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: Turtle Splash!
Friday, April 17, 10–10:45 a.m.
As they are startled by the activities of other nearby creatures, the number of turtles on a log in a pond decreases from 10 to one, in a splash-happy celebration of numbers and animals. Learn about North Carolina turtles and make a fun turtle craft to take home! Best for ages 6 & under. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. FREE. Register here.
Park Tales: The Little Red Hen
Friday, May 22, 10–10:45 a.m.
Relive the beloved story of the Little Red Hen, who made a delicious cake using wheat she had ground at a mill like Yates Mill! Then make a chicken hat craft to take home, and join staff for a brief exploration of the park's historic gristmill. Best for ages 6 & under. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. FREE. Register here.
Handcrafting History: Make a Pincushion
Handcrafting History: Make a Pincushion
Saturday, May 9, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Learn basic hand-sewing techniques while creating a traditional-style pincushion using reclaimed wool and simple stitching methods. You will also explore the history of everyday sewing tools and how handmade items like pincushions were once essential in homes for mending and making. This program is designed for adults and teenagers; teenagers do not have to be accompanied by an adult. Registration required. FREE. Register here.
Drop-in Science
Offered quarterly. For all ages; FREE. Registration is not required, as this is a drop-in program.
Stay tuned for our next offering!
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
Fridays, May 1 and May 15, 9:30–11 a.m.
Join one of our naturalist staff members on a guided hike around the park to discover the plants and animals that live here! Come prepared to hike at least a mile on natural surfaces by wearing close-toed shoes and bringing a full water bottle. Suggested for ages 8 and up. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Please arrive at the park office five minutes early for program check-in. FREE.
For the May 1 hike, register here.
For the May 15 hike, register here.
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.
Recreational Adventures: Guided Canoe Paddle
For ages 10 & up; FREE. Registration is required for all family members, and children must have adult accompaniment. Offered in the spring and fall.
Guided Canoe Paddle
Monday, May 25, 10–11:30 a.m.
Join us for a guided paddle around our pond in one of our canoes. We will start with a quick lesson on basic canoeing and paddling, then we will paddle together up a creek. The last 45–60 minutes will be free-paddling on the pond. If you have a valid fishing license and your own equipment, you can use this time to fish in our pond. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets are provided (no outside boats are permitted). For ages 10 and up (with an accompanying adult). Each canoe can hold a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 4 people (800-pound total weight limit). Registration is PER BOAT. If you only need 1 boat, please register just 1 member of your group. FREE. Register here.
Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center
Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center: Open House Tour
Friday, April 24, 1–4:30 p.m. & Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m.
Did you know North Carolina has fantastic fish, marvelous mussels, and stupendous snails that need our help? Come discover these incredible freshwater creatures and learn how we're working to save them! At the Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center (YMACC), NC State University staff are dedicated to protecting rare and endangered freshwater animals that live right here in North Carolina's rivers and streams. These surprising natural treasures are counting on us—come see why they're worth saving! This is an open-house style tour of the lab; no registration required. FREE.
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.
ecoEXPLORE (virtual): Botany Round-up
Thursday, April 30, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Get updated on all the new plant species observed by ecoEXPLORErs and get YOUR observations featured for everyone to see! This virtual program is geared toward children in grades K–8 and their families. Registration is handled through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. FREE. Register here.
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.
Check back for more information!
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®: "This Is the Sunflower," April 3–30
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.