EARTHSHINE NATURE

Turtle Tracks is a unique wildlife conservation,  research and environmental education  program that is studying the Eastern Box Turtle.  We are following several wild box turtles with mark-recapture and radio telemetry techniques in order to learn more about their habits, habitats and interactions with humans and our domestic animals.  Visit us at Earthshine Discovery Center and journey out into the fields and forests with a guide on your very own turtle tracking expedition where you will get to experience what it is like to be a wildlife researcher following a wild box turtle!  

Many turtle tracking expeditions are filmed by Steve and placed on his youtube.com site so you can watch your field expedition online once you return home.  Check out a video compilation of the 2008 turtle tracking season  here to see Turtle Tracks in action!

For detailed information on the Turtle Tracks project you can check out the main Turtle Tracks page here. 

CLICK HERE to Schedule your Turtle Tracking Expedition

Pricing Schedule

2-3 hour program: $25.00/person

Payment is expected on the date of the program.

Make checks payble to Earthshine Nature Programs 

Snake Tracks, like Turtle Tracks,  is also a wildlife conservation,  research and environmental education  program that is studying the Timber Rattlesnake.  Currently, we are following the movements of two wild rattlesnakes with  radio telemetry techniques in order to learn more about their natural movements in the deep forests near Earthshine.  We have named the male snake Utsa'nätï --the Cherokee word for Rattlesnake and the female Zoe.  We plan to follow them for several years in order to learn all that we can about their travels and to educate you on the interesting, beautiful and greatly misunderstood life of the Timber rattlesnake.  We will bring you updates on their travels on their  blog in the form of photos, videos and maps but unlike Turtle Tracks we do not plan to take folks into the field in search of him or reveal their exact locations...for obvious reasons.   Follow in Snake Tracks on their website.  

Note: If you are a herpetologist, biologist, naturalist or scientist with a genuine interest and a valid reason to visit the rattlesnakes then there is a possibility that you could accompany Steve into the field on a tracking day.  Please contact us if you have questions.      

Visit Us Today!

The Earthshine Nature Center at The Earthshine Discovery Center is the original  home of Earthshine Nature Programs.  ENP also operates a second facility on the campus of The Academy at Trails Carolina.  Both sites are home to our resident education animals as well as the sites of our research projects including Turtle Tracks, Snake Tracks, R&R, and more.  If you would like to visit the Earthshine nature center just contact Steve at 828-606-8939 or Earthshine's office at 828-862-4207 for reservations. 

All visits to the Nature Center are COST FREE!  ...donations are gladly accepted.  

Earthshine Nature Programs will come to you! 

Wildlife Programs: Learn about our native wildlife and nature in a hands on program where you will meet many of our education animals in a one on one face to face way that you will never forget!  Wildlife program choices include reptiles and amphibians, animal adaptations, habitats, endangered species and wildlife conservation, native wildlife, connectedness and the web of life.  

Pricing Schedule

1-1.5 hour programs: $175

Contact us if you would like a program to be longer than  1.5 hours or you would like to have multiple programs in the same day.  We offer discounts for multiple programs on the same day.  

Payment is expected on the date of the program.  However, if you have honest trouble paying for your program due to budget restrictions and the like please  do not feel like this will limit you from having a program at your school or event.  There may be limited grants avaliable to cover part or even 100% of the program so please contact us  so we can talk about other payment options. 

Also, depending on the size of your class or group, there is always the option of having each child bring $5-$10 to help pay for the program. 

The Nature of the Didgeridoo: This is a unique program about the ancient Australian Aboriginal musical instrument the Didgeridoo.   The Didgeridoo literally has its roots in the nature of the Outback of Australia and the sound and story of the Didgeridoo is unique and unusually beautiful and a must for all to experience.  Steve will bring his Didgeridoos to you, tell you a part factual and part mythical story about the creation of the worlds oldest woodwind instrument while demonstrating how to play and then everyone will have the opportunity to construct their own bamboo* didgeridoo to decorate and take home. 

*bamboo is locally grown and harvested by Steve.

Pricing Schedule

1.5-2 hour programs: $225 *This program costs $50 more than Steve's other programs due to the cost of supplies and longer prep time--but it is well worth it.

SPECIAL EVENTS!  Steve will bring his critters and/or his didgeridoos to you for your birthday party, wedding, shindig, corporate retreat or any other event you can dream up!

Pricing Schedule 1.5hr-2hour programs $175-300 (variable based on which programs you want and distance from base.)

If you are interested in booking Steve for an outreach program or special event at your school, church or other organization/facility please email or call him today for more information at 828-606-8939

Rowdy with reptiles is a reptile and amphibian census study that turns you into a citizen scientist.   Follow Naturalist Steve on a hike through the fields and forests surrounding  Earthshine Discovery Center as you search under specially placed and constructed wildlife habit in search of snakes, lizards and other wildlife that are attracted to these cover-boards.  When an animal is found it is always a great teachable moment and often everyone will get to meet the new discoveries one-on-one.  We will also learn about the travels of the Eastern Box Turtle and Timber Rattlesnake, map reading, wildlife habitats and seasonal movements and more.  This is hands-on conservation based discovery learning at it's best!  This program is offered from May 01- October 31.

CLICK HERE to Schedule your Expedition

Pricing Schedule

2-2.5 hour program: $25.00/person

Payment is expected on the date of the program.  

The Earthshine Nature Blog is an email based free blog that that follows the Turtle Tracks, Snake Tracks projects and other nature happenings at Earthshine Nature.  To read and follow the blog just click here.