family or $3/individual
Friday Frog Hike
Friday, April 25, 8:30–10 p.m.
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Explore the park after dark and be serenaded by our froggy friends and other creatures of the night. Please bring a flashlight (though we will not use it the whole time) and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Afternoon Canoes
Saturday, May 3, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $10 per canoe; for ages 8 and up
Meet at the Longleaf Shelter
Spend an afternoon on Harris Lake canoeing with park staff. We'll lead you along the shoreline and look for signs for wildlife from the water. Borrow a park canoe or bring your own canoe/kayak. Limit of 3 people per park canoe.
Numerous Newts
Sunday, May 18, 2–3:30 p.m.
Meet at the Amphitheatre (by the Cypress Shelter)
Harris Lake County Park is home to the Red-spotted Newt, an aquatic salamander with an interesting life cycle. We'll "net for newts" in one of our ponds and then create a fun newt craft.
Bloom Hunt
Saturday, May 24, 1–3 p.m.
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Have you heard about our Natural Resources Inventory Database (NRID)? We use this to count and share the different species of plants and animals in our parks. Join us for a bloom hunt and add to our database. We'll hike and look for the different flowers in bloom, take pictures and try to identify the exact species for NRID.
Take a Hike – Journey to the Past
Sunday, June 15, 1–3 p.m.
Meet at the Loblolly Shelter
Discover the old home sites of Harris Lake. We'll take a hike around the property, looking for old foundations and other signs of habitation left by the farmers that used to live here. We might even find important historical artifacts on our journey!
Jumpin’ Junebugs
Sunday, June 22, 2–3:30 p.m.
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Everyone is probably familiar with these colorful beetles. We'll have fun searching for them in the park and then create your own shiny beetle to take home.
Free Programs for All Ages!
Migration Walk
Saturday, April 26, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Meet at the Longleaf Shelter
Join Museum of Natural Sciences Junior Curator Lucas Bobay, as he takes us on a migration walk through the woodlands at Harris Lake County Park. We'll look for birds migrating north to begin their breeding season. We hope to see some of our more colorful visitors, including warblers, tanagers and vireos! Bring a water bottle, good walking shoes, binoculars and dress for the weather. (Binoculars and I.D. books also available for loan.)
Please register in advance for these "drop-off" kids programs.
Due to the preparation time that is needed, if the minimum number of participants is not met, the program will be canceled. Please register early!
Earth Friendly Crafts
Tuesday, April 22, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $8/child; for ages 6–10
Meet at the Park Office
Show your appreciation for our Earth by creating some fun crafts from reusable and recyclable materials. Mother's Day is coming up, so this is a great opportunity to create a unique, handmade gift.
Gardening from Seeds
Tuesday, May 6, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $8/child; for ages 8–12
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
This is a two-part, after school program. Register for one program or both. Join us for vermicomposting on May 8!
Starting a garden from seed sounds intimidating, but it's very easy and fun! Spend an afternoon starting seeds for our Native Garden. We'll even send you home with seeds for your own garden or potted planting area.
Vermicomposting Workshop
Thursday, May 8, 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $8/child; for ages 8–12
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Worms are the best pets you can own! They are quiet, low maintenance and take care of your trash. Worms eat food scraps and transform it into an amazing fertilizer. This is called vermicomposting. Build a worm bin to take home with you and learn how to care for your worms.
Check back for more adult learning opportunities!
Play animal BINGO, inspect earthworms, go leaf hunting and much more while you explore nature from different points of view.
In the course of about two hours, your troop will have the opportunity to earn the "Earth and Sky," try-it and parts of the following try-its: Animals, Watching Wildlife, Plants and Outdoor Adventure; 11 requirements in all.
This is a troop-led program in which all activities are independent of each other, giving your troop a choice in activities. Program kits are reserved and loaned out through the park office on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information please contact the office at 919-387-4342.