College Essay Boot Camp at The Literacy & Learning Center
2025-07-21 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | The Literacy & Learning Center, 675 S 4th Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
High School Seniors
College Essay Boot Camp is an intensive, hands-on workshop designed to help students craft standout college application essays. Led by Cameron Alexander, who taught high school English at Wesleyan School for eight years, this camp covers the differences between essay types, analyzes successful examples, and guides students through brainstorming, drafting, peer review, and editing. By the end of the week, students will have a polished, ready-to-submit college essay!

Henry Ossawa Tanner, America’s First Internationally Recognized African-American Artist at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
In this lecture Dr. Harvey sketches the career of Henry O. Tanner, from his roots in the AME Church to his studies with Thomas Eakins in Philadelphia and his blossoming career in Paris. Although he is best known for his religious subjects, painted after his arrival in Paris in 1892, Tanner has an important connection to Highlands, where he spent the summer of 1888 during a teaching stint in Atlanta at Clark University. His experiences here influenced two of his widely admired paintings of the African-American community, The Banjo Lesson (1893) and The Thankful Poor (1894), both exhibited to wide acclaim in Europe.
This program is in collaboration with the Highlands Historical Society.
Join us after Dr. Harvey’s presentation from 4:30 – 6:30 for a wine reception at High Country Wine & Provisions!

Nature Center Nights | What Bat is That? at Highlands Nature Center
2025-07-22 20:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Stretch your wings and tune into the sounds of the many special bats of the Highlands area! Join our Naturalists on a walk through the Botanical Garden to watch them in flight.
All ages welcome
FREE | Registration required
(Weather dependent)

Tinker Time for Tots at The Literacy and Learning Center
2025-07-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-30 11:00 - 12:00 | The Literacy & Learning Center, 675 S 4th Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The Literacy & Learning Center is excited to bring back another season of engaging workshops tailored for preschoolers and their parents. The aim is to empower parents by demonstrating inventive ways to utilize everyday household items for their children’s educational benefit.
These sessions will showcase practical activities that parents can seamlessly incorporate into their daily routines, fostering a rich learning environment at home.

Tech Time at Hudson Library
2025-07-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Have you ever received the gift of a new digital device, like an iPad, smartphone or laptop, but had no idea how to use it? Hudson Library has the perfect solution-
Tech Time sessions offer one-on-one help on any personal digital device. Tech Time is a chance for residents of all ages to bring their devices and ask any questions. Learn how to set up an email account, mute your cell phone, back up and store files, and more.
Tech Times are free. No library card is required and no appointment is necessary. Services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Unearthing the Past: Geologic Foundations and the Quest for Lithium in the Carolinas at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The geologic history of the Carolinas spans over one billion years. The forces that built the foundation of the Carolinas have shuffled us between super continents and provided us a wealth of mineral resources. Human history is a tiny fraction of geologic history; however, we have learned to exploit geology beginning with favored rocks for stone tools through lithium resources for batteries. Research into lithium in the Carolinas is significantly impacted by local, State, and national politics, as well as the global market. Even over the past few years, there have been significant swings in the enthusiasm surrounding exploration for, and extraction of, lithium in the Carolinas. Presently, the US Geological Survey is taking new stock of historically mined products across the USA searching for resources once cast aside as waste but now valuable.
The talk will summarize the geologic history of the Carolinas and link the formation of economic deposits to their origin story. We will see the role of dating rocks in mineral exploration.

Understanding Generative AI: Demystifying the Technology Shaping Our Future at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Generative AI is reshaping industries and redefining what’s possible in technology, creativity, and decision making. In this talk, we will demystify the terms surrounding AI, explain the current AI landscape, and explore its exciting possibilities. From breakthroughs in art and science to its integration into business and healthcare, generative AI is a transformative force. However, with great power comes great responsibility.
This session will also delve into the risks, including over reliance, biased decision-making, and ethical concerns, offering a balanced perspective on what AI might mean for the future.

