If you’re looking to rediscover your OBX national parks and to create new memories with your loved ones this year, check out these current ranger programs at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial!
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Bodie Island
Bodie Island Lighthouse Climbing
- Monday-Sunday through October 11. First climb is at 9 a.m. and final climb is at 5:30 p.m.
- Climbing tickets can only be purchased on the day of your intended climb. Tickets go on sale daily at 7 a.m. You can purchase tickets here.
Shaping These Barrier Islands
Wars, hurricanes, winds and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras. Join a ranger to learn about some of these events and the changes they have made to these islands.
- Daily from 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet on the back patio of the Double Keepers’ Quarters.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse – Lighting the Way for Almost 150 Years
Join a ranger for a discussion of the details and history of this beautiful sentinel.
- Daily from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet on the back patio of the Double Keepers’ Quarters.
Hatteras Island
*Note: Due to ongoing renovations, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed to climbing. But you can still access the view from the top!
Buxton Woods Nature Walk
Join a ranger for a 3/4 mile guided walk through the Buxton Woods and explore a diverse maritime forest ecosystem.
- Every Friday from 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the picnic area across from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Castnetting
Come try your hand at this early method of fishing still being used today! Registration is required.
- Every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Buxton, N.C.
- Visit the Hatteras Island Visitor Center to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.
Dark Skies Over Hatteras
Bring your blankets and chairs and join a ranger for this evening of stars and stories on the beach!
- Every Thursday from 9 p.m.-10 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at ORV (off-road vehicle) Ramp 43.
Especially for Kids
Kids and their families can join a ranger to learn about seashore animals through hands-on games and activities.
- Every Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion.
Morning Bird Walk
Join a ranger and meet winged residents and those traveling the Atlantic Flyway! Binoculars are available.
- Every Thursday from 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at fish cleaning tables near ORV (off-road vehicle) Ramp 44.
Old Days at the Weather Bureau Station
Join a ranger to explore the historic U.S. Weather Bureau Station and hear amazing stories that intertwine with our own lives and major historic events.
- Every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at U.S. Weather Bureau Station in Hatteras, N.C.
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — Lighting the Way for Over 150 Years
Join a ranger to learn about the details and history of this beautiful sentinel and current restoration efforts.
- Daily from 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion.
Shaping These Barrier Islands
Wars, hurricanes, winds and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras. Join a ranger to learn about some of these events and the changes they have made to these islands.
- Daily from 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion.
Soundside Explorers For Kids
You and your kids can join a ranger for this activity-based exploration of the Pamlico Sound! Registration is required.
- Every Tuesday from 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Salvo Day-Use Area, Salvo, N.C. (located near restrooms)
- Visit the Hatteras Island Visitor Center to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.
Surf Fish with a Ranger
Ever wanted to try your hand at surf fishing with a ranger? Your park staff bring the fishing poles; you bring the bait. Registration is required.
- Every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Frisco, N.C.
- Visit the Hatteras Island Visitor Center to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.
Volunteer Beach Cleanup
Help Seashore staff clean the beach at two separate locations! Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All volunteers are encouraged to bring leather gloves, water, snacks and sunscreen.
- Saturday, June 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Coquina Beach Access and Old Lighthouse Beach Access
- Concurrent with the Seashore beach cleanups, the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) will be stationed at off-road vehicle ramps where visitors can obtain trash bags for collecting litter. Participants in the NCBBA event are asked to deposit trash bags at ramp entrances for collection when leaving the beach. For more information, Tom Brueckner at tom.brueckner@ncbba.org.
Ocracoke Island
Explore the Shore
Take an easy beach walk with a ranger and learn about what calls the beach its home.
- Every Wednesday from 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet outside at the beach access parking area adjacent to the Ocracoke Campground.
Ocracoke Island Lighthouse – Lighting the Way for Almost 200 Years
Visit the lighthouse and hear a ranger discuss the details and history of this beautiful beacon!
- Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the Ocracoke Lighthouse.
- The base of the Ocracoke Lighthouse is now open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m.The boardwalk and grounds are always open for visitors to walk up to.
Ocracoke Banker Ponies
Come meet the ponies who once roamed as a wild herd and hear a ranger discuss their living history on Ocracoke Island! You can even symbolically adopt a pony!
- Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet at the Pony Pen.
Shaping These Barrier Islands
Wars, hurricanes, winds and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras. Join a ranger to learn about some of these events and the changes they have made to these islands.
- Monday-Friday from 2:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
- Meet outside the Ocracoke Visitor Center.
Stories of Ocracoke Island
Listen to a ranger discuss the location and legacy of Ocracoke Island. From serving as an early port village and primary point of entry to North Carolina to Blackbeard’s final battle, Ocracoke Island possesses a unique heritage resulting from its remote setting.
- Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Meet outside the Ocracoke Visitor Center.
War Comes to Ocracoke
Join a ranger to learn about the role Ocracoke Island and the Outer Banks have played in shaping our country’s conflicts.
- Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m-4:30 p.m.
- Meet outside the Ocracoke Visitor Center.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Freedmen’s Colony
A beacon of hope! During the American Civil War, Roanoke Island became a safe haven for formerly enslaved people. Join a ranger to learn about the triumphs and trials of the Freedmen’s Colony and what happened after the Civil War.
- Daily from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet outside the Lindsay Warren Visitor Center.
The Lost Colony Walking Tour
Join a ranger to delve into the history and mystery surrounding England’s first attempt to establish a colony in the new world.
- Daily from 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; May 29 – September 6.
- Meet outside the Lindsay Warren Visitor Center.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Bicycle Program
Go for a ride like the Wright brothers! Wilbur and Orville’s bicycle business provided knowledge and funding for their aviation experiments. Bring your bike and helmet and take a trip back in time with a ranger during this special program to discover what this place looked like when Wilbur and Orville were experimenting with the idea of flight. This easy, ranger-led bike ride will take you along park roads and explore the reasons why the Wright brothers chose this location, their experiments in flight, and the building of the monument and Visitor Center.
- Every Monday from 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
- Meet at the bicycle rack next to the Visitor Center.
- Maximum group size is 15 people; first come, first served basis.
Wind and Sand
Step back in history during this short walk with a ranger to the actual site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flights.
- Monday-Sunday (Daily) from 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 12 p.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Meet on the back patio of the Visitor Center.
Wright Kite
Test the winds of the Outer Banks just like Wilbur and Orville and fly a kite with a ranger! Bring your own kite or fly one of ours.
- Every Tuesday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Meet at the white tent south of the pavilion restrooms.
- Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This program is appropriate for ages 6 and up. This a first come, first served basis program with 30 kites available.
Wright Legacy
Twelve seconds was all the Wright Brothers needed on Dec. 17, 1903, to show the world humans could fly. Those twelve seconds were just the start of aviation history and the Wright legacy. Explore the rest of the Wright story with a ranger and discover the impact that Wilbur and Orville had on history, the legacy they left behind and how they are remembered in the world today.
- Monday-Sunday (Daily) from 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
- Meet in the white tent south of the pavilion restrooms.
Please Note: Inclement weather may impact educational programming.
Photographs courtesy of National Park Service.