Afternoon: Plan to arrive at Hawks Nest State Park at approximately 4:00 PM. Check in at the lodge registration desk to obtain your room key. Check in at the Road Scholar registration table in the lobby to receive program information. A social activitiy is scheduled for 5:00 to 6:00 for participants to mingle and get acquainted.

Dinner: From 6:00 to 7:00 pm dinner will be served in the park restaurant.

Evening: At 7:00 pm an orientation session will be held in the conference room. Discussion will include information on the facility, the entire agenda, and introductions.

Lodging: Hawks Nest State Park

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet in park restaurant

Morning: Your adventure begins with an overview of bird identification techniques including visual, songs, sounds, and habitat. Emphasis will be on local birds. The classroom session is followed by a bird walk to try out your new skills.

Lunch: Buffet in park restaurant

Afternoon: Featured are two sensational topics: 1:00: Clay Sutton will conduct a program on Raptor Identification. 2:30: A Wings of Wonder program focusing on the habitat, food, and rehabilitation projects of birds of prey will be presented by Three Rivers Avian. Information on how raptors hear, see and use specialized feathers to fly. Program will feature a variety of live raptors and their handlers. 4:00 Birding Guides will be available on facility deck for informal bird watching and identification.

Dinner: Buffet in park restaurant

Evening: Bluebird lover and founding member of the North American Nature Photography Association, Connie Toops, will present All About Bluebirds. In addition to photography, Connie is a published nature writer and bluebird expert.

Lodging: Hawks Nest State Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early bird walk, birding by boat, backyard bird identification, and the world of hummingbirds.

Breakfast: A breakfast will be served in the park restaurant. Participants will be served anytime between 7:00 to 8:30am.

Morning: Guides will be ready to take groups out beginning at 6:15 am. to identify early morning bird songs. All groups will return to the lodge in time for breakfast before the morning activities. After breakfast, you will ride the tram approximately 700 feet down to the river's edge where participants will enjoy a jet boat trip up the river to the base of the New River Bridge. On the return trip, the boat will stop periodically to view water birds and other birds that habitat this lower elevation while you enjoy the scenery of the New River Gorge. A birding guide will accompany you on the boat trip. Although located near a prime whitewater rafting area, the portion of the river used for this trip is quiet water with no rapids and only a gentle current. The open boat has padded seating and a canopy to provide protection in case of rain. Field glasses, a camera, sunscreen, hat, and a water bottle may be useful. Bring appropriate rain gear and a jacket in case of inclement weather. This trip ends at a dock directly below Hawks Nest State Park. A naturalist will conduct a program on wildflowers and native wildlife in the shore area of the park. You will use the park tram to return to the lodge at approximately 11:30 am. This boat trip will transport you on a portion of the route traveled by Mary Draper Ingles as described in the book "Follow The River" by James Alexander Thom.

Lunch: Lunch will be served in the lodge restaurant between the hours of 12:00 to 1:30.

Afternoon: Noted naturalist and radio host, Dr. Scott Shalaway will present an afternoon program focusing on practical bird identification skills to reinforce your new techniques. A field demonstration may be included. He will also include information on selection of bird feeders, optics, field glasses, field guides, and other equipment related to successful and enjoyable birding. A wide variety of field glasses, scopes, and other optics will be available for you to try as desired.

Dinner: Dinner will be served in the park restaurant from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

Evening: Bill Hilton, Jr. will discuss his research with hummingbirds including the variety of hummers and their migrations. He has conducted Operation Ruby Throat expeditions to follow the migration of hummingbirds for many years.

Lodging: Hawks Nest State Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast will be served at Opossum Creek Retreat from 7:15 to 8:30 am

Morning: Bill Hilton will discuss and demonstrate bird banding techniques including the capture of birds for banding and actual banding of birds. This activity will be held in a meadow setting at nearby Opossum Creek which is inhabited by birds that differ from the river gorge setting at Hawks Nest State Park. Informal small group birding walks will be held between 6:30 and 11:30 am. the area. mark Garland will lead a discussion on Appalachian History.

Lunch: Lunch will be served at Opossum Creek from 11:45 to 1:00 pm.

Afternoon: The program ends with lunch at Opossum Creek It is recommended that you place your luggage in your cars and check out of your room at Hawks Nest State Park before departing for the morning bird banding program.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch