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    • May 13, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      May OBX Park News: Meet Your Ranger, Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest, Pony Birthdays, and more!

       
       
      Your May E-news preview:

       
       
      Your Parks, Your Impact
      April was a month of celebration as we reflected on the impact you’ve helped us make in our Outer Banks national parks over the past five years.

      We are grateful to everyone who came out to Swells’a Brewing for our birthday party – it was great to see so many of our supporters together, and we officially kicked off our new partnership with Duck Donuts (more details coming soon)! 

      Last week, I attended the Friends Alliance spring meeting, a virtual gathering of national park partners from around the country. As we learned about topics ranging from environmental justice to how the National Park Service plans to commemorate America250 in 2026 by focusing on inclusive storytelling, I was reminded how special and unique it is that we have three amazing national parks right here in our backyards. 
      As I talked to my colleagues around the country one thing was clear – our national parks need our support now more than ever. We will continue to celebrate our fifth birthday this year and look ahead to what we want to accomplish in the next five years as our parks continue to face challenges ranging from budget cuts to environmental changes. We’ll be looking to you to learn what you want to see us achieve in our parks, and ways you think we can continue to grow our impact as we work to protect and enhance these special places. Stay tuned! 
      See you in our parks, 
      Jessica Barnes
      Director
      Outer Banks Forever
      Support Our Parks
       
      Meet Your Ranger: Mike Anderson
      Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day!

      This month, we’re pleased to introduce you to Mike Anderson, Lead Interpretive Ranger at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site!

      Mike’s days are busy as he gives ranger programs, assists visitors, and plans projects and events for the park.

      In his free time, Mike enjoys listening to tunes from Broadway musicals, watching “The Crown” and “Jeopardy!”, and 3-D printing movie prop replicas from Star Wars and Marvel movies! 
      Meet Mike
       
      It’s Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest Season!
      It’s our favorite time of the year – Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest season is here!

      Each year, hundreds of sea turtles make their way onto the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore to lay their eggs.

      Through our Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program, you can symbolically adopt one of these active nests!

      Here’s how the program works:

      • Donate: Give a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more to reserve your 2024 sea turtle nest. Your gift will help us fund important projects that protect and enhance the Seashore and the vital habitat it preserves. You will receive a confirmation email for your donation. 
      • Receive your nest assignment: Sea turtles typically start to arrive in May and June, and will continue to arrive until September. As nests become available, you will be assigned your sea turtle nest and receive an adoption certificate by either mail or digitally with initial information about your nest. Please keep in mind that if you reserve a nest in May, you may not receive your initial information until late May, June, or even later depending on how many early adoptions are received.
      • Wait patiently for your nest to hatch! When your nest hatches later this summer or fall, you will receive a personalized update in the mail with information park rangers collect about your nest including the number of hatchlings that made their way out to sea.

      A note about honorary/memorial gifts: If you choose to adopt a nest in honor or in memory of a loved one and provide an honoree’s mailing address on your donation form, a letter with nest information and a certificate will be mailed directly to your honoree. Your honoree will be notified of your gift and will receive a certificate when their nest is assigned, not at the time you make the gift. Please keep this in mind if your gift is time-sensitive.  

      NEW in 2024 – digital certificates are now available! If you would like to receive an electronic certificate or send an electronic certificate to an honoree, click the box “send certificate digitally” on the donation form and provide an email address. 

      Read our frequently asked questions for even more information about our Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program!

      Please note: No individual or group that participates in this program can claim ownership of a sea turtle nest, eggs, or hatchlings. Nature is also unpredictable. If your adopted nest is lost to a weather event or damaged by some other means, we will assign you a new nest that may or may not be shared with another individual or group. For the safety of the sea turtles and in alignment with National Park Service guidance, your nest’s exact location will not be shared until after it has hatched.

      Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest
       
      Celebrating Pony Birthdays
      Join us in celebrating the Ocracoke ponies who have May birthdays!
       
