Daily Programs at Grandfather Mountain 2024

WNC -- Grandfather Mountain Announces Daily Programs for 2024: During your visit, attend one of our Daily Programs

in April-October presented by our animal habitat curators and park educators. These fascinating interpretive programs throughout the park are included in your admission ticket. For an extra special “behind the scenes” tour, see our Experiences that are offered on weekends April-October.

2024 Daily Programs at Grandfather: April 1 – November 3

Keeper Talks

Learn more about the animals and see an animal enrichment. An enrichment is anything that breaks up an animal’s day — maybe a special scent or toy newly introduced into their habitat. It’s a great opportunity to see each animal active and close to the overlook of the habitat.
Daily Every half hour 11 AM- 4 PM at Wildlife Habitats
Schedule: Bears: 11, 1:30, 2:30, 4. Otter: 11:30, 3:30. Elk: 12, 2. Cougar: 12:30, 3. Eagle: 1
Outdoors / 10-15 minutes / All ages

Community Science Weather

Participate in one of Grandfather Mountain’s citizen science projects. Learn and record weather data with an educator! The data you help record is passed on to NOAA for continued research.
Daily 11 AM at Pollinator Garden behind Wilson Center
Outdoors / 10 minutes / all ages

Junior Naturalist

Grandfather Mountain educators help individuals use scientific tools to make observations about natural phenomena. The activities are hands-on, exploratory, and certain to inspire curiosity. Read more about our Junior Naturalist Program!
11:30 a.m. weekends (April 1 to May 26)
11:30 a.m. daily (May 27 to Aug. 18)
11:30 a.m. weekends (Aug. 24 to Nov. 3)

Pollinator Garden at Wilson Center
Outdoors / 30 Minutes / Geared toward 5-10 year-olds, but welcomes younger and older students

Peaks and Profiles

Join Grandfather’s educators by the Mile High Swinging Bridge to learn more about the mountain’s unique weather, climate, flora and fauna.
Daily 1 & 3 PM by Swinging Bridge
Outdoors / 15-20 minutes / Families and adults

Animal Encounters

Come face-to-face with some of the mountain’s educational animal ambassadors.
Saturday & Sundays  2 PM at the Williams Outdoor Learning Space located next to the Wilson Center
Outdoors / 30 minutes / all ages

Random Acts of Science

Join an educator for an activity in the Wilson Center.  The activities can include, but are not limited to, learning about native plants and animals, using weather instruments to record data, investigating minerals, skulls, or even tiny organisms under a microscope.
Monday-Friday 11 AM & 2 PM / Saturday & Sundays 11 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM at Wilson Center
Indoors / 30-45 minutes / Elementary, middle, and high school students and families

Ramble with a Naturalist

Take a short stroll with a naturalist for seasonal topics – including wildflowers, weather, pollinators, mushrooms, butterflies, fall color and more.
Saturdays & Sundays 1 PM at the Pollinator Garden (behind the Wilson Center) / Daily during the Rhododendron bloom and fall color season
Outdoors / 20-40 minutes / Families & adults

May Wildlife Rehab Center Animal Talks

Meet some of the ambassador animals from Lees-McRae College’s May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Learn about these birds, animal rehabilitation and how we can all help protect wildlife.
Saturday 11 AM – 1 PM at the Williams Outdoor Learning Space (beside the Wilson Center)
Outdoors / all ages / Every Saturday May 25 – July 20

Find out more here