tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61324794556057097132024-03-13T04:42:30.004-07:00Cultivating ConnectionsWelcome to the official blog of The North Carolina Arboretum!The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-57461576285306667352010-07-14T05:24:00.000-07:002010-07-14T05:46:02.454-07:00A Natural Partnership<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMosers%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Garamond; panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:ArialMT; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:auto; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"French Script MT"; panose-1:3 2 4 2 4 6 7 4 6 5; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.block1, li.block1, div.block1 {mso-style-name:block1; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:.5in 1.25in 45.0pt 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">A Community Partnership with <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">The North Carolina Arboretum</a> honors the natural beauty and heritage of the region and provides an array of creative opportunities to further your business or organization’s civic profile, marketing exposure and audience potential.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Opportunities include:
<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style=""> </span>Indoor and Outdoor Changing Exhibits;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Educational Programs for Adults and Youth;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Tour, Trails and Garden Walks;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Wayfinding and Interpretation;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Member and Volunteer Programs;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Special Events Weekends;
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Media and Publications; and
<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Garamond;">In-kind Support.
<br /></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Our current <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/join-and-give/give/community-partners/celebrate-our-partners/">Community Partners</a> are engaged in creative and diverse ways. Their support spans many programs and levels of giving.<span style=""> </span>Join us as a Visionary, Leader, Advocate, Supporter or Friend.<span style=""> </span>Contact <a href="mailto:%20whough@ncarboretum.org">Winnie V. Hough</a>, Community Partner Manager, or <a href="mailto:%20ccurtis@ncarboretum.org">Clara A. Curtis</a>, or call 828.665.2492 for more information.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">Thanks to the support from our Community Partners, staff, volunteers, and <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/join-and-give">members</a>, many seeds have been sown across the Arboretum’s campus. Come <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/plan-a-visit">visit us</a> today and enjoy the wonders that result! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="block1"><span style="font-family:Garamond;">We are grateful for a deeply rooted community.</span><span style="font-family:Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-42191829358781346122010-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:002010-06-14T07:36:49.272-07:00Why Wait? Play Outside With Us Today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/TBY9SgR7uOI/AAAAAAAAACY/paWI3ktIFtk/s1600/watershed+George+column.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 183px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/TBY9SgR7uOI/AAAAAAAAACY/paWI3ktIFtk/s320/watershed+George+column.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482636984482248930" border="0" /></a><br />Situated in one most botanically diverse and beautiful natural settings in America, exploring The <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org">North Carolina Arboretum</a>’s 434-acre campus is more than just a weekend activity; it’s an experience that renews the senses and infuses the mind and body with a connection to nature that lasts a lifetime.<br /><br />From hiking and biking <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/exhibits/outdoors/gardens-collections/">trails</a> and garden exploration to engaging interactive <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/education/">programs</a> and <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/exhibits/">exhibits</a>, the Arboretum offers rejuvenating activities for all ages and abilities.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Remember Nature?</span><br />If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you have fond memories of playing outdoors as a child. Maybe you loved to ride your bicycle, swim, play in the woods, skateboard, meet friends for games at local parks and playgrounds, or just hang out in your tree fort. Can you imagine childhood memories without nature?