      Did you know you can help these beautiful and unique ponies by symbolically adopting one or supporting the herd? Your support helps cover the costs of their ongoing care and feeding. When you Adopt A Pony or support the herd with a gift of $50 or more, you will receive an adoption certificate and a picture of your pony or of the herd to keep!
      Note: Our park staff will host a public meeting about the Ocracoke ponies at the Ocracoke Community Center (999 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke, North Carolina) on Tuesday, May 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. At the meeting, our park staff will seek input on the development of a management plan for the ponies and assistance in identifying issues, concerns, and opportunities. For more information on the meeting, click here. 
       
      Winnie – May 3

      Winnie is the youngest member of the herd, born in 2018 to her parents, Sacajawea and Captain. She spends her time learning from mom and exploring her island home. The next time you visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens, come say hi!
       

       
      Jobelle – May 7

      Jobelle is the daughter of Ocracoke ponies Jitterbug and Rayo. She was named by the Ocracoke School students; “Jobelle” is the local name for the gaillardia flowers (commonly called “blanket flowers”) which are found throughout the Outer Banks!

       

       
      Captain – May 9

      Captain is a chestnut stallion who was named after the late Captain Marvin Howard, a local Ocracoke Island resident who founded the first — and only — mounted Boy Scout troop in the United States. The boy scouts were responsible for taming and caring for the wild pony herd in the 1950s.

       
      Maya – May 24

      Maya is a paint mare who was born in 2000. She has four siblings in the herd and is known to be the tallest and most vocal pony in the Ocracoke herd!

      Adopt A Pony
       
      Ways to Give: Memorial and Honorary Donations
      Remember or honor the special people in your life who shared or share your love of our Outer Banks national parks. When you choose the “Donation Dedication” option when you donate, we will send a special acknowledgment to the individual or family you chose notifying them of your thoughtful gift.
      Learn More
       
      Park Programs
      Want to dive deeper into the history and biodiversity of our amazing Outer Banks national parks? As a visitor to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial, you can enrich your visit by attending our parks’ ranger programs!

      Ranger programs are open to visitors of all ages — from the young to the young at heart. No matter your interests, ranger programs offer something for everyone!

      To stay up to date with programs and events, check out our parks’ online calendars below:

       
      Save the Date: National Trails Day
      If you’re in the Outer Banks on June 1, come join our friends from the Dare County Trails Committee, Dare County Parks and Recreation, and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site for a walk/hike to celebrate National Trails Day!

      National Trails Day is an annual event that celebrates the importance of trails in our lives — bike trails, walking trails, multi-use paths, ADA trails, canoe and kayak trails, and more!

      • Date: Saturday, June 1
      • Time: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
      • Location: Meet at the North End Parking Lot on Roanoke Island. Options for a 1.3 mile and a 2.5 mile walk/hike are available. For more details, click here to see the map. 
      Make sure to wear comfortable clothing and walking/hiking shoes and sunscreen, and don’t forget your water and bug spray! To RSVP for the event on Facebook, click here. 
       
      Photo Credits: Haley Heard – Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Mike Anderson, E. Moses – National Park Service. 
       
      Connect With Us!
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      Website
      Email

       

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    • May 2, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      LNM: AICW MM 246, Live Fire Drills, New River Restricted Areas, NC

