Podcasts about north carolina state parks

Send us a textJoin us for an insightful and inspiring journey into the heart of Western North Carolina as we explore the region's remarkable resilience following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. In this episode, we speak with Amanda Baker from Outdoor NC, Brian Strong, Director of North Carolina State Parks, and biologist Doug Besler from the NC Wildlife Commission, as they share their expertise on the unprecedented flooding, park closures, and ongoing recovery efforts.Discover how state parks are working to restore themselves to their natural beauty and how travelers can play a vital role in this recovery through responsible travel and stewardship. Learn about the impact on local wildlife, including the strategies for restocking trout and the broader implications for the region's ecosystems. Doug Besler offers a fascinating look at the adaptability of nature, while also highlighting the economic significance of recreational fishing for the local community.Through this conversation, we uncover the powerful connection between nature, well-being, and community collaboration. Patience and collective action are essential as we navigate these transformative challenges, and we provide listeners with resources to stay informed and engaged in supporting the recovery and revitalization of Western North Carolina.Tune in to learn how you can help this cherished region heal and thrive!Explore What's Open in Western NCVisit NCOutdoor NCNorth Carolina Wildlife CommissionNorth Carolina State ParksOutdoor NC StewardshipWestern NC Recovery Non-ProfitsBeLoved AshevilleSamaritan's Purse828 StrongMountainTrueGreater GoodMANNA Foodbank Mike AndressHost, Exploration Local828-551-9065mike@explorationlocal.comPodcast WebsiteFacebookInstagram: explorationlocal

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered how adventure can transform lives? Join us as we chat with Adam Combs, the passionate co-founder of Waypoint Adventure.  Adam shares the remarkable journey of Waypoint in making outdoor experiences like rock climbing, hiking, and kayaking accessible to individuals with disabilities. Discover how cutting-edge adaptive equipment and specialized programs are breaking barriers and helping participants discover their strengths while building confidence.Adam provides an inside look into Waypoint's customized adventure programs tailored for a variety of groups, from schools to social service agencies. Hear about their exciting collaboration with North Carolina State Parks, which has significantly expanded access to outdoor activities for marginalized communities. We discuss the vital infrastructure and training that ensure these adventures are safe and inclusive for everyone involved.Gain insight into how inclusive outdoor activities are revolutionizing societal perceptions and fostering a culture of accessibility. Listen to inspiring stories of individuals overcoming incredible challenges, and understand the broader impact of the "dignity of risk" concept. Finally, we share how you can support Waypoint's mission through participation, volunteering, or donations, and invite you to be part of creating a world where everyone can experience the joy and empowerment of the great outdoors.Mike AndressHost, Exploration Local828-551-9065mike@explorationlocal.comPodcast WebsiteFacebookInstagram: explorationlocal

This week, join me on a journey where the classroom canopy reaches the sky, and every leaf turns the page to a new lesson and experience. On this week's Adventures in Learning Podcast, we meet some of the creative minds behind North Carolina's successful Schools in Parks program. Join Randy Bechtel and Mary Meyer of North Carolina State Parks, and Sarah Yelton and Taylor Prichard from UNC Institute for the Environment, as we uncover the magic that happens when third through fifth graders swap their desks for dirt and textbooks for the textures of the great outdoors. Our guests bring to life strategies for building STEAM experiences — think water quality testing or wildlife tracking — that complement the curriculum while also fostering connections between children and the world around them. Afraid of bringing the kids outside? Not sure where to begin? This episode is a treasure trove of strategies for transforming STEAM education into unforgettable outdoor experiences. Starting small can ignite a wildfire of curiosity — even a ten-minute jaunt outside the classroom can open new possibilities. Randy, Mary, Sarah, and Taylor share some of their favorite outdoor lessons and experiences, as well as strategies for engagement. The Schools in Parks Collaborative page on the UNC Institute for the Environment website includes some great lessons and activities that can be taught in parks or on school grounds, as well as contact information for Taylor Prichard and Sarah Yelton.  NC listeners can also find teacher application information for the 2024-25 cohort of the Schools in Parks Collaborative!Taylor Prichard tmpricha@unc.edu, Environmental Education SpecialistSarah Yelton, sarah.yelton@unc.edu, Environmental Education & Citizen Science Program ManagerHere is a link the NC State Parks Field Trip webpage, which includes a variety of resources for setting up a successful park field trip in NC. Even if you are joining us from another state, I highly encourage you to check out the resources as they may spark inspiration that can lead to your own memorable field trips wherever you live. The full time NC State Park educators that are part of the Schools in Park program include:Sean Higgins sean.higgins@ncparks.gov - Interpretation and Education ManagerMary Meyer mary.meyer@ncparks.gov - SiP Program ManagerRandy Bechtel randy.bechtel@ncparks.gov - I&E SpecialistMelissa Mitchell melissa.mitchell@ncparks.gov - SiP Outdoor Recreation CoordinatorBy collaborating with informal educators like park rangers, and by integrating outdoor experiences with the curriculum, teachers can confidently guide students of all ages through nature's endless classroom. So lace up your boots, grab a notebook, and join us in inspiring an enduring love for nature that grows with every STEAM lesson learned in the great outdoors.Support the showRead the full show notes, visit the website, and check out my on-demand virtual course. Continue the adventure at LinkedIn or Instagram. *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 10-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughter Amelia. Jay Tryon is a 17-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

