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Tucked in the back of Currituck Heritage Park, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is Corolla’s newest attraction and a feather in the cap for the North Carolina Resources Commission. Built as the conservation and education branch of the North Carolina Resources Commission, the center represents the coastal region of North Carolina.
June 2007 marks the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education’s first anniversary. Sharon Meade, the center’s curator and public relations director, says that the facility has
seen thousands of visitors in the first year and expects even more this coming year.
“We’ve been very lucky – so far we’ve had a great year,” Meade says.
The center took quite some time in
coming to fruition, but the end result has
been worth the wait.
Nestled between the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and The Whalehead Club, the Center for Wildlife Education blends in well with its surroundings. The details and general construction are all characteristic of the Outer Banks. “We did not want everybody to say how easy it is to see the place,” says Meade. “It’s perfect that we’re tucked back in here.”
With conservation and education as its focus, the Center for Wildlife Education is
most proud of its 5,000-square-foot main exhibit area. That area includes an 8,000-
gallon aquarium stocked with fish native to the Currituck Sound, and a marsh environment complete with stuffed deer, raccoon,
rattlesnakes, duck and otters. More than 250 bird decoys are on display, many on loan from the Neil Conoley Collection. Easy-to-read and comprehensive panels cover the walls, explaining everything from how decoys are made to what types of tools early Native Americans used for fishing and hunting. Inter-active exhibits make the displays kid-friendly.
Much of the main exhibit area is dedicated to the region’s history of boating, hunting
and fishing. A life-sized hunting battery, ammunition and 23 outboard motors from
the early 1900s are among the highlights. The exhibits show the historical progression from the 1800s, when the hunt clubs became popular, to the early 1900s, when many of those early hunters began to realize the
negative effects of over-hunting. “Track, enforce and educate” is now the theme of
conservation that the center stands behind.
The main exhibit hall is just one of the many teaching areas available to instructors at the Center for Wildlife Education. Inside the center, an auditorium is available for showing feature presentations, such as Life by Water’s Rhythms, a short film that addresses the
importance water has had on the region’s
history and culture.
Several classes are taught outside of the facility on the picnic tables, at the docks or
by the water’s edge. This summer brings a host of fun and educational activities at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. There are classes to suit every age and interest level, from ages 3 to adult. Best of all, the classes are free. The only requirement is pre-registration.
Those interested in learning about the wildlife that thrives in the marsh can take Kayaking the Sound. Kayaks are provided,
and some previous experience is necessary. If kayaking is too rigorous, there’s a Maritime Forest Walk class that takes students on a
hike through the Currituck Banks National Estuarine Reserve. The Maritime Forest Walk provides the opportunity to see the marsh and its inhabitants up close. History and Habitat of the Currituck Sound is a class that takes four participants by boat on a tour of the sound. Fishing the Sound is a class parents and kids can enjoy together. Experienced
naturalists will teach students how to catch and release fish, what types of fish live in the sound, and even how to grow bait. Fishing
rods and bait are provided.
Artists will enjoy the classes Decoy Carving and Decoy Carving: Advanced. Spend a
couple of hours learning the history of the bird decoy in Currituck County, and get a chance to make one. The advanced class covers two days of shaping the decoy’s body, carving the head and painting the finished product. In Nature Photography Basics, amateur
photographers will learn about exposure and composition to improve their style. Nature Photography in the Field is a longer and
more in-depth outdoor class on photography.
Spring into Action is for the budding
conservationist, or for anyone who wants to make the world a cleaner and healthier place to live. This class touches on global warming, recycling and the everyday things that can be done to better the environment.
No matter what your age or experience level, the center is sure to have a class to suit you. Classes for children and adults are available all summer long, usually several every day. The summer hours for the center are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the center online at www.ncwildlife.org or call ahead at (252) 453-0221 to get an updated class schedule. Don’t miss your chance to have fun and learn something at the same time. |
