BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Davidson Lands Conservancy - ECPv6.16.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Davidson Lands Conservancy X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://davidsonlands.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Davidson Lands Conservancy REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T220000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20260421T151208Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T184801Z UID:9645-1781379000-1781388000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling June: Firefly Fest at Fisher Farm DESCRIPTION:Whether you call them fireflies or lightening bugs\, few things signify the beginning of a Southern summer more than the first sighting of one. Our next Wilderness Calling the SUPER popular  Firefly Fest at Fisher Farm on Saturday\, June 13th. \nThis event will be led by Dr. Clyde Sorenson\, award-winning professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University.  He won the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching AND the Environmental Educator of the Year award from the NC Wildlife Federation.  Dr. Sorenson will teach us about various types of fireflies and the habitats where they are found. Meet in the parking lot at dusk for the discussion and then as darkness falls\, hope to see some of these magical creatures. Please bring something to sit on and if you are bringing a flashlight\, please cover it so it only shows red or green light to avoid light pollution. \nRegistration is required.  Read our waivers HERE. By registering for this outing\, you are agreeing to its terms and conditions. Pre-registration is required which you can do HERE. If you are unable to attend\, please update your sign-up so another family may participate. Thank you! \n7:30 pm Check-In \n7:45 Dr. Sorenson’s Firefly Discussion and Q & A \n8:45 Firefly Stroll \nFisher Farm Park URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/9645/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/16-Fireflies.jpg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T120000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20260312T160523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T182406Z UID:9609-1778925600-1778932800@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling May: Lake Davidson Nature Preserve Discovery Day DESCRIPTION:Lake Davidson Nature Preserve is a unique member of the Davidson park system offering both access to Lake Davidson and the oppotunity to rent watercraft from the town…but there are many more exciting parts of this space without ever leaving the shore. Join us for a walk through this amazing nature preserve and learn about the history and see some of the new installations and improvements being made to the park. \nThis event will consist a short hike through five stations that highlight the history and future of this park.  This walk will only be a mile and is good for people of all ages and mobility levels. If you have any mobility limitations\, please indicate this on your sign-up so we can make proper accommodations.  Please wear proper footwear and bring a water bottle. \nSign up is required which you can do HERE.  By signing up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the description of the sign-up. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-may-lake-davidson-nature-preserve-discovery-day-26/ LOCATION:Lake Davidson Nature Preserve\, 731 Jetton St\, Davidson\, North Carolina\, 28036 CATEGORIES:Education,Recreation,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Document-scaled.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260426T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260426T143000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20260312T155222Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T155710Z UID:9603-1777208400-1777213800@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling April: Archer Property and Orchids DESCRIPTION:One of DLCs treasured conservation easements is on a 27-acre piece of land located in Mooresville and owned by Cindy and Frankie Archer.  The property is mostly woodland consisting of mixed aged trees and includes a small intermittent stream flanking the eastern side of the land.  Besides the wonderful wildlife habitat and ecosystem provided by this natural area\, the land supports a significant population of pink lady slippers (Cypripedium acaule)\, an uncommon orchid native to this area. The pink lady slippers generally bloom once a year in the spring. \nFor our April Wilderness Calling event\, we are going to try to catch the orchids in bloom and explore portions of the Archers property.  There is no guarantee around the timing but the great news is that even if we miss the bloom\, the rest of the property is stunning on its own.  This program will include a talk about the history of the land and all of the work the Archer family has done to the property and then an easy hike around the edge of the property to spot some of these incredible flowers.  This event is guaranteed to fill-up quickly so reserve your space today. \nPlease bring a reusable water bottle and wear close-toed shoes.  Sign-up is required HERE and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the sign-up description. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-april-archer-property-and-orchids/ LOCATION:Archer Property: Mooresville\, Address to be released week of CATEGORIES:Education,Plantlife,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/archerordhid.