What are you going to do for spring break 2013?

 

For many North Carolina parents, spring break is right around the corner, perhaps even next week. If you are still looking for quality activities for your kids to participate in, check out the following links:

 

Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs- We serve as the "clearinghouse" or central source for environmental education resources across the state. We host an extensive list of Environmental Education Centers and a calendar of events for families and the general public to find quality programs and outdoor opportunities, many of which are free. Not all of our education centers post events to our calendar. By visiting this link, you can search for education centers a certain distance from your home and then visit their individual websites to see what is happening. But you might just find something on our calendar if you start there!

 



 

Here is a small sampling from our calendar and website:

 

Outdoor Adventure Week - Spring Break Camp, Concord

Weekdays 8 AM - 5 PM from Apr 1-Apr 5

We'll explore the great things about nature through hands-on discoveries, hikes, crafts, stories, songs, and games. Register by this Thursday, March 28!

Complete Details

 

LEAP Week Junior Ranger Program, Swansboro

Monday, Apr 1, 2013 3 PM to 4 PM

A week full of activities for children ages 6-12 who want to learn and discover about the environment around them. Topics include: reptiles, habitats, birds, shells, park history, and a stewardship project.  

Complete Details

 

 

Public Star Gaze with Raleigh Astronomy Club, Raleigh

Friday, Apr 5, 2013 8 PM to 10 PM

Wilkerson Nature Preserve will host a free public star gaze. Members of the Raleigh Astronomy Club will be on hand with their telescopes for some great viewing, if weather cooperates. All ages welcome.

Complete Details

 

Historic Yates Mill County Park, Wake County

Yates Mill Park offers daily and weekly programs for preschoolers on up to adults. Check out their listing for programs happening over the next few weeks.

Complete Details

 

Marble's Kids Museums, Raleigh

Offering a variety of programs in hands on sciences. It looks like there are still openings for Spring Break Camps!

Complete Details

 

 

 

 

 

North Carolina Birds of Prey: Where to see them, where to learn about them

Carolina Raptor Center's Eastern Screech Owl, "Akai" in
National Geographic's Photo of the Day
Photo: Jis Jose, http://on.natgeo.com/YwcRGQ

 

North Carolina is home to a variety of birds of prey such as osprey, barred owls, red tailed hawks, the American kestrel, and the famous bald eagle. In fact, our very own Jordan Lake is home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in North America.

 

Defining Features: Birds of prey, such as hawks and owls hunt for food during flight and primarily feed on other vertebrates. They tend to be larger than other birds and have substantial talons and beaks adapted for consuming their prey. They are also known for their keen senses such as vision, that help them home in on small prey from the air. Hence the expression "eagle eyes" as eagles have vision estimated to be 4-8 times stronger than the human eye.

 

Ecological Significance: Birds of prey are considered to be at the top of the food chain. Top predators serve as good ecological indicators because they are impacted more from environmental pressures than other predators. So a healthy population of birds of prey, can be an indication of a healthy ecosystem. They also serve to limit the population of rodents such as rats and mice.   

 

To learn more about our birds of prey check out these events and places:

 

Hawks, Eagles and Owls- An introduction to the Birds of Prey

Sunday, Mar 31, 2013 2 PM to 3 PM

Lake James State Park, Nebo

North Carolina has a wide diversity of birds of prey – from the diminutive screech owl to the majestic bald eagle. Learn more about their amazing habits, migrations and folklore with Park Ranger Jamie Cameron.

Complete Details

 

Raptor's Rapport

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 11 AM to 12 PM

Clark Park Nature Center, Fayetteville

Get to know about raptors with the assistance of some live birds of prey. They will help you learn about how they hunt, live and what makes them special. All ages.
Complete Details

Jordan Lake Eagle Cam (This is awesome!)

This realtime cam is situated over a bald eagle's nest. The pair of bald eagles has had 19 fledglings since 2002. You can tune in to see what's happening at the nest any time of day, or you can watch significant videos such as the pair discarding an egg that wouldn't hatch.

http://www.ustream.tv/jordanlakeeagles

 

Carolina Raptor Center

Visit the center, near Charlotte, where they rehabilitate birds of prey and have exhibits and programs for the general public to learn more about raptors.

http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/net/org/info.aspx?s=44295.0.0.37430

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is Here!!!

