Community Groups
An active and engaging life with opportunities to grow and expand our knowledge and interest is important at all ages. Highlands is the perfect environment to release your mind from everyday rigors and immerse yourself in the luxury of programs and events that assist you in a life with purpose.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy participating in local community groups and their diverse offerings.
Art League of Highlands-Cashiers
During the season, the Art League of Highlands-Cashiers, a longstanding community partner of The Bascom, holds their monthly meeting at The Bascom, featuring a guest artist. Each 5 p.m. event is preceded by a 4:30 p.m. social with refreshments, free and open to the public. Select Mondays, May - September. Click here for more information.
Book Club
A spirited group of literary seekers gather on a monthly basis to share their experience with literature. At The Bascom Monthly, Third Thursdays; 3 p.m., May - October. Click here for more information.
Ceramics Open Studio and Art by Appointment
Join the active ceramics family and make new friends, share ideas, and create beautiful works of art in a state-of-the-art facility. The Dave Drake Studio is a 2,500 square-foot barn rebuilt for use as the ceramic studio. Join today and see what all the fun is about! Contact Frank Vickery for more information. fvickery@thebascom.org or click here.
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
The mission of Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) is "to protect valuable natural resources for all generations." HCLT conserves over 3200 acres of forests, wetlands, and vistas that are home to the greatest number of rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians.
The Highlands-Cashiers plateau sits at the headwaters of six different watersheds so conserving land here protects drinking water throughout the southeast. These are just some of the reasons our mountains are special and why it is so important that we protect them. Maps are available to explore parks and trails open to the public. Click here for more information.
Highlands Plateau Audubon Society
The mission of the Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. Click here for more information.
Highlands Trail Trimmers
The Highlands Trail Trimmer meet for trail maintenance hikes. Monthly, 9 a.m. on the first and fourth Saturday. For details contact Jim Chance at jamesallenchance@gmail.com.
Highlands Writers
The Highlands Writers group is a longstanding collective of published and unpublished writers in the Highlands area that meet weekly to share ideas, provide feedback, and practice their writing craft. Tuesdays; 3 - 5 p.m. at The Bascom. Click here for more information.
The Literacy & Learning Center
The Literacy & Learning Center is a nonprofit whose mission is to enrich lives and expand the knowledge of children, adults, families in Macon County, NC through diverse educational programs. Click here for more information.
Photography Club
The Bascom Photography Club is a creative community that rides on the passions of professionals, amateurs, teachers, and students of the photographic medium. all skill levels are welcome to join the monthly meetings, where guest speakers share tricks of the trade, tales of travel, and the opportunity to exhibit their printed images in The Bascom's Annual Photography Club Member Exhibition. Select Wednesdays, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Click here for more information.
Rotary
Highlands Mountaintop Rotary meets on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Highlands Community Center. Visitors welcome. Click here for more information.
The Rotary Club of Highlands meets on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. at the Highlands Community Center. Visitors welcome. Click here for more information.
Studio Alive
Studio Alive is a group of dedicated artists that share a passion for drawing from live models. The group meets in The Bascom’s Adult Studio. Select Mondays of every month; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Click here for more information.
Western North Carolina Woodturners
The Western North Carolina Woodturners are a group of craftsmen committed to sharing and learning the art of woodturning.
Through monthly meetings with demos and discussions, the Western North Carolina Woodturners create a fun and educational community of passionate turners in the Western North Carolina region. Monthly, second Saturday; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; March - November. Click here for more information.