      NC – NEW RIVER – CAMP LEJEUNE – NOTICE OF LIVE FIRING AND TRAINING EXERCISES

      Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Live firing and training:
      Mariners traveling in Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway through this area can expect a delays of about one to four hours during the below times. Range Control Boats, from Camp Lejeune, NC monitor Channel 16 VHF-FM and the working Channel 82 VHF-FM. Range Control can be reached at 910-451-3064 or 4449. Camp Lejune MILOPS 06 – 12 MAY 2024.
      1. The restricted areas in the Atlantic Ocean east of the New River Inlet as shown on National Ocean Service Chart US5NC14M, will be closed to navigation up to 15 nm seaward because of firing exercises during the following periods:
      8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 08 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS (24 MEU, NSFS)
      8:00 A.M. – 11:59 P.M. 09-10 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS (10TH MAR-G-7)
      Restricted areas in the new river, as shown on National Ocean Service chart US5NC14M, that will be closed to navigation because of stone bay rifle range firing exercises during the following periods:
      Stone Creek Sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      Stone Bay Sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      West of the 77 (deg) 26 (min) Longitude line.
      The restricted areas that may be closed to navigation because of firing exercises during the following periods:
      Traps Bay Sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      Courthouse Bay Sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      Stone Bay Sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      East of the 77 (deg) 26 (min) longitude line.
      Grey Point sector 12:01 a.m. to midnight daily
      Farnell Bay sector sunrise to sunset daily
      Morgans Bay sector sunrise to sunset daily
      Jacksonville sector sunrise to sunset daily
      2. The target bombing area N1/BT-3 impact area in the Atlantic Ocean east of the new river inlet as shown on national ocean service chart US5NC14M, may be closed to navigation because of firing exercises during the following periods:
      8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 08 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS (24 MEU, NSFS)
      8:00 A.M. – 11:59 P.M. 09-10 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS (10TH MAR-G-7)
      3. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, inland waters in the Browns Island Inlet area between Bear Creek and Onslow Beach, may be closed for firing exrcises during the following periods:
      8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 08 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS
      (24 MEU, NSFS)
      8:00 A.M. – 11:59 P.M. 09-10 MAY 24 LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS
      (10TH MAR-G-7)
      4. Due to unexploded ordnance on Browns Island and in the adjacent waterways and marsh areas, Browns Island is off limits to all unauthorized personnel. Vessels may transit the surrounding waters, however no vessel shall bottom fish or anchor.
      5. Mariners traveling on the western side of the new river between Stone bay and Farnell Bay should be aware that there are numerous sign poles without working lights and are leaning or submerged as a result of Hurricane Florence and present hazards to navigation. These poles once had signs denoting areas of caution around the Stone bay rifle range and Verona Loop firing ranges.
      5A. Signs are located along the stone bay, grey point and Farnell Bay sectors of the New River. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is working to replace these signs.
      6. Range control boats, MCIE-MCB CAMLEJ North Carolina monitor channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 mhz) and the working channel 82 vhf-fm(161.725 mhz). Range Control can be reached by phone at 910-451-3064 or 4449.

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    • Apr 19, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments 35.9005,-76.00839999

      Firm to start driving test piles for new Alligator River bridge – Coastal Review


       View In Chartview

      With a closed vertical clearance of 14ft, the 2.8-mile bridge across the Alligator River has had lengthy closures to undergo repairs several times in recent years and, with a closure mandate in winds over 25 knots, Alligator River Bridge was almost always an “event” on ICW cruises, events that lead many southbound cruisers to be quests of Elizabeth City Mariners Wharf and guests of the Rose Buddies. See “The Legend of the Rose Buddies” Monument.

      The Lindsay C. Warren Bridge over the Alligator River swings open for a pleasure craft. Photo: NCDOT 

      Click here for    Firm to start driving test piles for new Alligator River bridge
      CoasalReview.org

      See also  Federal grant to accelerate Alligator River bridge project, AICW MM 84

      Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers Net Bridge Directory Listing For Alligator River Bridge

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Alligator River Bridge

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    • Apr 11, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      April OBX Park News: Meet Your Ranger, The Wright Flight Academy, Board Member Spotlight, and more!

       
       
      Your April E-news preview:

       

       
      Your Parks, Your Impact

      It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since we started our work to protect and enhance our Outer Banks national parks.

      We officially launched Outer Banks Forever during National Park Week in April 2019. Check out our founding Board of Directors (pictured above) at one of our very first meetings at Wright Brothers National Memorial – each of them has stayed dedicated to our mission and we’ve added three amazing new board members since then!

