July 2022 at Harris Lake County Park and the American Tobacco Trail

JULY 2022

JULY PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Programs are free of charge but

require pre-registration through our

online system.

Programs at Harris Lake County Park

Free Fishing Fun on the Fourth

Monday, July 4; 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

For all ages

*This program is full. You may join the wait list or drop in, but know that rods are available on a first come, first served basis and equipment priority is given to registered participants.

Fishing is a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate Independence Day! The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission invites anglers and would-be anglers of all ages to go fishing for free on July 4th. Everyone in North Carolina - residents and non-residents alike - can fish in any public body of water, including coastal waters, without a fishing license on July 4th. Although no license is required, all other fishing regulations, such as size, creel limits and lure restrictions still apply.

Harris Lake County Park staff will have fishing rods for you to borrow and will be on hand to provide basic instruction or other assistance. Preregistration is encouraged in order to guarantee equipment; otherwise, fishing poles will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bring your favorite bait or use ours.

Meet at the shed at the Fishing Pond (first gravel lot on your right).

Kids Discover Nature: Wiggly Worms

Thursday, July 7; 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

For ages 2 - 5 with accompanying adult

*Only a few spaces remain!

Discover what makes worms wiggle through hands-on exploration of these important members of the ecosystem. Together we will read the wonderful story by Anthony D. Fredericks called Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and other Ughs. Then we will take a walk through the woods to find places where worms and other critters make their home. Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Nature Lab: Fabulous Fish

Tuesday, July 26; 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

For ages 7 - 11

Cost: $16/child

Spend time at Harris Lake County Park learning what it takes to be a great angler! Discover the fish species we have here at the park, learn about our lake and pond ecosystems, practice your best cast, and then hike to our stocked pond to go fishing for catfish. Fishing poles and bait will be provided, or you may bring your own. Bring a lunch, snack and full water bottle. More information will be sent in advance of the program. Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Beavers and Otters

Sunday, July 31; 2 - 3 p.m.

For all ages

*This program is full. Please join the wait list.

Learn about some of our favorite aquatic mammals! Discover some neat facts about these inhabitants of Harris Lake County Park, see what they look like up close with our real beaver and otter mounts, and make a fun beaver craft to take home. Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Programs at the

American Tobacco Trail

Evening Bike Ride on the ATT

Friday, July 8; 7:30 - 9 p.m.

For all ages

You know the American Tobacco Trail by day, but what does it look like in the evening? We’ll look for nocturnal creatures that may be starting to stir as we ride along at sunset. All participants must bring a bike equipped with a light and wear a helmet. Spaces are limited, so register early!

Meet at the New Hill parking area

(1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.).

Geocaching 101 on the ATT

Sunday, July 24; 9:30 - 11 a.m.

For ages 6 and up

Geocaching is a treasure hunt where participants use GPS coordinates to track down hidden “caches.” We will learn how to use traditional GPS units and the Geocaching app (by Groundspeak) and then find real geocaches hidden along the Trail. Wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. Meet at the White Oak parking area at the picnic tables.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Harris Lake County Park:

Common Rush Trail Run

Saturday, July 23

8 a.m - 1 p.m

This race consists of 5 and 10-mile run options, so runners will be utilizing the Peninsula Trail and back roads of the park.

Cub Scout Fishing Event

Saturday, July 30

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

This event will take place at the Fishing Pond.

JULY IS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH!

Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.

The theme for the 2022 celebration is “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation.” Throughout July on social media, we will highlight the ways our communities are stronger, more vibrant and more resilient because of parks and recreation.

WE ARE HIRING!

Harris Lake County Park and the American Tobacco Trail are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team! If you're seeking a part-time job in parks learning a variety of tasks, look no farther! Maintenance and program positions are available. Beginning on July 1, starting pay for our part-time Park Aide positions is $15/hour!

Check our website for more information and to apply.

MONTHLY INSTAGRAM PHOTO CONTEST

The Wake County parks monthly Instagram photo contest is perfect for people of all skill levels who enjoy taking photos in our parks and preserves! Each month a different contest theme is featured. Just visit any Wake County park or preserve and snap a photo that represents that month's theme. Be sure to tag your photos on Instagram #WakeParks365 and the name of the park to enter!

The July theme is Best Insect Photo. We can't wait to see your photos from #HarrisLake and #AmericanTobaccoTrail!

