March 2014 Ranger Programs at the Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: February 18, 2014
Contact: Wouter Ketel, 252-728-2250 ext. 3014

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 1

History on Hooves(1:00 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.

Life of a Keeper (3:00 PM, 30 minutes) – Discover how lighthouse keepers, and their families, managed to keep the light burning.

Sunday, March 2

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.

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.Explore the life of a sea turtle and find out how you can help protect these amazing reptiles.

Saturday, March 8

Kites and Butterflies: Second Saturday Event(1:00 PM to 3:00 PM) – Spring skies are filled with colorful kites and spring flowers herald the arrival of summer butterflies. Join us at Shell Point on Harkers Island for an afternoon of kites and butterflies.Build your own kite to fly and learn about the local plants you can use to attract butterflies to your garden.Learn more at go.nps.gov/2ndSat.

Sunday, March 9

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.

Coastal Heroes(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) –Join a ranger to hear the stories of people who risked their lives to rescue strangers from the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

Saturday, March 15

Women of the Light(1:00 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.

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 these ocean inhabitants from the smallest sand sharks to the giant blue whales.

Sunday, March 16

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.

Wreck of the Vera Cruz VII (3:00 PM, 30 minutes) – Rumors of smuggling and illegal immigration surrounded the Vera Cruz VII.Portsmouth villagers passed down stories of the enormous batches of bread made by Portsmouth villagers to feed more than 400 rescued passengers.Join a ranger as we explore the history of the largest single-vessel rescue in North Carolina history.

Saturday, March 22

Maritime ForestTrail 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.

Discovery Cart(3:00 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.

Sunday, March 23

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.

Civil War Stories (3:00 PM, 30 minutes) – The inlets along the North Carolina coast provided much needed supply routes.Join a ranger to hear about the raid on the lighthouse, confederate spies, blockade-runners, and other stories.

Saturday, March 29

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.

Coastal Communities (3:00 PM, 30 minutes) – Although bridges and roads connect the northern Outer Banks to the mainland, many years ago, the people who lived on these barrier islands were isolated and had to rely on themselves and live off the land and sea.Join us as we step back in time and remember these hearty souls.

Sunday, March 30

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.

Beacons of the Coast(3:00 PM, 30 minutes) – Join a ranger and learn about the legacy of the iconic lighthouses on the North Carolina coast.