Summer Writing Workshop at Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library
2025-07-24 13:00, 2025-07-31 13:00 | Albert-Carlton Community Library, 249 Frank Allen Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
Beginning on June 5 at 1:00 p.m. and continuing every Thursday until August 28, ACCCL staff member Michael Redman will lead a writing workshop that is free and open to everyone, regardless of previous writing experience.
The workshop will be a place to be introduced to techniques, perspectives, and exercises to help you develop your writing. It will also provide a safe,welcoming environment for you to share your own thoughts, ideas, and questions.

Useful Apps for Adults at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-24 13:00 - 15:00 | NC
Join CLE’s tech expert, Loraine Smith, for an exciting and educational course of useful apps for adults! News, Transportation, Medical/Prescriptions, Fitness, Weather, Delivery, Accessibility, Calendar/Tasks, Travel, Reminders, Entertainment, Payment Systems, Find My Car, Find My Phone, and so much more will be covered!
Please bring a charged iPhone or iPad to class.
All experience levels are welcome!

Kids Zone at Hudson Library
2025-07-24 15:30, 2025-07-31 15:30 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Kids Zone features a variety of fun and interesting programs where kids can explore art, nature, science & more! Best for ages 5 and up.

Password Management at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
In this digital day and age, it’s easy to lose track of our passwords. Join this helpful course on password management. Learn about various password management apps, PassKeys, where to record your passwords, what a Legacy Contact is, why it’s important to let trusted loved ones know where your passwords are if needed, and more.
Some familiarity with using your Apple device is recommended.
Please bring a charged iPhone or iPad to class.

Zahner Conservation Lecture Series | Understanding Helene as a Geologic Event in Southern Appalachia at Highlands Nature Center
2025-07-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Zahner Conservation Lecture Series Understanding Helene as a Geologic Event in Southern Appalachia…and What is a “Geologic Event” Anyway?
Philip S. Prince, Ph.D., Project Geologist, Appalachian Landslide Consultants, PLLC, Virginia Tech Department of Geosciences

Helene’s impacts on rivers and slopes in the southern Appalachians exceeded all recorded storms, establishing a new benchmark for flooding and landsliding from Haywood County to southwest Virginia. The storm’s severity resulted from a specific combination of weather movement and the unique southern Appalachian topography, whose southeast-facing slopes are perfectly oriented to focus impacts of weather systems from the Gulf. This talk will place the Helene event in a geologic and topographic context, focusing on what the storm actually did to the landscape and river channels from the perspective of fieldwork and remote sensing. LiDAR imagery and the results of past storms will shed some light on just how long the scars of Helene may last and offer some insight into just how important similar storms may have been in shaping the mountains into what we see today.
Sponsored by Ruthie & Berry Edwards.

Weathering the Storm: Understanding Climate's Impact on Our Future at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the raging fires in California, extreme weather is a topic of wide public concern. When someone asks about the weather, the focus is typically on what is going on now. When someone asks about climate, the focus is much broader – the weather over time. The answers to those questions involve a host of variables: pollutants in the atmosphere, volcanic activity, solar winds, and the salinity and temperature of the oceans, etc.
Dr. Shepherd will discuss how these variables shape weather patterns we experience daily and what can be done now to manage and mitigate their most serious consequences over time. It is a discussion that encompasses not only science and technology but political, economic, and social disruption.

Triumph and Tragedy Zionism, the Palestinians, and the Creation of Israel, 1917-1948 at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Join Professor Kevin Jones for this session covering the early history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, from the beginning of the British Mandate to the creation of the state of Israel.
We will cover four key thematic questions: (1) Why were the Zionists more successful than the Palestinians in establishing organizations and institutions that could function as the nucleus of an independent state? (2) Why did Palestinians turn from diplomacy to resistance and rebellion against both Britain and the Zionists during the course of the colonial period, and how successful was the strategy of violence? (3) How did the relatively small Israeli army (IDF) so decisively defeat the much larger combined forces of the Palestinians and their Arab state allies? (4) Did the Palestinian refugees “flee” or were they “expelled” from their homes during the 1948 war, and why has the ensuing Palestinian refugee crisis endured for so much longer than other comparable refugee crises?