StoryWalk® at Harris Lake

From July 2 - 24, we are featuring Over and Under the Pond, written by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal. Discover the many creatures that call the pond ecosystem home in this beautifully illustrated story. After reading the story, test your spotting skills with a walk around our Cypress Pond!

This self-guided StoryWalk® will follow the paved trail around the Educational Garden and Natural Play Area. At the bottom of each set of pages, we have provided an interactive activity for further engagement.

Beginning in August, we will feature our first StoryWalk® at the American Tobacco Trail! The location of the monthly StoryWalk® will now alternate between Harris and the ATT.

Volunteer Thank You!

A big THANK YOU to the New Hill Hunter Education Mentorship Program (NCHEMP) volunteers that planted 900 wire and blue stem grass plugs in our Longleaf Pine Restoration Area on May 21st. These native grasses provide habitat for all kinds of wildlife like young turkey, rabbits and quail, but they also aid in the prescribed burn process for a healthy Longleaf stand. The group also worked tirelessly in the heat to re-establish one of our meadows that was quickly taken over by trees these past few years. The meadow is used by our program team for an array of educational opportunities for school groups and family programs. We appreciate the partnership and volunteer work from the members of NCHEMP!

Junior Park Explorers

Are you looking for a new way to experience Wake County’s parks and preserves? Kids ages 4-15 are invited to take the Junior Park Explorers challenge! Grab a scorecard, complete the challenge, and win a cool prize when you finish - a Wake County Parks daypack! Details can be found here.

We can't wait for you to explore Harris Lake County Park and the Wake County section of the American Tobacco Trail!

NEW STAFF SPOTLIGHT:

Alex Leinbach

Park Aide of Maintenance

Q: How long have you worked for Wake County parks?

A: About 3 months.

Q: What is your favorite part of working at HLCP and the ATT?

A: Gaining new knowledge and experiences which help build my resume.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Overall, I would say Zulu (1964), though modern film wise I am a fan of Dunkirk.

Q: Who or what influenced you to work in this field?

A: Possibly my time in the Boy Scouts; however, I just decided to give it a shot one day and have continued to work within the field for years.

Q: What is your favorite plant or animal at HLCP or the ATT? Why?

A: Probably the deer population in Harris Lake County Park. It is always interesting trying to spot them throughout the day.

STAFF ANNIVERSARY:

Michael Richardson

Park Technician of Maintenance

8 years!

Michael began his Wake County career on July 17, 2014 as a Park Aide of Maintenance. Last year, he was promoted to a full-time Park Technician and hasn't looked back! Michael's friendly personality, willingness to help wherever he is needed, and expertise with equipment and other technical know-how are just a few of his strengths.

Thank you, Michael, for all of your contributions to Harris Lake County Park, the American Tobacco Trail, and Feltonville Community Park! We look forward to many, many more wonderful years!

Snakes at

Harris Lake County Park

We have 16 documented snake species here at the park. Of those, only 1 is venomous, the Copperhead. In North Carolina, there are 38 species of snakes, and of these just 6 are venomous.

Snakes are important for many reasons. They play a vital role in our ecosystem, as both predator and prey. The presence of snakes in your yard is a sign of a healthy, balanced ecosystem. Snakes are a natural form of pest control, helping to keep rodent populations and the diseases they carry in check. They also feed on other pests such as insects and slugs which may damage crops, and serve as an important food source for birds, mammals, and fish.

Snakes are secretive and want to be left alone. They rely on camouflage to help them hide, but if discovered, they will employ defensive tactics to make themselves appear scary. The Eastern Hognose (top photo) flattens its head and hisses, while other snakes will raise their body off the ground to look larger, such as this juvenile Eastern Kingsnake is doing in the third photo.

It is important to educate yourself and others about the snake species in your area and learn to identify them. Remind children to look, but not touch. Admire them from a distance. Snakes are fascinating to watch!

Photos top to bottom: Eastern Hognose, Mole Kingsnake, juvenile Eastern Kingsnake, Dekay's Brown Snake,

Plain-bellied Watersnake, Copperhead

All photos taken by park staff.

Harris Lake County Park

2112 County Park Drive, New Hill, NC 27562

(919) 387-4342

Email: harris.lake@wakegov.com

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