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260328T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260328T120000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20260129T201823Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T172909Z UID:9489-1774688400-1774699200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Fisher Farm Discovery Day DESCRIPTION:Fisher Farm is the crown jewel of the Davidson park system. With 200 acres of beautiful\, conserved land\, it’s a fabulous place with something for everyone… hiking\, biking\, running\, archery\, bird watching or just enjoying a nice picnic. \nThe park is still in its early stages of development so there are a lot of exciting initiatives and research being completed at the park and we want to highlight these and show you all the park has to offer. \nThis event will consist of a short service project and then a discovery walk to highlight the work of DLC\, the Town of Davidson and Davidson College. This event has two parts and you can come to either one or both. Please indicate what you plan to participate in when you sign-up. \nPart 1:  Arbor Day Celebration and Service Project \nOne of Fisher Farm’s most important features is its diverse forest and we continue to add trees to its canopy. We will celebrate Arbor Day with a short stewarding project where we prune and mulch some of our younger trees to ensure their continued growth. This will be led by Town Arborist\, Andrew Sileo. No previous skills or tools needed. We will provide both and you can take your new skills back to your own backyard trees. \nPart 2:  Fisher Farm Discovery Walk \nThis part will entail a short hike through six stations that highlight exciting work being done at Fisher Farm.  There will be various presenters that discuss projects like controlled burns\, pollinator fields\, trail improvements\, stream restoration\, greenway extension\, bird life projects and the honey bee hives installed at the park.  This walk will only be a mile and is good for people of all ages and mobility levels. If you have any mobility limitations\, please indicate this on your sign-up so we can make proper accommodations.  Please wear proper footwear and bring a water bottle. \nSign-up is required HERE or by going to this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845AEAB28A7F8C70-61975433-fisher. By registering you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the sign-up description. \n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/9489/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Education,Volunteer,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fisher-Farm-Park0_6c378da2-5056-a36a-08286b678abdd0c2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260214T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260214T103000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20260126T193226Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T214444Z UID:9464-1771057800-1771065000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling February: Great American Backyard Bird Count Walk DESCRIPTION:Each February\, for four days\, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days\, people are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. Join DLC and participate in the world’s largest bird count and connect with birds\, nature\, and with each other! \nWe will walk about a mile (2 miles round trip) along the section of the West Branch Rocky River Greenway that connects Abersham and Fisher Farm parks. It is a flat\, paved path following the creek through open fields and woods. Along the edges of the creek and field we should encounter a variety of resident birds and wintering migrants such as white-throated and song sparrows\, juncos\, kinglets and warblers. In the woods we should find more resident birds\, a variety of woodpeckers and hopefully some winter wrens. Raptors and owls are also a possibility. \nThis walk will be led by Judy Walker who is an avid birder and life long educator\, retired from UNC Charlotte. She has been active in the Mecklenburg Audubon Society for over thirty years leading bird walks\, serving on the board and doing educational presentations for the young and old alike. \nPlease wear warm clothing\, good walking shoes\, and bring water and your binoculars!  It would be helpful if you could download the app\, MERLIN. It’s free and Judy will talk about how to use it effectively. We will also have materials from the Great American Backyard Bird Count for you to take home so you can continue to participate on your own. \nSign-up is required HERE.  By registering you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the description. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-february-great-american-backyard-bird-count-walk/ LOCATION:Abersham Park\, 3540 Pleasant Garden Dr\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036\, United States CATEGORIES:Education,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/festbirding4.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251207T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251207T160000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250819T170531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T015941Z UID:9252-1765116000-1765123200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Prior Property Hike DESCRIPTION:One of our newest additions to DLC’s conserved properties is the Prior property near Pine Lake Prep.  It is a beautiful piece of land with a remarkable amount of biodiversity.  