      While many of you are newer to our Outer Banks Forever family, some of you have been on this journey with us from the beginning! We appreciate every person, family, business, and foundation that has supported our work over the last five years. This month I want to give a special shout out to those of you who gave that first year and have continued to give almost every year since: 

      Sally and Charles Ayers 
      Bonnie and Wayne Barnes 
      Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy 
      Christie Graf 
      Becca Haque 
      Kimberly Harris 
      Bridget Hart 
      Kevin and Michele Kissling 
      Erin Krohl 
      Cat and Charlie Lineberry 
      Laura Mueller 

      Nancy and Jim Myers 
      National Park Foundation
      Outer Banks Visitors Bureau 
      Dr. Paul and Amy Orser 
      Tom Phalen 
      REAL Watersports 
      Daniel Schmoyer and Kim Finch 
      Megan Shelley 
      Julie and Dan Shuren 
      Richard Stillman 
      Joan Watts

       
      In addition to these amazing supporters, our Forever Founders have played a key role in helping us get to this point. Their generosity allowed us to give more than $460,000 to our Outer Banks national parks last year for projects like Pathways to Your National Parks at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the new Freedom Trail at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. 

      We have more in store this year to celebrate YOU and the many ways you’ve shown your love for our parks! We hope to see you at our fifth birthday party on April 27 with our friends at Swells’a Brewing where we’ll also announce a new local partner who will be providing sweet treats! 

      See you in our parks, 

      Jessica Barnes
      Director
      Outer Banks Forever
      Donate Today
       
      Meet Your Ranger: George S. Jaramillo
      Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day!

      This month, we’re pleased to introduce you to George S. Jaramillo, Historical Architect for our Outer Banks national parks!

      A typical week can take George anywhere from inside the Wright Brothers Monument assessing the granite stones to climbing up the Ocracoke Lighthouse.

      He can also be found searching through the countless volumes of research materials in park archives including maps, station logs, photographs, and other primary resources.

      In his free time, George enjoys road trips to nearby locales or far off sites — be they eccentric historic sites, enjoying local food fare, or visiting roadside museums, secluded natural areas, or cities!

      Meet George
       
      The Wright Flight Academy:
      Part II –       Foundations of Flight
       
      This content is brought to you by our National Park Service partners. 
      We’re getting back to the basics with the foundations of flight in our second installment of the Wright Flight Academy!Watch the video and follow along as students from Dare County Schools learn about the fundamentals of flight through a site tour, ranger presentation, classroom sessions, and completing their own coupon books.

      Over the next two years, these students will build their very own, two person “flying machine” on the very grounds where brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved their world-changing first flight on December 17, 1903!

      We’re proud to support this program by sponsoring this video series created by Rayolight Productions. As videos are made available, we’ll be adding them to our YouTube channel, sharing them on Facebook, and including them in our monthly e-newsletters. 

      Learn More
       
      Board Member Spotlight: Trip Forman, President
      April is our birthday month, and to celebrate, we’d like to introduce you to Trip Forman, President of our Board of Directors and co-founder of REAL Watersports, Watermen’s Bar & Grill, and Watermen’s Retreat!

      Trip has been a member of our board from the very beginning, and he and his team at REAL Watersports have donated $30,000 to support our Outer Banks national parks, especially Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which he calls home.

      Meet Trip
       
      Supporter Story: Colleen Minard 
      We love hearing your stories from our Outer Banks national parks!

      Colleen Minard is a former National Park Service ranger who has spent many years visiting the Outer Banks with her family. 

      She is also supporter of our Pathways to Your National Parks project!

      Colleen (pictured far right, with her family) sent us her story about why Cape Hatteras National Seashore is so special to her and why she chose to honor her parents with a memorial gift to Pathways to Your National Parks.
      Learn More
       
      National Park Week 2024
      National Park Week is almost here! This year, National Park Week will take place from April 20 through April 28.

      Highlights for the week include:

       

      Ocracoke Island Beach Cleanup – April 20

      • Where: Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach Access
      • When: 1 to 3 p.m.
      • Details: National Park Service rangers will be on site to complete volunteer paperwork and hand out beach cleanup supplies like trash bags and gloves. Make sure to wear comfortable work clothing and sunscreen. Don’t forget your water and any snacks you may need!
       
      We’ll be celebrating our fifth birthday at Swells’a Brewing on Saturday, April 27, and you’re invited! There will be a food truck from 5 to 9 p.m., live music from 6 to 9 p.m., and we’ll soon be announcing a new local partner who will be bringing sweet treats to enjoy!
      RSVP
       
      Save the Date: 2024 Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest Season Opening May 1!
      Sea turtle nesting season is almost here!

