Forge your own small knife and learn about blacksmithing along the way!

This is a required pre-req for advanced classes to come!
In this class we will cover forging out a small, simple, all-steel knife along with some blacksmithing history, tooling information, and other basic concepts. Once the forging is complete, we will heat treat the knives and then grind to an edge. Students will then be able to take their finished knives home for a final temper in a home oven.
Age 16+ (Under 18 MUST be accompanied by a guardian)
Please wear cotton or non synthetic clothes that you don’t mind getting very dirty, full-length pants, and close-toed shoes.

Brenden Bohannon is a full-time blacksmith, bladesmith, and lifelong artist hailing from Johnson City Tennessee. The opportunity to appear on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” led Brenden to become a full-time teaching Smith. He focuses on iron age designs and functional pieces that will last a lifetime.

Join us in making adorable stained glass teardrop suncatchers!

Choose from an assortment of glass colors, textures and transparencies to completely customize it into a one of a kind piece. You’ll learn how to cut glass, grid it to fit a pattern, apply copper foil and finally solder it all together. This is a beginners class, perfect for anyone that’s curious about the process and techniques that go into making Tiffany Style Stained Glass.

Please wear close-toed shoes and natural fibers like cotton/wool (jeans and a t-shirt work great). All long hair should be pulled back.
Age 10+, under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Joy Riggs started making Stained Glass in 2000. Her passion for it ultimately led her to open Studio 116 in Kingsport where she specializes in custom stained glass panels and whimsical suncatchers. Joy loves to create unique pieces based on her customers’ ideas, and enjoys the challenge of trying something different.

Beyond the Sun is about the amazing search for exoplanets. It is a wonderful, animated program for the whole family.
We start our adventure when CELESTE is fighting off sleep by reading a book on astronomy when, through her bedroom window, she receives a visit from MOON and his mischievous helpers!
With the aid of his helpers, Moon leads Celeste on a journey through the Universe to discover what an exoplanet is and how it can be detected. Together they observe rogue planets, oceanic worlds and super-Earths. Moon tells her about exoplanet hunters and how they observe the sky in search of a planet like Earth.
This program includes a brief tour of the current night sky.
Show length ~35 min.

Bear Aware: Stay Safe and Smart Around Black Bears
Join ranger staff for this educational and interactive program focused on helping you stay safe while hiking and recreating in natural spaces like Bays Mountain Park. This program is designed for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to confidently enjoy bear country with knowledge and respect for our large furry friends. You will learn key strategies for avoiding bear encounters, what to do (and not to do!) in an encounter scenario, and separate fact from fiction regarding black bear and human relationships out in the wilderness.
This program is free, and participants should meet at the Nature Center.