The Priors have worked hard to support and conserve its natural resources and beauty.  Join DLC in December to hear a brief a talk about the Prior’s experince conserving and caring for their property and then a 45-60 minute hike through the woods. Good walking shoes are required.  This will be on uneven ground so a moderate fitness level is required.  A walking pole is encouraged and please bring water. \nSign-up is required here and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the sign-up description. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-prior-property-hike/ LOCATION:Prior Property\, Address released to event attendees but near Pine Lake Prep CATEGORIES:Plantlife,Wilderness Calling,Wildlife ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PriorProp.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T193000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250819T114208Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T020041Z UID:9245-1763227800-1763235000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Night Sounds & Owl Prowl DESCRIPTION:Join Davidson Lands Conservancy for our November Wilderness Calling offering:  Night Sounds & Owl Prowl at Fisher Farm Park.  When the sun sets and the world gets dark\, you have to rely on your hearing to experience the world around you.  Naturalist Rob Van Epps will discuss owls and other things that we hear in the forest at night. This exciting celebration of owls (and great excuse to enjoy Fisher Farm Park after dark) includes an overview of owls & other nocturnal creatures\, a short hike listening for these amazing creatures and s’mores (as long as the fire risk allows for an open flame). \nThis event is open to all ages\, but we will be walking in the dark with limited light. \nRob Van Epps is an avid birder\, naturalist and wildlife photographer who lives in Davidson.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Davidson Lands Conservancy for many years\, including two years as the President.  He continues to lead walks for the DLC and other groups looking for birds\, butterflies\, salamanders and any other critters out there. \nCheck out his photos on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/people/19858 \nPlease bring a reusable water bottle and wear close-toed shoes.  Sign-up is required here and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the sign-up description. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-night-sounds-owl-prowl/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling,Wildlife ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/istockphoto-964611070-612x612-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251018T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251018T120000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250819T113033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250819T113112Z UID:9238-1760781600-1760788800@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Art in Beaty Park DESCRIPTION:While nature is glorious to experience on its own\, capturing it in artwork can preserve and enhance the moment. In collaboration with the Davidson branch of Charlotte’s Holt School of Art\, DLCs Wilderness Calling October is Art in Beaty Park where participants can learn secrets to create “plein air” masterpieces meaning artwork that attempts to represent outdoor light and air. \nThe class will be taught by Holt’s Nicholas Stewart. Nicholas was born and raised in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Learn more about Nicholas:  www.nicholasmstewart.com \nParticipants are asked to bring a chair and lap desk or easel (six are available on a first come first serve basis) and any art supplies of their choosing (paints\, pastels\, water color\, colored pencil\, etc). \nArt supply kits are also available for purchase through this link.https://holtschoolonlinestore.square.site/shop/kit-pre-order/9 \nAbout Holt School: \nHolt School is home to over 600 artists including adults\, teens and children ages 9+. There are currently three locations\, in Charlotte\, NC  \, Pineville\, NC and Davidson\, NC . \nPlease bring water.  Sign-up is required here and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found on the sign-up.  The event end time is posted as noon but our teachers will stay until 1 pm to ensure everyone has time to finish their work. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-art-in-beaty-park/ LOCATION:Beaty Park\, 832 Beaty Street\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036 CATEGORIES:Education,Plantlife,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20231010_095714.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T203000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250819T113455Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T014307Z UID:9242-1757530800-1757536200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Hurricane Helene a Year Later DESCRIPTION:As we approach the year anniversary of Hurricane Helene Wilderness Calling is hosting a talk led by Dr. Brad Johnson and a group of his research students who spent last fall tracking the impact of this hurricane on the Blue Ridge. \nDr. Johnson\, a Davidson College environmental studies professor who studies rivers and landslides\, knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect his work to what was happening just a few hours away. \nHurricane Helene was a generational storm that impacted nearly the entire Blue Ridge in North Carolina. More than 15 counties received over a foot of rain with the most-impacted regions receiving more than 25 inches of rain. The result was intense flooding across the Blue Ridge and thousands of landslides. Scientific response has been slow for a handful of reasons including difficulty responding to damaged locations\, damage to the most local universities\, and the breadth of the storm. As a result\, Davidson students have been on the first wave of data collected. In this talk\, students will present their results of the first year of data collecting including work collected as part of a class in the spring of 2025 and more focused field research in the summer of 2025. It is likely that this work is the broadest field dataset collected thus far on Helene. \nNow\, a year later\, they reflect on their work and the lessons from it. \nSign-up is required here and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found below. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-hurricane-helene-a-year-later/ LOCATION:Davidson Town Hall\, 251 South Street\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036\, United States CATEGORIES:Education,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/brad-noah-landau.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T203000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250724T214500 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20240523T150651Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250619T235224Z UID:8674-1753389000-1753393500@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Moth Night at West Branch Nature Preserve DESCRIPTION:Celebrate National Moth Week by investigating the world of Moths during this special after hours program. Staff will put up Moth sheets as the sun goes down and we will welcome these often overlooked creatures. Spend your time discovering their natural history as we walk back and forth between the sheets to see what the light brings in. Meet in the parking lot at the West Branch Nature Preserve. Only open to individuals who are 14 years or older.  Limited to 15 participants. \nSign-up here before it’s full: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845AEAB28A7F8C70-57230366-wilderness .  By registering you are agreeing to our participant waiver which is listed in the description of the Sign-Up Genius and available on our website under Resources. \nThe rain date will be the following night:  Friday\, July 25th. \n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/moth-night-at-west-branch-nature-preserve/ LOCATION:West Branch Nature Preserve\, 18232 Shearer Rd\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036\, United States CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling,Wildlife ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/482227660_1068958405266480_7734992160378212731_n.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250718T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250718T193000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250321T212038Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250323T200531Z UID:8994-1752859800-1752867000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Speaker Series: Lisa Watts DESCRIPTION:DLCs innagural event in our new speaker series will feature Lisa Watts\, the author of Crossing Bridges: What Biking Up the East Coast Taught Me About Life After 60. Lisa Watts biked from Key West\, Florida to Calais\, Maine. She will discuss her experience followed by a book signing.  Light refreshments will be provided. To register for this event click HERE. \nBuy her book from our partner\, Main Street Books here: https://mainstreetbooksdavidson.com/item/rwszZkqo5QyuVUgUoEEeNg \n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/speaker-series-lisa-watts/ LOCATION:Hurt Hub\, 210 Delburg St.\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036\, United States CATEGORIES:Education,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/images.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250614T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250614T213000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250512T173946Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250614T143242Z UID:9088-1749929400-1749936600@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Firefly Fest DESCRIPTION:Whether you call them fireflies or lightening bugs\, few things signify the beginning of a Southern summer more than the first sighting of one. Our next Wilderness Calling the SUPER popular  Firefly Fest at Fisher Farm on Friday\, May 30th. \nThis event will be led by Dr. Clyde Sorenson\, a professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University who received two major awards earlier this year.  He won the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching AND the Environmental Educator of the Year award from the NC Wildlife Federation.  Dr. Sorenson will teach us about various types of fireflies and the habitats where they are found. Meet in the parking lot at dusk for the discussion and then as darkness falls\, hope to see some of these magical creatures. Please bring something to sit on and if you are bringing a flashlight\, please cover it so it only shows red or green light to avoid light pollution. \nRegistration is required.  Read our waivers HERE. By registering for this outing\, you are agreeing to its terms and conditions. Pre-registration is required which you can do HERE. If you are unable to attend\, please update your sign-up so another family may participate. Thank you! \nFRIDAY\, MAY 30th \n7:30 pm Check-In \n7:45 Dr. Sorenson’s Firefly Discussion and Q & A \n8:45 Firefly Stroll \nFisher Farm Park URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-june-firefly-fest/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Unknown-1.