Great Outdoor Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 15, 2008
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919-733-7450 x304, jonathan.pishney@ncmail.net

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, an agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is proud to spearhead a national initiative called Take A Child Outside week. Now in its second year, this program was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods,” which identifies the benefits of outdoor experiences for children and addresses some of the problems of what he terms ‘nature deficit disorder,’ such as increased feelings of stress, trouble paying attention and feelings of being disconnected from the world.

The Museum’s experience with, and commitment to, getting children outdoors led to the development of Take A Child Outside week, scheduled for Sept. 24-30. According to the event’s creator Liz Baird, “the Museum hopes to inspire even more parents, teachers and caregivers to take children outdoors and help reacquaint them with nature.” This summer, Gov. Easley officially proclaimed Sept. 24-30 as Take A Child Outside week, noting that “in an era when many children believe that computers are more important than nature, it is vital for parents to introduce their children to the outdoors as an essential part of their education.”

On the Take A Child Outside web site , adults can make a promise to take a child outside during the week. After their outing, they can return and post a description of where they went and what they did, or read about other people’s adventures. There is a list of possible activities to do outdoors if the adults need inspiration. Additionally, they can search the nation (and beyond) for partners in the Take A Child Outside effort. Teachers who make a pledge and take their classes outside will receive a discount coupon from Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Baird, who is also the director of school programs for the Museum, says the event’s reach and popularity has been pleasantly surprising. Last year, more than 160 organizations signed on as partners representing 38 states and two foreign countries (Canada and Belize). This year the reach will be even greater, with more than 250 partners, including ones in Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Louv is scheduled to speak and attend a book signing at the Greensboro Montessori School Thursday, September 25.

You can also venture outside with Museum educators to explore a variety of habitats — including a piedmont prairie, woodlands, a lowland forest and a pond — on Tuesday, September 30 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the Museum’s Prairie Ridge Ecostation in west Raleigh. Guided walks will begin every 30 minutes, with the last walk at 6 p.m. The Great Outdoor Provision Company has donated $500 worth of outdoor equipment to be given away at this event! For directions and more information on Prairie Ridge, visit naturalsciences.org/prairieridge. Dover Foundation of Shelby is also a sponsor of Take A Child Outside week.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh documents and interprets the natural history of the state through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum online at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.

It’s not news that Great Outdoor Provision Co. gives back to the environment. Nor is it news that we attempt to participate as much as possible with local community groups who have similar goals as us. (check out our 4th Annual Coat Swap) But did you know that in addition to what we do, most of the companies whose brands you find in our shops also give back?

It’s been said before of course, but take a look at some specifics and become enlightened and inspired! We did!

Burt’s Bees donated a record $2 million for a land purchase in Maine to help conserve 185,000 acres of land – and by the way, if you’ve not tried Burt’s Beeswax Lip Balm, it’s a must-have for the upcoming cool weather. Made of over 95% all natural ingredients and at three bucks a tube, it’s a steal!

Patagonia was the first company to use post consumer recycled materials (PCR) back in 1993. Today, they use some of the same materials plus some new ones – who’d have thought that Capilene baselayer would be made partly using recycled soda bottles?! In addition, Patagonia begs for your worn out gear – be sure to check out the Common Threads Recycling bin in our shop. Patagonia spins it down and reuses the materials for fresh stuff! Check out some of the work Patagonia has been part of: http://www.patagonia.com/pdf/en_US/Environmental_Grants_2008.pdf (There are 10 organizations right here in North Carolina that received grants last year!)

We all love their soft t-shirts and cozy pjs, but did you know that Life is good has a Life is good Kids Foundation? That’s right… Life is good indeed for boys and girls who need a little extra help. One hundred percent of all fundraising at Life is good company festivals is donated directly to the foundation. There were festivals in Nags Head and Wilmington over this past summer.

The North Face recently contributed $1 million to the Conservation Alliance to initiate a Legacy Fund. In addition, they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint by offsetting energy use with wind energy through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s Green-e Climate Certified Renewable Energy Credits.

Chaco periodically collects old but usable sandals from customers and donates them to people in poverty stricken areas around the world. Next time you’re on the road traveling, don’t be surprised if you see your old kicks down that beaten path!

Whether its giving back to the environment, to our communities, or both – we hope you’re as proud as we are of the brands we carry. We pick only the best… in every way.

And for the record, Kermit the frog was originally constructed of an old ladies’ coat that had been tossed into a refuse bin… his eyes were ping pong balls. I’d like to think in 1969 when he sang “It’s not easy bein’ green” on Sesame Street, it was because he’d been stripped of his original 1955 recycled construction.

Ginger Dail is a sales associate at our Greenville Shop

NC Wildlife Photo Competition - Going on now!

3rd Place - Outdoor Recreation
Scott Hubener, Asheville
Climbing Shiprock, Blue Ridge Parkway

Check out more of last year’s winners!

Beautiful images of the natural wonders of North Carolina have inspired generations of people to be better stewards of our precious natural resources. The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition aims to encourage people to participate in nature photography, thereby fostering greater appreciation of North Carolina’s wildlife and wild places.

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is proud to sponsor this great competition.

» Enter Online thru Sept 15

The Chargers and Rechargers Hiking Club, part of the Watauga Task  Force, is sponsoring MST Big Dig #2 on September 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday).  All tools and equipment  will be furnished. Work site on the Blue Ridge Parkway is in scenic Goshen Creek Gorge, four miles north of Blowing Rock at milepost 287. Volunteer headquarters is in Price Park Campground, south of Blowing Rock. (All  access to the work site is from Blowing Rock because the Parkway is closed north of Goshen Creek Gorge.)

Contact Allen de Hart at email: adh4771@aol.com, or tel: 919-496-477l by September 8 if you plan to volunteer work (Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon, or l:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or both; and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to noon, or l:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m or both). For a reserved free campsite  at Price Park Campground indicate how many in your party and if for Friday or Saturday or both nights. After your response, detailed directions and answers to any questions will be provided.

September 11 and 13, 2008 - South Ashe Task Force workdays on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

September 27, 2008 - National Public Lands Day - Falls Lake Workday - Durham and Wake Counties.  At the last workday the Falls Lake Section of the MST has reached the 40 mile mark on it’s way to Durham, NC.

greatoutdoorprovision.com/mst

» Download the Govenor’s Proclaimation

Mountains to Sea Trail Month set for October

Guided hikes, trail building and raffle tickets for outdoor equipment will launch the first Mountains to Sea Trails Month in October co-sponsored by Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (FMST) and Great Outdoor Provision Co.

The Mountains to Sea Trail is a linear state park that will eventually stretch from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Approximately half of the 1,000 mile length has been completed, most on federal and state lands.

“October is one of the best months to experience the trail,” said Kate Dixon, FMST executive director. “The temperature is cool for hiking or trail building and the fall colors will be terrific.”

Throughout the month FMST will offer guided hikes at some of the most scenic spots along the trail. There will also be trail construction days. Some of the handful of people who have hiked the entire trail will be making presentations across the state. The trail is roughly the equivalent of the distance from Raleigh to Boston.

Great Outdoor Provision Co.. a local outdoor retailer based in North Carolina, will conduct a raffle during the month with all proceeds going to help pay for additional construction of the trail. Great Outdoor Provision Co. will raffle prizes with a total value of more than $5000.

“The Mountains to Sea Trail is everything that’s good about the outdoors,” said Tom Valone, president . “It provides opportunities for families for a great selection of day hikes and the challenges and multi-day wilderness experience that backpackers are seeking. Our company is pleased to be part of this effort.”

More detailed information about Mountains to Sea Trail Month is be available on the FMST website of ncmst.org and greatoutdoorprovision.com/mst.

Our kick-off event will be Vertical Ethiopia with Majka Burhardt - Tuesday, September 30 @ Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh

Ride for the Land 2008
Nearly 200 cyclists rolled out July 19 for Ride for the Land 2008: The Little River Roll. The tour brought attention to TLC’s Little River Priority Area and raised awareness of our efforts to preserve this critical piece of our natural heritage. While we at TLC have packed away the water jugs and signage until next year, you can reminisce about this year’s ride by reviewing our photos online.

Burrito Bash - Sept 9
TLC is teaming up with Haw River Assembly and the General Store Cafe of Pittsboro for a Burrito Bash! Join us on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at the General Store Cafe (39 West St, Pittsboro) for music, dancing, a silent auction, and of course, burritos! If you are interested in volunteering at the event or would like to donate an item to the silent auction, please contact Marisa Bryant at mbryant@tlc-nc.org or 919-833-3662 ext. 111. For tickets and to view the growing list of auction items, click here.

Haw River Paddle Day - August 30
Join us for an all-day paddling extravaganza on the Haw River at the Lower Haw State Natural Area upstream of the Bynum Dam. We’re offering a different kind of paddle trip on August 30 — six different two-hour trips allowing different ways to see the Haw River. Some of the trips will be themed guided trips: birding, natural history, and geocaching. Others will be “freestyle” do-it-yourself explorations. Details and registration

Hot off the Press - The Raleigh News and Observer is doing a 4 part series about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Click Here for all of the articles, video’s, and interviews about the MST.

Falls Lake Trail Workday - August 23, 2008

Come help FMST extend the Falls Lake Trail to Durham. Great Outdoor Provision Co. will be providing Chick-fil-a breakfast for the workers! Great Outdoor Provision Co. also joined forces with Patagonia to purchase a trailer to store & transport all the Trail Crew tools.

Meeting Location: Rolling View State Recreation Area - MST Parking Lot at 9:00 AM for the start of work.  Please RSVP this week with Jeff Brewer (jdbrewer@bellsouth.net) so we put the finishing touches on our projects for this workday. With a good turn out we will reach the 40 mile mark at Falls Lake as we close the gap at Santee Road. Once we close the gap at Santee we will move over near Patterson Road and start building the trail to Hickory Hill Boat Ramp - about 7.2 miles. We have some trail work to do at the dead end of Boyce Mill Road  for a group of about 10-12 workers. Your RSVP is a huge help in knowing our total attendance for the workday.

» MORE INFO

Late this afternoon, we received the following video dispatch from Lin Peterson at Great Outdoor Provision Co. Marketing. He was on the summit of Middle Teton with Chad Baird (Footwear Product Manager), and took time out to enjoy some of the Trail Mix Crunch that samples that Grassroots retailers passed out this summer.

In June, Grassroots Retailers worked with Post Cereal to promote Trail Mix Crunch to benefit the environment. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and Post Cereal partnered to benefit American Forests’ Global ReLeaf Program. In a joint effort, Post Cereals donated $50,000 to American Forests-enough to plant 50,000 trees in 2008. The partnership brings together the effort of 34 independent retailers across 22 states to lend support to the program.

The effort is highlighted in Grassroots’ member stores across the country in conjunction with the launch of Post’s new Cranberry Vanilla cereal. Customers will receive samples of the new cereal and learn more about getting involved with the American Forests restoration program in each location. American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry, and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests. The joint effort is kicking off this weekend with National Trails Day and Land Trust events at Grassroots’ retailers throughout the U.S.

Grassroots President, Dave Matz says of the partnership, “We were approached by Post to help them develop a conservation program in all of our member locations, and we are excited for the opportunity.” About the restoration initiative, Matz says, “We are committed to supporting conservation efforts, and helping companies do their part for the environment. Post has pledged to donate $50,000 to plant trees via Global ReLeaf, and we are happy to be the leaders helping them coordinate this outreach.”

For more information on the Global ReLeaf Program and to support local Grassroots’ members, please visit, www.americanforests.org

Beautiful images of the natural wonders of North Carolina have inspired generations of people to be better stewards of our precious natural resources. The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition aims to encourage people to participate in nature photography, thereby fostering greater appreciation of North Carolina’s wildlife and wild places.

All winners will be published in the January 2009 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and exhibited at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Winners will also receive a print of their winning entry and products from sponsor Great Outdoor Provision Co.

• Grand prize: Your photo published on the cover of the January 2009 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, plus $200
• First place, all categories: $100
• Second place, all categories: $75
• Third place, all categories: $50

Special state parks prize: One photo taken in North Carolina state parks, regardless of category, will be selected as Best of State Parks. The winner will receive camping passes at their choice of North Carolina state parks and other noncash prizes to be determined. Finalists in consideration for this honor will be exhibited at various parks across the state.

» Enter Online by Sept 15

July 4, 5 & 6 - On the banks of the fabulous Eno River!

Earlybird Tickets available NOW on-line

Presented by the Eno River Association, the Festival features a variety of activities, all with an environmental or cultural connection to the river. The Eno River Association is committed to the preservation of the nature, culture, and history of the Eno River basin. To learn more about the Association, click here.