by Rachael Graf | April 18, 2025 | News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m a native of Pennsylvania, but I’ve lived in several southeastern states throughout my career: Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. My wife, Lisa, and I have been married for 35...
by Rachael Graf | February 13, 2025 | News & Events, Support
Please tell us a bit about yourself. I have lived in Kill Devil Hills – just a few blocks from Wright Brothers National Memorial – for almost 25 years with my husband Matt, two daughters, and our dog named Wave. I love camping, hiking, going to the beach,...
by Rachael Graf | January 16, 2025 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: I grew up on the north side of Indianapolis in Carmel, Indiana. Program of study and related job experience: I graduated from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington with a degree in...
by Rachael Graf | January 8, 2025 | News & Events, Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2024 Contact: Kimberly Snyder, Human Resources Manager Eastern National (803) 518-2497 kimsnyder@easternnational.org Outer Banks Forever seeks next Director KILL DEVIL...
by Rachael Graf | December 11, 2024 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events
By Ash Keiper-Kintz, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore The Battle When you look out over the saltmarsh at South Point Road on Ocracoke Island, you may think it looks calm and peaceful. But in reality, the...
by Rachael Graf | December 10, 2024 | Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History
This year, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site staff dove deep into the history of the park. But not, as you might suspect, the history of events at the park. Instead, Ranger Taylor Hegler dove into the history of a room, one that has graced the Fort Raleigh Visitor...
by Rachael Graf | November 8, 2024 | Donor Stories, News & Events
Please tell us a bit about yourself. I am originally from Maine and have lived in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and most recently in Winston-Salem, North Carolina since 1989. I am an ecologist by training, having worked for 15 years in a Boston-based...
by Rachael Graf | November 8, 2024 | Advance Science, Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events
Invasive Plant Profile: “The Mighty Phrag” (Common Reed, Phragmites australis) By Megan Baker, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore What is Phragmites (Common Reed)? Common Reed (Phragmites australis), or simply...
by Rachael Graf | October 9, 2024 | News & Events, Support
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m 32 – born and raised in Southern Shores. I’ve spent my whole life on the Outer Banks except for a six-year stint for higher education and trying out life in a big city. I am in the property and casualty insurance...
by Rachael Graf | October 9, 2024 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events
Invasive Plant Profile: Thorny Olive (Elaeagnus pungens) By Michael Gosselin, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore What is it? Thorny Olive is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub that is native to Asia. It was introduced in...
by Rachael Graf | September 13, 2024 | Advance Science, Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events
By Michael Flynn, Physical Scientist at Cape Hatteras National Seashore The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) is situated between two major water bodies – the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound – which provides a wide variety of water based recreational...
by Rachael Graf | September 12, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Program of study, relevant job experience: My degree is in Communications with a minor in Sociology. But I have a mix of job experience in conservation work (trail building, wildland...
by Rachael Graf | June 6, 2024 | Ask A BioTech, News & Events, Sea Turtles
By Emma Dlutkowski, Seasonal Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Sea turtle species at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Of the world’s seven species of sea turtle, five have been documented nesting at Cape Hatteras National...
by Rachael Graf | May 8, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Chesterton, Indiana Relevant job experience: 8 years with the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service in a variety of positions, mostly focusing on interpretation. Position in our...
by Rachael Graf | April 9, 2024 | Donor Stories, News & Events, Support
My siblings and I were born in Charlottesville, Virginia, but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Our parents, Paul and Mary Ann, loved the Outer Banks, and our family spent weeks camping there when we were growing up. Colleen and her mom, Mary Ann, on Hatteras in 1966....
by Rachael Graf | April 9, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Miami, Florida Program of study: I received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University, ’01, and a MSc in Historic Preservation at Columbia University, ‘05. I received my PhD in Cultural...
by Rachael Graf | March 13, 2024 | News & Events, Support
Please tell us a little bit about yourselves and your business. My name is Kiefer Pirrung, and along with my wife Molly and our four young children, like so many others that live and vacation here, we too have a deep love for the Outer Banks. This beautiful area has...
by Rachael Graf | March 13, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Appomattox, Virginia Program of study: I hold a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Teaching from the University of Virginia. I thought I would be a classroom teacher, but working...
by Rachael Graf | February 13, 2024 | Current Projects, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History
By Rachael Graf, Community Engagement Coordinator at Outer Banks Forever Note: This article was originally published in February 2024. She has been likened to Michelangelo for her ability to capture the human spirit in and with her work. And for Sonja Griffin Evans,...
by Rachael Graf | February 11, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Nakita Lopez and her family hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Photo: Nakita Lopez Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: El Portal, California Program of study, relevant job experience: I went to school for outdoor recreational...