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250427T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250427T153000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250310T172851Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250310T174311Z UID:8976-1745762400-1745767800@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling April: Archer Hike and Search for Orchids DESCRIPTION:One of DLCs treasured conservation easements is on a 27-acre piece of land located in Mooresville and owned by Cindy and Frankie Archer.  The property is mostly woodland consisting of mixed aged trees and includes a small intermittent stream flanking the eastern side of the land.  Besides the wonderful wildlife habitat and ecosystem provided by this natural area\, the land supports a significant population of pink lady slippers (Cypripedium acaule)\, an uncommon orchid native to this area. The pink lady slippers generally bloom once a year in the spring. \nFor our April Wilderness Calling event\, we are going to try to catch the orchids in bloom and explore portions of the Archers property.  There is no guarantee around the timing but the great news is that even if we miss the bloom\, the rest of the property is stunning on its own.  This program will include a talk by the Archers about the land and all of the work they have done to the property and then an easy hike around the edge of the property to spot some of these incredible flowers.  This event is guaranteed to fill-up quickly so reserve your space today. \nPlease bring a reusable water bottle and wear close-toed shoes.  Sign-up is required HERE and by signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which can be found in the description. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-april-archer-hike-and-search-for-orchids/ CATEGORIES:Education,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image004.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250308T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250308T120000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20250107T213812Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250109T182810Z UID:8903-1741428000-1741435200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling March: Ephemeral Walk DESCRIPTION:Our March Wilderness Calling event will fill-up so sign-up early and join DLC and local wildflower expert\, Botanist Paula Gross\, on a walk to discover the surprises of early spring and possibly the rare beauty of spring ephemeral wildflowers. Expect to tune your senses and immerse yourself in the woods at Fisher Farm\, as Paula leads us on a ramble to discover what’s waking on the forest floor and among the branches. Bring your curiosity and connect with the land\, as we search for bloodroot and other earliest spring wildflowers. on Saturday\, March 8th from 10:00 am to 11:45 am. \nWe will meet at the parking lot at Fisher Farm Park\, located at 21215 Shearer Road\, Davidson\, NC 28036. Sturdy shoes and a water bottle are required. This outing is appropriate for adults and children 8+. \nPaula Gross\, M.S.\, is an educator and botanist whose passion is connecting plants and people through formal and informal education – from adults and college students to preschoolers. She is the co-author of the Southeast Native Plant Primer and Bizarre Botanicals and the former Associate Director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. Her message of hope for individual and planet is in the profound understanding that we ARE Nature\, not separate from it. \nPreregistration is required\, so sign up HERE. By signing-up you are agreeing to our waiver which is stated on the Sign-Up Genius. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-march-ephemeral-walk/ CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image000000-003.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250104T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250104T120000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20241217T144102Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241217T144348Z UID:8878-1735984800-1735992000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling January: Greet the New Year Hike DESCRIPTION:Please join us for our first program of 2025\, a peaceful hike to welcome the new year\,  breathe in fresh air\, set intention\, and connect with the land as we walk the beautiful trails behind the Runneymede neighborhood. We’ll start with some conversation about focusing on and connecting to our natural surroundings as we walk — on this hike we won’t identify trees\, plants or birds\, we’ll simply notice the beauty around us. We’ll walk in silence for about an hour\, stopping along the way to take in each scene with some guiding words from our leader. This walk will allow us to be open to new things\, and perhaps we’ll each see something in nature we haven’t seen before. For those who would like to stay for an additional 30 minutes\, we’ll offer some time for reflection and guided mindfulness at the end. \n\n\n Registration is required HERE. By signing up you are agreeing to our participant waiver. To read our waiver please go to: WAIVER. \n\n\n \nShort bio: Cristina Shaul enjoys helping people to connect to nature via meditations and mindfulness walks. She is a volunteer at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island\, FL\, where she is a member of the Wellness in Nature committee\, among other roles. She is also a strategic planning\, marketing\, and communications consultant for nonprofits\, local governments\, and small businesses. She is the former Communications Director for The Town of Davidson and also works part-time at Main Street Books. She lives in Davidson with her husband and is a big fan of Fisher Farm\, our greenways\, and trails. \n\n\nLink to books of interest available via Main Street Books: https://mainstreetbooksdavidson.com/lists/Lm96cvwIWhZA \n\n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-january-greet-the-new-year-hike/ LOCATION:Runneymede CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image1.