- By Rebecca Craps
- Posted Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Learn, Explore, Protect: 2026 Forsyth Creek Week
Forsyth Creek Week is an annual community initiative highlighting the importance of water quality and the connection between our homes, neighborhoods, and streams. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, and Forsyth County Soil & Water Conservation District are partnering to offer a diverse lineup of programs for all ages and interests. From tree walks and gardening workshops to emergency preparedness and wastewater treatment tours, there are opportunities for everyone to learn and get involved.
A complete list of programs being offered this year by N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, and Forsyth County Soil and Water Conservation District are below. To learn more about county-wide programs during Creek Week, visit the Forsyth Creek Week website.
Walking Guide to the Trees of Old Salem (#1 of 2)March 22 from 2-3 pm in Old Salem.
Take a guided walk through Old Salem to learn how to identify 27 native Piedmont trees along the Salem Creek watershed. Discover their key identifying features, historical and modern uses, and the vital role their root systems play in protecting water quality and stabilizing streambanks.
Walking Guide to the Trees of Old Salem (#1 of 2) - Registration
Forsyth Creek Week Jamboree
March 22 from 2-5 pm at Fourth of July Park in Kernersville
Join the entire Creek Week team for a family-friendly festival to kick off Forsyth Creek Week - 2026! N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, and Forsyth County Soil and Water Conservation District will be at a table sharing information about our programs and services that help improve water quality in the county. Our 4-H team will be on site with a fun kids’ activity. Come see us!
No registration required.
Arboretum Adult Education - Growing Green: Water-Wise Practices for Sustainable Gardens
March 25 from 12-1 pm at Walnut Hall at Tanglewood Park
Discover how smart water management can make your home garden more sustainable and resilient. This program highlights research-based best practices for conserving water, selecting water-wise plants, and using efficient irrigation to create a thriving garden that also protects local water resources.
Pawpaw: A Unique Fruit Tree for Streamsides and Landscapes
March 25 from 4:30-6 pm at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center
Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) go hand in hand with our waterways, thriving in the moist, rich soil of floodplains, stream banks, and river ravines throughout NC. They act as important streambank stabilizers, with wild fruit-bearing trees often found near water sources. The pawpaw tree produces a sweet fruit too eaten by wildlife and humans alike! Join us to learn how to identify these trees along the greenways and in parks across Forsyth County and take some seeds home to plant in your own yards!
Pawpaw: A Unique Fruit Tree for Streamsides and Landscapes - Registration
Grow With the Flow: Rain Gardening for Beginners
March 25 from 6-7 pm at Paddison Memorial Library in Kernersville
Rain gardens are a beautiful and effective way to manage stormwater right in your own yard. In this introductory class, we’ll cover how rain gardens work, how to select the best site on your property, soil considerations, plant choices, and simple design principles. Whether you’re dealing with drainage issues or just want to support cleaner waterways, you’ll gain the tools to create a functional and attractive rain garden at home.
Grow With the Flow: Rain Gardening for Beginners - Registration
Backyard Composting Basics
March 26 from 4:30-6 pm at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center
Did you know composting can help you care for our local watersheds? Composting not only addresses food waste and is great for our gardens, but it can also help filter out pollutants before they reach our waterways! This program covers how to start and maintain your own backyard compost bin or pile, what should and shouldn't go in a backyard compost, and local resources to help you get started.
Backyard Composting Basics - Registration
When It Happens Here: Preparing for Emergencies in Forsyth County
March 26 from 6-7 pm at Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center
Be prepared, not panicked. Join N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, Forsyth County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Forsyth County Emergency Management, for a practical emergency preparedness workshop during Forsyth Creek Week. This session will focus on the types of emergencies most likely to impact the Piedmont of North Carolina, what to do before, during, and after an emergency, where to get reliable, up-to-date information when you need it, and planning for an emergency before it happens.
When It Happens Here: Preparing for Emergencies in Forsyth County -Registration
Constructed Wetlands Tour: Walnut Cove Wastewater Treatment Facility
March 27 from 1-4 pm meeting at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center to carpool/caravan.
As a part of this year's Creek Week festivities, you are invited to join us for a guided tour of the Walnut Cove Wastewater Treatment Facility to see how constructed wetlands are being used to naturally treat wastewater. This innovative system uses wetland plants and soils to improve water quality while reducing environmental impact. The tour will be led by Dr. Michael Burchell, Professor and Extension Specialist with NC State University
Constructed Wetlands Tour: Walnut Cove Wastewater Treatment Facility - Registration
Walking Guide to the Trees of Old Salem (#2 of 2)
March 28 from 2-3 pm in Old Salem
A second opportunity to take a guided walk through Old Salem to learn how to identify 27 native Piedmont trees along the Salem Creek watershed. Discover their key identifying features, historical and modern uses, and the vital role their root systems play in protecting water quality and stabilizing streambanks.
Walking Guide to the Trees of Old Salem (#2 of 2) - Registration
Creek to Screen: From Curbside to Coastline
March 28 from 3-6 pm at Trex Theater in Kernersville
Enjoy a family-friendly Creek to Coast Kid’s Zone with crafts and games, a special presentation of All the Way to the Ocean to learn about how stormwater travels from our neighborhoods to larger water systems, and end the evening with a special screening of Finding Nemo on the big screen.
Creek to Screen: From Curbside to Coastline - Registration
Stream Smart: Protecting Stream Banks, Boosting Biodiversity
March 29 from 1-4 pm at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park
Get your hands dirty for a good cause! This workshop teaches how to stabilize and repair small sections of streambanks while exploring stream morphology, legal guidelines, and effective restoration tools. Try your hand at installing coir matting, planting livestakes, and sowing native seeds above the high water mark. See inspiring examples of successful projects and leave with knowledge anyone can use to support healthier waterways—whether you live next to a stream or just care about the environment.
Stream Smart: Protecting Stream Banks, Boosting Biodiversity - Registration
For more information, contact Rebecca Craps at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center at rlcraps@ncsu.edu or 336-703-2858 or Madeline Loman at Forsyth County Soil & Water Conservation at lomanmk@forsyth.cc or 336-813-4703.
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