Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Activities Summer 2006

All Seashore visitor centers are open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. June 11 - Labor Day
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. the rest of the year

Programs listed will be offered from June 11 to Labor Day, 2006

When arriving at the park, pick up a copy of "In the Park", our summer newspaper, for more information. "In the Park" is available at any park visitor center.

Bodie Island Program Schedule
June 11-Labor Day, 2006

Program Locations: (A) Visitor Center, (B) Bathhouse at Coquina Beach, (C) Coquina Beach Environmental Education Center (located at north end of parking lot past bathhouse), (D) First beach access at Coquina Beach parking lot before Bathhouse, (E) Entrance to Oregon Inlet Campground, (F) Far end of Oregon Inlet Marina charter boat parking area (park by propeller), (X) Program is handicapped accessible.

The program schedule is subject to change without notice.

Bodie Island Program Descriptions:

Morning Bird Walk (2 hours) (E)
The Outer Banks is well known for its abundant bird life. Come explore their beach and salt marsh haunts. Beginner and experienced birders are welcomed. Be prepared to walk in sandy conditions. Binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended.

Explore the Shore (1 hour) (B)
Join a ranger for a walk along the beach to explore an ever-changing world.

Catchin' Crabs (1 ½ hours) (A)
Learn all about blue crabs and try your hand at catching them. Bring bait (fish or chicken parts), sunscreen, bug repellent, hand sanitizer and wading shoes. Access to site requires approximate half-mile walk on dirt road.

Especially for Kids (45 minutes) (A) (X)
Hands-on activities allow kids to have fun while learning about the seashore. Check at the visitor center to learn the program of the day.

Outer Banks History (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Come learn about life along the Outer Banks. Possible topics include shipwrecks, early settlers, German U-Boat activity along the coast during World War II and hurricanes. Check at the visitor center to learn the program of the day.

Barrier Island Nature (30 - 45 minutes) (A) (X)
Join a ranger to learn more about the natural wonders of the Outer Banks! Topics will vary and may include island wildlife, shell dwellers, horseshoe crabs and coastal geology.

Soundside Seining (1 ½ hours) (F)
Interested in learning about Pamlico Sound and the creatures found there? Join a ranger and discover the wonders of the sound with a seining net. Wear wading shoes. Sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended

Sentinel of the Shore (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Learn about the history, present status and future plans for the majestic Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Shipwrecks and Lifesavers (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Countless ships have met their ruin off the Outer Banks. Learn how storms, shoals, currents, war and commerce have contributed to the wreckage and about those who risked their lives to save victims onboard.

Seashore Dwellers (45 minutes) (C)
Have a ranger introduce you to some of the interesting marine life found here - from crabs to shellfish to Sargasso seaweed and more.

Turtle Talk (45 minutes) (C)
Take an in-depth look at efforts to protect the threatened and endangered sea turtles that nest along our beaches each summer.

Evening Campfire (1 hour) (D)
Spend an evening under the stars hearing stories of the Outer Banks. Topics may include shipwrecks, pirates, sea life and legends. Bring a beach chair, a warm blanket, a flashlight and insect repellent.

Hatteras Island Program Schedule
June 11-Labor Day, 2006

Program Locations: (A) Beach Access Ramp 43 Parking Area, (B) Swim beach parking lot, (C) Check in at the Visitor Center, (D) Pavilion across from the restrooms, (E) Museum of the Sea/Double Keepers' Quarters, (F) Meet at fish-cleaning tables near Ramp 44, (G) Haulover Day Use Area, (H) Sandy Bay soundside parking lot, (I) Salvo Day Use Area, (J) Original Cape Hatteras Lighthouse site, (K) District Ranger Office parking lot, (X) Program is handicapped accessible

The program schedule is subject to change without notice.

Hatteras Island Program Descriptions:

Morning Bird Walk (2 hours) (F)
Join a ranger or members of the Cape Hatteras Bird Club to discover the bird life of the Seashore. Both beginners and experts are invited. Binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended.

Let's Go Fishing (2 hours) (A)
Join members of the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club to learn the art of surf casting and fishing. We have poles, but you MUST bring the bait. This program is limited to 60 participants, and sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please come to the Hatteras Island Visitor Center in person to register for this program beginning the Sunday prior to the programs. This is a Take Me Fishing® program.

Exploring the Beach (1 hour) (B)
The seashore is constantly changing, making beach exploration new and exciting every day. Join a ranger and learn more about this special place. Wear wading shoes and sunscreen.

Cross-Island Walk (1½ hours) (K)
The coastal environment shapes the lay of the land as well as and what plants and animals will survive. Join a ranger on a trek crossing from beach to woods. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent.

Rip Current (7 minute video) (E) (X)
Learn how to identify and avoid our dangerous rip currents. Learn how to swim and surf our oceans more safely. Program is limited to the first 25 people.

Piping Plover: Before Its Too Late (15 minute video) (E) (X)
Learn about this protected species of bird and what you can do to help. Limited to the first 25 people.

Seining with a Ranger (1 to 1½ hours)
Interested in learning about the Pamlico Sound and the creatures found in it? Join a ranger to discover the wonders of the sound with seining nets. See schedule for location.

Lighthouse History (30 minutes) (D) (X)
What was it like to be a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s? How was the lighthouse constructed? Why do we have lighthouses? How many lighthouses have there been on Cape Hatteras? These are just some of the questions you might find answers to during this ranger program. Topics will vary daily.

Outer Banks History (30 minutes) (D) (X)
What was it like to be a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s? What was life like at a lifesaving station along the Outer Banks? Why was the Outer Banks known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic"? Who started the Atlantic Turkey Shoot? Find the answers to these questions and many more during the Outer Banks history talks. Topics will vary daily.