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T160000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20241108T123021Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T134451Z UID:8856-1733666400-1733673600@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling December: History and Hike at Chester Farm DESCRIPTION:DLC has conserved and stewards many beautiful properties in our area to protect water quality\, forests\, and wildlife. The Chester Farm is one of DLC’s standout conservation projects because of its large size\, stunning beauty\, and ecological value\, in addition to the story of the unique and profoundly generous donation by the late Frank Chester. \nOur final Wilderness Calling event of 2024 will feature a hike and brief history of Chester Farm with Dave Cable and Janet Andersen\, two people critical to the conservation of Chester Farm. Please join us for this special event on a very special preserve. You are encouraged to sign-up early. \nWe will be walking off-trail through the forest where there is a thick blanket of leaves and uneven\, potentially slippery ground so please wear proper footwear and bring a walking stick if you need extra stability.  Participants must be 10 years old or older. \nRegistration is required. Sign-up HERE.  By signing up you are agreeing to our participant waiver.  To read our waiver please go to: WAIVER. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-december-history-and-hike-at-chester-farm/ LOCATION:Chester Farm\, Address to be shared later CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Chester-I-Fall-4-scaled.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241108T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241108T193000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20241014T021125Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241014T164656Z UID:8843-1731087000-1731094200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Owl Prowl DESCRIPTION:Join Davidson Lands Conservancy for our November Wilderness Calling offering:  Owl Prowl and S’mores at Fisher Farm Park.  This exciting celebration of owls (and great excuse to enjoy Fisher Farm Park after dark) includes an overview of owls\, a short hike listening for these amazing creatures and s’mores. \n5:30: Owls 101:  Discussion with Rob Van Epps (Types of owls\, habitats\,\, habits\, food sources\, college ‘boxes’\, Christmas Owl Bird Count\, calls\, etc…) \n6:00: Owl Walk (Rob will lead us on a walk down Fisher Farm’s paved paths listening for owls) \n6:30:  S’more roasting back at the parking lot \nThis event is open to all ages\, but we will be walking in the dark with limited light. \nRegistration is required which you do HERE.  By signing up for this event you area agreeing to our waiver which you can view HERE. \nRob Van Epps is an avid birder\, naturalist and wildlife photographer who lives in Davidson.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Davidson Lands Conservancy for many years\, including two years as the President.  He continues to lead walks for the DLC and other groups looking for birds\, butterflies\, salamanders and any other critters out there! \nCheck out his photos on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/people/19858 \n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-owl-prowl/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2eabea_b54253264e7a4b8c84c1748a0bb09f3amv2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T113000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20240731T173330Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T000917Z UID:8738-1729936800-1729942200@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling October: The Nature Reset DESCRIPTION:Join us for October’s Wilderness Calling offering: The Nature Reset.  Therapeutic nature experiences are evidence-based ancient medicine for our modern times. Fused with the science of mindfulness and somatic therapy\, this experiential workshop will give you tools to restore your nervous system and thrive wherever you are. You will learn strategies for connecting with Nature through micro and macro doses to restore and sustain long-term well-being\, resilience\, and reclaim your sense of center and groundedness. You will leave feeling a sense of calm\, ease\, and connection with your body and to the natural world and inspired to incorporate practices learned into your daily life. This program is for ages 16 and up. \nYour Nature Reset guide is Kathleen McIntyre\, author of The Nature Reset which you can pick up at Main Street Books in Davidson or learn more about at Katmcintyre.com  \nRegistration is required.  Please go to: SIGN-UP.  By signing up you are agreeing to our participant waiver.  To read our waiver please go to: WAIVER. If the Sign-up Genius is full and you’d like to be added to a waitlist\, please email Carly at Carly@davidsonlands.org \n  URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-october-foraging-falls-wild-abundance/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Katsitting-e1722447663634.