For a few hours this weekend, the Outer Banks were blanketed in snow. Winter weather here can be tough, but for the briefest of moments we had a chance to enjoy the quiet that a first snow fall always brings.
Now that winter has truly arrived, that quiet time is a great time to reflect on the many ways you helped protect and enhance our Outer Banks national parks in 2021.
Each time you’ve forwarded this e-newsletter, shared our posts on social media or donated to support our parks, you’ve helped us make a positive impact in these places that mean so much to each of us.
From the projects we completed together, to the virtual experiences that gave you an insiders view to our parks, to new partnerships that connected our island community to important national stories - 2021 was a year of growth for Outer Banks Forever despite the challenges each of us continued to face.
We’re excited this month to bring you an overview of what you made possible in 2021, along with a look at some of the exciting things to come in 2022. If you have friends or family who love the Outer Banks as much as you do, hit forward and share this email with them!
See you in your parks,
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Outer Banks Forever 2021 Year in Review |
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Since we launched in April 2019, our vision has been to build a strong foundation of support for Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, three amazing national parks that not only preserve our unique local environment and Outer Banks history, but also world history.
Your generosity has allowed our Outer Banks national parks to continue providing locals and visitors with engaging and safe experiences in spite of the challenges they have faced over the past two years.
As we begin a new year together, we want to celebrate what you helped us and our Outer Banks national parks accomplish in 2021!
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Meet Your Ranger: Matthew Hall |
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Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day!
We'd like you introduce you to Matthew Hall, Supervisory Park Ranger for the Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services division of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. His work takes him to Bodie Island, Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island and Roanoke Island as he trains interpretation rangers and connects visitors to our national parks.
In his free time, Matthew enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, exploring new places, going to the beach, fishing, cooking and eating great food!
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Winter Challenges for Sea Turtles |
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If you’ve ever walked along the beach of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, you may have been lucky enough to spot a sea turtle or a protected sea turtle nest. Loggerhead, green, leatherback, hawksbill (rare) and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles call the Outer Banks home, and from late spring to early fall, female sea turtles emerge from the ocean to lay their eggs in the sands of Cape Hatteras beaches, where they incubate until the time comes for them to hatch and return to the sea.
When temperatures plummet in the winter months, however, the sea turtles’ lives can quickly become threatened. This month Ben Ranelli, a former biological technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, tells us about winter challenges for sea turtles and how you can help.
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Park Project Spotlight:
Artist in Community
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We want to thank you for supporting our Outer Banks national parks during their busiest year on record.
Your continued support helps fund projects that create new ways for everyone to experience our parks.
One of the new experiences we're working to launch this year with your help is the first-ever Artist in Community residency program at Cape Hatteras National Seashore!
There is no shortage of beauty and history in our OBX national parks - from painters to photographers to musicians, artists have found inspiration here for decades. The Artist in Community residency program will allow local and national artists to create work inspired by the Seashore, as well as provide you with opportunities to watch and learn from their techniques.
Learn more about this unique program and how you can make it possible here.
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Upcoming Event: Pints for Parks |
A portion of proceeds from the evening will support our mission to protect and enhance our OBX national parks, now and forever.
We hope to see you there!
Swells'a Brewing is located at 1802 South Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948.
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Outer Banks Forever is the
official nonprofit partner of our Outer Banks national parks, helping to protect and enhance these special places.
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