Evergreen Issue 14
It’s Earth Day Every Day in NC
FEATURE
Get involved this month and all year long
Earth Day is a worldwide movement, celebrated on April 22 every year. The purpose of the movement is to encourage preservation through education and organized events that make a tangible positive impact on the world around you. Think tree planting parties and river cleanups. In North Carolina, Earth Day is celebrated throughout April, with festivals and events happening all over the state as spring takes hold.
This month-long celebration of stewardship gives residents and visitors alike multiple opportunities to join a massive movement that’s not only practicing sound NC Leave No Trace principles, but making NC’s outdoor spaces healthier. And there are so many ways you can participate, from picking up litter in the state’s capitol to removing plastic for the Atlantic Ocean and making trails last for generations in Pisgah National Forest.
Here are five ways you can participate in NC’s Earth Day activities this month and beyond.
Great Raleigh Cleanup
The Great Raleigh Cleanup is a non-profit organization that has removed more than 411,000 pounds of trash from the city’s neighborhoods over the years. There are a variety of programs you can participate in, from long-term “Adopt a Block” initiatives to specific group cleanups that focus on local parks, creeks and road corridors.
Pisgah Project Day
Hosted by the Pisgah Conservancy with support from Explore Brevard, Pisgah Project Day is the single largest volunteer event in Pisgah National Forest, with hundreds of participants working to complete dozens of improvement projects across the entire national forest. The event is scheduled for April 25 this year. Register first to help improve trails, recreation areas and trailheads.
Green City Clean City
Green City, Clean City is a nationwide organization that uses the power of volunteers to help restore neighborhoods while empowering veterans. The group picked up 48,245 pieces of trash last year alone through various neighborhood cleanup events. Register to participate in one of their efforts scheduled this month in NC.
NC Wildlife Diversity Program
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission spearheads a variety of volunteer opportunities that allow you to engage with the state’s most cherished local creatures. Volunteers can listen for frog calls at night, survey wading birds on the beach or even monitor peregrine falcon nest sites on cliffs. Check out the multiple volunteer opportunities and see if you can squeeze some citizen science into your next NC adventure.
Ocean Blue Project at Carolina Beach
Ocean Blue Project organizes volunteer beach cleanups designed to remove single-use plastic from our oceans all over the world. On April 25, Carolina Beach will be the site for a large-scale volunteer event as part of their East Coast Sea to Shore Tour initiative.
Want to find more chances to show your love for NC during Earth Month? Check out this search engine to Earth Day events all over the state, where you can filter by location and type of event.
Earth Day celebrations are a great way to join a community moving towards a healthier future, but there are plenty of ways you can make a positive impact on NC’s green spaces outside of these organized events. Try practicing one of these Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles the next time you’re exploring the Tarheel State.
outdoor nc leave no trace tips to help make every day earth day
Tip #1: Trash Your (Pet’s) Trash
Taking your dog (or cat!) on a hike in the woods or a stroll along the beach is one of the great joys of pet parenthood. It’s also a great opportunity to show a solid stewardship mindset by packing out any waste your pet decides to deposit. Not only does dog poop pose an inconvenience to other users on the trail or beach, it presents potential hazards to the ecosystem as well. Dog poop can add unnecessary nutrients to the soil and even spread invasive species. Carrying small bags to remove your pet’s waste is an easy way to keep your favorite open spaces wild and healthy.
Tip #2: Leave It As You Find It
Spring is a wonderful time to explore NC’s diverse system of rivers, which offer everything from scenic hour-long floats to multi-day excursions through wild forests and coastal plains. When paddling or fishing NC’s rivers, let’s be sure to leave the rocks in the river bed as you find them. These beautiful stones are an integral part of the river’s ecosystem and often form the shelters for aquatic creatures like the rare Hellbender salamander. Leaving the stones in place is one easy way we can enjoy the river without impacting the habitat of local creatures.
Tip #3: Stick to Trails
There are more than 300 miles of trails in the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, which is an enticing proposition for hikers looking to leg it to thunderous waterfalls and summit views. Sticking to those established trails is one of the best ways you can keep the forest healthy. Staying on marked trails and avoiding unofficial “social trails” confines your impact to a specific path while maintaining the health of trailside plants. It will also help you stay safe and found, as those unofficial trails aren’t recognized on maps.
spotlight
Waterfalls and Singletrack in Transylvania County
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Transylvania County is known as the “Land of Waterfalls” thanks to the 250 falls cascading through the lush forests. And you can visit most of them thanks to the 1,000 miles of hiking trails that traverse 110,000 acres of public land within the county. That bounty of public land preserves the headwaters of the French Broad River, as well as 350 miles of singletrack, making the area a popular destination with bikers, paddlers and anglers. And locals in Transylvania County take pride in caring for the outdoor spaces that so many enjoy with forward thinking initiatives like Transylvania Always, which has invested more than $600,000 through local sustainability grants over the last decade. Visitors can participate in local stewardship too by learning about the impact we all have on public land through the county’s Leave It Better campaign.
spotlight
Explore Elkin's E&A Rail Trail
The expansion of railroads played a significant role in shaping North Carolina in the late 19th century, connecting communities across the state. Now, the small foothills town of Elkin is using that rail infrastructure to enhance the quality of life of locals and visitors alike by converting a former rail line into a greenway where walkers, runners and bikers can cruise along the Big Elkin Creek for three miles. Pick up the Elkin and Alleghany Rail Trail in Elkin Municipal Park and keep an eye out for trail markers that detail local history. A stroll on the E&A is the perfect way to learn more about Elkin while enjoying the local landscape.
spotlight
help preserve land in boone
The mountain town of Boone is known for its access to the High Country’s gorgeous peaks, and the Blue Ridge Conservancy has been preserving those mountains for more than four decades. The local non-profit works to protect fragile ecosystems and connect communities through trails, like the Middle Fork Greenway, which connects several pocket parks. And volunteers play a key role in the Conservancy’s stewardship efforts, which means you can be a part of the success by helping to maintain trails, removing invasive plants or even offering to photograph conserved lands.
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Person County is Growing Trails
The Piedmont’s Person County understands the power of community-driven stewardship. Local efforts have turned Roxboro Rotary Centennial Park into an outdoor destination where visitors can explore the woods through a growing system of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as a paved, ADA-accessible loop. Local organizations, dedicated school groups and community volunteers have helped design, build and maintain these trails, ensuring a high-quality experience as well as long-term sustainability through responsible land use and ongoing trail care. The park is a place where both adventure and conservation go hand in hand.
spotlight
Find Adventure and Stewardship in the Northern OBX
Wild beauty thrives in the Northern Outer Banks, and visitors can help keep it that way. Take the legendary Corolla Wild Horses, a herd of Spanish mustangs that have roamed the shoreline for centuries. If you take a guided tour that partners with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, you’ll get a safe, respectful viewing experience while also supporting efforts to protect the herd for generations to come. Pair that tour with simple actions, like packing out trash and filling holes in the sand, and you can help preserve the magic of the Northern Outer Banks every time you visit.
You’re invited to join the outdoor nc movement
Join the movement to preserve and protect North Carolina’s beloved outdoor spaces and you’ll be entered to win a getaway to North Carolina! Together we can preserve our beloved outdoor spaces for generations to come. Click to learn more.