Seashore Announces Its 2009 July Interpretive Program Schedule

Date: July 1, 2009
Contact: Wouter Ketel, [phone] Ext. 3005

Harkers Island, North Carolina.  Superintendent Russ Wilson announces the following summer activities during the month of July at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Additional programs may be offered.  Programs will run on schedule, unless there is inclement weather.  For more information on these programs and other program offerings call the Harkers Island Visitor Center at [phone] for a complete schedule.

Shackleford Banks

Horse Sense and Survival, July 22 (6 hours), By Reservation Only

The wild horses on Shackleford Banks are fascinating to observe, but may be difficult to find.  Join a Park Ranger for a day-long walking trip to find horses and watch their behavior.  The park will arrange transportation by local ferries and there will be a charge for this ride.  If you have your own boat, call the park for the reservations and meeting locations.  There is no charge for the walking program.  Come prepared for a day in the sun and walking through deep sand.  Bring water, lunch, bug repellent, sunscreen, a sun hat, binoculars, and camera with telephoto lens.  Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes to walk in deep sand and those that can get wet and muddy.  Call Cape Lookout National Seashore at [phone] for reservations.

Cape LookoutLighthouse

Lighting the Way (Daily, 15 minutes)

Come learn the history of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the life of a lighthouse keeper.  Programs begin at 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30PM on the porch of the Assistant Keepers’ Quarters museum next to the Lighthouse.

Life of a Keeper (Daily, 30 minutes)

Lighthouse Keepers were dedicated men and women who kept the lighthouse light burning through fair weather and hurricanes.  Come discover how they, and their families, managed to keep the light burning.  Programs begin at 11:15 AM at the Light Station Pavilion near the ferry dock.

Island Explorations (Daily, 30 minutes)

Come join a Park Ranger for new adventures at Cape Lookout National Seashore.  From the ocean to the sound and from the sea to the sky, these programs will take you on a different encounter with nature each day.  Programs begin at 1:15 PM at the Light Station Pavilion near the ferry dock.

Storms, Wars & Shipwrecks (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 30 minutes)

Nor'easters and hurricanes, pirates and wars have all left behind stories and marks on the island that still live in island legends.  Join a Ranger to hear the stories of these past storms and how over 3000 ships and people were claimed by the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Programs begin at 2:15 PM at the Light Station Pavilion near the ferry dock.

Discovery Cart (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 30 minutes)

Come and discover what lies beneath the waters of Cape Lookout National Seashore at our Discovery Cart.  Learn about horseshoe crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, sea urchins, sharks, whales, shells and the creatures of that live within them, and much more!  Programs begin at 2:15 PM at the Light Station Pavilion near the ferry dock.

BarrierIslandEcology (Programs are Tuesday and Thursday, 1 hour)

Join the North Carolina Coastal Federation for an educational walk from the estuary to the ocean.  Learn about animal and plant adaptations for life on the barrier island, the constant migration of these barrier islands, and environmental issues that Cape Lookout National Seashore faces today.  All ages are welcome.  Please wear comfortable walking shoes, clothing, and appropriate sun-gear.  Programs begin at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM at the Light Station Pavilion near the ferry dock. 

Long Point Cabins, North Core Banks

Marsh Walk (Saturday, July 4^th, 1 hour)

Join a ranger for this guided walk through one of North Carolina’s estuaries and see what you can find!  We will be identifying plants, birds, and the small marine creatures that call this area home.  Wear shoes that you can get wet and muddy.  Meet at the ferry dock behind Long Point Cabins at 3:00 pm.

Evening Programs

Special note for evening programs:  this area is accessible only by ferry, the last ferry returns to the mainland at 5:30 pm.  Stargazers and others will need to either camp or rent a cabin overnight.

Star Gazing (Friday July 3^rd, 1 hour)

Bears, a dolphin, a king and his queen can all be found among the summer stars.   Come join the ranger on the beach in front of the cabins at sunset for a journey among the stars.  A beach blanket or lounge chair can make viewing more comfortable.   Program begins at 8:30 pm.

Campfire program (Saturday, July 4^th, 1 hour)

The barrier islands of North Carolina have many tales to tell.  Come join the ranger at the campfire on the beach in front of the cabins at sunset for stories about pirates, shipwrecks and treasure.   Program begins at 8:30 pm.

PortsmouthVillage

PortsmouthVillageGuided Tour (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 1 hour)

Join a park volunteer for this guided tour through historic Portsmouth Village.  Discover what life was like for those who once called Portsmouth and the Outer Banks home.  Bring drinking water, bug repellent and sunscreen.  There are no amenities in the village.  Programs begin at 10:30 AM at the Haulover Point dock in Portsmouth Village.

HarkersIsland Visitor Center

Ribbon of Sand (Film) (Daily upon request, 26 minutes)

This film offers spectacular imagery, including aerial and underwater photography, to describe the Cape Lookout ecosystem from the soundside marshes and estuaries to the thin protective line of barrier islands of the Outer Banks and the ocean depths beyond. This film is open-captioned and shown in a large screen format in the Harkers Island Visitor Center Theater. 

A shorter (16 minute) version of this film is shown daily in the mini-theater in the Keepers’ Quarters Museum near the lighthouse.