Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series: Nature’s Misfits – Animals with a Bad Reputation

Date: January 17, 2026

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve

Speaker: Sarah Branagan, AmeriCorps Project Conserve member serving with Conserving Carolina as Community Engagement and Education Associate

This program pulls back the curtain on nature’s most unfairly judged creatures — from the ‘scary’ to the ‘strange.’ Discover the secrets, surprises, and vital roles these animals play in our world as we rewrite their stories and reveal the truth behind the myths. Prepare to see the wild in a way that transforms fear into fascination and wonder.

Sarah grew up in Brevard, NC, where exploring the forests and streams around her home sparked a lifelong passion for conservation. She holds master’s degrees in public administration and environmental science from UNC Wilmington, building on her environmental management and policy studies at UNC Asheville. Now serving with AmeriCorps Project Conserve, Sarah is excited to support Conserving Carolina’s mission in the region she loves—especially through her deep enthusiasm for birds and her desire to reconnect with the people and places of her home.

RSVP is requested below, but not necessary to attend the event! Please join us!

The Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Preserve.

*Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).  Thank you.

Contact Pam Torlina, pam@conservingcarolina.org, with questions or for more information.