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Workshops for January - December 2009
At the North Carolina Botanical Garden
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
These workshops can be adapted for your classroom, club, or organization for a small honorarium.
The Dance of the Spotted Salamanders: a Family Workshop.
One of the most fascinating behaviors of Piedmont
salamanders is the gathering of up to hundreds of Spotted
Salamanders at night in the rain, in the waters of the
vernal pond of their birth. In the first warm rains at the
end of winter this occurs in countless woodland pools
in the Triangle area. Have you witnessed it? Gather for
a family workshop to meet these beautiful black yellow-
spotted salamanders in simple woodland terrariums and
get to know them and their stories up close. Presentation
includes a new powerpoint presentation designed for
families, Spotted Salamander activities for little ones, and
time outside to visit the NCBG’s own vernal pool
sanctuary. Bring you rubber boots!
Appropriate for families with small children and
curious adults! Sat. Feb. 21, 2009 - 2-4 pm.
Pitcher Plants and the Venus Flytrap:
NC Plants that Trap Insects!
This workshop is scheduled during the time of flower
blooming of the NCBG’s own extensive Pitcher Plant
collection. This workshop, especially designed for
scientifically curious elementary and middle school
students, will show where in North America carnivorous
plants of the genus Sarracenia (Pitcher Plants) grow
naturally, and where, in protected areas, Pitcher Plants
grow naturally in NC. A specially designed color
powerpoint presentation will show Pitcher Plants
in NC habitats and how non-endangered Pitcher
Plants and Venus Flytraps can be kept and grown.
Fee includes pots and plants to create your own
Miniature bog garden! Bring your camera and learn
how to record data on plants through digital
photography. Time outside to observe and photograph.
Appropriate for 3rd through 7th graders, accompanied by an adult. Sun. April 26, 2009 - 2-4 pm.
More Scenes from the Secret Life of Turtles:
Spotted Turtles and Diamondback Terrapins
As we continue to investigate the secret lives of
turtles, we will focus on the habits and
behaviors of two beautiful yet endangered NC turtles:
the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) and the
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
The instructor will share stories and experiences
about both species from sixteen years of field
research under Endangered Species Permits
from the NC Wildlife Resources Commision.
Turtles of both species will be on hand to
observe and photograph. A vivid powerpoint
presentation will take participants into the
habitats and “secret lives” of both species.
Appropriate for interested 5th graders through
adults. Sat. June 27, 2009 - 2-4 pm.
Giant Beetles of the Piedmont: An Exploration.
The Stag beetle, The Rhinoceros beetle, the
Triceratops beetle, and more: we have all
seen them at times, but how numerous are
they in our area, and what part do they play
in local ecosystems? Are they helpful or harmful
to plants and trees? How do they grow, and
why are they hidden so successfully that
we see them only infrequently? The
workshop will feature live beetles from
our area in simple terrariums as well as a new
powerpoint presentaion that details beetle
habitats and life cycles. Time outside in
the NCBG nature trail area to identify
beetle habitat types. The instructor has been
a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award
from the NC Entomological Society.
Appropriate for curious 5th graders through
adults. Sat. July 11, 2009 - 2-4 pm.
Luna Moths and Caterpillars:
Their Late Summer Return.
Why do we see Luna moths in April, and again in late
summer and early fall? This phenomenon is shared
with two other Giant Silk Moth species in our area: the
Polyphemous Moth, and the Tulip Tree Silk Moth.
Learn why these species “double-brood”, while our
other Giant Silk Moths appear only once a summer.
Learn how to find these species other than by chance,
and study the caterpillars from egg to cocoon. Local
photographs of moths and caterpillars and their life
cycles will be presented in a new powerpoint
presentation: Live caterpillars feasting on larval plants
will be shared for close examination and photography,
as well as cocoons and a scientific collection of
pinned specimens.
Appropriate for curious 5th graders through adults.
Sat. Sept 26th, 2009 - 2-4 pm.
The Very Private Lives of Marbled Salamanders:
a Beautiful Feature of Fall in the Piedmont.
In October and November, these normally secretive,
vividly patterned salamanders begin to appear under
spashblocks and landscape timbers of the fortunate
in our area. Is there a reason for this seasonal appearance?
Follow their emergence from deep burrows to the
secret of their nesting where a vernal pond will be !
(How do they know?) There will be a new powerpoint
presentation following their fascinating yearly cycle,
live marbled salamanders in inexpensive terrariums you
can create, and at least a half hour in the NCBG’s own
vernal pool sanctuary. Bring your Rubber boots!
Appropriate for curious 5th graders through adults.
Sat. Nov. 7, 2009 - 2-4 pm
Applying for EE credit for each workshop.
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