Frank & Frank learn more about Weymouth Woods and the NC State Parks system with Superintendent Billy Hartness from the NCDPR.

We chat with one of 2021s NC State Parks interns. 

From her post at Pilot Mountain State Park near the Blue Ridge Escarpment, N.C. State Parks Ranger Maggie Miller talks about the coming fall color — specifically, when it's coming and  the best places to catch it. For more information on the North Carolina State Parks she mentions — or for any other state park in the Tar Heel state — go hereFor information on the Hawk Watch program mentioned by Ranger Smith, check out the North Carolina State Parks Events and Programs page here.In the NewsWe also catch up on fall color in Georgia and Virginia, with information on where you can find the latest breaking news in those states. Click the appropriate state below:Georgia State ParksVirginia State ParksControlled burns will be occurring in the Cherokee and Monongahala National Forests. For specifics:On controlled burns in the Cherokee National Forest, go here. On controlled burns in the Monongahala National Forest, go here. 

Welcome to episode 290 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Black Folks Camp Too founder Earl B. Hunter Jr. Earl and I talk about his career with Sylvan, how he got into the Outdoor Biz, and their mission to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, more familiar and more fun for black folks to go camping. Facebook Twitter Instagram   The Outdoor Biz Podcast   Please give us a rating and review HERE   Show Notes   Black Folks Camp Too   International Procurement & Distribution, Inc   Sylvansport   Outdoor Economy Conference   Unity Blaze   Digital Education Initiative   Leave No Trace   South Carolina State Parks   North Carolina State Parks   Oboz   RVIA: RV Industry Association   RVDA: The National RV Dealers Association   Connect with Earl   Linkedin   Twitter   Instagram   Facebook   Snippets 01:54 - 02:21 Earl's First Sales Experience 04:37 - 05:05 Earl's Unique Connection to Sylvansport [EP 290] 33:55 - 34:25 Earl's advice for those looking to get into the Outdoor Business.

A new feature on CarolinaWeatherGroup.com will help you get outdoors safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our "Parkway Map" updates daily to show you which portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia are open to traffic. Whether you're looking to take a day trip, a weekend, or an extended vacation, the new map will allow you to plan ahead and avoid those pesky barriers. SEE THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY CLOSURE MAP: https://carolinaweathergroup.com/is-the-blue-ridge-parkway-open-closed/ The map comes as North Carolina has received more than 100 applications for conservation projects this year, an increase environmental groups say was driven by the spike in public demand for access to trails, parks, and natural areas during the pandemic. North Carolina State Director for The Conservation Fund Bill Holman said proposals also include projects to protect and restore floodplains, which can buffer communities from flooding, and stream restoration efforts to protect drinking water. He added that last year, more North Carolinians spent time outdoors than ever before. "In 2020, almost 20 million people visited North Carolina State Parks," said Holman. "That's a record." Holman points out the more than $76 million in requested funding far surpasses the $13 million available from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. Holman noted that before the 2008 recession, the state spent around $150 million on conservation projects, but that amount has decreased steadily in the past decade. He said he hopes state lawmakers funnel more money into the fund, which has bipartisan support. Fred Annand - director of conservation resources with The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina - said climate change has added another layer of urgency to the state's conservation efforts. "As we see sea-level rise having an impact on our shorelines," said Annand, "as we see natural areas slowly disappearing, and the importance of - again, connectivity - of giving wildlife an avenue to seek a higher gradient." Meanwhile, the COVID-19 crisis has presented challenges for those working to preserve and protect natural areas. Annand said it's uncertain how the pandemic will affect long-term conservation goals. "Trying to meet with landowners safely and to negotiate transactions, and to determine where matching funds will come from as well," said Annand, "that certainly has impacted our work." In addition to reducing air and water pollution and improving soil quality, research shows protecting land also has economic benefits. One Harvard study found land conservation modestly increases employment rates, likely by creating new jobs in tourism and recreation industries. Special Thanks to Nadia Ramlagan,  of the Public News Service - NC, for the broader context in this report about the interest in expanding the state's state park options. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather/support

