Nature Programs

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: Hope Grubbs (Also available at both the Davis and MLK Community Centers)

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

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. 

Spooktacular Nature (October 25, 2024) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Dinnertime Discovery (November 22, 2024) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

One Cold Moon (December 13, 2024) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Winter Wonderland (December 20, 2024) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

All About Animals (January 1, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Snow Day Spectacular (January 24, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Love in Little Ways (February 14, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

At Home in Nature (February 28, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Lunar Exploration (March 14, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Signs of Spring (March 28, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Blooming Bonanza (April 11, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Aviation Adaptations (April 25, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Magical Meteorology (May 9, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Turtley Awesome Times (May 23, 2025) 
Friday 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Feed your curiosity at the Creature Feature where each month shines a spotlight on one of the unique species that call Halyburton Park their home! Pizza included. Available for those 6 years of age and older. $5.00/participant.

Grey Squirrels (December 6, 2024 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.)

• Bound on by to learn about the playful antics, clever habits, and importance of grey squirrels through games and outdoor exploration.

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Northern Cardinals (January 3, 2025 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.)

• Fly on in to get to know the Northern Cardinal, one of our recognizable year-round residents. Fly on in to get to know the Northern Cardinal, one of our most recognizable year-round residents.

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The Eastern Newt (March 5, 2025 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.)

• Scuttle in to learn about the Eastern Newt and discover the many changes this amphibian experiences throughout its life.

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Treemendous Tree Frogs (April 4, 2025 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.)

• Hop over to celebrate National Frog Month by meeting and learning about the tree frogs at Halyburton Park.

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Speedy Serpents: Black Racer (May 9, 2025 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.)

• Slither on over to learn about one of the fastest snakes in the southeast and have a chance to meet our resident Black Racer, Kirby.

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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 6 years of age and older. FREE Program.

Decomposition Expedition (November 15, 2024 & November 16, 2024 from 11 a.m. to noon)

• Break down the mystery of nature’s decomposers and learn how organisms like fungi and snails play an essential part in the cycle of life.

   

Hibernation Celebration (December 20, 2024 & December 21, 2024 from 11 a.m. to noon)

• Celebrate the cozy wonders of winter slumber, as educators teach participants about the fascinating adaptations of animals who snuggle up for a long nap.

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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).

This program is free and can be enjoyed by those 6 years of age and older. 

• Friday, November 8, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, December 6, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, January 3, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  
• Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, March 7, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, April 4, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, May 2, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

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Explore local birding hotspots discovering the diversity of resident and migratory bird species. Participants must provide their own transportation unless otherwise specified. This program can be enjoyed by those 16 years of age and older. Register here! 

• Trip to Fort Fisher on November 15, 2024 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to Topsail Island on December 19, 2024 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to Carolina Beach State Park on January 16, 2025 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to Brunswick Town on February 13, 2025 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to Greenfield Park on March 20, 2025 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to Holly shelter Game Lands on April 24, 2025 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)
• Trip to the Green Swamp on May 15, 2025 from 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. ($10/Person)

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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, 7MB) and submit to Hope Grubbs.

Halyburton Park School & Group Program Guide(PDF, 88MB)

Halyburton Park is going on tour! Check our our park pop-up schedule to see when we'll be teaching at a playground near you.

Ages: All
Cost: Free (no registration required)
Dates, Times, & Locations: TBA 

For a downloadable flyer, click here.

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 free and can be enjoyed by those 3 years of age and older. 

• Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

• Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

• Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

• Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

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Come fly by the park to learn all about what it takes to make a jar of honey - from hive to home! Please bring a 4 oz. jar to fill with Halyburton Honey.

Date: TBA
Timeslots: TBA
Cost: Free  

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.

This program is $5/participant and can be enjoyed by those between the years of 5 -12 years of age. Register here!

Dates: November 8, 2024 & February 14, 2025

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

Get down in the dirt at Halyburton Park during our Fall Mushroom Workshop Series! Hosted by the Wilmington Mushroom Club, participants will get to explore topics like identification, avoiding toxic species, and much much more. Free to attend but preregistration required.

This program is free and can be enjoyed by those 16 years of age and older.

Edible VS. Toxic Mushrooms - October 26th from 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to tell the difference between our local edible / medicinal mushrooms and their toxic look-alikes. Feel more confident when foraging & learn something new with us! Come prepared with a notebook, as class will begin with a brief 30min slideshow lecture before heading off into Halyburton Park to look for elusive fungi. This is the perfect class for beginners & those looking to deepen their knowledge of our local biome this mushroom season.

Medicinal & Tea Mushrooms - November 16th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
An introduction to our local & non-local legal medicinal fungi, how to incorporate them into your diet & how they can help maintain your mind & body! Come prepared with a notebook, as class will begin with a brief 30min slideshow lecture before heading off into Halyburton Park to look for elusive fungi. The perfect class for beginners & those looking to deepen their knowledge of our local biome.** this class will lightly (2-3 slides) cover the current science behind psilocybin mushrooms at the end, including side effects, for educational purposes only. If this topic is abrasive to you or your children, we will allow time for those to exit the class before discussion.

Tickle your funny bone and scratch the learning itch with our animal-packed April Fool’s Day at Halyburton Park. Participants will learn everything funny about fauna- from pranks animals play to ways they fool both predators and prey. Guaranteed to fill your morning with plenty of laughs and learning. Register here!

Date: April 1, 2025

Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Location: Halyburton Park

Are you an animal advocate? Do you think all critters are cute? Thinking about becoming a zookeeper or aquarist? Then this is the program for you! Get a behind-the-scenes tour with Halyburton’s animal husbandry team and learn about the ins and outs of ambassador care! Admission to the monthly animal ambassador feeding program is included with your experience! Register here!

Date: April 2, 2025

Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Halyburton Park

Coastal North Carolina is home to numerous species of birds, including many that migrate and reside here during winter. Join Andy Fairbanks with Halyburton Park to explore the various habitats in the Wilmington area to learn identification tips and tricks while observing waterfowl, sparrows, songbirds and more. We will meet at the park at 8:45am. Register here! 

When: January 22, 2025 

Cost: $10.00

Location: Halyburton Park (4099 S. 17 St)

In this two-day workshop you will learn the songs and calls of resident and migratory birds. Useful tips, tricks and mnemonics will be provided to help with identification during an afternoon classroom session. You’ll test your newly learned skills the following day with an early morning hike at Carolina Beach State Park. Register here! 

When: May 13 - May 14, 2025 

Cost: $10/Participant

Location: Halyburton Park (4099 S. 17 St)

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, 115KB)

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)

Join the Davis Center, alongside Wilmington's Mushroom Club, for a six-session Mushroom Workshop.

Ages: 13+

Times and Dates: TBD

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 availableonlineas 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)