Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education Unveils New Exhibits RALEIGH, N.C. (April 6, 2006) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will celebrate the launch of a new exhibit hall dedicated to coastal ecology and culture at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla on June 16. “This is a significant step in the ongoing mission of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education,” said Richard Hamilton, executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Thanks to the authenticity of these exhibits, visitors can get a glimpse into the history of northeast North Carolina, where wildlife and natural resources have always played an integral part in the region’s economy and heritage. They can also look into the future and learn about ongoing conservation and habitat preservation efforts.” A brief ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. with state wildlife resource commissioners and local and state dignitaries joining the community in marking the occasion. The “Life by Water’s Rhythms” exhibit hall and auditorium are housed inside a 22,000-square-foot facility located on Currituck Sound between the historic Whalehead Club, a 1920s hunting lodge, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, an 1875 beacon still in operation. Hamilton explained that the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education has three specific goals: To serve as a major wildlife and environmental education facility for all ages. To offer programs that create a better understanding and support of conservation and wildlife management. To portray the rich sporting traditions of Currituck Sound and the Outer Banks region. Many of the exhibits feature hunting and fishing traditions of the area, including an extensive wooden decoy collection, a vintage outboard motor display and a life-size marsh diorama that includes a 12,000-gallon aquarium and a re-created duck blind scene from the golden era of Currituck hunt clubs. It doesn’t end there. “We will be continuously revising and updating both our curriculum and exhibits as we receive feedback from visitors, as well as the local community,” said Clarence Styron, the center’s director. The
Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education Unveils New Exhibits
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 6, 2006) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will celebrate the launch of a new exhibit hall dedicated to coastal ecology and culture at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla on June 16.
“This is a significant step in the ongoing mission of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education,” said Richard Hamilton, executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Thanks to the authenticity of these exhibits, visitors can get a glimpse into the history of northeast North Carolina, where wildlife and natural resources have always played an integral part in the region’s economy and heritage. They can also look into the future and learn about ongoing conservation and habitat preservation efforts.”
A brief ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. with state wildlife resource commissioners and local and state dignitaries joining the community in marking the occasion. The “Life by Water’s Rhythms” exhibit hall and auditorium are housed inside a 22,000-square-foot facility located on Currituck Sound between the historic Whalehead Club, a 1920s hunting lodge, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, an 1875 beacon still in operation.
Hamilton explained that the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education has three specific goals:
To serve as a major wildlife and environmental education facility for all ages.
To offer programs that create a better understanding and support of conservation and wildlife management.
To portray the rich sporting traditions of Currituck Sound and the Outer Banks region.
Many of the exhibits feature hunting and fishing traditions of the area, including an extensive wooden decoy collection, a vintage outboard motor display and a life-size marsh diorama that includes a 12,000-gallon aquarium and a re-created duck blind scene from the golden era of Currituck hunt clubs. It doesn’t end there.
“We will be continuously revising and updating both our curriculum and exhibits as we receive feedback from visitors, as well as the local community,” said Clarence Styron, the center’s director.
The
Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is one of three regional education centers across the state. The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, near Brevard, focuses on the Mountain region while the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education, in Raleigh on the Centennial Campus of N.C. State University, is dedicated to the Piedmont region.