This week we look at 8 backpack trips we hope to take in 2021 (we had planned to do them in 2020, but, well, viruses happen). We talk a bit about each hike and they're particular attraction, from a couple of quick overnighters that are surprisingly close to home, to a couple or shorter thru  hikes. We also look at recent land acquisitions that have boosted North Carolina State Parks' land and water holdings past the quarter million acre mark, including  expansions for the Deep River State Trail and the Salmon Creek Natural Area.8 Backpack trip resourcesFor more information on the 8 backpacking trips discussed:Mount Rogers National Recreation Area / Grayson Highlands State Park:Sherpa Guides overview of the areaMount Rogers National Forest Service websiteGrayson Highlands State Park websiteNorth Carolina Bartram TrailNorth Carolina Bartran Trail Society websiteMiddle Prong Wilderness AreaMiddle Prong Wilderness Area National Forest Service websiteMiddle Prong Wilderness on Wilderness.netNeusiok TrailNeusiok Trail National Forest Service websiteNeusiok Trail on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail websiteDeep Creek Loop / Great Smoky Mountains National Park"Backpacking North Carolina," trip No. 20, page 22Panthertown ValleyFriends of Panthertown websitePanthertown Valley Backcountry Area National Forest Service website"Backpacking North Carolina," trip No. 28, page 157Appalachian Trail in Virginia: James River to Punchbowl MountainHiking Project: Punchbowl Mountain to James RiverBirkhead Mountain Wilderness Area"Backpacking North Carolina," trip No. 35, page 193Birkhead Mountain Wilderness National Forest Service websiteHiking Upward: Birkhead Mountain WildernessFor more on these hikes, check out our blog, at GetGoingNC.com.In the newsFind more information on the two areas mentioned in the News segment here:Deep River State TrailSalmon Creek State Natural Area

Rangers Jess and Crystal sit down with NC State Parks director Dwayne Patterson to talk about his journey to parks and his vision for their future.

When someone visits a park and they are curious, what is the first thing they want to do? Ask a ranger.  Park Rangers are icons of parks and one of the reasons people enjoy talking with Rangers is because they can answer your questions about nature.  Now, you no longer have to seek out a Park Ranger in a park to get an answer to your question.  Park Rangers Jess Phillips and Crystal Lloyd from North Carolina State Parks have launched the Ask a Ranger Podcast.  Jess Phillips from William B Umstead State Park and Crystal Lloyd from Falls Lake State Recreation Area teamed up to launch a podcast to be able to reach people who can't or haven't visited their parks.  Rangers Jess and Crystal share their story of how they started the podcast and some of the episodes they have created. They also offer advice on how you can start a podcast for your own park or agency.  Park Rangers educate the public every day. A podcast is no different. It is just a new and different tool to allow you to reach new people. 

Many of our North Carolina State Parks were affected by gristmills and the millponds that were created in and around our North Carolina communities. We do not have any working gristmills in NC State Parks so we traveled to a Raleigh county park, Yates Mill Pond, to talk all things millpond and gristmill. From how a gristmill works, the community aspects of a gristmill and millpond, to the nature that is in and around a millpond, our guest Ranger Rebeccah Cope educates us on it all!

During this episode we discuss the North Carolina State Parks education theme for 2018 — the year of the FISH!!! We talk with Ranger Brian about fish and fun crafts you can do with — you guessed it — FISH! Who knew there were crafts you can do with actual fish? Thank you to Ranger Brian Swanson for speaking with us, as well as our other contributors for this episode, Ranger Joe Shimel and Ranger Jacob Fields for the music intro and exit.

In this episode, we wrap the year up talking with our Piedmont Region Education Specialist Brian Bockhahn about the North Carolina State Parks theme for 2017: spiders!!! Brian helps us dispel spider myths, expand our minds about the wonderful world of spiders and help us develop an even greater curiosity about these wonderful arachnids!! Thank you to our guest Brian Bockhahn, as well as Keith Nealson, and Joe Shimmel for their wonderful music.

This is our mid-month "Naturally Wonderful" moment in which we introduce you to one of our coworkers. Listen in and find out why Sean Gough enjoys working for North Carolina State Parks.

Mike Murphy, Director of North Carolina State Parks and sometime Astronomy Teacher, helps prepare us for the upcoming Eclipse of the Sun on August 21st

Mike Murphy, Director of North Carolina State Parks and sometime Astronomy Teacher, helps prepare us for the upcoming Eclipse of the Sun on August 21st

There is far more to North Carolina's State Parks than biodiversity and scenic vistas. Our parks are also natural/cultural touchstones, outdoor classrooms, and economic engines. With the help of some North Carolina's finest musicians, including James Taylor, this documentary offers an in-depth look at one of America's most exciting state park systems.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, along with North Carolina State Parks, continue to stock trout into in Hanging Rock State Park’s lake, supporting the new Stokes County trout fishery created earlier this year.