by Rachael Graf | February 11, 2024 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, News & Events, Support
Shannon Winakur visiting the Cape Hatteras Light Station. Photo: Shannon Winakur. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and I now live in Baltimore, Maryland, with my husband and two teenage daughters. I am a cardiologist, so work for me is fulfilling and quite challenging...
by Rachael Graf | January 25, 2024 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Born in Seattle, Washington, but raised in Arlington, Virginia. Program of study, relevant job experience: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Master of Business Administration. I spent the last 20-ish...
by Rachael Graf | January 25, 2024 | Completed Projects, Create Experiences, Educate Youth, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History, Women's History in OBX
By Rachael Graf, Community Engagement Coordinator at Outer Banks Forever While exploring the grounds of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, you may come across a raised garden bed filled with plants such as corn, beans, squash, sunflowers and herbs, especially in...
by Rachael Graf | December 12, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events, Support
Photo Credit: Daniel Pullen Photography KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC – Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, in partnership with REAL...
by Rachael Graf | December 11, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Community Volunteer Ambassador Serena Diaz using a mano and metate. Photo Credit: Serena Diaz. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Yakima, Washington Program of study: Bachelors in Anthropology with a focus on...
by Rachael Graf | November 20, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
Pictured from left to right: Trip Forman, Outer Banks Forever Board President and Co-Owner of REAL Watersports; Laura Ertle, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative; Jessica Barnes, Director of Outer Banks Forever; Babur Mian,...
by Rachael Graf | November 16, 2023 | News & Events
Junior Ranger programs inspire next generation of Outer Banks national park lovers and stewards By Rachael Graf, Community Engagement Coordinator at Outer Banks Forever Each year, thousands of kids across the country who visit national parks pledge to protect and...
by Rachael Graf | November 14, 2023 | News & Events
Thanks to a generous Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation, we are able to provide reimbursement funds for field trips to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial! The goal of...
by Rachael Graf | October 27, 2023 | Advance Science, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
Did you know that biological science technicians at Cape Hatteras National Seashore carefully track, learn from, and protect hundreds of sea turtle nests each summer? While human visitors flocked to the Seashore this summer, more than 370 sea turtles also made their...
by Rachael Graf | October 16, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: This is always a loaded question as I was a military kid due to my father’s service in the United States Coast Guard, so we moved constantly. But I was born in Peoria, Illinois, and it’s where the large...
by Rachael Graf | October 12, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events, Support
Since last October, we have been working with our National Park Service partners and our local community to create a new experience at Cape Hatteras National Seashore: the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Pathway. Each year, millions of people visit the Seashore, and many...
by Rachael Graf | September 20, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Southeast Pennsylvania (Go Eagles!) Program of study: B.S. in Business Management, Metropolitan State University of Denver Position in our Outer Banks national parks: Supervisory Park Ranger (Hatteras Island...
by Rachael Graf | September 19, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Donor Stories, News & Events
Barbara Jordan enjoying her time at the beach! It’s 1952 and I’m in a house on the beach in Nags Head, North Carolina, and I’m seeing the ocean for the first time. I am 16 years old. I will try to briefly summarize my over 70 years of visiting the Outer Banks. I am...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2023 | News & Events, Wright Brothers
We invite you to celebrate National Aviation Day on Saturday, August 19, at two different locations in the Outer Banks: Wright Brothers National Memorial and Dare County Regional Airport! Join our friends at the National Park Service, the First Flight Society, and the...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2023 | News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Being the child of a military family, I had the opportunity and pleasure of living in some beautiful places around the world. I was born in Wales, United Kingdom, and then spent some time in Iceland and on the island...
by Rachael Graf | August 10, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Miami, Florida. Program of study, relevant job experience, or relevant life experience: I have a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, specializing in Advertising. I spent...
by Rachael Graf | August 2, 2023 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, Educate Youth, News & Events, Sea Turtles
By Ash Keiper-Kintz, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore So, you’ve come across a turtle while visiting the beach, that means it’s a sea turtle, right? Not necessarily! Sea turtles aren’t the only turtles that enjoy the beach, they...
by Rachael Graf | July 13, 2023 | Fort Raleigh, Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Santa Ana, California. Program of study: I recently graduated from Clark University where I majored in Race & Ethnic Studies and minored in Global Environmental Studies and Art...
by Rachael Graf | July 13, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Completed Projects, News & Events, Preserve History
By Rachael Graf, Community Engagement Coordinator at Outer Banks Forever On Tuesday, June 20, Cape Hatteras National Seashore completed exterior renovations of the historic U.S. Weather Bureau Station in Hatteras Village with the installation of a new...