      Through our Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program, you can symbolically adopt an active sea turtle nest on Cape Hatteras National Seashore! You will receive an official adoption certificate by mail and information about your specific nest when it hatches later this summer or fall.

      Our 2024 Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest season opens to the public on May 1, so mark your calendars! 

      Here’s how the program works:

      • Donate: Give a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more to reserve your 2024 sea turtle nest. Your gift will help us fund important projects that protect and enhance Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the vital habitat it preserves. You will receive a confirmation email for your donation. 
      • Receive your nest assignment: Sea turtles typically start to arrive in May and June, and will continue to arrive until late August. As nests become available, you will be assigned your sea turtle nest and receive an adoption certificate by mail with initial information about your nest. Please keep in mind that if you reserve a nest in May, you may not receive your initial information until late May, June, or even later depending on how many early adoptions are received.
      • Wait patiently for your nest to hatch! When your nest hatches later this summer or fall, you will receive a personalized update in the mail with information park rangers collect about your nest including the number of hatchlings that made their way out to sea.You can read our frequently asked questions for even more information about our Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program! If you have additional questions, please reach out to Nicole Erickson, our Development & Adoption Programs Manager, at nicoleerickson@obxforever.org. 
       
      Photo & Video Credits: George S. Jaramillo, Rayolight Productions, Trip Forman – REAL Watersports, Colleen Minard, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
       
      Connect With Us!
      Facebook
      Link
      YouTube
      Website
      Email
       

       

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    • Apr 10, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments 36.505,-76.3559999

      Dismal Swamp Canal Now Open! Alternate AICW Route


       View In Chartview

      Set in beautiful Camden Count, NC, the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center provides free dockage for cruisers' on the Dismal Swamp AICW Alternate Route

      The Dismal Swamp Route departs the southbound Waterway at MM 7.2. Our thanks to Sarah Hill for this good news from Dismal Swamp Welcome Center, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR! See original LNM: NAV ALERT

      Good Monday Morning,

       

      Per the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the historic Dismal Swamp Canal has reopened to boating traffic and resumed normal operations today, April 8th, 2024!

       

      Lock Schedule : 8:30 & 11am and 1:30 & 3:30pm

       

      We hope to see you soon & don’t forget to stop by and grab the new 2024 #DismalSwamp Boating sticker!

       

      Many thanks,

      Sarah

      Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For the Camden TDA/Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

       

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    • Apr 4, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments 36.0841,-76.40639999

      Off the Beaten Path and Lovin’ It – Albemarle Plantation, Hertford, NC


       View In Chartview

      Our marina is your boating access to Albemarle Sound, the largest freshwater sound in the country—55 miles long and 15 miles at its widest point. Placed strategically at the mouth of Yeopim Creek, the marina is just beyond the high insurance line saving boaters significantly on their insurance rates.

      Albemarle Plantation Marina,  a port on the Albemarle Loop and a CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just off the AICW on the northern shores of Albemarle Sound on Yeopim River/Creek.

      Your new Inner Banks Dream Home
      is closer than you think!Gorgeous, new move-in ready homes by Chesapeake Homes
      (with homesites of nearly an acre) means you won’t have to wait to enjoy
      Albemarle Plantation’s waterfront lifestyle.

      Life here is full of pristine, natural beauty, alongside some of the most
      charming small towns in North Carolina, like historic Edenton.
      And it’s only about an hour to major metros like Virginia Beach!

      With all your daily needs just minutes from the gates, and every amenity
      you’ve dreamed of right out your front door, no wonder so many neighbors are
      lovin’ it at Albemarle Plantation!

