About the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs is a volunteer based non-profit, support organization created to further the mission, environmental education programs, conservation projects and natural resource management efforts at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. The Board organizes fund-raising initiatives to provide financial, program and environmental education support. Board also works with the staff to support on-going volunteer efforts as well as advocating to raise awareness to promote the nature preserve and nature center as valuable community resources.
About Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is a 140 acre registered state natural area located in Cary, NC. The majority of the preserve is comprised of land owned by the State of North Carolina with a small parcel owned by the Town of Cary. Access to the preserve, parking and a small nature/visitor center are located on the Town's property. A little over two miles of trails are available for walking, quiet recreation and nature study. Designated as a State Nature Preserve, Hemlock Bluffs is a unique natural area, created to protect wildlife habitat and preserve the Eastern Hemlock trees on the property. The on-site staff offer environmental education programs to provide insight into the conservation, biology and ecology of the preserve. Click here to find out more about Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
The preserve is open daily from 9:00 am - sunset.
Address: 2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518
Current Happenings
The Jandy Ammons Foundation Provides Funding
for Another Friends' Project in 2018
A generous grant of $12,500 has been provided for exhibit renovations to the "Our Environment Wall", specifically the "Wildlife In Action" display. The Jandy Ammons Foundation provided funds for the highly successful Children's Nature Trail project in 2015 and will partner with the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs again to integrate technology and videography into this exhibit to bring Hemlock Bluffs' native wildlife to life for visitors. Grant funds received in January 2018, will be used initially for planning and exhibit design beginning early in the year. Completion of the new display will be toward the end of October 2018. Staff and the Friends Board are looking forward to partnering with The Jandy Ammons Foundation on another fun and educational project to benefit the children and all visitors of Hemlock Bluffs over the next year.
Initial exhibit design development created by Point Concept, Inc. of Raleigh. Staff, The Friends and the designers will continue to work on design, text and artifacts to be incorporated into the exhibit panel and the associated space allocated for the new display.
Touchscreen video loops and technology to be provided by Digital P of Cary.
Touchscreen video loops and technology to be provided by Digital P of Cary.
Go to The Cary's Showing of "Jane"
to Support The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs!
Thanks to The Cary for supporting The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs in this fundraising effort!
Watch Our New Video! Click on the Screen Above.
Please Support our
Exhibit Improvement Project
Click the "Donate Now" button
on this page!
You may also for provide a contribution by mailing a check made payable to:
Friends of Hemlock Bluffs
PO Box 62
Cary, NC 27512
Thank You For Your Involvement!
GO ASK MOM Covers New, Upcoming Video Upgrades in the Stevens Nature Center
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs are working to assist the Town of Cary to upgrade the displays in the Stevens Nature Center. Part of the exhibit improvements include new videos in the nature center mini theater. The Friends have entered into an agreement with Digital P, a local videography and technology firm to film the "welcome video" for the exhibit hall and to upgrade the playback equipment in the mini theater. Click the button below to see an article on the project and to see a sneak peek of the dramatic videography.
Fall Membership Social and Paver Dedication
Sub Sandwiches Donated by Publix at Millpond Village
Music Provided by the Celtic Mariners
Saturday, November 4th 2017
National Public Lands Day
Saturday, September 29, 2017
Late September marks the time for National Public Lands Day. On the national level, most National Parks allow visitors free entry into the parks with their family to enjoy a day of adventure , hiking and picnicking. At the local level, folks may go out and enjoy boating, fishing or a greenway. At Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve the tradition is one of stewardship, where the community comes together to give back to the preserve. People come together to maintain the trails, gardens, and park amenities for the benefit of all who come after.
"Volunteers are so important to Hemlock Bluffs. You help us keep the Preserve well maintained." stated
Mark Johns, the Park Manager in his opening remarks, "We really couldn't do what we do without volunteers. We have a small staff and volunteers help us continue to serve our visitors".
REI Cary provided t-shirts for all the volunteers and c0-sponsored the event. They are a long-time sponsor of volunteer events at Hemlock Bluffs. The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs provided the volunteers with lunch after the workday.
Beth Wilson, the Preserve's Volunteer Coordinator at the time followed up with a letter to all the volunteers acknowledging the work that was accomplished and how important volunteers are to Hemlock Bluffs:
Dear Hemlock Bluffs volunteers,
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in our workday celebrating National Public Land's Day. We are so grateful to all of you who made it possible. We were able to address some much needed maintenance tasks around the preserve. We intended to mulch some heavy use areas on the Swift Creek Loop Trail, but you all made it around the whole trail! We replaced spent flowers with fresh, native plants around the gardens, and added some new elements to our Children's Garden. Additionally, we were able to install some No-Skid strips to some of the Swift Creek stairs and freshen the bench boxes on the Chestnut Oak trail with fresh gravel.
