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Current Park Closing Times:
6:00 pm at Harris Lake County Park
5:30 pm at the New Hill parking area on the ATT
On February 10, park closing times change to:
6:30 pm at Harris Lake County Park
6:00 pm at the New Hill parking area on the ATT
All park users should be off the trails/course 15 minutes before park closing time.
Restrooms at all parks lock 15 minutes before park closing.
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In this issue:
Public Programs
Camps
Christmas Trees
Mountain Bike Trails
Upcoming events
Parks Go Red
Volunteer Opportunities
Longleaf Festival
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Harris Lake County Park is hosting several events and tournaments in February. Please see below so you can plan accordingly when you visit the park.
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Only a few days left to donate your undecorated Christmas tree to Harris Lake County Park to be converted to mulch for our trails. Drop it off by
January 26!
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Races and Tournaments in February
Be aware of the following events taking place in the park. These events may close certain areas of the park and impact others
so please plan accordingly:
Saturday, Feb. 1;
8 a.m.- Noon for the
UGTB Grind'n 5K and 10K Run. This event will impact the shelter/restroom area and Peninsula Trail.
The Buckhorn
Disc Golf Course will be closed to the public 5 full days in February for tournaments. Please note these dates:
Sunday Feb 2
Saturday Feb 8
Sunday Feb 9
Saturday Feb 22
Sunday Feb 23
Saturday Feb 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Viking Dash Race will impact the "Day Use area" - shelters, restroom and playground. It will be best to avoid this area during race hours.
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Parks Go Red in February for Heart Awareness
Heart Disease is the #1 killer of men and women, but you can do something about it.
Know your risk factors and work on reducing them.
Harris Lake County Park and the Am
erican Tobacco Trail will have signs and information at the parks for our visitors to become more aware of what you can do to stay heart healthy.
Watch for a special Go RED Geocache at HLCP.
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#wakegovparks
#harrislake
#americantobaccotrail
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February Programs in our Parks!
- Every participant in a family must be registered online!
- "Walk ups", those not registered online but show up, may not be able to participate in the program. Register early!
- Pets are not permitted at programs.
- Participation in our programs is heart healthy!
- Click on the program title to register!
Sunday, Feb. 2;
10-11:30 am
Free for ages 5 and up
To celebrate World Wetland Day, we'll visit the picturesque Beaver Creek wetland. Through a hands-on activity, you'll learn the importance of wetlands to both people and animals. See some wetland critter mounts up close and learn how they are adapted to this amazing area. Bring a camera to capture the beautiful scenery, binoculars, a full water bottle, dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. We will walk a total of one mile.
Meet at the New Hill parking area
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)
Participate in the 23rd annual GBBC from February 14-17, 2020. Bird watchers of all ages are encouraged to count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds occur.
Registration is required for all GBBC participants through our online system. Dress for the weather, bring water, binoculars and bird ID book if you have them.
Friday, Feb. 14;
8:30-10:30 am
Free for ages 10 and u
p
Join us for a sweetheart walk on the ATT to see our wintering birds and animals already getting ready for spring with an eye for "love". We will find bird pairs staying together throughout the winter, salamanders laying eggs in ephemeral pools, and waterfowl feeding to gain strength for a return to their nesting grounds. Birders extraordinaire Larry Zoller and Mike Maier will help us identify the birds we see and hear on this hike to the Beaver Creek bridge and back (total distance of 1 mile).
Birders of all skill levels are welcome!
Meet at the New Hill parking area
Friday, Feb. 14;
4-5:30 pm
Free for all ages (best for over 4)
Discover tips and techniques to identify birds as we introduce you to the rewarding hobby of bird watching through fun activities. Learn how to participate in the GBBC and hike along the shoreline to practice your new skills as we count the birds.
Meet at the Longleaf Shelter
Sunday, Feb. 16;
6 - 7:30 pm
Owls are actively calling to claim or protect their territory this time of year. Other birds are settling down for the night. Walk with us along the trails and ponds to discover birds and other cool nature out at dusk. Bring a flashlight.
Children should be able to participate quietly.