by Rachael Graf | July 13, 2023 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, News & Events
By Abby Burke, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Why are sections of the beach closed for shorebirds? This is by far one of the most common questions we get as bio techs. The answer lies in shorebird nesting strategies and...
by Rachael Graf | July 13, 2023 | News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I grew up in beautiful Central Virginia – where I currently live – and have been visiting the Outer Banks since I was little. In fact, my parents met in the Outer Banks, so the ‘Banks have always been a part of our...
by Rachael Graf | June 13, 2023 | News & Events, Partner Spotlight
Please tell us a little bit about the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and your role(s) there. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is the lead marketing and promotional agency for Dare County’s Outer Banks. We promote overnight visitation to the area and provide travel...
by Rachael Graf | June 13, 2023 | News & Events
Photo: Director, Jess Barnes, on her first day of a six day solo backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born and raised in Mechanicsville, Virginia, right outside of Richmond. Growing...
by Rachael Graf | June 13, 2023 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
Sea Turtle Migration: Moms on the Move! By Jessica Stuczynski, Biological Science Technician May 1 kicked off the sea turtle nesting season at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore)! Every morning, biological technicians hit the beach to survey and document new...
by Rachael Graf | May 18, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Donor Stories, News & Events
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Outer Banks. I grew up in eastern North Carolina, in Pitt County, which is where Greenville, North Carolina, and East Carolina University are, on a tobacco farm. My family owned one of the original...
by Rachael Graf | April 29, 2023 | News & Events, Partner Spotlight
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your coffee company. What inspired you to start “Roasts for Coasts”? Hello! My name is Adele! I am a mother of a soon-to-be two-year-old, I love coffee and I love the Outer Banks. It all started back in 2019 when a trip...
by Rachael Graf | April 26, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Donor Stories, News & Events
It’s National Park Week, and we’re celebrating by sharing stories from our supporters! A Sacrifice For Freedom: Gratitude For The Royal British Navy By Edward “Eddie” Masterka My wife was involved in recording the history and culture of the...
by Rachael Graf | April 25, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Donor Stories, News & Events
It’s National Park Week, and we’re celebrating by sharing stories from our supporters! “My husband and his family have gone to Cape Hatteras National Seashore since the 1970s, when — bless my mother-in-law’s soul — they went in...
by Rachael Graf | April 20, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
Our new Artist in Community program, in partnership with Dare Arts and the National Park Service, gives Outer Banks artists the opportunity to demonstrate their crafts or perform their arts in our Outer Banks national parks! Please tell us a little bit about yourself...
by Rachael Graf | April 18, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
Our new Artist in Community program, in partnership with Dare Arts and the National Park Service, gives Outer Banks artists the opportunity to demonstrate their crafts or perform their arts in our Outer Banks national parks! Please tell us a little bit about yourself...
by Rachael Graf | April 18, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
Our new Artist in Community program, in partnership with Dare Arts and the National Park Service, gives Outer Banks artists the opportunity to demonstrate their crafts or perform their arts in our Outer Banks national parks! Please tell us a little bit about yourself...
by Rachael Graf | April 12, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
KILL DEVIL HILLS and MANTEO, NC – Outer Banks Forever – the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial – in partnership with Dare Arts and the National Park Service are...
by Rachael Graf | March 24, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina Program of study: Anthropology (Conc. Archeology),...
by Rachael Graf | March 23, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida Program of study: Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies. I...
by Rachael Graf | March 7, 2023 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events
Event Description Outer Banks Forever, Dare Arts, and the Outer Banks Group of the National Park Service have partnered to create and launch a new Artist in Community program that will give local artists the opportunity to share their crafts with the public at a...
by Rachael Graf | February 16, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events, Wright Brothers
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Mobile, Alabama Program of study, relevant job experience, or relevant life...
by Rachael Graf | January 17, 2023 | News & Events, Partner Spotlight
We’d like to introduce you to Robert Poitras, founder and CEO of Carolina Brewery! With locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro and with products on shelves throughout the Carolinas, “Carolina Brewery stands beside anyone who wants to see what’s out there, to...
by Rachael Graf | January 17, 2023 | Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Williamsburg, Virginia Education: B.A. in American History, University of North...
by Rachael Graf | December 13, 2022 | Educate Youth, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Manteo, North Carolina Work and volunteer experience: I was a nurse for 40 years and retired in 2021. Since then, I’ve been a busy volunteer actively engaged with Fort Raleigh National Historic Site...
