Still Looking for a Summer Camp?

Consider visiting an open house to learn more about camp opportunities and have fun while doing it! The two below involve activities for the whole family. These were listed on the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affair's calendar. Try calling an environmental education center near you to inquire about summer camps and open houses. You can use our search tool to find one.


Agape Center for Environmental Education, Fuquay-Varina, NC, Open House, May 5, 1-4 PM
This is a great opportunity for the whole family to come experience some of the things that happen in our summer programs. Ever wonder what it's like at camp? Well, come and sample what camp has to offer! Includes tours of facilities, camp games, nature activities, trail hikes (on your own), time to meet camp staff, model rocket launch and archery demonstrations, songs around a campfire, and a sampling of finger foods.
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Don Lee Center, Arapahoe, NC
Open House, May 19, 2-7:30 PM

Dottie, http://www.donleecenter.org/OurCreatures.php

Bring your family and a friend, and join hundreds of others to enjoy all the exciting camp activities you know and love, and MORE! There will be swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, archery, meet and greet with our animals, and more! You can bring your own picnic or have a Don Lee Prepared picnic for $10.00. Admission is free!
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Earth Day 2013!!!

 

 

 

Though the official Earth Day is on Monday, April 22, why only celebrate the earth for one day? Events are happening all over North Carolina during the week before and after Earth Day. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is celebrating with several large events:

• The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh is having a Planet Earth Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 9-5.
• The North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro is hosting their Earth Day Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21 from 10-3.
• The Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach is kicking it off with a 5K Race for the Planet on Sunday, April 21

 

One of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the state happens in Winston-Salem at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The Piedmont Earth Day Fair draws crowds of 8000+ and is happening this year on Saturday, April 27 from 9-5. Check it out!

 

Many cities, community colleges, libraries and parks are hosting their own events and loads of them are already listed on our calendar. Find an event near you!

Parents, want your kids to have a school garden? 

Here's how to get involved!

Photo: http://citysprouts.org/kennedy-longfellow-school/

The Growing School Gardens Community is hosted by the National Farm to School Network and is an online community for educators, gardeners, parents, and community volunteers to come together to share information and resources on how to start and maintain a school garden, and integrate it into the curriculum and the life of a school. As a community member, you will have access to free monthly webinars, live chats with experts and other community members and online resources.

Next webinar:
Monday, April 15, 2013-4P.M.
Skills of a Successful School Garden Coordinator
Presenters: Sam Ullery, School Garden Specialist at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, DC; with Kate Lee and Kealy Rudersdorf, DC school garden coordinators.

To join the community and the webinar, visit http://www.edweb.net/schoolgardens

For a guide to starting a school garden, visit http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=108702.0.108.37430

Big Splash on the Eno!

May 11, 2013, Noon

West Point on the Eno, Durham

Eno River Festival,
Photo Source: http://ncfsp.org/Projects/Festivals/Festivals.html

 

From the Eno River Association's website:

 

"Big Splash on the Eno is a fun-filled day of outdoor activities and exploration on the river. Born from the annual Eno River Association Spring Picnic and Stream-In Family River Days, Big Splash promises to be big fun for everyone.

 

 

Activities for all ages include:

• Hiking on West Point on the Eno's trails along the banks of the Eno
• Historic West Point Mill will be in operation grinding grain into flour and telling the history of the mill itself
• Canoeing and paddling with Frog Hollow Outdoors
• Critter-catching in the river to learn about the Eno's water quality and wildlife
• Playing in the Natural Play Area for the young and young at heart
• Games and fun in the meadow
• Art and crafty projects to explore
• Food trucks to fill your bellies with tacos, deli sandwiches, and cool treats
• Music in the meadow

 

Bring your self, your friends, family members and neighbors, as well as a blanket or chair to sit upon, clothes and shoes for splashing in the Eno or hiking her trails, and come join our Eno community to make a Big Splash on the Eno!"

 

http://www.enoriver.org/big-splash-on-the-eno/

Don't Miss the Statewide Star Party!

Friday, April 5th 2013

Star Party, Photo by Alan Dyer
http://www.iau.org/public_press/images/detail/iau0918a/
 

The North Carolina Science Festival, from April 5-21, has organized a star gazing event to kick things off this Friday. Visit our calendar of events to find a Star Party near you! See below for more details and a description from the Science Festival's website:

 

"Be a part of North Carolina’s first statewide star party, a signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival!

Astronomy clubs, state and local parks, planetariums and nature centers will host public skywatching sessions at dozens of sites across North Carolina on Friday, April 5, 2013.

You’re invited to look into the universe with us! We’ll provide the telescopes; you provide the curiosity. What will you see? Jupiter and its four Galilean moons, the Orion Nebula, the Beehive Cluster and distant galaxies will all be visible from North Carolina.

At each site, you’ll be able to participate in scientific research by collecting data for the GLOBE at Night worldwide citizen science project. (This research is perfect for children as well as adults.) You’ll count the stars you can see with your unaided eyes in the constellation Leo the Lion. Your data will help document the darkness of the night sky over North Carolina."

 

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For the whole family: B.W. Wells Heritage Day Event, Saturday, April 6, 9-5 p.m.

Rock Cliff Farm photo from B.W. Wells Association website: http://www.bwwells.org/
 

Come build and fly a kite, learn about wildflowers, history and geology on a hike, learn about B.W. Wells, paint with pine needle paint brushes, build your own baseball or try your luck at a scavenger hunt or other ecological games.

 

Born in 1884, B.W. Wells was North Carolina's pioneer ecologist and conservationist who devoted his career to making his scientific research accessible to the general public. During his time, he surveyed all the major plant communities in the state and enthusiastically lectured to any group that would listen. He believed education was for everyone, not just university students.

 

This event takes place at Rock Cliff Farm, a remote peninsula on Falls Lake and the retirement site of B.W. Wells. Rock Cliff Farm is only open for guided tours, so don't miss this opportunity. There will be a wide variety of tours and hikes: geology & wildflowers, history, family ecology hikes, kite building, campfire stories and more. There will be numerous children’s games and activities. The NC Botanical Gardens have provided free seed giveaways and plant raffles. Come check out this FREE event.

 

Wake Forest, NC

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