Little River's Winter Programs are for the Birds!

Little River Regional Park & Natural Area Program List for January 2014 – April 2014

Special Events/Programs:

New Year’s Day Bird Count
Day/Date: Wednesday, January 1st
Time: 9:00am – 12noon
Location: Park Office
Fee: Free; all ages; no registration required

Description: Come count the birds at Little River! Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park. Results will be added to the national count held by the Audubon Society from December 14 through January 5.


The Great Backyard Bird Count
Date: February 14-17, 2014
Location: Park Office
Fee: Free; all ages; no registration required.

Description: Participate in this National event here at the park or in your own backyard. Pick up instructions, field guides and data sheets from the Park office. Spend as little as 15 minutes counting birds, leave checklists for us to tally or submit the information at home.

Little River’s Star Party
Day/Date: Friday, April 4th
Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Play Meadow
Fee: Free; all ages; no registration required

Description: Join us at Little River Park for the 2nd annual Statewide Star Party. Star gazers at various locations across the state will come together to enjoy an evening under the night sky. Part of the North Carolina Science Festival.

Earth Day at Little River
Day/Date: Friday, April 18th
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Large Shelter
Fee: Free; registration required
Min/Max: 4/24

Description: Join park staff in this special Earth Day program for children ages 2-12 years. Participate in nature related games, create a craft from recycled materials and enjoy some snacks courtesy of our Earth.


Environmental Education at Little River
Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed below. For more information, call the park office: (919) 732-5505 or register online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/. Pre-registration is required.



Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4)
Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.


Making Tracks
Date/Time: Monday, January 6th, 10am-11am
Tuesday, January 7th, 10am-11am
Location: Park Office
Fee: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers are making tracks this month as we explore animal footprints. We’ll learn some common tracks and how animals move on two, four and even no legs!


Getting Wild
Date/Time: Monday, February 3rd, 10am-11am
Tuesday, February 4th, 10am-11am
Location: Large Shelter
Fee: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers explore the differences between wild and tame animals and learn about the wildlife living around us. We’ll have a story and an animal parade!


Fur, Feathers, Skins & Scales
Date/Time: Monday, March 3rd, 10am-11am
Tuesday, March 4th, 10am-11am
Location: Large Shelter
Fee: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers learn about the different ways animals are covered through touch and observation. There will be a story, games and an animal craft.


Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)
Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.

Bird Box Building
Day/Date: Saturday, February 15th
Time: 2:00pm –3:30pm
Location: Large Shelter
Fee: $5.00 per box
Description: Spring is just around the corner and the birds will be looking for a place to build a nest. Build a nest box for your home to help attract bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens to your own backyard.

Fossil Find
Day/Date: Saturday, March 22nd
Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Location: Large Shelter
Fee: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Join staff on an archeological dig for North Carolina fossils. Participants will learn how fossils are formed, how scientists look for them and make their own fossils.

By the Numbers: November 2013

We have the numbers for November:

Total number of visitors: 2985

Total rainfall amount: 3.555 inches

Average daily high: 57.5 degrees F

Average daily low: 37.6 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 93% of the month


And a look back at October:

Total number of visitors: 3051

Total rainfall amount: 4.528 inches

Average daily high: 71.1 degrees F

Average daily low: 52.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 81% of the month

By the Numbers: October 2013

Here's a look at the numbers for October:

Total number of visitors: 3051

Total rainfall amount: 4.528  inches

Average daily high: 71.1 degrees F

Average daily low: 52.9  degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 81% of the month


And the numbers for September:

Total number of visitors: 4413

Total rainfall amount: 1.58 inches

Average daily high: 80.9 degrees F

Average daily low: 57.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 100% of the month

By the Numbers: September 2013

September was a dry month:

Total number of visitors: 4413

Total rainfall amount: 1.58  inches

Average daily high: 80.9 degrees F

Average daily low: 57.9  degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 100% of the month


Here's August's numbers if you are keeping track:

Total number of visitors: 3600

Total rainfall amount: 6.106 inches

Average daily highs: 85.7 degrees F

Average daily lows: 65.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month

By the Numbers: August 2013

August is usually dry and hot around here but not this time:

Total number of visitors: 3600

Total rainfall amount: 6.106 inches

Average daily highs: 85.7 degrees F

Average daily lows: 65.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month

Here's the numbers for July, if you're keeping track:

Total number of visitors: 2860

Total rainfall amount: 6.776 inches

Average daily highs: 89.4 degrees F

Average daily lows: 68.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month

By the Numbers: July 2013

The rains continued in July though not as much as last month.

Total number of visitors: 2860

Total rainfall amount: 6.776 inches

Average daily highs: 89.4 degrees F

Average daily lows: 68.9 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month


Here's the numbers for June, if you're into that kind of thing:

Total number of visitors: 3636

Total rainfall amount: 13.044 inches

Average daily highs: 83.42 degrees F

Average daily lows: 63.84 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 67% of the month

Fall Programs Feature Stars and Moon

Here's the list of Little River's programs for September through December 2013 which includes Stargazing, tree ID and a night hike.

Little River Regional Park Programs for September – December 2013


Environmental Education at Little River

The Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed below. Park staff can also arrange programs on a variety of topics for schools, scouts, or other groups. For more information, call the park office: 919-732-5505. Registration is available online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/. Pre-registration is required for most programs and closes three days prior to the program date.


Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4)

Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.


Trees - From Roots to Leaves

When: Monday, October 7, 10am-11am

Tuesday, October 8, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: This month our Trekkers talk trees: some grow tall, some grow wide, can you guess what they all hide? Stories, crafts and some tree-mendous fun! Pre-registration required.


What’s the Weather?

When: Monday, November 4, 10am-11am

Tuesday, November 5, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: Trekkers find out about weather as we create some clouds, make some rain, and wonder about thunder. Pre-registration required.



Birds for Beginners

When: Monday, December 2, 10am-11am

Tuesday, December 3, 10am-11am

Where: Park Office

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: This month we turn the park office into a bird blind where Trekkers will learn about birds and how to watch them. We’ll read a story about birds, make a craft, and observe the birds at our feeders. Pre-registration is required.



Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)

Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.



Full Moon Hike

Date: Saturday, October 19

Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Location: Large Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description: Experience Little River Park in a whole new light on this hike led by park staff. We’ll learn about nocturnal animals, search for eyeshine, and hoot like owls. Pre-registration required.



Winter Tree ID

Date: Saturday, November 23

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Large Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description: How can you recognize trees when they don’t even have any leaves on them? Learn to identify trees by looking at their bark, structure and twigs. Pre-registration required.



Tracks & Scat

Date: Saturday, December 21

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Park Office

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description: Signs of animals are everywhere; you just have to know where to look. Join us as we look for tracks and scat of Little River wildlife. Make your own track station to take home and discover the wildlife in your backyard or neighborhood. Pre-registration required.



Special Events/Programs



Little River Under the Stars

Dates: September 27, 8:00pm – 10:00pm

December 6, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Description: Volunteers from Morehead Planetarium will bring out the high powered telescopes and give us a tour of the night sky. Bring a blanket, camp chairs or your own telescope or binoculars. Be sure to call the park office after 4pm for cloud/cancellation updates: (919) 732-5505.



Little River’s Big Sweep

Date: Saturday, October 5

Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Location: Park Office

Description: Join thousands of volunteers across the nation as we clean up litter from our waterways and lands. As part of the nationwide Big Sweep, we’ll scour the park and portions of the Little River for trash and debris. Gloves, trash bags, pick-up sticks and refreshments provided.



New Year’s Day Bird Count

Date: Wednesday, January 1

Time: 9:00am – 12noon

Location: Park Office

Description: Come count the birds at Little River! Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park. Results will be added to the national count held by the Audubon Society from December 14 through January 5.

By the Numbers: June 2013

If April showers bring May flowers, what do June showers bring? More showers apparently...  June saw a record amount of rainfall for any month since the park opened in 2004 - over 13 inches!

Total number of visitors: 3636

Total rainfall amount: 13.044 inches

Average daily highs: 83.42 degrees F

Average daily lows: 63.84 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 67% of the month


The numbers for May, if you're keeping track:

Total number of visitors: 4014

Total rainfall amount: 3.331 inches

Average daily highs: 75.9 degrees F

Average daily lows: 55.61 degrees F

Mountain bike trails open: 87% of the month

By the Numbers: May 2013

Most visitors ever at the park for a May. Here are the May numbers:

Total number of visitors: 4014

Total rainfall amount: 3.331 inches

Average daily highs: 75.9 degrees

Average daily lows: 55.61 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 87% of the month


And if you are keeping track, here are the numbers for April:

Total number of visitors: 3852

Total rainfall amount: 4.682 inches

Average daily highs: 71.53 degrees

Average daily lows: 48.3 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 70% of the month

Building Bat Boxes

Bats make good neighbors:  They don't take up much space. They eat a LOT of bugs. They are fun to watch zig-zagging in the sky. And even though they are up all night, we don't usually hear them. Yet many people are reluctant to encourage bats to take up residence near their home.


Common Pipistrelle

Bats use echolocation to hunt for insects. They emit ultrasonic sound pulses which bounce back to their large ears and gives them a "picture" of what is around them. This doesn't mean bats are blind. Their eyes are small and poorly developed so they do not see things as sharply as humans. The use of echolocation gives them the ability to hunt in the dark. Even though the sounds they emit are usually too high of a frequency for us to hear, that doesn't mean they are not loud. Those sounds can top out at 100 decibels which means if we could hear them, it would be as loud as a freight train or loud clap of thunder!

Insect eating bats can eat half of their body weight in one night. Some bats like the Red Bat can eat as many as 3,000 mosquitoes during an evening's hunt. Image how many 100 bats could eat! The Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat are the most common bat in the U.S. and the most frequent users of bat boxes. Little Brown Bats can eat 100 mosquitoes in an hour. Bats eat a variety of insects including mosquitoes, flies, moths, centipedes, earwigs, crickets and cicadas.

Bats are most active at night when insects are most active and competition from birds is lessened. They use the daytime hours to sleep and groom their fur. Some bats live a solitary life while others live in colonies that can number over a million. Bats prefer enclosed spaces that are dry, warm and draft-free. They may roost under the bark of trees, in caves, small cavities in trees as well as man-made structures like attics, barns and bat boxes.

Bat boxes are put up for many of the same reasons people put up birdhouses. They may enjoy a variety of wildlife in their yard or want to take advantage of the insect control that a colony of bats can provide. There are several important factors to consider when placing a bat box. Size, height, location and temperature are keys to a succussful bat box. Boxes can be easily made and there are many designs and plans available on the web. Pre-made boxes can also be purchased.

Single-chamber bat houses

When building a bat box the main requirements are that it be over 20 inches tall, 12 inches wide with a 3-6 inch landing area at the bottom entrance and a 1/2 inch ventilation gap in the front. It can be made out of plywood or board lumber but it should have a rough interior surface or nylon screening for the bats to hold on to and be weather-tight. Bats like to be snug in their roosts so a depth of 3/4 to 1 inch is all that is needed. Multi-chambered bat houses will attract larger colonies than single chamber houses as long as the partitions are spaced no more than 1 inch apart. Larger spacing also attracts pests like wasps. Boxes that are taller and wider give the bats more choices to adjust to changes in temperature.

The exterior of the bat box should be painted. You can paint it black if your average summer temperature in July is under 85 degrees F. Lighter colors like gray, green or brown can be used if the average July temperature is not over 95 degrees F. If your average temperature in July is over 100 degrees F, the box should be painted white. Darker colors are better for areas where bats might hibernate through the cold winter, helping to keep the interior temperature warm enough. The interior can be painted to help preserve the wood but it is not necessary. Make sure any gaps along the seams are caulked to prevent drafts.

Single-chamber bat house: A) roof; B) & C) front with 1/2 inch ventelation space; D) back with landing area & covered in nylon screen; E) side

Bat boxes can be mounted to buildings or on poles. They can be attached to trees as long as there are no limbs or other obstacles within 20 feet. Of course, try not to damage the tree when mounting the box. They should be placed at least 10 feet from the ground, with 12-20 feet being best. Boxes should face south or southeast to maximize sun exposure. Bats prefer boxes that get at least 6 hours of sun per day. In warm southern climates avoid too much exposure as the very hot temperatures inside the box will make it unsuitable for the bats to roost.

A bat box does not usually need cleaning but do check it periodically for wasps or other pests and make sure the box is in good repair. Painting, repairs and pest removal is best done after bat breeding season is over in the fall and winter. It is not known if seasonal cleaning will help reduce the spread of white nose fungus but if you do not have bats hibernating in the box over the winter, it may be a good time to wash it out with a diluted bleach solution much like you would do with a birdhouse.

For more information on bats and bat boxes, try a few of these resources:

Stokes Beginner's Guide to Bats by Kim Williams, Rob Mies, Donald & Lillian Stokes
The Bat House Builder's Handbook by Merlin D. Tuttle, Mark Kiser and Selena Kiser
Bats by Gail Gibbons
Bat Conservation International - www.batcon.org
National Wildlife Federation: Build a Bat House - www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx

By the Numbers: April 2013

We'll see if our April showers bring May flowers. Here are the numbers for April:

Total number of visitors: 3852

Total rainfall amount: 4.682 inches

Average daily highs: 71.53 degrees

Average daily lows: 48.3 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 70% of the month

If you are keeping track, here are the numbers for March:

Total number of visitors: 3,496.5

Total rainfall amount: 2.746 inches

Average daily highs: 55.6 degrees

Average daily lows: 34.03 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 90% of the month

By the Numbers: March 2013

Seems like March came and went in a flash but we've still got the numbers:

Total number of visitors: 3,496.5

Total rainfall amount: 2.746 inches

Average daily highs: 55.6 degrees

Average daily lows: 34.03 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 90% of the month


For those keeping track, here are the statistics for February 2013:


Total number of visitors: 2,191

Total rainfall amount: 4.582 inches

Average daily highs: 45.32 degrees

Average daily lows: 29.81 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 78.3% of the month

Look for Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak April 22nd

The Lyrid meteor shower will peak this year on April 22, 2013. This annual meteor shower typically puts on a good show with an average of about 10-20 meteors an hour. Sometimes though it can have “surges” of activity that peak as high as 100 meteors an hour. The Lyrids also tend to produce pretty bright meteors that have long, very visible trails. But you will have to set the alarm clock for the wee hours of the morning to get the best views.



Four hour time-lapse exposure of meteor shower.

Look for the meteors to originate from the Northeastern portion of the sky, in the constellation Lyra. The moon will be waxing gibbous and will set late, so the best time to watch for them will be right before moonset. For our area that will be sometime between 3:30am and 4:30am. If you can't bring yourself to get up that early, you may be able to catch some of the meteors earlier in the night even with the Moon’s light.

The Lyrids will occasionally produce fireballs and they have put on truly incredible shows. During a meteor shower in Richmond, Virginia in 1803, it was reported that there were over 700 meteors falling at the peak of the Lyrids. Huge bursts of activity such as the 1803 shower are called meteor storms.

If you want to get the best seat for the show, here are some basic tips: Get away from the city lights, get a nice, comfortable reclining chair, plenty of layers of warm clothes and blankets, snacks and some hot cocoa or coffee. Some other items include a red-filtered flashlight, star charts and a camera on a tripod. Give your eyes time to adjust to the dark to see the meteors more easily and in higher numbers. Avoid areas were car headlights might pass by and turn down the brightness on your mobile devices or turn them off.

Bats and Bugs Highlight Summer Programs at Little River Park

Here's the list of the programs that the park will offer for May through August 2013. We are excited to try some new topics like bat boxes and papermaking. And have a chance to play in the river in July to look for bugs and other water critters.

Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4)

Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.

Things with Wings

 

When: Monday, May 6^th, 10am-11am     

Tuesday, May 7^th, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description:  Trekkers discover what bugs are flying around the park. In addition to a story and a buggy craft, we’ll be releasing some live ladybugs into the garden.

Crawling Critters

When: Monday, June 3rd, 10am-11am

Tuesday, June 4th, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: Lots of legs, enormous eyes, they skitter and scurry. Trekkers learn some of the cool ways bugs move, listen to a story and make their own little critter.

Buzzy Bees

When: Monday, July 8th, 10am-11am

Tuesday, July 9th, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: The garden is humming this month with Trekkers and buzzing bumblebees.  Discover what the noise is about with bee stories, crafts and activities.

Hungry Hummingbirds

When: Monday, August 5th, 10am-11am

Tuesday, August 6th, 10am-11am

Where: Large Shelter

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description: Trekkers try to keep up with the hummingbirds zipping around the park. Participants will learn how they get their food and fly so fast.

Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)

Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.  

Bat Box Building

Date: Saturday, May 25th

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Small Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per box

Description: Bats are good neighbors – they can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. Learn about these nocturnal animals and construct your own bat house to take home.

Ladybug Release

Date: Saturday, June 22nd

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Location: Small Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description:  Help us release thousands of ladybugs into the garden. Find out all about these beneficial insects and why scientists need help studying them. Make a ladybug habitat and bring a few bugs home.

What’s Below?

Date: Saturday, July 27th

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Location: Small Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description:  We may not notice them at first but a closer look below the surface of the water reveals many bizarre and interesting creatures. We’ll hike to the river and examine the specimens we net and scoop out of the water. Please note that it is about a 2 mile round trip hike.

Papermaking for Kids

Date: Saturday, August 24th

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Location: Small Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description:  Kids will use different types of recycled paper, leaves, flowers, and seeds to produce their own paper. Find out about how trees become paper and forest conservation.

Special Events/Programs

Little River Under the Stars

Date: Friday, May 10

Time:  8:00pm – 10:00pm

Location:  Play Meadow

Description:  The folks from Morehead Planetarium and CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) bring out the big telescopes and guide us through the night sky. Please call the park after 5pm the day of for cloud cancellation info: (919) 732-5505.

National Trails Day

Date: Saturday, June 1

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Description:  Join us for the 21st anniversary of America’s largest trail celebration! Park staff will lead an interpretive hike along portions of the Ridge, North River Loop, and Homestead Trails. Learn about the historic features along the trails as well as some of the flora and fauna found in the park. Or just come out and enjoy the trails! Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy after the hike.

 

Environmental Education at Little River

The Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed below. Park staff can also arrange programs on a variety of topics for schools, scouts, or other groups. For more information, call the park office: (919) 732-5505. Registration is available online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/. Pre-registration is required and closes three days prior to the program date.

Spring Star Gazing Dates Announced

Little River is teaming up with Morehead Planetarium again this spring for some star gazing at the park. The telescopes will be set up for viewing in the play meadow with a guided tour of the night sky by Planetarium staff shortly after dark.

Two dates have been scheduled: Friday, March, 15th and Friday, May 10th, from 8-10pm on both nights.

Highlights of this sky watching seesion will be the planet Jupiter and the comet PanSTARRS. There is a new moon on March 11th so we may catch a glimpse of its narrow cresent low in the western sky. And the comet should also be visible for the next few weeks. Watch the skies just after sunset, above and to the left of the sun. The planet Jupiter is visible this month. On the 17th Jupiter and the moon will come into close conjunction,  close to Aldebaran and the Hyades.

Feel free to bring a couple of camp chairs or a blanket, binoculars or your own telescope and a snack. Remember if you bring a flashlight, use a red colored lens to help everyone keep their night vision. Please call the park office at 919-732-5505 after 4pm if the weather looks cloudy.

_________________________________________________________________

This program was made possible through the generous donations of the Trailheads through proceeds from the Little River Trail Runs.

By the Numbers: February 2013

Here are the statistics for February 2013:


Total number of visitors: 2,191

Total rainfall amount: 4.582 inches

Average daily highs: 45.32 degrees

Average daily lows: 29.81 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 78.3% of the month


For those that like to compare, here are the numbers from January:

Total number of visitors: 3,439

Total rainfall amount: 4.475 inches

Average daily highs: 51.81 degrees

Average daily lows: 34.23 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 58% of the month

Little River Hosts State-wide Star Party April 5th

State-wide Star Party 

Little River Regional Park and Natural Area will be a part of North Carolina’s first statewide star party, a signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival. Astronomy clubs, state and local parks, planetariums and nature centers will all host public skywatching sessions at dozens of sites across North Carolina on Friday, April 5, 2013.

Participants coming to Little River's Star Party are also invited to take a walk through the planets. A scale model of our solar system will be on display along one of the park's trails. The distance from the Sun to Pluto becomes an easy walk that is less than a half mile.

Citizen Science: GLOBE at Night
 

There will be an opportunity to participate in scientific research by collecting data for the GLOBE at Night worldwide citizen science project. (This research is perfect for children as well as adults.) Count the stars you can see with your unaided eyes in the constellation Leo the Lion. The data collected will help document the darkness of the night sky over North Carolina.

About the NC Science Festival

North Carolina Science Festival is a two-week-long, 500-mile-wide celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Across the state, North Carolinians participate in science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other activities, hosted by all kinds of community organizations - schools, colleges and universities, parks, libraries, museums and businesses.
 
NCSF was founded in 2010 by UNC-Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and is the first statewide science festival in the U.S. Morehead continues to produce the Festival in partnership with many sponsors and event hosts. The 2013 Festival is scheduled for April 5-21, and Time Warner Cable is the 2013 Fesitval Champion.
 
Learn more at www.ncsciencefestival.org. 

Big Donation from Little River Trail Run

The 2013 Little River Trail Run generated an all time record donation from the Trailheads. A check for $8,000 was presented to park staff on February 11th. This was the eighth annual running of the trails and with this year's check the total amount donated to the park over the years exceeds $40,000.

Among other items, the park plans to use some of the money to purchase a zero-turn mower to replace its current mower which is over 8 years old. They will also be able to get a trailer for hauling larger peices of equipment.



Park staff are presented with the donation check from the 2013 Little River Trail Run. Pictured (r to l): Mike DiFabio, Layna Mosley, Dave Elam, and Michelle Pesavento

The Trailheads also presented a check for $1,000 to the Triangle Offroad Cyclists (TORC), the local mountain bike club that helps maintain the mountain bike trails at Little River.



 

 In addition to the monetary donations, the Trailheads also purchased carbon offsets from two different companies. Over the years, the equivalent of 23,000 trees have been planted with the offsets that have been purchased.



By the Numbers: January 2013

One of the features of our print newsletter was publishing some of the statistics that we keep track of here in the park like rainfall amounts, average temperature and the number of visitors. So in keeping with that tradition we begin 2013 with the numbers for January:

Total number of visitors: 3,439

Total rainfall amount: 4.475 inches

Average daily highs: 51.81 degrees

Average daily lows: 34.23 degrees

Mountain bike trails open: 58% of the month

Little River Becomes Smoke-Free in 2013

Starting with the New Year, smokers will have to snuff their butts while in the park. The Orange County Board of Health and the County Commisioners voted last year to adopt a smoke-free public places ordinance which prohibits smoking on county owned property including sidewalks and parks.

So enjoy the fresh, clean air while visiting the park and leave your smokes in the car.

The following is a press release issued by the Orange County Public Information Office about the new rule:

ORANGE COUNTY IMPLEMENTS FIRST PHASE: SMOKE-FREE PUBLIC PLACES RULE

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (January 1, 2013)–Orange County’s Smoke-Free Public Places Rule goes into effect today, beginning with a six-month “soft” implementation period. 

During this period the focus will be on the following aspects: cessation efforts; planning with a focus on education; educating the public about the Rule; and identifying additional funding for cessation support and signage. 

“We need everyone’s help to ensure the implementation goes as smoothly as possible, resulting in a successful outcome,” said Orange County Health Director, Dr. Colleen Bridger.

To ensure a unified and common sense approach, the Orange County Health Department is establishing a Smoke-Free Public Places Implementation Advisory Committee with multiple workgroups focused on: cessation; public education; signage, and enforcement.

The workgroups will be made up of representatives from the County and municipal planning and public works departments, public schools, Prevention Partners, the UNC School of Medicine Nicotine Dependence Program, American Cancer Society, students from Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered. (TRU), and Orange County’s Parks and Recreation division. Representatives from the Chambers of Commerce have also been invited. Meetings with the police chiefs and Orange County Sheriff’s Department are already underway.

The first phase of public education will promote cessation services, available through the NC Quitline, a free cessation resource for NC residents. In addition, the Health Department, along with partners such as UNC Family Medicine will take a lead role establishing additional ways to help people quit including in person classes and counseling. These resources will be promoted as they become available.

Each town and county manager has been invited to a Smoking Cessation Resources Lunch & Learn event to be held in mid-January, where county/town managers and HR Directors will learn ways to help their employees quit smoking.

Smoke-Free Public Places Background

The Smoke-Free Public Places Rule applies to property owned by Orange County and the municipal governments, including parks and sidewalks. Smoking would also not be allowed on private property where the public is invited. The UNC campus and other state governed facilities will continue operating under their existing smoking ordinances and will not be affected by this new rule.

Beginning on July 1, 2013, a $25 fine may be issued to violators, but the emphasis is being placed on awareness of the consequences of secondhand smoke and reversing people’s behavior in an effort to improve the County’s overall quality of life.

The idea of a smoke-free public places ordinance in Orange County originated two years ago when a group of County high schools students approached the Board of Health, requesting they consider adopting such a rule. After an extensive public education and input period, the Rule was brought to a Board of Health vote following a public hearing on October 24, 2012, and passed 10-1. On November 20, 2012, the Board of Orange County Commissioners approved the Rule with a majority vote.

To view the Rule, learn about existing cessation resources, and learn more about the dangers of secondhand smoke, please visit http://orangecountync.gov/health/smoke-freepublicplaces.asp