Opening Day of our weekly roadside stand, IFFS Young Farmer Market

Saturday, May 21st, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Farm at 4505 Tryon Rd, near Dover Farm & Tryon

THIS SATURDAY, May 21st, is Opening Day of our weekly roadside stand, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Young Farmer Market from 9am-1pm.

Please come out and bring the family to visit the farm, get some u-pick peas, buy delicious fresh produce, meet the apprentices, and enjoy a fun farm Saturday!

For more information visit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's website.

Camp Out-door-rageous

It is a wild world out there, but you can hike confidently through it with your out-door-rageous skills learned at our week-long coed camp.

Participants, ages 13-17, will learn activities such as fishing and cooking your catch, using a map and compass, building a primitive fire and survival shelter, knot tying, live trapping, identifying animal signs and archery. At week’s end, participants will compete in "Amazing Race" style competitions using their new outdoor skills.

Upon acceptance, a $45 deposit is required, which will be fully refunded upon meeting attendance requirements. Day camp only. No transportation, accommodations or food provided. Contact Ann May for more information and application forms. APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 20

Contact Ann May at (919) 707-0207 or by emailing ann.may@ncwildlife.org

Three Free Awesome Events at Lake Waccamaw State Park this Weekend!!

Turtles Alive - Saturday, May 21st at 3:00 pm- Live turtle show by Kellie Lewis from the NC Museum of Forestry.

Backyard Movie Night in the Picnic Area- Saturday, May 21st at 8:30 pm- Showing How Animals Do That- "Uncovering Nature's Most Confounding Secrets"

Celebrate Safe Boating Week- Afternoon Canoe Trip- Sunday, May 22nd at 3:00 pm - Must sign up for this event. Call for details.

For more information contact the Lake Waccamaw State Park

Fishing, families, and fun. That’s what we can all look forward to with the grand opening of Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head!

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m., when the new state-of-the-art, 1000-foot long fishing pier and pier house will be christened and wide open to the public.

Be sure to arrive early, however, as the event features a unique jump start with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team who will soar to a landing on the beach beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Following an hour-long dedication ceremony, the new state-owned and operated facility will open its doors for free fishing for everyone for the rest of the day and night.

No tickets are required for the event, but parking will be at a premium so look for satellite parking with shuttle service at the Town of Nags Head and the grassy field south of the Dunes Restaurant.

Get ready for lots of family fun and solid conservation education in a perfect outdoor classroom setting—on the beach and over the waves! Upon reopening in May 2011, Jennette’s Pier will offer a wide variety of classes, camps, sleepovers, and get-wet adventures in keeping with the Aquariums’ mission to inspire appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments.

A full schedule of activities is currently being planned for the summer of 2011, including school and scout programs, invertebrate labs, plankton studies, science camps, marine mammal studies, sea turtle nighttreks, fishing workshops, surfing lessons, and many others. Some programs and activities will be free, whileothers will require pre-registration and fees. Parents, teachers, and group leaders: Be sure to check backon this page for updates as the calendar of events is constructed.

For more information visit http://www.jennettespier.net/programs

Carrboro Farmers' Market Introduces the First Ever “Year Round food: Community canning series” Benefiting LOCAL hunger relief

Carrboro Farmers’ Market and Chef Sheri Castle will be opening the Wednesday afternoon market with the new “Year Round Food: Community Canning Series” on Wednesday, May 25th.

The Year Round Food: Community Canning Series is a series of monthly workshops led by local food experts dedicated to putting up local food all year round. The classes will cost $10 sliding scale and are open to the community. All proceeds from the series will be donated to local hunger relief agencies in the area.

For the opening event, Sheri Castle will teach how to make those late season strawberries into year round seasonal preserve. “There are tons of ways you can make local fruit stretch even farther,” said Chef Sheri Castle, “Before the strawberries disappear for the season, I’ll teach how to make a simple preserves that will go great on top of biscuits, pound cake, sundaes, or local cheese.”

“We are very excited to begin this series at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, and to have local southern food expert, Sheri Castle, kick it off with homemade local preserves,” says Sarah Blacklin, Market Manager, “Our goal at the Market is to empower our community around local food, starting with education in the home kitchen and support of local hunger relief agencies that make fresh, healthy food available to those in need. We feel canning is a great way to stretch your food dollars while simultaneously exchanging skills and knowledge about local food preservation. All the proceeds from Sheri’s class will go to benefit the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service.”

This series is made possible at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market from grant support from BALL Jar Company and the Farmers’ Market Coalition.

Located at the Carrboro Town Commons, adjacent to Town Hall at 301 West Main Street, the Market serves the Carrboro community and Triangle area with two weekly markets.

The Market is open Saturday mornings year round, from 7am to noon and Wednesday afternoons, 3:30p to 6:30p, from April 13 through late November. For more information visit http://www.carrborofarmersmarket.com/

TurtleFest!

Saturday, May 14, 2011 9 AM to 4 PM
Annual Turtle Festival at Bass Lake Park and Retreat Center, Holly Springs

Join us for a day of celebrating and learning all about turtles! Visit lots of interactive exhibits, meet biologists, herpetologists, and wildlife rehabilitators, and lots of live turtles, make crafts, enter the annual art contest and play games. ALL FREE!