The staff of Hemlock Bluffs does not want to lose sight of the fact that you were all willing to give up your time to work, and work hard, to preserve the beauty of this exceptional site. With your help we were able to accomplish 160 hours of work in just 2.5 hours! Although you all left a little dirtier and with much less energy than you arrived, we hope you enjoyed the experience and fellowship as much as we did. We hope that you will soon return to enjoy the fruits of your labors in a walk, a program, or future volunteer activities. With your continued support we will be able to sustain this unique area for generations to come.
Beth Wilson and the Hemlock Bluffs Staff
Recent Donations - Thank You!
A recent, recurring donation was made through the "Support Us" Button on our webpage! One of our generous supporters and a fan of Hemlock Bluffs' nature programs made a $500.00 donation to the Friends of Hemlock Buffs. Not only did she make the donation for this year, she made the decision to allow the donation to be deducted from her credit card every January as a continuing charitable gift.
A $300.00 donation was also recently received in the mail from an on-going contributor, Molly Paul. Molly, a young entrepreneur, makes turtle soaps and sells them at a variety of venues, then re-invests the proceeds to benefit nature and wildlife. Molly has helped out at Hemlock Bluffs as a volunteer over the years, and has most recently served on the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs Board as a member-at-large.
Learn more about Molly at: https://www.zeemee.com/mollypaul
The staff of Hemlock Bluffs had requested that we work together to elevate the educational efforts in the nature center, including the nature center's exhibit hall. This year our primary focus is on updating the videos for the mini theater. We have applied for and received grants to update the videos and technology in the exhibit hall including; hiring a videographer and purchasing and installing updated video playback equipment. Donations like these, that come unsolicited, also help us work toward meeting our goals.
A $300.00 donation was also recently received in the mail from an on-going contributor, Molly Paul. Molly, a young entrepreneur, makes turtle soaps and sells them at a variety of venues, then re-invests the proceeds to benefit nature and wildlife. Molly has helped out at Hemlock Bluffs as a volunteer over the years, and has most recently served on the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs Board as a member-at-large.
Learn more about Molly at: https://www.zeemee.com/mollypaul
The staff of Hemlock Bluffs had requested that we work together to elevate the educational efforts in the nature center, including the nature center's exhibit hall. This year our primary focus is on updating the videos for the mini theater. We have applied for and received grants to update the videos and technology in the exhibit hall including; hiring a videographer and purchasing and installing updated video playback equipment. Donations like these, that come unsolicited, also help us work toward meeting our goals.
Molly Paul, our Teen Supporter
Children's Nature Trail |
Molly's Turtle Soaps, an environmental fund-raiser.
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How big is that bird?
Update on the Children's Nature Trail
Caroline and her Dad are dedicated volunteers who have spent hours sprucing up around Hemlock Bluffs. They recently put their talents to work by painting bird silhouettes on the outside of the "little nature center" in the Children's Nature Trail area. Kids will be able to see how big a Barred Owl or Coopers Hawk wing span is and compare how they measure up.
The Children's Nature Trail has taken shape since 2015, and we love hearing feedback from parents and visitors who enjoy it. Thanks to Caroline and her Dad for their continued artistic support of Hemlock Bluffs and their willingness to implement the ideas we throw at them.
Thank you Activate Good, HagerSmith Design, REI,
Jandy Ammons Foundation, Susanne Portanova, private donors, local businesses, Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients, local volunteers and the Town of Cary.
This has truly been a community project and it is LOVED by our youngest visitors!
Show your Support by Volunteering
Every year individuals and groups can join forces with the nature center staff to help beautify the trails at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve during two major volunteer workdays. If you enjoy walking, strolling and hiking the trails at the Preserve - consider giving back by volunteering to help with trail work. Come out and work with others who treasure Hemlock Bluffs, you'll feel good about giving back, meet other like-minded people and get a workout in as well!
Sponsors for the event include REI, who typically provides event t-shirts and the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs, who provide lunch.
Volunteer workdays are scheduled throughout the year for organized groups and the general public as well. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers each year; trails are mulched and edged, gardens are maintained and many other Preserve amenities are cared for throughout Hemlock Bluffs.
There's always trail mulching to be done. It's nice to have dedicated volunteers who know how it's done!
