Past Events
WREN in Action: Community Science, Conservation & Connection
2026
LIFE IN OUR STREAMS WORKSHOP
The first annual Life in Our Streams workshop was held at the Laurel Community Center. Participants explored stream ecology through expert presentations, live demonstrations, and hands-on learning about native fish, aquatic insects, fungi, and microbes.
The event was funded by a grant from Madison County Tourism Development Authority and co-sponsored by MountainTrue, Land Of Sky, Trout Unlimited and Freshwaters Illustrated and featured a great lunch by Smoky Mtn Diner in Hot Springs, NC.
2026
WREN FILM
NIGHTS
WREN hosted two Freshwaters Illustrated film events at Mars Theatre Brewing Co. and The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage. Guests enjoyed freshwater films, food and drinks, and expert-panel Q&As exploring biodiversity, stream life, and local conservation.
2026
ATBI DINNER
An ATBI Appreciation Dinner was hosted at the Laurel Community Center bringing together board members and landholders for an evening of food, fellowship, and a presentation celebrating WREN’s All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory work.
2025
FALL BIOBLITZ
A Fall BioBlitz was held at the Laurel Community Center bringing participants together for a guided, hands-on exploration of the Laurel River watershed’s plants, animals, fungi, and aquatic life. The free event included field sessions, lunch, expert-led learning.
2025
FUNDRAISER EVENT
A Live & Silent Auction benefit was hosted Big Pillow Brewing in Hot Springs, bringing the community together for presentations, live music, food, local beer, and auction items supporting WREN’s mission and conservation work in the Laurel River watershed
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2025
SPRING BIOBLITZ
A Spring BioBlitz was held at the Laurel Community Center inviting participants to explore the Laurel River watershed through guided, hands-on learning. The free event included forest and stream activities, microscope observations, lunch, and expert-led discovery of local plants, animals, fungi, and aquatic life.
2024
WORKSHOP
In the wake of Helen WREN Center held a free streambank restoration workshop at the Laurel Community Center. Participants learned practical, low-cost methods for restoring creekbanks with native plants. Led by Nathan Buchanan of Wildbud Natives, the workshop focused on live-stake planting, erosion prevention, wildlife habitat, pollinators, and healthy streams.
Check out our blog on Lessons From Helene.
2024
PREMIER BIOBLITZ
WREN's Premier BioBlitz was hosted at the Laurel Community Center, inviting participants to discover the region’s birds, plants, animals, fungi, and insects alongside local experts. The free event included bird watching, all-day field exploration, a Kids Team activity, and lunch.
Whiterock
Research Education
& Nature Center
WREN Center acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land and waters on which the society members gather and acknowledge and pay respect to their Elders; past, present and emerging. We honor the past, respect the present and look towards a prosperous and reconciled future
© WREN Center 2026 All Rights Reserved.