 

 

Start packing up those winter coats, and gear up for some outdoor fun. Happy first day of spring!

 

Here are some ideas for spring explorations:

 

1. Parents magazine has a great post for exploring nature with kids in the spring. Make a sifter from an embroidery hoop and collect critters from a nearby pond. Using an old sheet, set an animal print trap in your backyard and try to identify the prints. Set up a glass jar experiment to show plant respiration. Check out the post for these and other great ideas.

 

2. Start a garden with your kids. The Environmental Literacy Center in the Nature Research Center, downtown Raleigh, has a host of books on ways to involve your children in gardening projects. Examples include, 101 kid-friendly plants : fun plants and family garden projects by Cindy Krezel, Discover nature in the garden : things to know and things to do by Jim Conrad and Gardening with children by Monika Hannemann.

 

How to Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Source: http://bit.ly/1007Wzg

3. Create a backyard wildlife habitat. Put out a birdbath and various kinds of bird feeders. Different birds are attracted to different types of food. Visit your local bird store to discuss the different types of feed. Consider planting species that attract birds and butterflies. NCSU has a website on plants for attracting birds, such as black-eyed susan, coneflower and zinnia. They also have a website for plants that attract butterflies such as aster, bee-balm and calendula.

 

4. Visit the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs calendar of events. It is loaded up right now with nature activities around the state. Stay tuned to the blog for highlights.

Celebrate Forsyth Creek Week

This Monday the 18th to Saturday March 23rd

 

 

We've organized a whole week of water-focused activities to celebrate our waterways and appeal to Movie Buffs, Book Lovers, Birdwatchers, Scouts, Anglers, Sportsmen, Nature Lovers, Teachers, Kids, Moms, Dads, Toddlers, Gardeners, Photographers, and Outdoor Enthusiasts. We have workshops on rain barrels and fixing streambanks as well as lectures, fishing derbies, creek crawls and movies. Events are for all ages and family-friendly.

 

To learn about events specifically for kids, visit here.

 

For more about the event and for a complete calendar of events, visit here.
 

Once in an Eight Year Experience!

 

Appalacian Trail Conservancy's Biennial Meeting to be in North Carolina this summer

 

What: A family friendly event!

When: July 19-26

Where: Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, and on the Appalachian Trail.

 

 

 

The event is hosted by the five southern Appalachian Trail maintaining clubs, and convenes Trail managers, hikers, and fans to celebrate and conserve this iconic National Scenic Trail. The program includes 137 organized hikes, 72 workshops, excursion trips to some of the region’s best activities, and evening entertainment with live music, dancing, and story-telling.

 

 “This event is only held in the southeast once every eight years, so we’re excited to bring this informative and entertaining event to North Carolina to showcase the A.T. and the surrounding beauty,” said Appalachian Trail Conservancy Regional Director Morgan Sommerville.

 

Organizers expect 1,000 participants of all ages for the celebration of the A.T. The Biennial also serves as the general business meeting of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s membership; this meeting will take place on Saturday evening, July 20.

 

Details of the many day and evening activities include:
• Planned hikes on the A.T. and other regional trails
• Workshop topics covering hiking, trail maintenance, natural wonders, cultural history, and volunteer leadership development.
• Excursions of rafting, zip-lining, touring Asheville’s booming art scene, and visiting the Carl Sandburg Home and the Biltmore Estate.
• Live Music from Southern Exposure and Buncombe Turnpike
• Contra Dancing
• Presentations about hiking long trails
• Cherokee Storyteller

 

For more information and registration visit: www.appalachiantrail.org/2013biennial.
Registration opens April 1, 2013.

 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. Volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains founded the ATC in 1925. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the A.T. is approximately 2,180 miles in length, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpaths in the world.  Volunteers typically donate more than 230,000 hours of their time doing Trail-related work each year, and about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the A.T. each year. For more information about the Appalachian Trail Conservancy visit: www.appalachiantrail.org