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Volunteers worked in the bed on the hillside between the parking lots. It requires a lot of bending over! Not easy work.
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There's always mulching to be done at Hemlock Bluffs. It's nice to have willing volunteers ready to lend a hand!
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The more loads you wheel down the trail, the less you load into the wheelbarrow. It gets harder and harder to push!
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Order A Custom Engraved Paver Place Your Order for a Custom Engraved Paver! Memories and Messages Saved in Stone With a $100 donation, you can save special memories, messages or dedications to that special person in stone. This personalized concrete paver will be a lasting symbol for years of enjoyment. Pavers have been purchased for a variety of reasons over the years; in memorial for a loved one, to honor a beloved pet, as a love token, and even as a marriage proposal! What unique way can you think of to "carve your name in stone"? Engraved Pavers make a unique gift idea. Our engraver/vendor must have at least 25 orders to begin engraving; so depending on how many orders have been received, the installation time of your paver may be the week following the placement of your order or several months later. When pavers are installed, the Friends organize a dedication ceremony and invite both those who ordered the pavers and those to whom they are dedicated. We currently have one dedication ceremony each year. Typically orders placed in the beginning of the calendar year are recognized in the Fall of the same year. Many supporters purchase pavers year after year after year. Won't you join us? |
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Jan and Andy Ammons
Friends Receive Grant from Jandy Ammons Foundation
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs received a $9,000 grant from the Jandy Ammons Foundation in the fall of 2014. The funding was provided for educational elements to supplement the initial phases of the Children’s Nature Trail at Hemlock Bluffs. The Jandy Ammons Foundation which funds local greenway, park and greenspace projects, came on board to assist with funding for additional trail features to enhance the educational nature of the trail. Initially, the money was used for the large-scale turtle stepper elements and the hand-crafted ceramic bird silhouettes. After the trail was dedicated in June, the rest of the funds were used for interpretive signs, and a playhouse which will serve as a mini nature center.
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs received a $9,000 grant from the Jandy Ammons Foundation in the fall of 2014. The funding was provided for educational elements to supplement the initial phases of the Children’s Nature Trail at Hemlock Bluffs. The Jandy Ammons Foundation which funds local greenway, park and greenspace projects, came on board to assist with funding for additional trail features to enhance the educational nature of the trail. Initially, the money was used for the large-scale turtle stepper elements and the hand-crafted ceramic bird silhouettes. After the trail was dedicated in June, the rest of the funds were used for interpretive signs, and a playhouse which will serve as a mini nature center.
Need a Gift Idea for Anytime of the Year?
Need any last minute gift ideas or need to get something for someone that has everything??? Look no further!
All you have to do is go online to amazon.com and search Friends of Hemlock Bluffs or click on the link below and you will be taken to the "Wish List" for the Stevens Nature Center! Purchase an item to donate on behalf of a friend, family or co-worker! This is a wonderful opportunity to give a gift in so many ways!
All purchases will be used to enhance the environmental education opportunities at the Stevens Nature Center!
Check out the needs of the nature center and donate today:
Need any last minute gift ideas or need to get something for someone that has everything??? Look no further!
All you have to do is go online to amazon.com and search Friends of Hemlock Bluffs or click on the link below and you will be taken to the "Wish List" for the Stevens Nature Center! Purchase an item to donate on behalf of a friend, family or co-worker! This is a wonderful opportunity to give a gift in so many ways!
All purchases will be used to enhance the environmental education opportunities at the Stevens Nature Center!
Check out the needs of the nature center and donate today:
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Donation of iPad
The Friends of Hemlock Bluffs have provided the preserve staff with an iPad to use in their many educational program. The iPad is equipped with a data plan, and is backed with Geek Squad protection. We purchased a LifeProof case for the iPad so that staff are able to use the device at the creek and throughout the preserve in order to identify and catalog the many species of plants, trees, insects and animals the participants encounter in the field. The iPad was recently used to photo and video document the controlled burn near West Hemlock Bluffs. These photos and the video footage will help document how the Preserve's controlled fire regime plays a role in wildlife habitat management and plant diversity within Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. |
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Friends of Hemlock Bluffs Newsletters
You may click on the issue of the newsletter you are interested in below.
You may click on the issue of the newsletter you are interested in below.
| fall_2015_newsletter.pdf |
| fall_2016_newsletter.pdf |
| summer_2016_newsletter.pdf |
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If you'd like to receive Friends of Hemlock Bluffs email newsletters (typically quarterly)
and updates (not more than monthly), please feel free to sign up below:
