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Friends of
State Parks
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News and
upcoming events from FSP
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- 2008 Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition Deadline is September 15 5pm Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences are pleased to announce that North Carolina State Parks is our new
co-sponsor of this year’s photo competition. Each of North Carolina’s
“Naturally Wonderful” state parks is an ideal place to photograph wild
animals and wild landscapes. Park rangers can give photographers expert
advice on the best subjects, locations and times of year for nature
photography in state parks. Visit www.ncwildlife.org, click on the Photo Competition link
- take a child outside week - September 24 -30 This
is an international program that started here in North Carolina by the
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. So grab yourself and
your young ones away from this computer and take them to a park.
The State Parks are open and waiting for you. Ask to borrow
their "take a child outside" kit to add to your fun.
Suggestions on Where to go and What to do and a pdf brochure to help spread the news. Now, don't wait go now!
- Volunteer at your State Park - Volunteer for Trail Work Days or Invasive Plants Removal - check our new page for upcoming Work Days or contact your park for other opportunities. More information at the NC State Park site for volunteers
FSP meet at Chimney Rock State Park in July photos. We were treated to a history of Chimney Rock
and the partnership with the state to preserve it for all. It was a
great for the views, the rocks, and the waterfall. Please plan to join
us at out next big meeting at Jordan Lake Visitor Center on
October 25.
- Haw River Work Day National Public Lands Day at Haw River State Park! Saturday, September the 20th at 9 amfor
a great workday in the park. Join other
volunteers and Parks Resource Manager Emily Parisher for a
day of
learning and service. The goal is to remove the exotic Ailanthus
(Tree-of- Heaven) and Paulowina trees.
- Haw River State Park, Annual Open House, October 5, 2008
Join us for at HRSP for activities, exhibits, and fresh air!
- Legislature Update
- Two New Natural Areas Yellow Mountain and Bear Paw approved near Blowing Rock in Ashely County
- $50 Million in COPS for the Part Trust Fund
- Fourteen new staff positions to provide stewardship to the expanding park system
- State Parks add $289 million to local economies The parks do more than protect natural
resources, provide recreation, and education about our world they also
support our local economies. A
new study found that the state parks potentially contribute $289
million to local economies annually as well as $120 million to local
residents’ income, according to an intensive study researchers at
N.C. State
University conducted for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. article chart full report
If you are a member of the popular Facebook.com network check out our
group page and send an invite to your friends
The State’s Division of Parks and Recreation has released its annual report. The report highlights the
accomplishments of the department over the last year.
Download
report
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| Now for Sale Jawbone Trail Cookbook - a cookbook by North Carolina Staff, Family, and Friends Cookbook |
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- Earth day 2008
Umstead Coalition Walk/Run/Bike
|
NC Zoo with DEPR
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- Niche Guide
to North Carolina State Parks
| by Ida
Phillips Lynch and Bill Pendergraft. A
great introduction to North
Carolina's
State Parks with
beautiful color photos of each park. An
excellent companion to the FSP State Park Map Guide Order
now! |
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-
FSP welcomes Greg Schneider as the new Chief of
Operations for State Parks filling the position of
recently retired Susan Tillotson press
release
- Haw
River Development Update Success
The
state has reached an agreement with Bluegreen Properties to drop
their development plans and allow the state to purchase the property
for the Haw River State Park. DEPR press release
"WOW!! What a
beginning for 2008. While Hickory Nut
Gorge and Chimney Rock were amazing additions to our "Best In The
Nation" State Parks the Haw River State Park
will prove to be an awesome recreational and educational experience for
the
Piedmont area of NC.
Friends of State
Parks, was in the forefront of this effort to
preserve these vital lands for protection of the natural history and
heritage
that contained artifacts of our culture dating back some 10,000 years.