Seashore Arts (1 hour) (D) (X)
Get in touch with your artistic side! Join our staff to create a lasting memory of your time at the Seashore. Bring your own T-shirt, scarf or pillowcase to create a seashore-inspired masterpiece. This program is limited to 16 participants, and sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please come to the Hatteras Island Visitor Center in person to register for this program.

Especially For Kids (45 minutes - 1 hour) (C) (X)
Programs are crafted for our younger visitors (5 -14 years old). They will explore the natural and historical wonders of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. These programs are part of the Junior Ranger Program. Topics will vary daily.

Move of the Century and Moving of America's Lighthouse (1 hour video) (E) (X)
What can you do in 23 days? We moved a lighthouse! Programs are limited to the first 25 people.

Pirate Times (30 minutes) (D) (X)
The Outer Banks was a popular place for pirates during the early 1700s. Find out why the area was so attractive to them and how the golden age of piracy dramatically ended.

Shipwrecks and Lifesavers (30 minutes) (D) (X)
Countless ships have met their ruin off the Outer Banks. Learn how storms, shoals, currents, war and commerce have contributed to the wreckage and about those who risked their lives to save victims onboard.

Shifting Sands (1 hour) (J)
Storms, tides and sea level changes keep these islands on the go. Learn how this happens and how humans can respond to this dynamic shoreline.

Soundside Snorkel (1 ½ hours)
The shallow waters of Pamlico Sound are home to an array of small fish, shrimp and crabs. This program is limited to 20 people on a first-come, first-served basis. You must pre-register in person at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center beginning the Sunday prior to the program. Wear wading shoes and sunscreen. You must be able to swim.

Barrier Island Nature (30 minutes to 1 hour) (D) (X)
Sea turtles, seashells, shorebirds and sea oats -- join a ranger for a talk or short walk exploring the wild side of the Outer Banks. Topics will vary daily.

Isabel Inlet (1 hour) (H)
Inlets are a natural feature of barrier islands. Visit the site where an inlet was formed during Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Though it has since been filled you can learn how inlets form and see how they change the islands and its inhabitants.

Dragonflies and Butterflies (1 hour) (A)
Meet a ranger and learn about the beautiful hunters and gatherers of our freshwater wetlands. Bring repellent and sunscreen.

Evening Campfire Program (1 hour) (B)
A haunted ship. A missing captain and his crew. A strange note in a bottle. Creatures lurking in the night. What do all these have in common? They are just some of the mysterious tales and stories told at our campfire program. Bring a beach chair or blanket, flashlight and insect repellent.

Ocracoke Island Program Schedule
June 11 - Labor Day, 2006

Program Locations: (A) Visitor Center, (B) Hammock Hills Nature Trail, (C) Ocracoke Campground Beach, (D) Pony Pen, (E) Ocracoke Campground Parking Lot,
(F) Hatteras Inlet Parking Lot at north end of island by Ocracoke-Hatteras Ferry docks,
(X) Program is Handicap Accessible.

The program schedule is subject to change without notice.

Ocracoke Island Program Descriptions:

Morning Bird Walk (2 hours) (F)
The Outer Banks is well known for its abundant bird life. Come explore their beach and salt marsh haunts. Beginner and experienced birders are welcomed. Binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended.

Soundside Seining (1 ½ hours) (F)
Interested in learning about Pamlico Sound and the creatures found there? Join a ranger and discover the wonders of the sound with a seining net. Wear wading shoes. Sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended.

Explore the Shore (1 hour) (E)
The seashore is constantly changing, making beach exploration new and exciting every day. Join a ranger and learn more about this special place. Wear wading shoes and sunscreen.

Catching Crabs (1 ½ hours) (E)
Learn more about blue crabs and practice the art of catching them. Meet at the Ocracoke Campground parking lot and then drive to the crabbing site. Bring bait -- raw chicken or fish parts work best -- and wear wading shoes and sunscreen.

Especially for Kids (45 minutes) (A)
Hands-on activities developed specifically for children combine education and entertainment. This activity is a perfect way to work on the Junior Ranger program!

Ocracoke History (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Ocracoke Island has an incredibly rich cultural history. Native Americans, pilots, fishermen, pirates, lifesavers and soldiers all play a part in this fascinating story. Come find out more about the island and its people.

Ocracoke Ponies (30 minutes) (D) (X)
The Banker Ponies are definitely an Ocracoke must-see! Learn more about their mysterious origins, unique physical attributes, survival skills and the circumstances that led the Park Service to care for them.

Pirate Times (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Ocracoke was a popular place for Blackbeard and other pirates during the early 1700s. Find out why the island was so attractive to them and how the golden age of piracy dramatically ended here.

Graveyard of the Atlantic (30 minutes) (A) (X)
Since the earliest days of exploration, the North Carolina coast has proved treacherous to navigation. Thousands of ships have wrecked off the Outer Banks, earning this area the nickname "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Learn how storms, shoals, currents, war and pirates have combined to make these waters some of the most dangerous in the world.

Barrier Island Nature (30-45 minutes) (A) (X)
Sea turtles, shorebirds, seashells and sea oats -- join a ranger for a talk about the wild side of the Outer Banks. Topics will vary daily.

Evening Campfire (1 hour) (C)
The North Carolina coast has an abundance of legends and folklore. Spend a relaxing evening around a campfire hearing some of these Outer Banks stories. Bring a beach chair or blanket, flashlight and insect repellent.

updated: May 23, 2006