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

NOVEMBER 2022

NOVEMBER PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Programs are free of charge but

require pre-registration through our

online system.

Programs at Harris Lake County Park

Family Disc Golf with Capital Area

Disc League (CADL)

Saturday, Nov. 5

For ages 5 and up

This special instructional program is for players of all levels. Disc golf professionals from Capital Area Disc League will provide interactive lessons for beginners (and those who just want to sharpen their skills!). Try out what you have learned on a short practice course! Bring your own discs or borrow ours. Choose the time slot that best suits your schedule.

Meet at the Cypress Shelter side of the large open playfield in our Day Use area.

Birdability Birding

Wednesday, Nov. 9; 9 - 11 a.m.

For all ages

Join park staff on a bird outing to look for our year-round species, as well as migratory visitors. Birders of all experience levels are welcome! This outing will be < 1 mile on flat, paved trails and the fishing pier. Our route will be fully accessible for wheelchairs and others with mobility concerns. We will spend some time scanning the lake for waterfowl, so if you have a spotting scope please bring it! Binoculars will be available to borrow for anyone who needs them.

Meet at the Loblolly Shelter.

Kids Discover Nature: Magic of Fall

Thursday, Nov. 10; 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

For ages 2-5 with accompanying adult

Fall is finally here! Come experience the fall foliage at Harris Lake County Park and learn why leaves change color this time of year. We will read It’s Fall by Linda Glaser and enjoy the vibrant colors of the cut-paper illustrations by Susan Swan. Then we will explore the park in search of the many colors and shapes of fall.

Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

Geocaching 101

Sunday, Nov. 13; 2 - 3:30 p.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 in the park. Wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.

Fall Wagon Rides

Sunday, Nov. 20

For all ages

*Both rides are full. Please join the wait list.

Bring the family out for a wagon ride along the back roads of the park to enjoy the fall colors and the beauty of autumn! Staff will interpret the natural and historical features of the park along the ride.

Meet at the wagon at the playground.

Virtual Wild Wednesday:

Water + Land = Wetland

Wednesday, Nov. 30; 3 - 3:30 p.m.

For all ages

Meet the powerhouse of ecosystems: wetlands! Learn what makes them special, the different types you can find around the world, the amazing benefits they provide, and the vast array of critters that call them home. A Zoom program link will be sent to registered participants.

Programs at the

American Tobacco Trail

Busy Beavers

Saturday, Nov. 19; 2 - 3 p.m.

For all ages

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

Beavers are such busy creatures and have many unique features that allow them to survive in their aquatic world. Learn about their special adaptations through our "Build a Beaver" program, see a beaver up close with our educational mount, and enjoy a snack fit for a beaver!

Meet at the New Hill parking area at the lower picnic table

(1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.)

Fall Discovery Hike at the ATT

Wednesday, Nov. 23; 3 - 4 p.m.

For all ages

Fall is a wonderful time of year to be outside exploring nature. Take a hike and put your nature detective skills to the test along the way with a special fall scavenger hunt. We will be walking about one mile. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle.

Meet at the New Hill parking area at the upper picnic table

(1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.)

UPCOMING TIME CHANGES

Time to Fall Back!

These are the last time changes until January.

Beginning on

Sunday, Nov. 6:

Harris Lake County Park will close at 6 p.m. Please make your way off the trails and disc golf course 15 minutes prior to park close.

The New Hill parking area on the American Tobacco Trail will lock at 5:30 p.m. The restrooms at New Hill and White Oak automatically lock 15 minutes prior to park close.

________

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 14:

Harris Lake County Park will close at 5:30 p.m.

The New Hill parking area on the American Tobacco Trail will lock at 5 p.m.

PARK CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING DAY

Harris Lake County Park and the New Hill parking area on the American Tobacco Trail (1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.) will be closed on Thursday, November 24 for Thanksgiving.

We will reopen on Friday, November 25 at 8 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT HARRIS LAKE COUNTY PARK

DYNAMIC DOGS

Saturdays: Nov. 5, 12, 19

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dynamic Dogs will be using our overflow parking field on these dates.