In
addition the vision contained in the New Parks for a New Century
outlined how important and urgent it was to protect
the Haw River
headwaters as an environmental "must"; and also
provide
recreational and educational opportunities for this growing
yet under
served area of the state. FSP is excited that thousands of supporters
rallied
to this successful effort and feels that our citizenry united in just
causes
will be heard and will prevail." Excerpt from a letter by
FSP president John Graham ( full
text )
- REI Grants
$5000 to purchase canoes for Haw River State Park
John Graham,
president of FSP, presides over the presentation of a $5000 grant from
REI to purchase canoes for the new Haw River State Park. John led the
grant application effort working closely with the Haw River park
personnel. Lewis Ledford, Director of North Carolina Division
of
Parks and Recreation looks on.
- Bob Conner one
FSP's founding members died on Friday, December 7, 2007 Obituary
One
of FSP founding members and former president Bob Conner was
instrumental in the beginning of many important
environmental groups.
This picture of Bob and Lib Conner was from the
presentation of an award from FSP for over 30 years of
dedicated service to the state parks.
- 459 year-old
Living Long Leaf Pine discovered be in Weymouth Woods State
Nature Preserve
Scientists may
have discovered the worlds oldest long leaf pine in Weymouth woods. A
core sample indicates the tree is 459 years old. They hope
to uncover information about the state's drought history by
studying its rings. More information in this
News
and Record article.
- North
Carolina State Parks Map Guide - Brand
new edition
published
by Friends of State Parks
This
121 page 8.5" x 11" coil
bound book works as a coffee table book for trip planning and as a back
pack reference guide. There
is a detailed map of each park showing trails and facilities. The
accompanying
text gives a brief description of the park, directions to the park,
information
on available visitor facilities, and trail descriptions. The coil
binding makes
it easy to view the maps by allowing the pages to lie flat.
The
book comes with a free service for FSP members who can receive updates
as maps are
added or updated.
Order
now!
-
Trust Fund Grants Directed to 3,500 Acres for State Parks
RALEIGH
-- More than 3,500 acres could be brought under conservation by the
state parks system as a result of grants this fall from the Natural
Heritage and Clean Water Management trust funds, according to the N.C.
Division of Parks and Recreation. more
- Proposed OLF sites near State Parks
Potential
locations for Outlying Landing Field include five North Carolina State
Parks, Dismal Swamp, Merchants Millpond, Pettigrew, Jockey’s
Ridge and
Goose Creek.
(Map
with OLF sites)
Parks
are, of course, areas for relaxation and recreation. Tranquility is a
primary need in these refuges yet the Draft Supplemental Environmental
Statement of February 2007 appears to have no mention of the effect on
these parks.
The
mission of the state parks system is to conserve and protect
representative examples of the natural beauty, ecological features and
recreational resources of statewide significance; to provide outdoor
recreational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment; and to
provide environmental education opportunities that promote stewardship
of the state's natural heritage.
But
in addition, there are significant economic factors that must be
weighed. These five parks had, in 2006, more than 2 million visitors,
many of them out-of-state tourists.
Friends
of State Parks believes that these irreplaceable resources, the common
heritage of all North Carolina’s citizens must be protected
and that
the final Environmental Study must address the impact of the landing
field on State Parks. Please contact your representatives with your
opinion.
-
We
need your EMAIL
Addresses
We need your email
address. Occasionally we need to
contact our members to notify you of an immediate need or event. Please
send your
address to ncfsp@ncfsp.org FSP
will not sell or give out
your address and you may remove your address at any time. In addition,
postal
rates have gone up again; let us know if you would prefer to receive
this
newsletter by email instead of postal mail.
- FSP
under the Big Tent at the 2007 Eno Festival
- License
Plate Design Promotes
North Carolina State Parks The N.C. Division of
Parks
and Recreation is accepting
applications and payment
for the first 300
license plates that feature an outdoor recreation design theme in blue,
green and black.
For
more information and to sign up
Exploring
the
Geology of the Carolinas: A
Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney
Rock to Charleston.
FSP supported the
publication of this book for non scientists. It includes information on
15 NC State Parks. Order Now -
Members get a reduced rate
- Get
your own FSP T-Shirt and other merchandise at
our new online store. All profits go to support the State
Parks Visit our
CafePress Store
to purchase FSP Shirts, Mugs, Hats,
and Stickers
- FSP NOW
Accepting Credit Cards
- Make your donation or purchase through our collaboration with Google.