<br /><br />For the average American born in the last 20 years, childhood without nature is not only possible, it’s the norm. Studies show that children today typically spend only four to seven minutes in unstructured outdoor play. Instead of playing outdoors, the average child spends more than seven hours in front of an electronic screen.1 <br /><br />Nature’s positive effects on health have been well documented, and the <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/education/youth-programs/">Arboretum’s K-12 Academic Programs</a> offer classes rooted in outdoor learning opportunities – providing some youths with their first childhood memories of nature. These memories are fond and long-lasting, and many youths come back every year for camps and field trips. Some youths even request to have their <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/education/youth-programs/eco-adventure-birthdays/">birthday parties</a> at the Arboretum so they can share what they learned with friends and family. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nature’s Path to Health</span><br />Stress-reduction, improved mood, and increased physical health are all results of nature’s positive impact on well-being that have been proven time and again in research studies. Visitors of all ages to The North Carolina Arboretum get to know nature and its benefits through diverse recreational activities.<br /><br />As more Americans focus on healthy living and healthy aging, The North Carolina Arboretum has experienced increased visitation and program participation. From tai chi classes, hiking and biking, and nature walks to engaging exhibits, garden strolls, and art installations, the Arboretum cultivates personal connections between people and nature. Ample opportunities to recreate and connect with nature at the Arboretum are waiting:<br /><br />• Refresh and grow in mind with engaging programs, exhibits and events<br />• Attend to physical health by exploring more than 10 miles of hiking and biking trails<br />• Renew your senses and explore more than 65 acres of cultivated gardens<br />• Connect with nature through wildlife watching and Discovery Day Packs<br />• Expand your relationship to nature’s art by exploring the Arboretum’s <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/exhibits/outdoors/outdoor-art/">Art Walk</a><br /><br />The North Carolina Arboretum is YOUR natural treasure. So why wait? Come play outdoors with us today!The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-33037122778056971612010-06-03T11:35:00.000-07:002010-06-03T12:02:46.210-07:00Birds of a Feather: We're a Great Spot for Birding!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/TAf3rN3ZJTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/8jGi56zObQU/s1600/IMG_2540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/TAf3rN3ZJTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/8jGi56zObQU/s320/IMG_2540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478619793547928882" border="0" /></a>You’ve probably seen bright and whimsical birds if you’ve ever been hiking or biking at <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org">The North Carolina Arboretum</a>, strolling through the gardens, or watching nature from the rocking chairs near the Savory Thyme Café.<br /><br />But did you know that we’re an official birding site of the <a href="http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/">North Carolina Birding Trail</a>?<br /><br />We’re host to countless and diverse bird species, which is what helped us become part of the Birding Trail. People from across the country – some even from across the globe – visit the Arboretum's 434 acres to catch a glimpse of the birds that visit our campus.<br /><br />This spring the male goldfinches have their bright yellow color back, and have been a prominent feature at the bird feeders.<br /><br />On a short stroll through the core gardens you’re likely to see Northern Mockingbirds perched high atop trees, Brown Thrashers and Eastern Towhees rooting for insects below shrubs and amongst flowers, and the occasional Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow singing loudly.<br /><br />Along our trails many of our woodland warblers have returned, according to K-12 Academic Coordinator Jonathan Marchal. So far he’s heard Hooded Warblers, Ovenbirds and Northern Parula.<br /><br />The NC Birding Trail provides a <a href="http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/bird_database.asp">database</a> of sightings and ways to submit your own sightings, which can be an exciting and relaxing recreational activity. Through its work, the Birding Trail connects birders and bird watching sites like the Arboretum with communities, businesses and other local historical and educational organizations.<br /><br />Bird watching is an engaging activity during every season at the Arboretum! In fact, photographer <a href="http://www.oppenheimphoto.com/">Michael Oppenheim</a> captured this image in late fall – can you guess what kind of bird it is?<br /><br />Send your guess by July 8 to marketing@ncarboretum.org and enter a chance to win a free Day Pass from The North Carolina Arboretum!The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-27526536484949334802010-05-10T10:23:00.000-07:002010-05-11T14:20:02.189-07:00Be "Green" with Ease: The Gardener's Green Shed Shows You How!