Spring in the Byway’s Down East communities Celebrate maritime heritage along the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway this spring. Something is always happening in the Byway’s 21 coastal villages. At the southern gateway to the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, Down East Carteret County communities issue a warm invitation to taste Core Sound cooking, hear menhaden fishing stories and explore frogs and neo-tropical birds. Come visit. Weather rules the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. Sometimes the tides come up and the winds blow fiercely, but families have lived along the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway for generations and sometimes the experience is just in getting here. Come visit, hear our stories and celebrate spring. Project WET Monday, March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Harkers Island Project WET workshops are for adults and teachers interested in teaching young people about water quality and resources. Participants receive a Project WILD activity guide which details hands-on activities for elementary, middle and high school students. Continental breakfast and working lunch provided. Continuing Education Units of 0.6 hours given after course completion. Instructor: Holly Denham, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Project WET State Coordinator. Fee: $20/person. Reservations required. www.coresound.com Frogs and Frog Calls Monday, March 22, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Harkers Island Coastal North Carolina is home to over twenty species of frogs and toads, each having a unique call. The indoor program covers frog and toad habitat requirements, identification and calls. If conditions permit, participants will go outdoors to collect specimens and hear calls. Instructor: Mike Campbell, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. No fee. Reservations requested. (252) 728-1500 www.coresound.com. Wildlife Workshop- Neo-tropical Birds Tuesday, April 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Harkers Island Coastal North Carolina is a major breeding spot for neo-tropical birds. These birds winter in the Caribbean and South America and make their home in this area. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the Museum will offer a day in the field to observe these birds. A short indoor program will be offered about the biology, habitat requirements and life cycles of these well-traveled birds. Following the indoor program, the group will explore areas around the Museum and other Down East locations to identify these birds by sight and sound. Instructor: Mike Campbell, Wildlife Resources Commission. No fee. Reservations, please. (252) 728-1500 www.coresound.com. For the Southern Gateway to the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway at Down East, Carteret County, N.C., from I-95 follow U.S. 70 from Smithfield, N.C. through Morehead City and Beaufort, to North River – the beginning of the Byway. For accommodations and information: visit www.outerbanksscenicbyway.org or www.crystalcoastnc.org. Call 1-800 786-6962 or 1-877-629-4386. Write Outer Banks Scenic Byway, P.O. Box 147, Rodanthe, NC 27968.

Spring on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands Experience dynamic natural worlds and meet villagers along the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway this Spring. Something is always happening in the Byway’s 21 coastal villages. In March, be daring and take an ocean dip, shave your head or dance the evening away. In April, sweep the beach and learn about Native Americans at a living history weekend and pow-wow, compete in a surf-fishing tournament or take a motorcycle ride along the byway. At the northern gateway to the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, Hatteras and Ocracoke islanders issue a warm invitation to participate in village events. Spend some time along the Byway. Weather rules the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. Families have lived along the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway for generations. Come visit, hear our stories and visit with us this spring. Locomotion’s Seal Swim Saturday, March 6, 2010, 10 a.m. Atlantic Ocean behind Outer Banks Motel, 46577 NC 12, Buxton Take a dip in chilly ocean waters to raise funds for Locomotion, the Cape Hatteras Teen Association. Adults, young people, islanders and visitors are invited to the third annual Seal Swim. For additional information, call (252) 995-6010 or visit Locomotion’s Changing Tide store, 47611 N.C. 12, Buxton. St. Baldrick’s Avon Fire Station, 40159 Harbor Rd., Avon Saturday, March 13, 2010, 3 to 6 p.m. Be brave and shave to show support for children undergoing chemotherapy. Brave shavees are encouraged to solicit friends and family for donations to childhood cancer research and go bald. Many shavees ask their friends “how much would you give to see me shave my head for childhood cancer research?” In 2009, the Avon St. Baldrick’s event raised over $2,000 and three ponytails were donated to Locks of Love. For additional information, call (252) 995-5651. A fee of $25 is charged to participate in this fourth annual event. Kinnakeet Civic Association sponsors the event. Spring Dance for Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation Saturday, March 20, 2010, 6:30 p.m. to midnight Hatteras Village Civic Center, 56658 N.C. 12, Hatteras Spring forward with this 10th anniversary dance in Hatteras village. The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation helps islanders pay medical and drug costs not covered by insurance and with travel expenses for treatment. The evening includes a dinner buffet, lots of dancing and fun events. Tax deductible tickets at $50 per person are available at the door or by calling (252) 995-4718 or visit www.hicf.org. Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum March 27, 2010 The village’s history museum, with free admission, opens for its 18th season in the century-old David Williams House. The Ocracoke Preservation Society offers exhibits in ground floor rooms and a research library on the second floor in this restored home, whose owner was the first Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard station on Ocracoke Island. Arts and Crafts Show Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3, 2010, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indian Town Gallery, 50840 N.C. 12, Frisco Local artists gather for a show and sale on the lawn at Frisco’s Indian Town Gallery. During the show, volunteers with Hatteras Island Meals, Inc., an organization that delivers noontime meals to elderly and shut-in islanders, will sell food and baked goods to raise funds. www.indiantowngallery.com Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ocracoke Campground April 2 through Oct. 26, 2010 Ocracoke is the only National Park Service campground on the Outer Banks where visitors can make advanced reservations for non-group campsites. Make reservations at (877) 444-6777 or www.recreation.gov up to six months in advance. Ocrafolk Festival Easter Concert April 3, 7:30 p.m., Ocracoke Community Center This concert features many island performers from the Ocrafolk Festival and is a fundraiser for the main festival held June 4-6, 2010. Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Season Opening 23645 NC 12, Rodanthe Monday, April 12, 2010, 10 a.m. The historic site and museum opens for the season, April 12 at 10 a.m. Built and staffed in 1874, Chicamacomico was North Carolina’s first United States Life-Saving Service station. With its two stations and five outbuildings, Chicamacomico is the most complete site of remaining life-saving stations in North Carolina and one of the nation’s most complete sites. Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors (62+), $4 youth ages 6-17. www.chicamacomico.net Portsmouth Photograph Exhibit April 23, 2010, Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum The society hosts a reception for the opening of an exhibit featuring Portsmouth village photographs by Frances Eubanks. The opening precedes Portsmouth Homecoming set for April 24, 2010 Spring Sweep Saturday, April 24, 2010, 8 a.m. to noon All Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beaches Outer Banks Scenic Byway and North Carolina Beach Buggy Association free Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches of litter. Beach Buggy Association members are stationed at all vehicle access ramps handing out trash bags. The litter-freeing effort continues through May 1 as volunteers sweep Hatteras Island’s N.C. 12 free of litter. Event is open to all. To volunteer or for information, call (252) 987-1303 or write info@outerbanksscenicbyway.org. Dancing Moccasins, a Celebration of Native American Cultures, Past and Present Saturday and Sunday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and April 25, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center, 53536 NC 12, Frisco Dancing Moccasins is a living history weekend and powwow. The annual powwow features drumming, singing, dancing, native food and beautiful crafts. The event offers over 50 hands-on sessions on making drums, flutes and arrowheads, weaving, horseback riding, sand painting, knapping, beading, silver jewelry, hair braiding, storytelling, animal tracking, basketry, pottery, leather work, gourd art, native quilting. www.nativeamericanmuseum.org. (252) 995-4440.