Calendar of Events

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online, using the the link below.
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Boogerman Loop 
7.4 miles | Difficult
Cataloochee Valley History, Old Growth Poplars, Elk

2021 CLASSIC HIKES OF THE SMOKIES

Discover America’s most-visited national park with a guided day hike! The Classic Hikes of the Smokies feature interpretation of the history, flora, and fauna of park trails. Hikes vary in distance, difficulty, and location within the park to provide a comprehensive overview of the Smokies, exposing hikers to high Appalachian vistas, streams teeming with aquatic life, the best collection of log structures on the Eastern Seaboard, and much more.

After completing registration…
You will receive an email the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes begin at 9 a.m

We meet at the parking area of the French Broad River. We leave for the hike no later than 9:10 a.m. and hike 2.5 miles on the MTS trail and back for a total 5 miles hike. We walk at a pretty swift pace (2.7 to 3 mph). Hike is designed for fitness and conversation. We don’t take a break until we reach the turn around point, then we stop for brief water break. We repeat this hike on Friday. Then move on with our regular rotation of hikes.

Hikers who are new to hiking will likely be more comfortable on another meet up hike designed for people who are just beginning hiking or trying to get into shape for hiking. You might consider “WNC Easy Hikers Group,” for instance.

We meet at the parking area of the French Broad River off of Brevard Road. Coming from Asheville, go through the light at the arboretum intersection and you will see the parking area almost immediately on your left. We leave no later than 9:10 a.m. I think this is called the Brent Creek River Park.

Wells Funeral Home is presenting a starlight luminary display around the grounds of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Candler, NC on Monday, December 6 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Inclement weather make-up date is Wednesday, December 8). This drive-through event will feature approximately 2,000 luminaries as well as seasonal music.

The luminary experience is free with donations accepted to support DayStay Adult Day Services. Based in Candler, DayStay is a non-profit adult day care providing daytime, weekday care for elderly and impaired adults.

DayStay fosters socialization to support the dignity and self-esteem of each participant and provides an affordable alternative to institutionalism. Through respite care and resource information, the program seeks to support family caregivers in their efforts to provide care to the aging or impaired adult in the home for as long as possible. Center participants include adults who experience a lack of socialization, depression, Alzheimer’s, dementia, are at risk of falling, or who need limited assistance with daily personal care.

DayStay participants take part in diverse programs including arts and crafts, music, chair exercise, games, trivia, gardening, and more. Activities are adapted to meet the individual needs of each participant. All activities are conducted in such a manner that each participant can succeed without shame or risk of failure.

DayStay is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. DayStay’s daily rate is intentionally kept low so that families can take advantage of this cost-effective service. Financial assistance is provided through grants and scholarships. For more information on DayStay Adult Day Services, visit www.daystayasheville.com or call (828) 665-1575.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park is located at 1 Chapel of Faith Drive, Candler. Additional event information can be found on the Wells Funeral Home website, www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

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You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh was published in 2010. This book has a 5 star rating with 1560 reviews. We will discuss this book during an online zoom call. This book is available in print, audio, and Kindle formats. Use this link to purchase https://tinyurl.com/brubf48j

Description of the book: Cut through the busyness and anxieties of daily life to discover the simple happiness of living in the present moment, as taught by a world-renowned Zen monk

In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh—Zen monk, author, and meditation master—distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. But true mindfulness, Hanh explains, is not an escape. It is being in the present moment, totally alive and free.

Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, You Are Here offers a range of effective practices for cultivating mindfulness and staying in the present moment—including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. These teachings will empower you to witness the wonder of life and transform your suffering, both within and outside you, into compassion, tenderness, and peace. As Thich Nhat Hanh declares, “the energy of mindfulness is the energy of the Buddha, and it can be produced by anybody.” It is as simple as breathing in and breathing out.

7 miles | Moderate Forest Walk, Holiday Celebration

2021 CLASSIC HIKES OF THE SMOKIES

Discover America’s most-visited national park with a guided day hike! The Classic Hikes of the Smokies feature interpretation of the history, flora, and fauna of park trails. Hikes vary in distance, difficulty, and location within the park to provide a comprehensive overview of the Smokies, exposing hikers to high Appalachian vistas, streams teeming with aquatic life, the best collection of log structures on the Eastern Seaboard, and much more.

After completing registration…
You will receive an email the Friday before the hike with directions, and more information. All hikes begin at 9 a.m

Come get your dance on — let’s ring in the New Year together with a fully conscious, alcohol-free, playful and pleasurable evening together.

Hosted at Making Whole by SeekHealing. Evening will begin at 7pm with a meal and facilitated Connection Practice meeting focused on setting intentions for the new year.

Dancing begins at 9:30pm; mixture of live DJ sets and playlists: electronica, hip-hop, house, glitch-hop, and vapor-twitch.

In addition to the evening meal, SeekHealing will be providing a classy mocktails bar and also serving a variety of delicious, infused water.

💜A 45-60 min. practice centered around VISION and creating the best year possible in 2022

💜An introduction to some really great essential oils and ways to add them to your practice and daily life.

💜An introduction to vision boarding + all the supplies you need to create your board during the workshop (poster board, scissors, glue and magazines provided)

💜Oils to take home with you (there will be an option to have these shipped for those participating on Zoom)

💜An opportunity to purchase oils (and any other doTERRA products) at wholesale prices.

💜A welcoming community, fun, and more!

Join Namaste in Nature for a reflective meditation walk in the Park. De-stress during this peaceful hike focused on reconnecting with nature and yourself. Bring your partner or a friend and enjoy this mindfulness experience focused on the season of love and warmth.

Where: Carvers Gap on Roan Mountain Distance: 2.6 miles total. ~600 ft elevation gain. Difficulty: Moderate (5). Trail conditions will be icy. Cost: FREE for all participants Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on February 13 for a hike from Carver’s Gap to Jane Bald in the Highlands of Roan. Participants will travel 2.6 miles atop the highest elevation balds in the Highlands of Roan, widely considered the most spectacular scenery along the Appalachian Trail. At the peak of Jane Bald, we will enjoy a natural, unobstructed 360-degree view. We hope to come across hoar frost and rime ice on our hike. Hoar frost and rime ice are beautiful ice formations that appear after a cold night. However, they form in different ways. Rime ice forms on nights when a cold fog or cloud cover is present. When supercooled water droplets in the fog come in contact with a surface below freezing, the water droplets freeze on contact. On the other hand, hoar frost forms on clear nights when gaseous water vapor freezes onto a below-freezing surface, bypassing the liquid phase. While hiking, our goal will be to find these ice formations. Note: There are many stretches of the trail covered with thick ice. Trekking poles are highly recommended. The weather for Sunday has highs in the mid-20s with a slight chance of snow. Please plan and dress accordingly.