<span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S-hDF0vhJaI/AAAAAAAAACI/Ji_4eTGHFwc/s1600/BECGreenGardenShed1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 126px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S-hDF0vhJaI/AAAAAAAAACI/Ji_4eTGHFwc/s320/BECGreenGardenShed1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469695514777822626" border="0" /></a></span>There’s a lot of talk about living “green” and creating “sustainable” systems, but who has the time or resources to actually make these principles part of everyday life?<br /><br />The newest demonstration area at <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">The North Carolina Arboretum</a> shows just how easy it is to make small changes that have a big impact. Located just outside of the Baker Exhibit Center, the Gardener’s Green Shed is designed to show how an existing shed or small building can be retrofitted with energy-efficient technology that can make outdoor activities easier, less expensive, and fun-filled.<br /><br />The shed is equipped with two rain barrels that collect water from one side of the roof and have the capacity to store more than 100 gallons of rain water – great for watering ornamental container gardens. Rain water from the opposite side of the roof collects in a 365-gallon cistern that holds enough water to fill seven bathtubs.<br /><br />A solar panel on the top of the shed provides sufficient energy to keep a large battery charged as well as power a light and a 12-volt outlet inside, which is enough to charge portable tools, lanterns, or even a laptop computer. No overhead or underground wiring is needed.<br /><br />Visitors – especially children (and children at heart) – admire the shed’s down-home portable water feature. A large wheelbarrow is filled with water and submerged water plants. A small solar panel mounted to the handle runs a marine-grade pump that sends a jet of water up into the air. As long as the sun shines on the panel the fountain of water spurts out, causing giggles and laughter. Stand in front of the solar panel and block the sun – the fountain stops, a very real demonstration of the power of the sun.<br /><br />The ideas that the shed represents are communicated in three different ways: by demonstrating how the technology works at the shed itself, through print brochures available for pick-up at the shed this summer, and through videos on the Arboretum’s Web site and its nonprofit <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ncarboretum">YouTube channel</a>. These two- to four-minute videos feature Arboretum staff showing off the Green Shed’s features.The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-56027830504680442692010-03-15T12:21:00.000-07:002010-03-15T12:30:39.943-07:00Green Weddings Encourage Life-long Environmental Stewardship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S56JBhdyu-I/AAAAAAAAAB4/8_KEIpGQLcQ/s1600-h/Quilt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S56JBhdyu-I/AAAAAAAAAB4/8_KEIpGQLcQ/s320/Quilt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448943258421083106" border="0" /></a>He who plants a tree,--<br />He plants love,<br />Tents of coolness spreading out above<br />Wayfarers he may not live to see.<br />Gifts that grow are best;<br />Hands that bless are blest;<br />Plant! life does the rest!<br />Heaven and earth help him who plants a tree,<br />And his work its own reward shall be.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">~ From “Plant a Tree,” by Lucy Larcom<br /></div><br />A wedding is one of the most treasured moments in a person’s life. Last summer <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">The North Carolina Arboretum</a> launched a new Green Wedding Program, offering elegantly designed green buildings and sustainable landscapes as sites for ceremonies and receptions.<br /><br />Events & Facilities Coordinator Cindy Blankenship manages the Green Wedding Program and sees it as a natural addition to the Arboretum’s rich 25-year history.<br /><br />And she should know. Cindy has been with The North Carolina Arboretum since the beginning. Before the 434-acre site was developed, she was hired on as the first office assistant – even before the Arboretum hired on its first and current executive director, George Briggs.<br /><br />In order to meet its mission to cultivate connections between people and plants, the Green Wedding Program requires couples to follow guidelines for using organically grown and natural products as part of their wedding and pledge to reduce consumable products as part of their activities.<br /><br />Adam Grauer and Erin Mahaffey-Grauer were the first to participate in the program, and their July 18, 2009 wedding still influences environmental decisions they make every day.<br /><br />To honor the Arboretum’s guidelines, Erin and Adam’s favors for their guests were tree seedlings which contained lines from Lucy Larcom’s poem, ‘Plant a Tree’.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S56KjXk1CUI/AAAAAAAAACA/v8mMPND5POM/s1600-h/amphitheater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S56KjXk1CUI/AAAAAAAAACA/v8mMPND5POM/s320/amphitheater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448944939393419586" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Erin and Adam’s wedding ceremony also centered on ideas of recycling. “We incorporated sea glass into decorations and as a way to think about processes of life and personal relationships – the ways in which personal relations shape the contours of persons and how each and every person at our ceremony had led us to that very moment. It brought a sense of interconnection to the ceremony.”