An Incredible Year

Written By: Winter Gary-Highlands Biological Foundation | Issue: November 2024

As the season slows down, the Highlands Biological Foundation is thrilled to celebrate an incredible year of growth, learning, and community support throughout 2024. The Foundation has seen an exciting influx of new talent, robust programming at the Highlands Nature Center, and continued success in supporting essential research projects in our region.

This year, the Foundation welcomed Jamie Creola as our new Executive Director and Julie Thomson as our new Education Specialist. Their leadership and passion have been invaluable additions to the organization.

Alongside them, four talented naturalists joined the team this summer to help deliver an unforgettable experience for young explorers through Nature Camps and engaging public programs.

The Highlands Nature Center bustled with activity throughout the summer.

Over nine weeks, HBF hosted 18 Nature Camps for children ages five to 13, introducing them to the wonders of the natural world. Several young campers were able to participate thanks to scholarships that were made available thanks to the generosity of Cullasaja Women’s Outreach. Nature Center Nights were another summer highlight, featuring 11 engaging programs on fascinating topics like salamanders, owls, bats, and spiders.

These free events allowed families and nature enthusiasts to connect with wildlife in an engaging and meaningful way. The ever-popular Zahner Conservation Lectures also returned, with nine sessions that drew in both locals and visitors eager to learn about our unique environment.

Beyond the Nature Center, HBF continued to fund and support critical research and educational efforts within the community.

This year, the Foundation awarded six individuals with Grants-in-Aid of scientific research as they worked on topics such as fish, small mammals, and salamanders. HBF’s commitment to bird conservation persisted with the fifth year of funding for the MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship) bird banding program at the Highlands Biological Station in partnership with Blue Ridge Bird Observatory.

Additionally, the Foundation provided $14,000 to the Macon County STEM program, enriching local students’ educational experiences through projects like the Migration Celebration and professional development for teachers.

The Foundation also assisted in bat conservation efforts, with $10,000 awarded to Dr. Rada Petric for the BatPack Citizen Science Project, using acoustic monitors to study bat populations along the Appalachian Trail, and $9,500 to support the “Highlands Bat Blitz” event this past September, a significant research endeavor that brought together biologists and the public to learn about bat species in our region.

This year, HBF also funded two Research Assistants at the Highlands Biological Station. These dedicated individuals have been instrumental in advancing research on microplastics, small mammals, and bats.

None of this would be possible without the support of our incredible community. Every program, grant, and project is a testament to your commitment to preserving and understanding our natural world. Thank you for standing with the Highlands Biological Foundation as they work to stimulate, promote, and fund biological research and education in the southern Appalachians. Together, the Foundation looks forward to what 2025 will bring!

The Highlands Nature Center is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.