Nature Programs

Great Trails State Day is October 17!

Join us in celebrating North Carolina’s amazing network of trails, from mountain peaks to coastal paths, and the people who build, maintain, and love them. Whether you’re hiking, biking, paddling, or strolling your local greenway, take time to enjoy and share why you love the #GreatTrailsState. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 17! Tag @GreatTrailsNC and use #GreatTrailsStateDay to show how you’re getting outside! Learn more at greattrailsnc.com.

Come meet some of the ambassador animals and learn how they live both in the wild and at the center while they enjoy a reptile-ready meal! Each program will feature a snake and a box turtle. Participants meet at Halyburton Park (4099 S. 17th St).

This program is $2 and can be enjoyed by those 3 years of age and older.

Registration is required.

Register here.

Click here for more information.

Dates:  First Wednesday of the month. Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 - December 2nd, 2026

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Join park staff for a leisurely bird-watching stroll around Halyburton Park the first Friday of each month. We’ll search for migrants, residents, and point out year-round species too. These walks are for beginner birders and all are welcome. Participants meet at Halyburton Park (4099 S. 17th St). 

Registration is required.

Register here!

Click here for more information.

Dates: First Friday of each month. September 4th, 2026 - December 4th, 2026.

Times: 9:00am-10:30am

Discover a new way to explore the park each month with the Walk and Learn series. Each hike will focus on a different and unique aspect of the park- from natural history to cultural relevance to health and wellness. Available for those 16 years of age and older. FREE Program.

Register here!

Program Dates:  Third Saturday of each month. September 19th, 2026 - December 19th, 2026.

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am

Please click here for more information.

Bring your “Little Explorers” out to the park and discover nature through a hikes in the park, experiments, and activities. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. Available for those between 2 & 5 years of age. $3.00/participant. Register here.

Click here for more information.

Explore local birding hotspots discovering the diversity of resident and migratory bird species. Participants must provide their own transportation unless otherwise specified. Pre-registration required | Ages 18+ | Limited space! | Register here! 

Click here for more information.

Kids Night Out is coming to Halyburton Park! Enjoy a night off with your friends and family while the park keeps an eye on the kids. Participants can look forward to enjoying a variety of nature activities, a themed walk around the park’s forest, and even indulge in some pizza for dinner.

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

This program is $5/participant and can be enjoyed by those between the years of 5 -13 years of age. Register here!

Click here for more information.

Join Cape Fear Bird Observatory for a workshop highlighting the work they do banding migratory bird species and find out more about their free public banding demos at Greenfield Lake Park. Free to attend. Ages 12/up.

Registration is required.

Migration Banding Workshop will be September 18th, 2026, from 1:00pm-3:00pm will take place at Halyburton Park | Banding Demo will be September 19th, 2026, from 6:00am-10:00am at Greenfield Lake.

Register here.

Click here for more information.

Learn about local wildlife while crafting during this program held in the Event center with a presentation on animals of Halyburton Park, followed by guided stamp carving. You will leave with newfound knowledge, and your own linocut stamp! Open to all experience levels. Ages 16/up.

Date: December 12th, 2026

Time: 10:00am-11:30am

Location: Halyburton Park Nature Center

Cost: $10.00

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Click here for more information.

When: Backpacks can be rented Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Must have a form of identification)

What: Each backpack contains lessons, activities and equipment to learn about birds, mammals, insects, nature journaling and ponds.

Cost: Free same day rental/check out

Contact a staff member who will contact you to arrange pickup: Andy Fairbanks (Also available at both the Davis and MLK Community Centers)

Check out these really cool 'How-To' videos! 

Stop by the Nature and Event center for a festive and fun-filled afternoon of winter and holiday themed ornament making and nature activities. Ages 6/up

Date: December 19, 2026

Time: 12:00pm-3:00pm

Location: Halyburton Park Nature Center

Cost: $10.00

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Click here for more information.

Join us for an afternoon of pumpkin carving and themed nature activities before trick or treating! Admission will include a pumpkin for each participant to carve. Ages 6/up.

Date: October 31, 2026

Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Location: Halyburton Park Nature Center

Cost: $10.00

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Click here for more information.

Halyburton Park staff offers a variety of programs for schools, homeschool groups, afterschool programs, and summer camps. Our programs are geared toward children in grades pre-k through 5th.

To submit an inquiry, complete the booking form(PDF, 14MB)  and submit to Julia Kjelland at julia.kjelland@wilmingtonnc.gov.

Click here!

When: Backpacks can be rented Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Must have a form of identification)

What: Each backpack contains lessons, activities and equipment to learn about birds, mammals, insects, nature journaling and ponds. How-to videos with Halyburton Park’s education staff are available online as well as ideas on how and where to explore.

Cost: Freesame day rental/check out

Contact a staff member who will contact you to arrange pickup: Yosha Martinez (Also available at both the MLK and Halyburton Park centers)

A seed library is just how it sounds: it loans seeds to gardeners.  A seed library takes some time and effort to put together, but the way the library works is very simple:

1.  Fill out a Seed Library Membership Form(PDF, 98KB)

2. “Borrow” seeds by filling out Seed Request Form from the library at planting time. Each ‘library cardholder’ may check out up to three packets of seeds per visit.

3.  At the end of the growing season, harvest the seeds from the plants and return a portion of the seeds to the library. Staff will put them into circulation so that everyone can try their hand at growing them.

Location: Davis Center at Maides Park, 1101 Manly Ave.
Seed Library Brochure(PDF, 2MB)

When: Backpacks can be rented Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Must have a form of identification)

What: Each backpack contains lessons, activities and equipment to learn about birds, mammals, insects, nature journaling and ponds. How-to videos with Halyburton Park’s education staff are available online as well as ideas on how and where to explore.

Cost: Free same day rental/check out

Contact a staff member who will contact you to arrange pickup: Mary Jones. (Also available at both the Davis and Halyburton Park centers)