For more information call 919-557-2496 or visit
http://www.hollyspringsnc.us/dept/park/basslake/programs.asp

Nature Games

Saturday, May 14, 2011 1 PM to 1:45 PM
Pullen Park Community Center

Get wild with us! We’ll play a variety of exciting and interactive games that will help us learn more about nature. At Pullen Park Community Center, Saturday May 14 from 1:00 pm-1:45 pm.
Ages 6-12; fee $2 per participant.

Please pre-register four days in advance at http://reclink.raleighnc.gov/ or any at community center. For more information call Nature Programs at 919-831-6856.

Sea Turtles Natural History

Saturday, May 14, 2011 10 AM to 11 AM
Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Ages 14+.

This program presents the various life strategies of sea turtles who visit North Carolina coastal waters. Discover what turtles nest on our beaches and the efforts by local volunteers to help conserve these threatened and endangered reptiles.

For reservations, book online or call 252.453.0221 ex. 1.

Admission: free
Event Phone: 252-453-0221

Strawberry Jamboree at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market

Saturday, May 14th beginning at 8:00am
Carrboro Farmers' Market, Carrboro NC

Taste free samples of field fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream, on top of a Market sweet breads and cakes!

Market strawberry vendors are teaming up with Market bakers and food artisans to give our customers a little taste of spring in the Piedmont.

To help you navigate your options, the Market will highlight our strawberry and baker booths at Market, and for those of you that want to make a weekend trip out to the farms, the Market will provide information on where to find local pick-your-own opportunities.

Look forward to strawberry recipes and tips available in the gazebo. Event starts at 8am and will run until the berries runs out!
For more information, visit the Carrboro Farmers' Market website.

May Fishing Fun Day

Harris Lake County Park
Saturday, May 14, 10 AM to 1 PM

Don’t let the big one get away! Bring the whole family out for games, fun and most of all – fishing! All ages and abilities are invited to fish with a rod of your own or borrow one of ours.

Learn about our Tackle Loaner Program as well as our adaptive fishing equipment for folks who have limited mobility. Enjoy the great views and the wonderful fishing to be found on the pier or on the shores of beautiful Harris Lake. Bait will be provided while supplies last. Come prepared to get hooked on fishing! Admission is FREE.

Contact:
Phone: (919) 387-4342
http://www.wakegov.com/parks/harrislake/events/default.htm

Why Kids Need Recess and Exercise

By Denene Millner

(Parenting.com) -- More and more researchers, educators, and parents are realizing that not only is playground time good for kids-it is crucial.
Here's why it just may be the fourth "R" in school, and what you can do to make sure your child gets a healthy dose of downtime.


To read the full story go here.

Center for the Environment To Host National Youth Environmental Summit

Catawba College Center for the Environment

High school students from around the country will converge at the Catawba College Center for the Environment this summer for the National Youth Environmental Summit, "Redesigning Our Future." The college expects 200 rising high school juniors and seniors to attend, where they will work with sustainability designers, scientists and engineers from the Rocky Mountain Institute of Colorado will collaborate with the Center and Catawba professors on the summit.

The Catawba College news notes:

Scheduled for July 20-24, 2011, with follow-up activities through May 2012, the summit will emphasize whole systems thinking, helping students become collaborative leaders and effective communicators. Summit leaders will provide knowledge and analytical skills that will help the participants return to their schools and communities empowered to have a tangible impact. One of the distinctive elements of the summit is that it will involve multiple disciplines. Students will explore the concept of environmental leadership through the perspective of their own skills and interest in the arts, humanities, education, history, business, science and technology. They will learn how essential elements of these varied disciplines — creativity, expression, innovation, observation, experimentation and teamwork — are critical to their effectiveness as environmental leaders."This summit has an ambitious goal, but it is one that is within our reach," says Center Executive Director John Wear. "We want these young leaders to develop their considerable talents so they can make the world a better place. And that will involve nothing less than redesigning our future."The cost for participants is $200, which includes tuition, meals, lodging, activities and materials. Limited scholarship assistance is available so participants should apply early.The N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is a promoting partner on the Environmental Summit, and encourages rising high school juniors and seniors in North Carolina students to apply.

The deadline to apply is June 1. More details on the conference, the application and scholarships are available on the Center for the Environment website.

16 Tips for Wildlife Gardening with Kids

From National Wildlife Federation
by Kelly L. Senser

One of the best things you may ever cultivate in your yard is a gardener; share your love of nature with a child.

WHEN WE MOVED TO OUR HOME in northern Virginia, my husband and I got right to work creating our wildlife garden—replacing yards of turf with a native plant bed. We expected our then two-year-old daughter (right) to play about us as we labored, but she dug right in—literally. For each mat of sod we pulled up, her little hands yanked a clump. For each shovelful of compost we emptied into our wheelbarrow, she added a scoop. All day long we marveled at her determination to keep pace.

Families Benefit from Gardening Together -“Children want to do what their parents and grandparents are doing,” says Claudia Neely, a gardening enthusiast whose three kids helped to create a wildlife habitat in the family’s Pittsburgh backyard. Being a good role model requires dedication on the part of green-thumbed adults, but there are inherent rewards in providing kids with positive outdoor experiences. “More than just plants grow out of helping a child tend a garden,” says Judy Sedbrook, a Denver-based master gardener with the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. “Gardening gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, and it enables them to learn about the environment.”

For the full story and list of 16 tips, go here.