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Who We Are:

History
In the 1970's, a group was formed to protect the land known today as Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. With determination and hard work, the Hemlock Bluffs Preservation Society was successful in their plan to protect the nature preserve under the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina. In 1995, the Cary Women's Club provided infrastructure and officers to create a support organization for the Preserve and the Stevens Nature Center. The founding members of the Hemlock Bluffs Preservation Society approached the Cary Women's Club and suggested that they use the original group name and articles of incorporation, since the group had never officially disbanded. With the consistent support of the Cary Women's Club, the Hemlock Bluffs Preservation Society funded exhibits, resources and equipment, and support for the organization grew.

In 2001, the board adopted the name "Friends of Hemlock Bluffs" to emphasize the group's mission of supporting Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and its environmental education efforts.

Interested in joining the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs? Please see the Membership tab or reach out to learn more! 

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Board Of Directors
Scott Light
Marla Dorrel
Erica Turner Smith
Laura White
Mark Johns
​James (Jim) Mason

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Please join the Board for a meeting (third Monday of each month) and see how you can get involved with the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs.  Email us at [email protected] to find out more!
Other Key Players
Stevens Nature Center Staff Representative:
  • Morgan Burns

Meet the Friends Board:

Scott Light - President; Committee Chair, Strategic Planning
An Analytical Solutions Manager with UNC Health, Scott has been an active FOHB member since 2023. He is an “outsider” at heart who frequents the trails at Hemlock Bluffs as a reminder of his childhood in the Blue Ridge Mountains. His commitment is clear when he says, “I want everyone to know that Hemlock Bluffs is more than a park. It’s a nature preserve protecting a unique habitat for future generations.”
Erica Turner Smith - Secretary; Committee Chair, Communications & Outreach
Erica works as a Quality Control Specialist at RTI International. She recently received her Master of Science in Energy Policy & Climate degree to prepare to enter the climate field in the next few years. Erica enjoyed experiencing Hemlock Bluffs during the pandemic; she joined the Friends in 2023. She is the designer of our new logo and the one we call on whenever graphic design is needed. When asked about her connection with Hemlock Bluffs, she told us, “I often visit the Bluffs to de-stress and listen to audiobooks, sometimes with my black lab, Ellie! I wanted to join the Board to give back since the Bluffs gave me so much during quarantine and beyond.”
Mark Johns - Committee Chair, Education & Programs
After having worked at Hemlock Bluffs for more than 30 years, Mark joined the board when he retired in December 2023. He enjoys the relationship with the Friends and looks forward to assisting the board in furthering its mission and the mission of Hemlock Bluffs. Ever an environmentalist, Mark says, “HB has one of the rarest natural communities in the piedmont of NC. I look forward to helping to protect this site and working with HB staff to help the public better understand how to do good things for the environment in their own backyards.”
Marla Dorrel - President-Elect; Committee Chair, Volunteer & Project Coordination
A retired government relations executive and community volunteer, Marla is a long-time member and supporter of the Friends. She also served eight years on the Cary Town Council, 1999-2007. In fact, in 1999 she announced her candidacy for Town Council at Hemlock Bluffs. Marla is a life-long birder. She loves sharing the beauty of Hemlock Bluffs with others, saying “Hemlock Bluffs is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests. Whenever my brother who lives in Charleston visits, he always insists we make time for ‘the Bluffs.’”
James (Jim) Mason - Immediate Past President 
As a biologist at Three Oaks Engineering, Inc., Jim brings over 20 years in the biology field to the FOHB board. Jim has supported the Friends as a member since 2008. In 2005, he landed his first job in the Triangle as naturalist on staff at Hemlock Bluffs. Regarding Hemlock Bluffs, Jim says, “Hemlock Bluffs is such a unique natural resource that brings a little bit of the mountains to Cary. It is a great place to see nature and to clear one’s head after a long week.”
Laura White - Treasurer; Committee Chair, Finance & Budget
We can easily say that Laura White is the anchor of the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs. While she’s now retired, Laura served as the Hemlock Bluffs Park Manager from 1993-2014. She has been a long-time member and board member of the Friends. During the summer months, Laura works as a Seasonal Park Ranger for the National Park Service. About her experience with Hemlock Bluffs, Laura says: “Hemlock Bluffs was an important part of my professional career. During the time I worked there I saw visitors who truly valued and used the property give back in tangible and monetary ways. That is why I am a member and that is why I work for the organization.”

What We've Done:


​A Few Examples - 
  • Assisted with the coordination and design of recent exhibit upgrades in the Stevens Nature Center
  • Spearheaded the installation of the Children's Nature Trail at Hemlock Bluffs
  • Coordinated grant funding for exhibit renovations and Children's Nature Trail Project. 
  • Provided environmental education programs for the Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department's Specialized Recreation Program participants and the Triangle Aphasia Program's TAProots Garden Group program clients  throughout ​2016 - 2017 
  • Provided Garden Art in the Nature Center Courtyard Gardens
  • Assisted with the funding and served on the selection committee for the artist for the metal art gates at the Hemlock Bluffs main entry gates
  • Provided funding for the Track Table exhibit in the nature center lobby
  • Provided funding for the renovation to the seasonal wall and habitat mural exhibits in the Stevens Nature Center exhibit hall
  • Assisted with and provided funding for environmental education programs for the Helping Hand Mission in Cary and the Raleigh Rescue Mission Field Trip Programs to Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve serving over 120 pre-school to 5th grade children
  • Provided funding for a variety of educational equipment for environmental education programs including; binoculars, stereoscopes, hand lenses, bug boxes, dip nets, thermometers and other scientific equipment
  • Donated an Ipad, Otter Box, Data Plan and Insurance Plan to provide electronic tools for staff to use with program participants in the field on programs
  • Provides refreshments, sandwiches, pizza, fruit and drinks for major volunteer workdays as a way to thank volunteers for helping at the preserve
  • Renovated the Kid's Nature Trail after increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Rejuvenated the Little Free Library and registered it with the Little Free Library organization


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​What We Do:

  • Provide Funding
  • Provide Support
  • Provide Scholarships and Scholarship Programs
  • Provide Volunteer Assistance
  • Advocate for Hemlock Bluffs and the Stevens Nature Center
  • Keep Members Informed of Organizational News
  • Promote the Organization