Education >> Resources available
Class assistance: Forest staff are available upon request to lead tours for educational groups of all ages. Contact the Office of the Duke Forest for additional information about specialized laboratory exercises, nature walks and activities within Duke Forest.
Available data: The Office of the Duke Forest maintains a comprehensive collection of datasets, maps and records that are available to educators and researchers. Data sources range from paper maps (USGS quadrangles, soil types, forest management activities, covertypes, etc.), management records from 1931 to present, aerial photographs, and species lists.
Much of the Forest's spatial data are also available in a GIS (geographic information system) format and can be downloaded from this Web site by special request. Contact the Office of the Duke Forest to discuss your specific needs (dukeforest@duke.edu, 919-613-8013).
For more information about available data, click here >
Shepherd Nature Trail: Found in the Durham Division, off NC 751 at Gate C, this self-guided nature trail is 0.80 mile long and demonstrates a continuum of systems typical of the North Carolina Piedmont, including wet bottomland forests, rocky hilltops and human-related disturbances. A large portion of the woodlands through which this trail traverses suffered severe hurricane damage in 1996. Visitors can learn about tree species, forest processes, past inhabitants, and current research through interpretive signs along the trail, as well as a provided informational brochure (PDF document).
The Bobby Ross Memorial Shelter, a covered area with tables and a fireplace, is located at the end of the Shepherd trail. This shelter provides an ideal location for outdoor educational activities, and can be reserved through the Office of the Duke Forest.
