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The Interpretive Bridge
Written By: Sonya Carpenter - Highlands Biological Foundation | Issue: 2016/12 - December
The Highlands Biological Foundation has been committed to fostering research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the Southern Appalachians since 1927.
Our mission is expressed in the three facets of the Station — the Botanical Garden, Nature Center, and Research Laboratory.
For over 75 years the Nature Center has been the interpretive bridge between the research conducted through the Biological Laboratory and our community. Using programs such as the Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, summer camps, and special programs as well as the educational displays in the Nature Center, we help our community become more connected with the beautiful and exceptional ecology of the Southern Appalachians.
In 2015 we started expanding our school and community outreach programs to a record number of students. This past year alone our Outreach Educator, Patrick Brannon, has brought programming to an additional 6,000 students in North Carolina. Combined with the tens of thousands of visitors coming through the Nature Center and attending educational programs, our educators are fostering environmental literacy and awareness throughout the region. With so many global environmental issues, it’s imperative that we all understand what is at risk and how we can help.
Research, teaching, and training have always been central to the Highlands Biological Station, which annually hosts hundreds of students, faculty, and researchers for immersive study in one of North America’s richest ecosystems. Having researchers working here is vital to understanding the effects of climate change and human influence on various ecosystems. Our Botanical Garden serves as an outdoor laboratory for researchers and students from around the world but is also an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the diversity of the plateau in a garden setting.
Please help us advance the station’s mission of protecting and preserving the ecological diversity and natural history of the Highlands Plateau by supporting the Highlands Biological Foundation today. For more information on programs or research at HBS, visit highlandsbiological.org.