Their checkout system supplies a secure method for donating to FSP or
purchasing one of our publications online using a credit card to
paypal. See our updated Membership
Page
to join or renew now. See our updated Merchandise
Page
to purchase a book.
- FSP 2007 Officers John
Graham President, Betty Martin Treasurer, Alec Whittaker
Secretary, Jim Richardson VP, Bob Sowa VP
- FSP Meetings - Come
one, come all . Bring your suggestions and stand
up for your State Parks - email for
information
- Fall
10/25/08 Jordan Lake
- Winter 1/24/09 TBD
- Spring 4/25/09 TBD
- Summer 7/25/09 TBD
- FSP Newsletters are now Online!
- Subscribe to
FSP News and stay current with FSP
and Park
News, to add our news feed to your My Yahoo click and follow the
instructions
To add to
your Personalized Google Home
For an RSS readers
copy this address
http://www.ncfsporg.com/newsfeed.xml into your RSS
reader.
For more
information on
My Yahoo For information on RSS check out NPR
-
Special
Award
Presented to
Lib
and Bob Conner
for
recognition of more than
thirty
years
of
dedicated service to the
State
Parks of North Carolina
by
Friends of State Parks
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- Read the new
Steward to get the latest and
greatest information from the Department of Parks and Recreation
- Current
Conditions and Updates at the
Parks - the Department of Parks and Recreation now has a web page
listing the status of all parks listing
any restrictions such as renovations or weather damage.
- New WEB 2.0 Community Tools - Share
your experiences and photos online with other park
fans.
- Flickr.Com -
Share your State Park Photos online (Free) at
http://ncfsp.org/Media/parkphotos.html
or just check out the beautiful pictures already there and feel free to
add your comments
- MySpace.Com
- A blog to share your experiences and thoughts on the
International Web phenomenon at
http://blog.myspace.com/ncfsp Easy to view, free
and simple to join
to add your own thoughts .
- YouTube.Com-
Share your State Park Videos online (Free) at
http://youtube.com/group/ncfsp or
just check out the beautiful videos already there and feel free to add
your comments
- State Park Map - Google Map to NC State Parks - here
- Park Rangers and Maintenance receive
pay equity with other comparable State Positions 3/28/2006
-
NC State
Park is Finalist for
2005 National Gold Medal Award
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in
partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is
announced the finalists for
the 2005 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park
and Recreation Management. North Carolina Division of
Parks and Recreation is one of four finalists in the State Park
Systems Class.
Congratulations to every one in the Division for this
great achievement!
- Final
report on 4WD Drive access at Fort Fisher SRA
.
Although a minority of visitors to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
uses the four-wheel-drive beach access area at night, such use
adversely affects rare and endangered species in the area, according to
a study recently completed by researchers at the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington. !
- BOOK OFFERING - A guide to Snakes
of North Carolina by Dr Michael Dorcas
|
Friends of State
Parks are sponsoring the publication of Guide
to Snakes of North Carolina by Dr Michael Dorcas, Professor of Biology
at Davidson College.
The regular price of this
beautifully illustrated book is $14.95 but it is available to Friends
of State Parks members at the special price of $9.95 (plus $2
S&H).
Guide to Snakes of North Carolina
• Covers all 37 species
found in North Carolina
• It’s text is
detailed, yet easy to read
• It includes multiple
photographs of each species
• Maps with county outlines
show where each might be found
• Special sections cover
snake bite, conservation, and many interesting facts
Order
Now
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- Neotropical Bird Exhibits
developed by FSP
- As part of FSP's
commitment to Environmental Education and funded by a grant from
International Paper. The
exhibits rotate among the state parks and each exhibit
highlights birds native to the one of the major regions
of North Carolina.
- Wheel Chair access
to Lake Jordan FSP has assisted The Triangle
Community Foundation in purchasing two Landeez wheelchairs to improve
access to the lake side
- If you haven't send
in your membership renewal yet please do so, click here for the Membership
Address
- We are continuing to update
the Friends of State Parks web site - Please Email us with your
comments and suggestions
- Previous FSP Meetings
- Volunteers are needed for information tents at
various events in the State Parks - email FSP for more
information
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