by Rachael Graf | December 8, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Partner Spotlight, Support
We’d like to introduce you to Charles Cushman of the Pony Island Inn on Ocracoke Island. He and his family and business partners, Gary and Ashley Curry, lovingly care for the 64-year-old inn and provide their guests with top-notch vacation experiences year-round. We...
by Rachael Graf | December 2, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, Current Projects, News & Events, Support
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC – Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, in partnership with REAL Watersports and Carolina Brewery, is thrilled to announce...
by Rachael Graf | December 2, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events, Support
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC – Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, has partnered with REAL Watersports and Carolina Brewery for a $10,000 Giving...
by Rachael Graf | October 19, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Program of study: M.A. Historical Archaeology (with a focus...
by Rachael Graf | October 19, 2022 | Advance Science, Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events, Sea Turtles, Support
Did you know that biological science technicians at Cape Hatteras National Seashore carefully track, learn from and protect hundreds of sea turtle nests each summer? While human visitors flocked to the Seashore this summer, over 378 sea turtles also made their way...
by Rachael Graf | October 17, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, Current Projects, News & Events, Support
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC — Outer Banks Forever — the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial — and the Outer Banks Group of the National Park Service are pleased to announce...
by Rachael Graf | September 22, 2022 | Create Experiences, News & Events, Support
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC –Ahead of National Public Lands Day, Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial, and Swells’a Brewing Beer Company, the only...
by Rachael Graf | September 21, 2022 | Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History, Support
Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas Work experience: Petroleum Engineer – Retired from ExxonMobil in 2021 What do you like to do in your free time? Bake goodies for my coworkers, genealogy work, work with new technology...
by Rachael Graf | September 21, 2022 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, News & Events, Sea Turtles
By Ben Ranelli, Seasonal Biological Technician on Ocracoke Island As a biotech, there is hardly a more rewarding sight than a swell of sea turtle hatchling tracks left behind from their oceanward journey. Knowing the effort to protect their nests has given each...
by Rachael Graf | September 13, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, News & Events
Formed by a hurricane in 1846, Oregon Inlet connects the Atlantic Ocean with Pamlico Sound and a maze of inland waterways. Forming a 3,000-square-mile estuary, these waters offer crucial habitat for commercially important fish, shrimp, and shellfish species. Over 95%...
by Rachael Graf | September 13, 2022 | Advance Science, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
Humans aren’t the only creatures that flock to the beaches of the Outer Banks. The sandy dunes and ever-changing shorelines play host to more than 300 bird species and dozens of reptiles. In the spring and summer, seven species of shorebirds make their nests in Cape...
by Rachael Graf | September 13, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Preserve History
The Graveyard of the Atlantic has claimed countless ships and lives off the coast of North Carolina. Since 1872, the Bodie Island Lighthouse has warned mariners of the hidden dangers which lie 40 miles to the south, the Diamond Shoals. Ships taking advantage of the...
by Rachael Graf | September 6, 2022 | Educate Youth, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History
Roanoke Island’s sandy soil has many stories a story to tell. One of those stories is the mystery of the “Lost Colony.” Archaeologists with the First Colony Foundation – which is dedicated to conducting archaeological and historical research, combined with public...
by Rachael Graf | August 24, 2022 | Educate Youth, News & Events, Preserve History, Wright Brothers
When Wilbur and Orville Wright made the trek from Dayton to Kitty Hawk each year from 1900 to 1903 to test their gliders and their flyer, they relied on the sand dunes known as “Kill Devil Hills” to provide the ideal testing ground. But sand dunes are constantly...
by Rachael Graf | August 24, 2022 | Educate Youth, News & Events, Preserve History, Wright Brothers
Have you ever wondered why two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, would travel all the way to the Outer Banks to try and fly? Travel wasn’t easy in the early 1900s (this is pre-airplane after all, and pre-highway as well) so there must have been a good reason why Wilbur...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2022 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
By Benjamin Ranelli, Seasonal Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Ocracoke District) Three quarters of a mile below the surface of the ocean where sunlight cannot reach, true titans still roam the world’s oceans. By far, leatherback sea...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2022 | Create Experiences, Educate Youth, News & Events, Preserve History, Wright Brothers
Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the course of human history in twelve seconds when they completed the first successful heavier-than-air powered flight on the sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. But their journey to the skies began long before...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2022 | Create Experiences, Educate Youth, Meet Your Ranger, News & Events, Preserve History, Wright Brothers
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Washington, D.C. Program of study and relevant work experience: I studied...