<br /><br />“The green requirements at the Arboretum definitely carried over into aspects of our daily lives,” Erin said. One of the lasting changes the couple has made is to consider using live plants as opposed to cut flowers for their tables.<br /><br />“Since our wedding and vows at the arboretum, our commitment to each other has found resonance with metaphors of nature, growth, and nurturance,” Erin said.<br /><br />With more than 40 weddings booked since the program launched less than a year ago, Blankenship said she believes the credit for program’s popularity belongs to staff, gardens, building design and nature itself.<br /><br />Erin and Adam agree.<br /><br />“We chose the Arboretum because we wanted an outdoor wedding ceremony and an indoor reception that could hold at least 100 people comfortably,” Erin said. “The Arboretum is gorgeous with tons of beautiful plants and walkways. We had a cocktail hour in the gardens and our ceremony in the Greek-like amphitheater – perfectly suited to a ceremony outdoors.”<br /><br />When choosing the Arboretum for their wedding ceremony, Erin and Adam also responded to the venue’s high ceilings, fireplace, wood beams, and ample windows which give it the feel of being outdoors while still providing a comfortable place for dinner and dancing.<br /><br />“I am proud of all the hard work staff members have put into making the Arboretum what it is today and then having couples choose us as the site for their most important day – it warms my heart to see people in love as well as their love for nature,” Cindy said.<br /><br />For more information, call Cindy Blankenship at 828.665.2492, ext. 216 or e-mail cblankenship@ncarboretum.org, or Katie Edwards at 828.665.2492<br />or e-mail kedwards@ncarboretum.orgThe NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-5503037557954166432010-02-08T06:50:00.000-08:002010-02-08T09:11:57.450-08:00Discovery is a Healthy Habit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S3BFzhonSVI/AAAAAAAAABw/Hk1_0bZeqjQ/s1600-h/DSCF3880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S3BFzhonSVI/AAAAAAAAABw/Hk1_0bZeqjQ/s320/DSCF3880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435921501740550482" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.yshortcuts {mso-style-name:yshortcuts;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><b style="">“Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.”</b><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right">~ Richard Louv, <i>Last Child in the Woods</i> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/S3BFRTpZ5oI/AAAAAAAAABo/Q3jXx09UE_4/s1600-h/DSCF3880.JPG">
<br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">As The North Carolina Arboretum celebrates 25 years as a natural treasure that helps people cultivate connections with plants, it also celebrates another important milestone: a new chapter in its premier Discovery Camp program with the launch of the Counselor-in-Training Program.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Prominent research shows that outdoor activity may enrich health by reducing stress, encouraging weight loss, and improving learning and social-emotional skills. For five years youths in grade K-8 have experienced the benefits of learning in a natural setting first-hand. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The popular Discovery Camp series is still going strong and many camps sell out in early spring. The new Counselor-in-Training program will expand the Arboretum’s camp experience by offering students in ninth- through twelfth-grade an opportunity to explore what it would be like to pursue an environmental-based career.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Developed by K-12 Academic Programs and Teacher Training Coordinator Jonathan Marchal, the program seeks to expand the camp experience beyond middle school by offering students a chance to be mentored and, in turn, mentor themselves.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">“The hope is that we can continue to include those campers who have ‘outgrown’ our camps in our summer programs by training them to do what we do,” Marchal said. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">The<b> </b></span>Counselor-in-Training program will introduce teens to skills such as working outdoors, teaching children, caring for reptiles and amphibians, and learning about the methods and techniques used in field ecology. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">“It’s a good way to explore environmental education as a career path – plus it’s a great way to spend a week or more of your <span class="yshortcuts">summer vacation</span> outside!” said Marchal. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Candidates must write and submit a letter of intent as well as a letter of reference from a teacher, community leader, or other adult not related to the candidate. A brief interview will be required before the candidate can participate. Letters and references must be received by May 1, 2010, sent to Jonathan Marchal, The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806-9315.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style="color:red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.rezclick.com/ncarboretumacademic/"><b style="">DON’T MISS OUT! SIGN UP FOR DISCOVERY CAMP NOW!</b></a></span><will go="" to="" rezclick=""></will></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">
