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 Lodge and journey out into the fields and forests with Steve 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. 

Pricing Schedule

2-3 hour program: $25.00/person

Payment is expected on the date of the program. 

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 rattlesnakesthen there is a possibility that you could accompany Steve into the field on a tracking day.  Please contact me if you have questions.      

Visit Us Today!

The Earthshine Nature Center is the physical home of Earthshine Nature Programs.  It is the home to  our resident education animals as well as the base of our research projects including Turtle Tracks, R&R, and our Amphibian Chytrid fungus monitoring project.  The nature center is located in the Rabbit Hole under the front porch of Earthshine Mountain Lodge. If you would like to visit the 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 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 plastic didgeridoo to decorate and take home. 

Pricing Schedule

1-1.5 hour programs: $225 *This program costs $50 more than Steve's other programs due to the cost of supplies.

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 Lodge 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.

Pricing Schedule

2-2.5 hour program: $20.00/person

Payment is expected on the date of the program.  

Do you love nature?  Have you ever wanted to follow a naturalist in his travels in the field? If so then now it your chance!  Join Earthshine Naturalist Steve O'Neil on one of his many forays into the fields and forests of Western North Carolina searching for all kinds of naturally nerdy things.  

Nature Nerds programs include:  Calling Frog Crawl--takes place at night surrounded by thousands of calling (croaking) frogs *Spring-summer only.  Eastern Box Turtle radio tracking and data  collection (this is a more in depth version of the Turtle Tracks program.)  Snakes 101--learn all you ever wanted to know about snakes.  Turtles 101-all about turtles. Salamanders 101--all about salamanders.  Coverboard monitoring for reptiles and amphibians--visit all of ENP's cover board sites looking for reptiles and amphibians.  Macro and Microscopic pondwater analysis--collect water from several different sources around Earthshine and even bring some from your home and then analyze it under the microscope and compare the results.  Carnivorous plant study--learn all about plants that eat meat! Didgeridoo workshops--learn all about one of the most ancient musical instruments in the world. 

After participating in a Nature Nerds program you will be awarded a Nature Nerds certificate of nerdy nature knowledge.  After participating in all of ENP's Nature Nerd programs listed above you will receive a free Nature Nerd T-shirt (coming soon).   

Anyone is welcome to participate in a nature Nerds program.  If under 18 you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Nature Nerd programs take place on the grounds of Earthshine Mountain Lodge in Lake Toxaway, NC.   For more information please contact us today.

Pricing Schedule

Each 2-2.5 hour program: $25.00/person

Your nerdy payment is expected on the nerdy date of each nerdy nature program.  

For grades 4-6, here's a science program unlike any other. A typical three-day program starts with a nice uneventful arrival and peaceful lunch. But then everything goes out the window when a wild eyed, half-crazed mountain man storms in and steals the whole group away into an old mountain folktale. This tale becomes its own reality and generates a momentum that rifles joyfully through the next two days of dynamic experiential learning.  Topics include: Geology, Hydrology, Botany, Connectedness and Animal Adaptations.  

For more information on this program check out Earth Explorers. 

Earth Explorers is a program offering by Earthshine Mountain Lodge.  

 Bring a friend or the entire family to beautiful Earthshine Mountain Lodge for an unforgettable half day nature education hike.  Begin or end your hike with a mountain fancy lunch in the lodge.  Following a naturalist, you will explore mountain ridges, forested coves and riparian habitats where you will learn about the area’s wonderful plants and animals.  We will investigate the life in a mountain stream, peer into the nooks and niches of massive rock outcrops in search of crayfish and salamanders learn all about our forest friends from box turtles to black bears.  Whether you are a visitor from afar or a seasoned naturalist, this adventure will be sure to take you down the trail less traveled so call us today for more information.  This is a moderate level hike designed for ages 12 and up.

This is a program offering by Earthshine Mountain Lodge.  

The Earthshine Turtle Tracks and Nature Notes Newsletter is an email based free newsletter that follows the Turtle Tracks project and other nature happenings at Earthshine Mountain Lodge.  The newsletter is published 3-5 times/year and is free to all subscribers.  Sign up now!