by Rachael Graf | August 11, 2022 | Create Experiences, Educate Youth, News & Events, Preserve History, Wright Brothers
We invite you to celebrate National Aviation Day (Orville and Katharine Wright’s birthdays!) on Friday, August 19, at two locations in the Outer Banks: Wright Brothers National Memorial and Dare County Regional Airport! If you can’t join in person this year,...
by Rachael Graf | August 1, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Support, Wright Brothers
Outer Banks Forever 2022 Summer Gear Guide Just in time for your summer adventures: Outer Banks Forever merchandise! Did you know you that your favorite Outer Banks Forever gear is now available online? Each item in our collection represents something we love about...
by Rachael Graf | July 18, 2022 | News & Events, Partner Spotlight, Support
We’d like to introduce you Sam Harriss, co-owner and artistic director at Swells’a Brewing Beer Company located in Kill Devil Hills! Not only are Sam and her fellow owners passionate about brewing great beer, but they are also passionate about protecting and enhancing...
by Rachael Graf | July 18, 2022 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
Sea turtle nesting season is in full swing at Cape Hatteras National Seashore! Last month, we introduced you to Paul Doshkov, Supervisory Biological Technician (Bodie Island) and Scientific Research and Collecting Permit Coordinator at Cape Hatteras National Seashore,...
by Rachael Graf | July 15, 2022 | Fort Raleigh, Meet Your Ranger, News & Events
Our Meet Your Ranger series introduces you to the many amazing people who support our Outer Banks national parks every day! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hometown: Arlington, Texas. Program of study: I am currently working on my master’s in public...
by Rachael Graf | June 21, 2022 | Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Partner Spotlight, Support
June is National Ocean Month, and we’d like to introduce you to the Amabile family, the founders and artisans of Amabile Co., a family-owned and -operated company that supports organizations that are committed to protecting and cleaning waterways around North America...
by Rachael Graf | June 17, 2022 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, News & Events, Sea Turtles
Ask a BioTech – All About Sea Turtles: Sea Turtle Nests Sea turtle nesting season at Cape Hatteras National Seashore has begun! We reached out to our Biological Technician friends to learn more about the sea turtles that visit the Seashore each year. We are pleased...
by Jessica Barnes | November 17, 2021 | Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Preserve History
This month, national parks around the United States are honoring Native American Heritage Month, and our Outer Banks national parks are joining them! Years before the arrival of Europeans and what has come to be called “The Lost Colony,” the land that is now known as...
by Jessica Barnes | October 29, 2020 | Cape Hatteras, Fort Raleigh, News & Events, Wright Brothers
Whether you’re huddled around a campfire or snuggled under blankets in your living room, fall is the perfect time to tell stories of intrigue. Our Outer Banks national parks have all played vital roles in both American and world history, and each park has its own...
by Rachael Graf | July 13, 2020 | Cape Hatteras, Create Experiences, News & Events, Partner Spotlight, Support
By Rachael Graf, Community Engagement Coordinator Trip Forman has gills. At least that’s what he tells people. “I have to be in the water,” Forman said. “If I’m not in the water regularly, my gills start to dry up and stick to the side of my neck. And then I...
by Jessica Barnes | November 19, 2019 | Donor Stories, News & Events, Support
I first visited the Outer Banks with my parents as a very young child in 1964. My favorite vacation memory, however, is June 1999. I had just completed private pilot training in Chesapeake, Virginia. My first flight as a private pilot was to First Flight Airport...
by Rachael Graf | June 24, 2025 | Advance Science, Ask A BioTech, Cape Hatteras, Educate Youth, News & Events
By Meadow Maturen, Biological Science Technician at Cape Hatteras National Seashore As Biological Science Technicians, we spend our time monitoring and protecting a variety of target species here on the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore). Our...
by Rachael Graf | June 20, 2025 | Cape Hatteras, Completed Projects, Create Experiences, News & Events, Pathways to Your National Parks, Support
BUXTON, NC – Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of the three Outer Banks national parks, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) hosted a joint ribbon cutting ceremony today, Thursday, June 12, at 10 a.m. to officially celebrate...
by Rachael Graf | March 31, 2025 | News & Events
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC – After an extensive executive search, Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial has selected Bryan Burhans as its next...
by Rachael Graf | March 24, 2025 | News & Events
Please tell us about yourself. I grew up in Hampton Roads, Virginia, visiting the Outer Banks since I was a baby! I’ve always loved the beach and being outdoors. I am currently the Store Manager at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Gift Shop. I have a blended...
by Rachael Graf | March 3, 2025 | News & Events, Support
Outer Banks Forever is the official nonprofit fundraising partner of our three Outer Banks national parks: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. Since our founding in 2019, through the...