<br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Thanks to our sponsors, <a href="http://www.earthfare.com/">Earth Fare, The Healthy Supermarket</a>, for providing <span class="yshortcuts">healthy snacks</span> everyday for our campers and healthy meals for our canoeing and camping trips. Thanks also to <a href="http://www.diamondbrand.com/">Diamond Brand Outdoors</a> for supplying equipment such as GPS units, staff uniforms, and more!<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-12582173634519666612009-04-23T14:01:00.000-07:002009-05-06T11:17:04.560-07:00The NC Arboretum Launches New Web Site<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/SfDZNLZu9NI/AAAAAAAAABI/-w-qZ3IhLyg/s1600-h/Azalea_Oppenheim.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327997179601548498" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 214px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SIVcg78HjUw/SfDZNLZu9NI/AAAAAAAAABI/-w-qZ3IhLyg/s320/Azalea_Oppenheim.jpg" border="0" /></a> Welcome to one of the most beautiful places on earth! You’ve entered the <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">Web</a> and social media portal of The North Carolina Arboretum, located in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest. We’re pleased you’re here.<br /><p class="MsoNormal">Whether you are a prospective <a href="http://www.exploreasheville.com/">visitor</a> to our mountains, a student, a business person, regional resident, or member, you will find this avenue to Arboretum information designed to serve your curiosity, interests and needs. We hope that we can provide exemplary service to you, whether here or through a personal visit to the Arboretum.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As an affiliate of the 17-campus <a href="http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/system/index.htm">University of North Carolina</a> system, the Arboretum offers an array of programs ranging from kid’s camps and formal education classes to major plant shows and 435 acres of exhibits, landscape features and natural areas. It’s a great place to simply reconnect with nature, spend time outdoors, and celebrate the views, water and majesty of our natural world in the <st1:place st="on">Southern Appalachians</st1:place>.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We’re also focused on sustainable economic development pursuits that capitalize on our unique regional assets – extraordinary biodiversity and the national repository of weather data. The Arboretum is home to the <a href="http://www.bentcreekinstitute.org/">Bent Creek Institute</a>, a young organization that focuses on natural biotechnology and integrative medicine – bringing scientific validation to our mountain folk remedies and responding to a burgeoning market for high quality research in nutraseuticals and botanical medicines.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Arboretum joins with many community and other partners in making <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Asheville</st1:place></st1:city> a <a href="http://www.climatealive.org/">national center for climate change</a> information and business development. Our interest, of course, at the Arboretum is the impact of climate change on our plants and ecology.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s all here – from enjoying nature to building business; from sunning to science. In a wide variety of ways, <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">The North Carolina Arboretum</a> is growing the future.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:personname st="on">George Briggs</st1:personname><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Executive Director </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-30157255167930857992009-03-20T14:39:00.000-07:002009-03-20T14:50:05.925-07:00The NC Arboretum is Open and Enjoying Spring!Hello:<br /><br />The Arboretum is not closing, despite recent reports circulating in emails, blogs and the press that may state otherwise.<br /><br />The Arboretum is an affiliate of the University System of North Carolina. No doubt, all state entities, just like many businesses and non-profit organizations, are facing unprecedented and historical budget pressures due to the current international economic crisis. The Arboretum has already cut its budget 7 percent this year, reducing programs and positions. <br /><br />Despite these cuts, the Arboretum staff is working very hard to avoid any negative impact to the public’s access to the Arboretum this spring and we will continue to do so in our new fiscal year, which begins July 1. We are continuing to watch the economic front and our revenue performance very closely from week to week. We are getting great support from the NC university system and from our local legislative delegation as the General Assembly meets to deal with the state budget and many other issues.