      Video Link Image
      Discover Albemarle Plantation | Plan a Visit | Contact Us
      128 Lakeside Drive, Hertford, NC 27944 • (800) 523-5958 • (252) 426-4653

      The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and may change at any time without notice. AP Realty Company, LLC/Broker

      Click Here To View the Cruisers Net North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Albemarle Plantation Marina

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Albemarle Plantation Marina

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    • Mar 15, 2024by:   Larry Dorminy No Comments

      March OBX Park News: Meet Your Ranger, The Wright Flight Academy, Partner Spotlight, and more

       
      Your March E-news preview:

       

       
      Your Parks, Your Impact
      Spring is almost here, which means things are changing – the days are longer, the air a little warmer, and our parks are coming to life as they thaw out from cold winter days. 

      One thing that doesn’t change is how each one of us love and support our Outer Banks national parks. Did you know that people like you have played a role in supporting our national parks through donations and other support since they were first thought of as “America’s Best Idea” over 100 years ago? 

      This year, we carry on that legacy as we celebrate five years helping you support our Outer Banks national parks. A lot has changed in just those five years:
      • You’ve helped create new ways to experience these special places.
      • Our parks have seen a record number of visitors that has only slightly slowed down today.
      • Our parks’ budget continues to tighten, making it more difficult for them to keep pace with our community’s needs. 
      That’s why your support is more important than ever this year. When you give a gift to Outer Banks Forever – whether it’s $50 or $500 – you allow us to help our parks adapt to these changes faster and easier. Together, we can ensure that these beautiful places remain a source of inspiration and wonder for years to come. 
      Donate Today
      We can’t thank you enough for being part of our Outer Banks Forever family for the past five years and look forward to the amazing work we can do together this year and beyond! 

      See you in our parks,

      Jessica Barnes
      Director
      Outer Banks Forever
       
      Meet Your Ranger: Robin Snyder
      Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! 

      This month, we’re pleased to introduce you to Robin Snyder, Deputy Superintendent of our Outer Banks national parks!

      No two days are alike for Robin as she works closely with the Superintendent and division chiefs of administration, maintenance, visitor services, resource management, and visitor and resource protection to manage park operations for our three national parks! 

      Meet Robin
       
      The Wright Flight Academy: Part I
      Prepare for Takeoff!
      This content is brought to you by our National Park Service partners.
      Prepare for takeoff and join Wright Brothers National Memorial on an extraordinary adventure in partnership with Dare County Schools with The Wright Flight Academy!

      Experience the start of something special at Wright Brothers National Memorial with the first installment in a series of videos chronicling the extraordinary work being performed by students from First Flight High School. Over the next two years, 23 students will build their very own, two person “flying machine” (I.e., an FAA-certified airplane) on the same grounds where brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved their world-changing first flight on December 17, 1903! 

      We hope you’ll follow along and cheer these students on as they carry the torch of the Wright brothers’ legacy in The Wright Flight Academy!

      We’re proud to support this program by sponsoring this video series created by Rayolight Productions. As videos are made available, we’ll be adding them to our YouTube channel, sharing them on Facebook, and featuring them in our monthly e-newsletters. 

      Learn More
       
      Partner Spotlight: OBX Beverage
      If you’ve spent time in the Outer Banks, then you’ve likely enjoyed a beverage brought to you by our friends at OBX Beverage!

      OBX Beverage is the only locally owned and operated beverage distributor here in the Outer Banks. When Kiefer and Molly Pirrung purchased the business in 2021, they did so with the mission of contributing to our vibrant community, providing quality beverages and service to locals and visitors alike. 

      They are also passionate about protecting and enhancing our Outer Banks national parks, and have done so by supporting our Pathways to Your National Parks project! 
      Learn More
       
      NPS Explains:
      What’s Happening at Buxton Beach Access?
      This content is brought to you by our National Park Service partners.
      From 1956 until 2010, Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s Buxton Beach Access, located at the south end of Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton, North Carolina, served our nation as a military base for both the United States Navy and Coast Guard.

      Due to decades-long military usage and apparently incomplete restoration of the area, samples taken from the Buxton Beach Access beach tested positive in early September 2023, for petroleum-contaminated soils (PCS).

