March Ranger Programs at the Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: February 22, 2013
Contact: Wouter Ketel, 252-728-2250 ext. 3005

HARKERS ISLAND, NC-Remote and isolated-the islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore have many stories that are rarely heard.Come explore the hidden beauty and history of your local National Park during a Ranger-led interpretive program.All programs are free of charge.

Programs will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.For more information on these programs, or to request a program for your family or group, call the Harkers Island Visitor Center at 252-728-2250.

Daily Programs and Activities

Ribbon of Sand(film) (26 minutes)

Travel through the Cape Lookout ecosystem from the sound side marshes and estuaries to the thin protective line of islands of the Outer Banks and the ocean depths beyond.The film is shown upon request.For your convenience, this film is open-captioned and audio described.Assistive listening devices are also available.

Saturday, March 2

Beach Babies: Shorebird Nesting(1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Cape Lookout National Seashore isn't just a great place to relax on the beach.These beaches also provide vital nesting grounds for endangered and threatened shorebirds.Find out how to spot shorebird nests and learn how you can help protect them.

History on Hooves(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Discover the story of some of the most famous residents of Shackleford Banks: the wild "Banker" horses.Learn about their past and how the park and its partners are working to protect the future of the herd.

Sunday, March 3

Discovery Cart(1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - From giant whale bones to the tiniest shells and everything in between: take a closer look at some of the natural treasures found on the beach.Through this hands-on activity, learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sharks, whales, shells, and the many other creatures that share our world.

Lighting the Way(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Follow the evolution of coastal warning beacons, from bonfires built on cliffs to the technology behind today's fully automated lighthouses, and explore the history of the Cape Lookout Light Station.

Saturday, March 9

Climate Change on the Coast: Second Saturday Event(1:00 PM to 3:00 PM) - Cape Lookout National Seashore is an ever changing environment. Join us for interactive games, demonstrations, and activities as we explore the effects of Climate Change on the Coast.Learn more at go.nps.gov/2ndSat.

Sunday, March 10

Discovery Cart (1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - From giant whale bones to the tiniest shells and everything in between: take a closer look at some of the natural treasures found on the beach.Through this hands-on activity, learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sharks, whales, shells, and the many other creatures that share our world.

Kings of the Ocean: Sharks & Whales(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) -Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins … "Oh My".To be afraid or not to be: that is the question.Get the inside scoop on the smallest sand sharks to the giant blue whales.

Saturday, March 16

Shifting Sands(1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Barrier islands are constantly changing: inlets open and close with storms, beaches build and erode with the changing seasons, and the islands themselves are constantly moving towards the mainland.Join a ranger for an exploration of the geologic history and future of North Carolina's barrier islands.

Journey of the Fresnel Lens(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Built in France. Hidden during the Civil War. Found, repaired, and returned.And, removed again as technology advanced.Follow the path of the first order Fresnel lens which warned sailors of the dangers of Lookout Shoals more than 150 years ago.

Sunday, March 17

Discovery Cart(1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - From giant whale bones to the tiniest shells and everything in between: take a closer look at some of the natural treasures found on the beach.Through this hands-on activity, learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sharks, whales, shells, and the many other creatures that share our world.

Storms, Wars, & Shipwrecks(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Nor'easters, hurricanes, shoals, and wars have claimed thousands of lives on the North Carolina coast.Join a Ranger to hear the stories of these events and some of the people who risked their lives to rescue strangers from the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

Saturday, March 23

Civil War Spies (1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - North Carolina, like much of the Upper South and Boarder States, was not staunchly pro-Union or pro-Confederacy.While many Carolinians were ambivalent about the war, others risked their lives to provide inside information to one side or the other.Discover the stories of some of North Carolina's Civil War Spies.

Life of a Loggerhead(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - After spending most of its life in the ocean, a female sea turtle must leave the sea and haul itself onto a beach to lay its eggs.The beaches of Cape Lookout National Seashore provide critical nesting grounds for sea turtles.Explore the life of a sea turtle and find out how you can help protect these amazing reptiles.

Sunday, March 24

Discovery Cart(1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - From giant whale bones to the tiniest shells and everything in between: take a closer look at some of the natural treasures found on the beach.Through this hands-on activity, learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sharks, whales, shells, and the many other creatures that share our world.

Women of the Light(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - At a time when women rarely worked outside the home, these women broke tradition as they worked tirelessly to guard the coast in the crucial, and often thankless, job of the lighthouse keeper.Uncover the stories of some of the women who served as official and unofficial light keepers.

Saturday, March 30 (Take a Walk in the Park Day)

Maritime Forest Walking Tour(1:00 PM, 45 minutes) - It has never been easy for living things to survive at the edge of the sea, and only the strongest, most resilient plants and animals thrive in this salty, water-starved habitat.Join a ranger for a walk on the Soundside Nature Trail and learn how native plants and animals survive with the constant threat of the forces of nature.

Fish with a Ranger(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Learn fishing safety and techniques as you cast a line or throw a cast net.No experience or fishing license needed for this activity.

Sunday, March 31(Easter Sunday)

Discovery Cart (1:00 PM, 30 minutes) - From giant whale bones to the tiniest shells and everything in between: take a closer look at some of the natural treasures found on the beach.Through this hands-on activity, learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sharks, whales, shells, and the many other creatures that share our world.

Easter Egg & Nature Scavenger Hunt(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) - Search for live animals, decoys, and Easter eggs on this guided walk on the Soundside Nature Trail and learn about the real-life camouflage plants and animals use to protect themselves.