The Gun and the Olive Branch Palestinian Armed Struggle and the Peace Process, 1967-2025 at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
This session covers the history of the Palestinian national movement from the Six-Day War of June 1967 until the present day.
Professor Kevin Jones will cover four key thematic questions: (1) How did the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) justify its use of violence, including attacks on Jewish civilians and airplane hijacking, and how “successful” were these strategies of warfare and terrorism? (2) Given the widespread popular support among both Palestinians and Israelis for the idea of a two-state solution endorsed by the Oslo Accords, why did the Peace Process ultimately fail? (3) Why did Palestinian public opinion gradually shift away from secular political movements like the PLO and toward religious movements like Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the 1990s and 2000s? (4) What did Hamas hope to accomplish with the high-profile attack of October 7th, 2023, and how is the ensuing war in Gaza likely to reshape the future of the conflict?

Nature Center Nights | Salamander Meander at Highlands Nature Center
2025-07-29 20:00 - 21:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Join our Naturalists on a nighttime search for our secretive salamander friends.
All ages welcome
FREE | Registration required
(Weather dependent)

Introduction to Alcohol Inks at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Designed for beginners, this workshop is an introduction to alcohol inks and their versatility in creating translucent and very fluid artworks. Alcohol inks are highly pigmented and fast drying. We will be using 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, Yupo paper, plus the inks to create beautiful, colorful art. If you have used watercolors, you will enjoy seeing the beautiful effects these inks can achieve!
All materials for this class will be provided, and you will leave with a supply list for continuing your art exploration at home.

Birthright Citizenship: A Constitutional Debate in the Age of Originalism at Center for Life Enrichment at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” That this provision guarantees “birthright citizenship” to everyone except the children of foreign diplomats stood as a virtually unquestioned feature of American constitutional law for more than a century. Recently, however, a small group of conservative legal scholars has endorsed a radically different interpretation, arguing that the Constitution grants citizenship only to the children of American citizens. Although this interpretation has lingered mainly on the fringes of American constitutional law for the past two decades, President Donald Trump dramatically endorsed it in January 2025 in an executive order issued on the first day of his second term. The Supreme Court may weigh in or give some hints as to how it might resolve this issue in the near future.
This lecture will examine the history of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause, the arguments for and against the two competing interpretations, what these arguments can teach us about “originalism” as a method of constitutional interpretation, and the implications of the debate over birthright citizenship for American law, politics, and culture.

Village Nature Series at The Village Green
2025-07-30 17:00 | The Village Green, 160 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States
Monarch Conservation in WNC
Joyce is a retired RN and retired Master Gardener, now devoting more time to monarchs, pollinator/monarch way-stations habitat establishment, and sometimes, restoration. She has been part of the volunteer Monarch Watch Conservation Specialists since 2011.
We look forward to having her speak at the Village Nature Series!

Borders and Beliefs: Debunking Myths About Immigration at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-07-31 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Immigration was a huge issue in our recent election, so huge that it might seem like unrestricted immigration is a recent phenomenon. In fact, migration is as old as human history; what’s new is the idea that governments can and should restrict people’s movements. For most of human history, governments have encouraged, not barred, migrants.
Professor Hahamovitch will discuss common myths about immigration and the rise of the biggest myth of them all: the idea that migration can be stopped.

