Banish invasives from Island Park

Help combat invasive species at Island Park in Bryson City during a pair of workdays scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, and Wednesday, Feb. 10. 

Hosted by MountainTrue and the Tuckasegee River Alliance, the workdays will include using hand tools to cut down larger invasive shrubs and trees and then treating the stumps with small amounts of concentrated herbicide. Volunteers will also pull up smaller plants by the roots.

Register at www.mountaintrue.org/event.

Science programming offered for students

The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard is now offering virtual education programs for students in public, private and homeschool. 

The free programs are tied to the N.C. Essential Standards for Science curriculum and led by an education specialist from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 

Class dates and times are flexible to meet classroom needs. To schedule a program, educators can contact 828.877.4423.

Enter a fishy art contest

The 2021 State-Fish Art Contest is now open and accepting entries. 

The award-winning Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest connects young people to fish, fishing and aquatic conservation through art, writing and science. To enter, contestants create an original illustration of any species from the Official Fish List and a one-page writing entry. 

Entries are due postmarked by March 31 each year. For details on contest rules, entry forms and to view past winners, visit www.fishart.org.