Historic Yates Mill County Park offers programs covering history, nature, agricultural and recreational topics. Public programs are open for registration to the general public.
Public Programs
Register for a Public Program
IN-PARK PUBLIC PROGRAMS
PARK TALES: For all ages (best for ages 6 and under); FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Please arrive five minutes early for program check-in.
Park Tales: And Then Comes Summer
Thursday, July 18, 10–10:45 a.m.
Join park staff for a reading of this storybook, which celebrates the arrival of summer and all the fun activities that go along with this season. Make summertime crafts and celebrate summer at the park! Best for ages 6 & under; FREE. Register here.
Hands-on History: How did people live while Yates Mill was operating as a business from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s? These drop-in programs explore different aspects of life in the past.
Hands-On History: Historic Games
Thursday, July 11, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
How did people live while Yates Mill was operating as a business from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s? Join us for a drop-in, hands-on activity to play with historic games and toys to experience life from long ago! This program will meet in the mill yard by Historic Yates Mill. For all ages; registration is not required, as this is a drop-in program. FREE.
Field School: Offered quarterly. For all ages (recommended for ages 7 and up); FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Please arrive five minutes early for program check-in.
Check back for updates!
Yates Mill Ponderings: This wintertime program series offers more in-depth looks into topics of scientific and historical interest. Best for adults and older teens; FREE. Registration is required.
Check back in December!
Hike with a Naturalist: For all ages (recommended for ages 8 and up); FREE. Registration is required for all participants, and children must have adult accompaniment.
Hike with a Naturalist
Friday, July 12, 9–10:30 a.m.
Join one of our naturalist staff members on a guided hike around the park to see what we can find! Come prepared to hike at least a mile by wearing closed-toe shoes and bringing a full water bottle. Please arrive at the park office five minutes early for program check-in. Register here.
Yates by Night: Offered monthly, April–November. These evening programs offer visitors a chance to experience the park in the evening. For all ages; FREE. Registration required.
Check back for updates!
History Hike: For all ages (recommended for ages 7 and up); FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Please arrive five minutes early for program check-in. Offered in December, January and February.
Check back in December!
Recreational Adventures
Check back for updates!
Volunteer Interest Sessions
Volunteer Interest Sessions
Thursday, July 18, 2–4 p.m. and Sunday, July 28, 9–11 a.m.
Do you want to learn more about the different ways you can volunteer at Historic Yates Mill? Join us at our drop-in Volunteer Interest Sessions! Staff will be set up outside the A.E. Finley Center (or inside, depending on the weather). Registration not required.
Register for a Virtual Program
Virtual Programs: ecoEXPLORE Registration through North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This online program is geared toward children in grades K–8 and their families, but all are welcome! You will learn about the ecoEXPLORE project during the program. FREE.
Virtual ecoEXPLORE: Insects in Order
Friday, July 12, 3–4 p.m.
There are over one million described species of insects on Earth. They fit into about 30 orders. In this program, we will be covering tips and tricks and testing your ID skills for the most common orders of insects in our area. Registration is through the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
Become a Junior Park Explorer!
Do you like to explore parks and preserves? Do you like winning prizes? Our Junior Park Explorers program is for you! Learn more here.
Take a Self-guided Mobile Tour
Check out the Historic Yates Mill Mobile Tour and learn about the history of the 200-year-old grist mill, as well as the lives of the people who lived and worked in the area.
Self-guided Activities for the Family!
Self-Guided Activities: For all ages (adult accompaniment is required for all children); FREE. Stop by the visitor center anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to pick up nature journals, activity packs, coloring sheets, and more!
Exploration Station: These temporary displays are located inside the A.E. Finley Center in the exhibit hall area. Registration is not required. FREE.
Exploration Station: North Carolina State Symbols
July 3–14
Have you ever wondered what our state bird is? Have you wondered why our state beverage is milk? Join us to explore the state symbols of North Carolina and their history of being chosen. Learn which natural symbols we can find at Yates Mill. This self-guided exhibit will be available inside the A.E. Finley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. FREE.
Self-Guided StoryWalks®
Join us for this fun, self-guided activity, which will start at the parking lot kiosk near the Visitor Center and end near the mill. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. This wonderful program combines the joy of reading a story while also getting out and enjoying nature.
New to the StoryWalk® concept? Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to signs, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
StoryWalk®: "Otters Love to Play," July 3–31
Everyone's Welcome
Historic Yates Mill County Park welcomes all visitors and affirms its commitment to offering programs and services that are accessible to everyone. We will make every effort to ensure that visitors of all abilities are fully included in all our programs and facilities. Check back regularly to see what new opportunities become available!
For questions about our accessibility resources or how we may best meet your needs in any of our programs, please contact the park at 919-856-6675 or yatesmill@wake.gov.