Join us for some fun activities during the month of May to celebrate one of Harris Lake County Park’s unique ecosystems, the Longleaf Pine forest! View the descriptions below for more information.
Schedule
May 6–29 | StoryWalk®: “The Story of Pinus Palustris: A Longleaf Growing-Up Story" by Margarete Shearin Cumberland
May’s StoryWalk® at Harris Lake will tell the tale of best friends Pal and Ari, who have special adaptations that allow them to share the Longleaf Pine forest.
Thanks to our friends at Carvers Creek State Park, whose generous donation of this book made our StoryWalk®possible!
May 11, 11 a.m.–noon | Kids Discover Nature: The Busy Tree
Explore the wonderful world of trees with park staff! Together we will read "The Busy Tree" by Jennifer Ward, a sweet story about the many creatures that make their home in trees. Participants will sing songs, make a craft and take a hike to search for different types of trees in the park.
May 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Multiple time slots | Longleaf Forest Wagon Tours
Take a guided wagon tour to our 60-acre Longleaf forest and walk among our beautiful Longleaf Pines! Learn about their special history to the area and the ecology of the Longleaf forest ecosystem, including the importance of prescribed fire. See new growth and the progression of 30 acres of our forest after a prescribed burn in February. Rides will be narrated by Sarah Crate of The Longleaf Alliance and Christina Hester, our own park manager.
Arrive early to enjoy a picnic lunch. While you wait for your wagon ride, say hi to Smokey Bear, visit the N.C. Forest Service booth for fun giveaways, and discover more about Longleaf Pines and the ecosystem they support through interactive displays and activities. It's fun for all ages!
Register online for the time slot that suits your schedule. Meet at the wagon near the playground.
May 17, 1–2 p.m. | Virtual Program: Bringing Back Longleaf
Sarah Crate, Outreach Communications Coordinator for The Longleaf Alliance, will present "Bringing Back Longleaf." The Longleaf Alliance works to ensure the sustainable future for longleaf ecosystems across the Southeast. Join the lecture to learn more about the longleaf ecosystem and what longleaf restoration looks like in North Carolina.
Register online to receive a Zoom link.
May 19, 6–8 p.m. | Vehicle Venture
Come out to Harris Lake County Park for a vehicle extravaganza with a special focus on fire equipment! See a bulldozer used by the NC Forest Service during prescribed burns, a fire engine from the Apex Fire Department and the park's John Deere tractor, and cool off with a quick spray from our small pumper unit! Meet our special guest, Woodsy Owl, and test your aim with our flame shoot game.
Drop in at the Day Use area near the large playfield anytime between 6 and 8 p.m. This event is for all ages, and registration is not required.
May 24, 7–7:45 p.m. | Virtual Wild Wednesday: Longleaf Forest Friends
Take a look at the animals that live in the Longleaf Forest. Reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds of all kinds make their homes in the forest, and we will discover the ways they use this special habitat’s features for food and shelter.
Register online to receive a Zoom link.
Virtual Storytime: “Longneedle” by Anne Marshall Runyon
Take a journey into the past through the eyes of Longneedle, a Longleaf Pine who sprouts in 1696. As Longneedle grows, she sees the extraordinary diversity of plants and animals that depend on her and her forest. Through the magical illustrations of Anne Runyon, learn about the history of North Carolina's Coastal Plain, from its landscape to its people.