Castalia STEAM Outdoor Center

Castalia STEAM Outdoor Center Come Adventure, Make and Learn With Us!

We are a non-profit in Castalia, North Carolina, on a mission to build Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) inspiration through living classroom programs in the farm, forest, and workshops.

03/29/2025

Small friends have joined the flock! We started them here on bamboo paper towels, and quickly moved our chicks to a softer bed of pine shavings. There's lots of schools of thought on chickens, but for my two cents, I'd say bamboo paper towels for the kitchen and natural shavings as bedding for the birds! It's softer, warmer, and smells better.

03/27/2025

Springtime surprise!

Check out the relocated greenhouse! Popped up in a few hours, ready for plants! We built a heavy base and bracketed the ...
03/25/2025

Check out the relocated greenhouse! Popped up in a few hours, ready for plants! We built a heavy base and bracketed the lightweight bars into place. Happy March planting, all!

Owning a tractor is a special thing. These machines are also significant investment. Keeping your work up and running an...
02/18/2025

Owning a tractor is a special thing. These machines are also significant investment. Keeping your work up and running and protecting that investment requires adherence to a planned maintenance approach. Responsible operation is critical to ensuring safety and the longevity of your beloved machine. Anticipate the following:

-Replacing fluids and filters on a regular basis- *Read your instruction manual!
-Understand what can happen to diesel fuel in cold weather
-Know how to find, charge and replace the battery
-Have a general understanding of how the hydraulic system works (resources are your friend! Get familiar with the manual, learn from a friend, check out books, find reputable YouTube videos, all of the above - there's no wrong way to learn that works for you!)
-Be prepared to fix things, in the dark, cold, mud, heat, cramped spaces
-Carry basic tools and a first aid kit on the tractor
-Expect some trial & error, and leave room (and time) in your plan to learn and repair!
-Pass on what you've learned!

Why do you end up loving your tractor? Well, firstly it allows a small group or individual to transform a landscape into a thriving farm and transport materials and tools to areas of your property.

Secondly, it's fun.......oh and also lessens the wear and tear on your body!

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in...
02/16/2025

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in February (read - before big migrations) in North Carolina.

The Macaulay Library is a great resource to find ID photos for our local birds. https://macaulaylibrary.org/ Here's a few of the most likely suspects in our area.

Photo Credits:
American Goldfinch @ Darren Clark / Macaulay Library
Eastern Towhee @ Jack & Holly Bartholmai / Macaulay Library
Northern Mockingbird @ Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
White breasted nuthatch @ Ryan Schain / Macaulay Library
Pine warbler @ Ryan Schain / Macaulay Library
Turkey vulture @ Matt Davis / Macaulay Library
Black Vulture @ Luke Seitz / Macaulay Library
Brown-headed nuthatch @ Kojo Baidoo / Macaulay Library
Chipping sparrow @ Evan Lipton / Macaulay Library

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in...
02/16/2025

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in February (read - before big migrations) in North Carolina.

The Macaulay Library is a great resource to find ID photos for our local birds. https://macaulaylibrary.org/ Here's a few of the most likely suspects in our area.

Photo Credits:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet @ Evan Lipton / Macaulay Library
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker @ Monique Maynard / Macaulay Library
Red-winged Blackbird @ Connor Charchuk / Macaulay Library
Northern Flicker @ Warren Lynn / Macaulay Library
Eastern Phoebe @ Brad Imhoff / Macaulay Library
Brown Thrasher @ Martina Nordstrand / Macaulay Library

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in...
02/15/2025

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in February (read - before big migrations) in North Carolina.

The Macaulay Library is a great resource to find ID photos for our local birds. https://macaulaylibrary.org/ Here's a few of the most likely suspects in our area.

Photo Credits:
White-throated Sparrow @ Keenan Yakola / Macaulay Library
House Finch @ Martina Nordstrand / Macaulay Library
Yellow-rumped Warbler @ Ezra Staengl / Macaulay Library
Dark-eyed Junco @ Scott Martin / Macaulay Library
Blue Jay @ Scott Martin / Macaulay Library
Song Sparrow @ Jonathan Irons / Macaulay Library

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in...
02/15/2025

Hey, NC! What birds might I see during the Great Backyard Bird Count this year? Here's a list of common birds to spot in February (read - before big migrations) in North Carolina.

The Macaulay Library is a great resource to find ID photos for our local birds. https://macaulaylibrary.org/ Here's a few of the most likely suspects in our area.

Photo Credits:
Northern Cardinal @ Suzie McCann / Macaulay Library
Carolina Chickadee @ Martina Nordstrand / Macaulay Library
Carolina Wren @ Don Danko / Macaulay Library
Tufted Titmouse @ Darlene Friedman / Macaulay Library
American Crow @ Henry Burton / Macaulay Library
Mourning Dove @ Ryan Schain / Macaulay Library
Easten Bluebird @ Keith Kennedy / Macaulay Library
Red-bellied Woodpecker @ Carl Giometti / Macaulay Library
American Robin @ Alex Eberts / Macaulay Library
Downy Woodpecker @ Evan Lipton / Macaulay Library

How does the Merlin Bird ID app work? Watch this 3 minute video from the Cornell Lab to go from "what's that?" to birder...
02/14/2025

How does the Merlin Bird ID app work? Watch this 3 minute video from the Cornell Lab to go from "what's that?" to birder! The app can help you identify a bird you see with a step-by-step wizard, "listen" with your phone's microphone and ID a bird call, or analyze a photo. It's easy to use, and once you get to the "that's my bird!" button, your observation becomes useful citizen science data. Get outside this weekend from Feb 14 - 17 to observe birds wherever you are for 15 minutes and help conserve wild birds. Video and instructions here: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

# CastaliaSTEAM

The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend! During this 4-day event each year, new and experienced birders alike go o...
02/13/2025

The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend! During this 4-day event each year, new and experienced birders alike go outside and engage in 15 minute observations. It's a global citizen science effort that builds a picture of wild birds around the world! If you know your birds, great stuff! But this is a great opportunity for the rest of us to get involved in and too! The free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab has easy to use features for identifying the birds you see and hear during your count. (If you already use eBird, keep on keeping on!) So what are you waiting for? Make a plan to get outside this weekend! You can bird wherever you are, make a plan to meet some friends at a local park, or join a community event (use the map to find a www.birdcount.org/community-map/). Thank you for helping wild birds and scientists engage in conservation efforts!

# FranklinCounty

We got snow! Twice in one winter - the birds are enjoying some extra seed feed! (Scroll for a sneak preview of the chick...
02/10/2025

We got snow! Twice in one winter - the birds are enjoying some extra seed feed! (Scroll for a sneak preview of the chicken coop in progress! You can do amazing things with 95% reclaimed materials :)

01/26/2025

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Castalia, NC
27816

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