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Continuing Education
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: April 2023
The Village Nature Center is an introduction to the Wild Things that share the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau with us. Join them April 25, when ecologist Sonya Carpenter presents Investing in the Biodiversity of Cashiers: Creating a Sustainable Future for a Complex Ecosystem.
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself,” said John Dewey, an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer in the late 19th and early 20th century. Myriad opportunities exist on the Plateau, practically all-year long – via the libraries, sundry organizations, various clubs, and more – to regularly pour into one’s mind and intellect regarding all types of subjects. The annual late-spring-to-fall Village Nature Series in Cashiers is just one of those eye-opening, sometimes mind-blowing experiences. Co-hosted by The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, and sponsored by Cedar Creek Club, the series features experts in numerous fields presenting on such topics as wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage. The mission of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is “to protect valuable natural resources for all generations.” The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserves the forests, wetlands, and vistas that are home to the greatest number of rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians. The mission of The Village Green is to preserve and enhance land for the community’s civic, spiritual, academic, recreational, and cultural activities to maintain the quality of life for all citizens and visitors to the greater Cashiers area. This 13-plus-acre park is located in the heart of the Cashiers community – at the crossroads of Highway 64 and Highway 107. This year, the Village Nature Series will present on a wide array of topics, from Forest Therapy to Amazing Animal Adaptations to Composting. Presenters are highly knowledgeable about their topics, primarily devoting their careers to the study of a particular subject. And, it is that extensive knowledge that is shared with the public, often making the presentation interactive with live animals, visual aids, and more. This educational lecture series is held at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers on the last Tuesday of every month from 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. beginning in April and ending in September. The July 25 presentation will be held at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. These programs are free and family-friendly; no registration is needed, and the programs take place rain or shine. For the 2023 Village Nature Series schedule, as well as descriptions about each event and its presenter, visit hicashlt.org/2023-village-nature-series.html or villagegreencashiersnc.com/village-nature-series.
by Deena Bouknight