<br /><br />The Arboretum is looking forward to a great spring ahead and we hope that you will continue to visit and support the Arboretum. Here is a list of how you can support the Arboretum and a list of activities coming up within the next few weeks:<br /><br />Support The Arboretum:<br /><br /><ul><li>Make sure everyone on your social network is aware of this correct information</li></ul><ul><li>Visit the Arboretum often and enjoy what it has to offer</li></ul><ul><li>Consider making a contribution in the box at the entrance to the Education Center next time you’re there</li></ul><ul><li>Consider becoming a member of the Arboretum For an affordable rate, you receive unlimited visiting opportunities, discounts on programs, discounts at the café and gift shop, discounts at other gardens and arboreta throughout the US, and opportunities to participate in special member events and social functions.</li></ul><ul><li>Become a volunteer. A variety of skills are needed, from gardening and working in the greenhouse to data entry and other office work. See the list and obtain an application at www.ncarboretum.org. Contact Lynne Garrison, Volunteer Coordinator.</li></ul><ul><li>Enjoy spring with us! Natural beauty comes in a kaleidoscope of colors this spring at The North Carolina Arboretum – a beautiful bargain at only $6 per vehicle. Vibrant spring colors bloom amid the Arboretum’s 434 acres. With 65 acres of cultivated gardens and 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, there are ample opportunities to explore how nature delights the senses at the Arboretum. Visitors can also explore a state-of-the-art production greenhouse, one of the finest, most unique bonsai collections in the United States, and the popular indoor exhibit, “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats,” through May 10. </li></ul>The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132479455605709713.post-80107722786658723012008-11-26T12:05:00.000-08:002008-11-26T12:22:01.931-08:00Beginning With Roots<p><strong>History Comes to Life</strong></p><p>The North Carolina Arboretum began in 1986, but our roots go back to the late 1800s and a dream by the “Father of Landscape Architecture,” Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted was an internationally recognized landscape architect who brought his unique vision to life throughout the world. He died in 1898 after completing his last major project at the Biltmore Estate but before he could see his dream of establishing an arboretum on estate property realized.</p><p>His dream became the foundation for The North Carolina Arboretum. In the early 1980s The Western North Carolina Development Association supported the establishment of an arboretum to serve the mountain area, and The North Carolina Arboretum was established in 1984. </p><p>In 1986 The NC General Assembly established The Arboretum’s governance structure as an affiliated facility of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system. A site selection committee approved The Arboretum’s current location in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest – comprised of land once owned by the Biltmore Estate. Olmsted’s dream was realized within a century of his passing and on the very land he dreamed about.</p><p>Since that time The NC Arboretum has enjoyed its popularity, growth, and expanded audience as evidenced by the more than 240,000 guests who explore our gardens, trails, and exhibits each year. <br /><br /><strong>What can people do and see at The NC Arboretum?</strong><br />The NC Arboretum invites guests to discover and enjoy the natural world, and:</p><ul><li>Visit The Baker Exhibit Center, where we welcome guests and host high-quality traveling exhibits year-round;</li><li>Discover natural beauty through 65 acres of cultivated gardens, including one of the finest bonsai collections in Southeastern United States;</li><li>Explore 10 miles of forested hiking and biking trails;</li><li>Take a guided or self-guided garden tour, a self-guided Art Walk of garden sculpture, or enjoy a free Nature Discovery Day Pack for children;</li><li>Glide through nature via Segway on a guided tour;</li><li>Enjoy frequent plant shows and art exhibits throughout the year;</li><li>Take an adult or youth program or class with our expert educators;</li><li>Enjoy homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts at the Savory Thyme Café;</li><li>Find keepsakes and unique gifts for your loved ones or yourself at our gift shops;</li><li>Return often; every season is beautiful!</li></ul><p>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.ncarboretum.org/">www.ncarboretum.org</a>.</p><p><strong>Next Up</strong></p><p>This entry serves as the beginning of an exciting year on the horizon for The NC Arboretum. Key staff will begin to contribute to this blog, providing fun and engaging insights and resource information about The NC Arboretum experience. Stay tuned in early 2009!</p>The NC Arboretumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863420202916499487noreply@blogger.com0