Meet at the Loblolly Shelter
Monday, Feb. 15; 8 - 10 am
Be an early bird and enjoy a muffin and coffee or hot chocolate to start out our program. We will then stroll through the different habitats of the park to identify and record a variety of birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count
Meet at the restroom building at HLCP
Monday, Feb. 15; 2 - 3 pm
Free for all ages (best for over 4)
Help park staff add to our GBBC data as we walk around the park playing a fun bird bingo game!
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Saturday, Feb. 29;
11 am-noon
Free for all ages
Once every four years, we get an extra day in the year - February 29! We'll celebrate Leap Day by learning all about some of our amphibian friends for whom every day is leap day - the frogs of Harris Lake County Park! See some live frogs up close and play a fun active game that will have you leapin' for joy!
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
Call 919-387-4342 if you have questions!
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Citizen Science Thursdays
February 27
March 26
April 23
May 28
June 18
1:30 - 3:30 pm;
For ages 10 and up
Help us manage and monitor our habitat boxes.
Tasks will vary each month with what is needed.
We may clean, add boxes, or simply monitor them.
Meet at the Cypress Shelter
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Volunteer Opportunities in our Parks:
If you are interested in giving back to the parks, check out our volunteer page at
Harris Lake County Park or the
American Tobacco Trail. Please be aware we accept volunteers based on need and staff availability to oversee the project and we require at least a weeks notice if you would like to volunteer with us.
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Summer Day Camps at Harris Lake County Park
We will have three day camps this summer at Harris Lake County Park. Please note the ages, days of the week and the times of each camp as they are different this year.
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Kurious Kids Nature
Day Camp
for ages 4 - 6 years
June 23 - 25 (Tue-Thur)
9 am - 12 noon
$36.00/child
Kurious Kids will discover the natural world of Harris Lake County Park through short hikes, themed crafts and games, fishing, dip netting in the pond and meeting our program animals. Make new friends and have lots of fun as we explore the park together Campers provide their own healthy snack.
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Nature Explorers
Day Camp
for ages 7 - 11 years
July 6 - 10 (Mon-Fri)
9 am - 1 pm
$80.00/child
Each day will be a new adventure! Go fishing and canoeing, take a wagon ride to our Longleaf Forest, scoop in the pond to see who lives there, create themed crafts, play games and explore nature as you meet new friends.
Campers provide their own healthy lunch
and snack.
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Nature Explorers
Mini Day Camp
for ages 7 - 11 years
August 4 - 6 (Tue-Thur)
9 am - 1 pm
$48/child
A mini version of the full week - Go fishing and canoeing, take a wagon ride to our Longleaf Forest, scoop in the pond to see who lives there, create themed crafts, play games and explore nature as you meet new friends.
Campers provide their own healthy lunch and snack.
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To register for any of the above camps - go to our camp web page and click on the link for each camp. Register soon as space is limited.
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Why are the mountain bike trails still closed?
We want the trails to open as much as you do.
There are conditions that affect the opening of our trails:
- Our bike trails are very close to the water table. When we have had lots of rain, it takes much longer for our trails to dry as the soil is saturated and sections of our trails may be under water.
- Low temperatures at night will freeze the water on the trails. It must thaw before it can dry and this freezing and thawing slows down or stops the drying process.
- In winter when plants are dormant, there is less water absorption, so again the soil stays wet longer. In spring, summer and fall, the trees and other plants help to remove water from the trails.
When bikers ride on closed trails, it takes even longer before we can open them as the damage they cause holds water longer than it should in addition to other damage incurred. (photo of rut caused by inconsiderate bikers when trail was closed) Encourage fellow bikers to stay off the trails when they are closed.
For us to maintain the quality of the trails, sometimes we must not use them. It is imperative we take responsibility for our actions and stay off the trails when they are closed. The trails, plants, water quality and bike riders that follow the rules appreciate this! To check the status of the trails - refer to Triangle MTB - we keep this up to date at all times! |
Save the Date for Longleaf Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2020 10 am - 2 pm
Celebrate our 60-acre longleaf forest and learn about initiatives to restore the Longleaf Pine in the Southeast. Visit with agencies and groups, see live animals and take a wagon ride to see this awesome ecosystem in our park.There will be something fun for everyone!
Keep up to date by visiting our website often:
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Harris Lake County Park: 919-387-4342
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American Tobacco Trail: 919-387-2117
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