Zahner Conservation Lecture Series | The Good, the Bad & the BUGly at Highlands Nature Center
2025-07-31 18:00 - 19:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University
Insects are all around us and play very important roles in our forest ecosystems. But they can also be pests, damaging trees and impacting our lives. Join Dr. Kelly Oten, a forest entomologist at NC State, to find out when to worry about a tree pest and what to do when things get a little bit bugly.
Sponsored by Suzanne & Don Duggan, Julie & Charlie Shefeldt, Ruthie & Franko Oliver, Margaret Waters, Adele & Nick Scielzo, and Florence & Tom Holmes.

Oceans of Grain: How Wheat and War Shaped Empires and World History at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Though we often speculate, it is difficult to pinpoint how empires are made and how they fall. But by tracing a single crop — wheat — historian Scott Reynolds Nelson demonstrates its profound impact on the world economic and political stage in his critically acclaimed book: Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World. He will describe how the US, from its founding in 1776, sought to replace Imperial Russia as the breadbasket of Europe and only succeeded when the US Civil War threatened to end the republic. He’ll show how three microscopic organisms that traveled with food – fungi, a potato blight, and the plague – rewrote world history.

Jazz Meets Classical: Uncovering the Hidden Connections Between America's and Europe's Musical Traditions at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The late great Dr. Billy Taylor said: “Jazz is America’s classical music.” But what does he mean? What is the relationship between “America’s classical music” and the classical music of the European tradition? The connections might be stronger than you think. Emory Music professor, minister, and jazz musician Dwight Andrews offers some intriguing insights into this subject with his lecture “Jazz Meets Classical.” He suggests there is more than a symbiotic relationship between the two in sound, sensibility, and even musical structures. Andrews uncovers the often overlooked connections of aesthetics, improvisation, and the requirement of mastery in both musical traditions. Equally important, he confronts the historically value laden and exclusionary ways that the very term “classical” serves to place some composers and music within the framework and excludes others. His presentation will include musical excerpts, provocative observations from the musicians themselves, and engagement with the audience to literally “hear” the connections when “Jazz Meets Classical.”

Fascism Unbound: Exploring the Rise of Transnational Movements Then and Now at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
With the recent rise of far-right governments around the world, fascism is back in the news. But what is fascism? And how do we identify a “fascist”? These questions are hauntingly similar to those of the interwar period. When Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922, he declared that fascism was “not for export.” Nonetheless, far-right nationalists across Europe borrowed from Mussolini’s fascism, creating hybrid, syncretic movements that scholars have labeled “transnational fascism.”
This session uses the concept of transnational fascism to analyze illuminating, historical case studies, including Mussolini’s Italy, Adolf Hitler’s Germany, Gyula Gömbös’s Hungary, and Kārlis Ulmanis’s Latvia. Ultimately, the session will unveil the appeal of transnational fascism, both historically and in the present day.

CLE | An Exploration of Old World/New World Wines at High Country Wine and Provision
2025-08-05 15:00 - 17:00 | High Country Wine & Provisions, 621 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Step into the captivating world of wine as we guide you on a journey through the timeless classics of Old World wines and the bold, innovative flavors of New World wines!
In this class, you’ll learn the key differences between these two wine regions, from Europe’s traditional, terroir-driven wines to the more contemporary and fruit-forward styles of areas like California, Australia, and South America.

CLE | Rooted in Restoration: A Garden Tour with Lisa Dailey
2025-08-06 10:00 - 12:00 | NC
Join Lisa Dailey of Cultivation for an immersive horticulture restoration class on plant diversity, soil rebuilding, and sustainable gardening practices.
This interactive tour will guide you through a stunning 5-acre in-town mountain property, showcasing everything from untouched spaces to sophisticated gardens. Discover how Lisa integrates native plants, cutting gardens, dahlias, and seasonal vegetables into her landscape. Learn about the stages of garden development and soil rejuvenation. We’ll cover about 1/2 acre on foot with moderate inclines, so please dress accordingly and wear sturdy, comfortable footwear.
CLE will provide a sack lunch, and there will be time to sit and reflect after the tour. Bring a camping chair or folding chair for comfort.
