World Oceans Day is June 8

Date: June 4, 2012
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111

Friday, June 8, 2012 is World Oceans Day and National Park Service Outer Banks Group Superintendent Mike Murray invites the public to experience the great ocean resources of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

World Oceans Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 2008. June 8 is designated as a special day for people around the globe to celebrate ocean resources. Special World Oceans Day programs being offered on June 8 include:

·9:30 a.m. Explore the Shore (1 hour) - Join us for an early morning ranger-led walk across the undeveloped ocean beaches.Learn about this changing shoreline and the plants animals that live in this dynamic environment.Meet at the parking lot next to the Ocracoke Campground.Free!

·11:00 a.m. Sea Turtles for Kids (30 minutes) - Interactive activities allow kids to have fun while learning about this compelling creature who uses the shores of Cape Hatteras National Seashore as its nursery grounds.Meet at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion.Free!

·3:00 p.m. Sentinel of the Shore (30 minutes) - Learn about the rich history of, and future plans for, the park's majestic lighthouses.Meet at the Bodie Island Visitor Center.Free!

Kids are invited to participate in the park's Junior Ranger program and earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing a workbook and attending programs. Just go to the National Park Service Bodie Island Visitor Center, Hatteras Island Visitor Center, or Ocracoke Island Visitor Center and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet to get started. "Becoming a Junior Ranger is a free and fun way for kids and their families to explore and learn more about Cape Hatteras National Seashore," stated Murray.

For general information on the Outer Banks Group of national parks, visit www.nps.gov/caha, www.nps.gov/wrbr, www.nps.gov/fora or call park headquarters at 252-473-2111.