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240922T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240922T180000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20240724T140604Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240820T144520Z UID:8706-1727022600-1727028000@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling September: Monarch Fall Migration Hike DESCRIPTION:Join DLC for our September WILDERNESS CALLING offering.\n\nCome learn about Monarch butterfly fall migration by hiking through our very own Fisher Farm Park dedicated wildflower meadow and our very own Fisher Farm Park and Abersham Park dedicated milkweed fields.  Monarch butterflies have the longest insect migration in the world!  Each fall they fly in successive generations over 2000 miles along the east coast of the United States to Mexico to hibernate in the evergreen forests high in the mountains of central Mexico.  To complete this wonder of nature\, Monarch mothers lay eggs only on milkweed because the baby larvae are such picky eaters.\n\nCome to Fisher Farm Park to see the newly protected milkweed field and learn about the DLC-led Wildlife Enhancement Project’s protection of milkweed for Monarchs.  This event involves a short hike in Fisher Farm Park to learn information about the Monarch life cycle and migration. For more avid hikers\, there will be an extension hike to see the milkweed areas in Abersham Park.  You can choose the exertion level that fits you by choosing the shorter walk and information or adding the longer walk to see more!  Recommended for adults\, teens and families with older children able to walk one mile or three miles.\n\nRegistration is required.  Please go to: SIGN-UP.  By signing up you are agreeing to our participant waiver.  To read our waiver please go to: WAIVER. URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/monarch-fall-migration-hike/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Education,Plantlife,Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/joshua-j-cotten-Ho93gVTRWW8-unsplash-scaled.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240811T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240811T163000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20240730T123327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240805T214524Z UID:8735-1723388400-1723393800@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling August: Stream Walk DESCRIPTION:Join Dave Cable on this month’s DLC Wilderness Calling adventure to discover the beauty and natural features of the South Prong of the West Branch Rocky River\, the stream running behind the Westbranch community. There are fallen logs we will need to climb over and a moderate level of mobility is required. We will be walking in the water\, so sneakers or closed toe shoes that can get fully submerged are needed. We will also do a minor clean up along the way. If you have questions please contact carly@davidsonlands.org. \nRegistration will be open to the entire community at: REGISTRATION.  Registration is required and by registering you are agreeing to our liability release.  The link for this release is at the above link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845AEAB28A7F8C70-50411503-rocky#/ URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-august-stream-walk/ LOCATION:Westbranch Greenway\, 11932 Westbranch Parkway\, Davidson\, NC\, 28036\, United States CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_0732-scaled.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240608T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240608T210000 DTSTAMP:20260617T094454 CREATED:20240516T124641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240519T204342Z UID:8662-1717875000-1717880400@davidsonlands.org SUMMARY:Wilderness Calling: Firefly Fest at Fisher DESCRIPTION:Whether you call them fireflies or lightening bugs\, few things signify the beginning of a Southern summer more than the first sighting of one. As part of our June celebration of bugs\, Wilderness Calling is hosting Firefly Fest at Fisher Farm in partnership with the Town of Davidson on June 8th. This event will be led by Dr. Clyde Sorenson\, a professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University.  He will talk about the various types of fireflies we see in this area and the types of habitats where they are found.  We will meet in the parking lot at dusk for the discussion and then as darkness falls\, hope to see some of these magical creatures. Please bring something to sit on and if you are bringing a flashlight\, please cover it so it only shows red or green light to avoid light pollution. \nRegistration is required.  Read our waivers HERE. By registering for this outing\, you are agreeing to its terms and conditions. Pre-registration is required which you can do HERE. If you are unable to attend\, please update your sign-up so another family may participate. Thank you! \n7:45 pm Dr. Sorenson’s Firefly Discussion \n8:15 Q & A \n8:30 Firefly Stroll URL:https://davidsonlands.org/event/wilderness-calling-firefly-fest-at-fisher/ LOCATION:Fisher Farm Park CATEGORIES:Wilderness Calling ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://davidsonlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Unknown-1.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Davidson Lands Conservancy":MAILTO:info@davidsonlands.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR