Museum‘s Prairie Ridge Ecostation to participate in Volksmarch, June 4

For immediate release ‐ May 26, 2016

Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request

Celebrate National Trails Day with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences by participating in the 3rd annual Triangle Volksmarch on June 4, 2016. The Triangle Volksmarch is a free 5.6-mile self-paced walk along the Capital Greenway between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., open to all ages. Enjoy the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ very own Prairie Ridge Ecostation by participating in eBird, a nationwide birding database launched by Cornell University. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to use binoculars, identify different bird species and share their observations with scientists. The Ecostation will also host food trucks for the event. Grab a passport and map at any of the event locations and visit the stamp stations for fun activities. Participants will be able to receive a Volksmarch patch at the Triangle Volksmarch after party.

Events throughout the day include:

  • 10 a.m.–noon — Decorate a Walking Stick. Free sticks available while supplies last. NC Museum of Art Amphitheater.
  • 11 a.m.–1 p.m. — Citizen Science. Help biologists do real science experiments. Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
  • 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. — Chirba Chirba Dumpling food truck will be at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
  • Noon–2 p.m. Forestry Festival. See live demonstrations and meet Smokey the Bear. Schenck Forest.
  • 1–3 p.m. — Box Turtle Survival Skills with Park Rangers. Experience the park through the eyes of a 100-year old turtle. William B. Umstead State Park, Reedy Creek Entrance.
  • 4–7 p.m. — Triangle Volksmarch after party. Celebrate a day of hiking/walking with local food, fun, family and friends at Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Cameron Village.

THE ECOSTATION
Prairie Ridge includes 45 acres of Piedmont prairie, forest, ponds, a stream and sustainable building features integrated with a wildlife-friendly landscape. The Ecostation furthers the Museum’s mission of enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the natural environment by providing an outdoor space for research and learning while acting as a model for renewable and sustainable energy.

Cameron Brown, 2, struts with self assurance and his father's cane on a trail at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Prairie Ridge Ecostation on the 2015 Volksmarch.

Cameron Brown, 2, struts with self assurance and his father’s cane on a trail at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Prairie Ridge Ecostation on the 2015 Volksmarch. Photo: Chuck Liddy/newsobserver.com

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W. Jones St. and 121 W. Jones St.) in downtown Raleigh is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world, drawing them into the intriguing fields of study that are critical to the future of North Carolina. Hours: Mon.- Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m. Visit the Museum online at www.naturalsciences.org. Emlyn Koster, PhD, Museum Director; Susan Kluttz, Secretary, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Pat McCrory, Governor.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development. NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.

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