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! Just visit any Wake County park or preserve and snap a photo that represents the monthly theme. Be sure to tag your photos on Instagram #WakeParks365 and the name of the park to enter!

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

HUNTING SEASON

Hunting season is open.

Park visitors may want to wear bright colors while on the trails at both Harris Lake County Park and the American Tobacco Trail.

Hunting is allowed on nearby state-managed game lands at both parks and waterfowl hunting is permitted from the Shearon Harris Reservoir. Hunting is not allowed inside the park at Harris or from the trail on the ATT. Contact the

NC Wildlife Resources Commission to report wildlife violations at

919-707-0040.

SAVE THE DATE!

History Hike at Harris

Sunday, Dec. 4; 2 - 3:30 p.m.

For ages 8 and up

Long ago, many families lived and worked on what is now Harris Lake County Park. Harvesting crops, tending livestock and carrying out daily chores were a major part of life in this bygone era. Through engaging tales gathered from interviews of past residents and our Story Map mobile tour, we will take a walk back in time on this one-mile hike. Meet at the kiosk in the gravel Disc Golf parking lot (second right after you enter the park).

November Volunteer Workday

Wednesday, Nov. 9; 3 - 5 p.m.

Be part of an exciting and much-needed clean up of the Skills area on the mountain bike trails at Harris Lake County Park! The workday will focus on moving debris and doing some light course maintenance. Meet in our Hog Run gravel parking lot (first gravel lot on your left after you enter the park) and be sure to bring plenty of water, a snack, and work gloves.

StoryWalk® at the American Tobacco Trail

From November 5 - 27, Possum's Harvest Moon, written and illustrated by Anne Hunter, will be featured at the American Tobacco Trail. Possum wants to throw one last party before winter on the night of the harvest moon, but his forest friends are all too busy preparing for their winter sleep to come. You'll love the surprise ending!

This self-guided StoryWalk® will begin near the lower picnic table at the New Hill parking area located at

1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd.

Check Out our NEW StoryMap Mobile Tour!

Harris Lake County Park has created another Story Map cell phone tour to help you get to know your trees! The Local Tree Loop begins at the parking lot side of the Educational Garden and follows the paved trail around the garden in a counterclockwise direction. This tour introduces you to 12 different species of native trees and their special characteristics.

We hope you'll enjoy this self-guided tour during your next park visit! Find all of the mobile tours available at Wake County parks and preserves here.

That's a Wrap!

2022 Harris Spook-tacular

Farewell to this year's Harris Spook-tacular: Don't Feed Your Fears! 👻🎃

We had so much fun celebrating spooky month and busting fears for our Harris Spook-tacular! Thank you to everyone who participated through social media, online games and activities, our special spider StoryWalk®, and attended our

in-person and virtual programs, including the Spooky Soiree mini event (attended by 138 people)! We hope you enjoyed this year's offerings as much as we did!

See you next year, and stay tuned for our 2023 Longleaf Celebration coming in May!

Nature Nook:

Fall Migration

Fall bird migration has been underway for weeks now, and we are starting to see our winter residents around the park!

Species such as Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Common Loon spend the winter months in our area, but breed in the northern U.S and Canada (and, with loons, up into Alaska!).

Did you know?... Turn "Lights Out" to help migrating birds! During migration, birds primarily fly at night, using the night sky to navigate. As they pass over large cities, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and skyglow, often causing them to collide with buildings or windows. In response, some cities are adopting "Lights Out" programs to help reduce these collisions and keep birds safe during their journey. The City of Raleigh adopted a Lights Out program in 2021, followed shortly after by Asheville, Greensboro, and the Town of Matthew. Migration season runs through

November 30.

Top: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (photo by park staff)

Middle: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (photo by

Bob Oberfelder)

Lower: Common Loon (photo by Larry Zoller)

Harris Lake County Park

2112 County Park Drive, New Hill, NC 27562

(919) 387-4342

Email: harris.lake@wakegov.com

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