      Additionally, due to coastal erosion, abandoned facilities, construction debris, and septic systems associated with historic Navy and Coast Guard activities have been observed along the beach adjacent to the Buxton Beach Access.
      On September 1, 2023, as a precautionary measure, the beach adjacent to the former military site was closed after experiencing beach erosion from Tropical Storm Idalia and Hurricane Lee. The erosion uncovered potentially hazardous infrastructure associated with the Navy and Coast Guard bases and visitors reported a strong smell of petroleum. The Seashore filed two reports with the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Spill Response Center.
      Sediment samples taken in early September 2023, by the Coast Guard’s Spill Response staff came back positive for petroleum hydrocarbons with characteristics of light fuel oil, and lubricating oil. Since early September 2023, PCS have intermittently been observed on the beach.

      On September 25, 2023, the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, the Seashore, and the Corps, issued a precautionary public health advisory.

      On February 9, 2024, Seashore staff noticed a very strong smell of petroleum products and multiple surfers reported that their wetsuits and hair smelled like fuel and noticed a sheen on the water near Buxton Beach Access. A number of reports were submitted to the National Response Center.

      Today, it appears that the foundation of the terminal building, including two cable terminal vaults and other infrastructure associated with NAVFAC Cape Hatteras, litter the beach, due to significant coastal erosion over the years.

      While the National Park Service remains concerned about the remnant infrastructure and PCS at this site, it is also proud that for 26 years, America’s first national seashore hosted NAVFAC Cape Hatteras, a military facility that played an essential role in tracking Soviet submarine movements and provided valuable intelligence to the U.S. Navy.

      The Seashore continues to support the military by providing land to the Coast Guard for important operations out of Hatteras Inlet and Oregon Inlet.

      What’s next?

      • The beach remains closed as a precautionary measure.
      • The Seashore will continue to communicate observations and concerns about the existence of PCS and debris to the Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard.
      • The Corps continues to evaluate the situation and if its authorities will allow for the removal of historic building infrastructure and associated PCS.
      • The Coast Guard is conducting a CERCLA investigation at the site to evaluate the presence of non-petroleum contaminants, which is underway and expected to conclude during the summer of 2024. The contract for the investigation is not related to the PCS observations in September 2023.
      To learn more about the history and status of this site from our National Park Service partners, click the button below. You can also learn more from our friend Joy Crist, Editor of the Island Free Press, by visiting her Editor’s Blog. 
      Learn More
       
      Celebrating Pony Birthdays!
      Join us in celebrating the Ocracoke ponies who have March birthdays!

      Did you know you can help these beautiful and unique ponies by symbolically adopting one or supporting the herd? Your support helps cover the costs of their ongoing care and feeding. When you Adopt A Pony or support the herd with a gift of $50 or more, you will receive an adoption certificate and a picture of your pony or of the herd to keep!

       
      Lawton – March 9

      Lawton is a handsome paint pony and is the Ocracoke herd’s only gelding. He is named after the late Lawton Howard, an Ocracoke local who generously loved and supported the ponies.

      Lawton enjoys playing with his four half-siblings in the herd and showing off for visitors! He’s also known for his loud, very noticeable snore!

       
      Paloma – March 22

      Paloma’s name, which means “dove” in Spanish, was given to her by the students at the Ocracoke School. Paloma’s mother was Spirit, a deeply missed member of the herd, and her father is Wentzel from the Shackleford Banks herd.

      She is very inquisitive and is usually the first pony to greet visitors at the Ocracoke Pony Pens!

       
      Rayo – March 26

      Rayo is one of the beloved ponies of Ocracoke Island. His name means “lightening”  in Spanish, and he is a paint stallion with lots of spunk!

      He is Paloma’s brother and is the father of Jobelle and Hazelnut. He is known for being very active and curious!

       
      Adopt A Pony
       
      Save the Date: National Park Week 2024
      Save the date for our favorite week of the year: National Park Week! We’ll also be celebrating our fifth birthday that week!

      This year, National Park Week will take place from April 20 through April 28. Highlights for the week include Earth Day, a fee-free day at Wright Brothers National Memorial, National Junior Ranger Day, and more! Stay tuned for more exciting details to come!

       
       
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      Outer Banks Forever

      PO Box 1635

      Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948-1635

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