N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission

N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission Encouraging N.C. youth to connect with nature by providing opportunities to engage with the outdoors.
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Discover Something New: Fall Outdoor Events & Programs for Raleigh Families Looking for a chance to teach your child to ...
08/31/2026

Discover Something New: Fall Outdoor Events & Programs for Raleigh Families
 
Looking for a chance to teach your child to appreciate NC’s outdoors? While summer it on its way out, these programs ensure NC youth can still get outdoors throughout the fall!
 
Zombie Survival Training at Briar Creek Community Center
Sep. 2-23, Every Wednesday, 5:00-6:00 PM | Age 8-11 yrs. Can you survive a Zombie Attack? Kids will learn to not only survive, but how to build a small fire & shelter, use a compass, and do some outdoor cooking. Outdoor clothes recommended. Fee: $41.
 
Family Fishing At Lake Johnson Waterfront Center
Sep. 26, Oct. 11, & Nov. 14 Age 7-12 yrs. Learn to fish for the first time with casting games and live bait! Kids will catch and release in the lake and leave with their own tackle box and official NCYOEC fishing patches. Fee: $7.
 
Family Frolic at Walnut Creek Wetland Park
October 24, 6:00-8:00 PM | Age 5-99 yrs. Join families from across Raleigh to learn about nocturnal animals that call the city home before sitting by the campfire to enjoy s’mores & hot chocolate! Fee: $6.
 
Beginner Tumbling at Barwell Road Community Center
Sep. 4-25, Every Friday, 5:00-5:45 PM | Age 4-11 yrs. Participants of all ages and abilities will learn basic gymnastics/tumbling skills – forward & backward rolls, handstands, cartwheels & more! Perfect for building up flexibility and strength. Fee: $56.
 
Youth Soccer at Sanderford Road Neighborhood Center
Sep. 5 - Oct. 17, Saturdays, 10:00-12:00 AM | Age 7-10 yrs. Just Kick It is a youth soccer programs for boys and girls of all levels. Aim to foster interest among young athletes & teach the sport’s fundamentals. Staffed by experienced volunteer coaches. Registration fee: $40. Contact [email protected] for details.
 
Save this post and share it with other Raleigh families — give your kids the chance to appreciate the world beyond the screen!

Time to grab your patches. 🎣 The NCYOEC Outdoor Patches Program is a free way to turn your kid or teens’ next outdoor ad...
08/27/2026

Time to grab your patches. 🎣
 
The NCYOEC Outdoor Patches Program is a free way to turn your kid or teens’ next outdoor adventure into an achievement — all in just three easy steps:
 
📸 Take a photo of them completing the activity
📩 Head to GoOutside.NC.gov and submit the photo
📦 We’ll mail you the patches they’ve earned FREE OF CHARGE!
 
From the mountains to the sea, NC is filled with opportunities to try new outdoor activities. Go fishing in a new pond, hike a new trail, camp out beneath the star for the first time — no matter what you do, we’re here to support it.
 
So what are you waiting for? Get outside today!

Most field trips end when the bus leaves. This one ended with a night at 5,000 feet. Lead by their advisor Jennifer Love...
08/25/2026

Most field trips end when the bus leaves. This one ended with a night at 5,000 feet.
 
Lead by their advisor Jennifer Love, students from the Franklin High School Trailblazers Club hiked up Purchase K**b Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Their goal? Hike up 5,000 feet, meet with park rangers, learn about the surrounding ecosystem, and spend the night at the summit of an NC landmark.
 
We’re proud to see what Trailblazers Clubs there these have accomplished with our startup funding! Interested in founding your own club? Visit Gooutside.nc.gov today and apply for free!

08/25/2026

Today we highlight the top photo from the Wildlife in North Carolina magazine photo competition's "Mammals" category.

Robert Mullen, Winterville
Black bear

"I captured this photo on a hot, humid June morning when I saw a bear in the distance coming down the same path I was walking. The large bear was crisscrossing the path trying to pick up the scent of a sow. I tucked into the tall grass with only my upper body showing. The wind was in my face, and the sun was on my back. The conditions were perfect. I lay motionless and prayed the bear would get close enough for some good shots. At about 60 feet away, the bear stopped and stood motionless before turning into the woods. What a moment!"

Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor 180–600mm lens, f/6.3, 1/400 sec, ISO 1600

Free Resources for NC’s Aspiring Anglers!  1. Try Before You Buy: The Tackle Loaner Program | NCWRC has partnered with c...
08/24/2026

Free Resources for NC’s Aspiring Anglers!
 
1. Try Before You Buy: The Tackle Loaner Program | NCWRC has partnered with cities, counties, state parks, and other organizations so residents and visitors can borrow rods, reels, and other gear for free. Check online to see which parks near you participate in the program!
2. Learn to Fish:  A Statewide Fishing Education Series | A free, statewide series of beginner-friendly classes for new anglers, managed by the NCWRC. Courses cover topics like regulations, basic equipment, casting, identification, and knot-tying. Find the schedule at ncwildlife.gov!
3. Hands-on Experience: The Pechmann Fishing Education Center | NC’s only dedicated fishing education center, offering family-oriented aquatic programs for anglers of all ages and abilities. It’s the anchor site for hands-on classes and also runs programs elsewhere in the state and virtually.
4. NC Kinds Under 16 Don’t Require a License to Fish | Children are exempt from the license requirement, but they must still follow all state size, bag, and possession limits. Any adult age 16 or older who helps a child fish — even with simple tasks like baiting hooks — must carry a valid license.
 
Take advantage of these programs and start fishing today!

Think you’ve hiked NC? Think again. Which trail are you tackling next? Comment below!
08/21/2026

Think you’ve hiked NC? Think again.

Which trail are you tackling next? Comment below!

Trailblazer Tuesday | Metrolina Christian Academy’s Trailblazers Club Reaches for the Stars Back in 2025, Brandon Summey...
08/18/2026

Trailblazer Tuesday | Metrolina Christian Academy’s Trailblazers Club Reaches for the Stars
 
Back in 2025, Brandon Summey, a science teacher at Metrolina Christian Academy (Metrolina Student Life), applied for funding to establish the school’s first Trailblazers Club – with the intention of using that funding to expand MCA’s preexisting stargazing club into a fully-fledged outdoors organization dedicated to student-led astronomy, camping, and experiential learning.
 
One year on and the club has grown to over 60 members, with students taking charge of telescope calibration, training, and maintenance. Club members have grown comfortable identifying celestial objects, using star charts, identifying constellations, and led presentations and observation sessions for celestial phenomena.
 
MCA’s Trailblazers Club has, in due time, expanded into an outdoors club dedicated to giving its members the chance to not only stargaze, but camp, take charge of their own education, and experience all that NC has to offer. We’re incredibly proud of the work they’ve accomplished, and can’t wait to see what they get up to next!
 
If you’re interested in starting a Trailblazers Club in your school, visit GoOutside.nc.gov today to apply!

Your NC Outdoors Event Forecast, Aug. 17-28 | Getting kids outside doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are 9 free and l...
08/17/2026

Your NC Outdoors Event Forecast, Aug. 17-28 | Getting kids outside doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are 9 free and low-cost events NC families can attend over the next two weeks.


1. Bearwallow Falls Hike at Gorges State Park | August 18 - 10:00am to 11:00am | Why are there so many waterfalls in the Jocassee Gorges area? How did they form? Join a Ranger for a guided hike to Upper Bearwallow Falls to learn the answer to these questions and more!

2. Box Turtle Trek at Hammocks Beach State Park | August 18 - 11:00am to 12:00pm | Join a ranger to learn about our very own state reptile! Join staff for a hike to look for these turtles as part of our survey for the Box Turtle Connection– a 100 year survey that is helping us better understand this species. Meet at the back porch of Visitor Center.

3. Why Knot? at Eno River State Park | August 18 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Are you curious about different ways to tie knots? Do you like to use your hands to create and disassemble? Join a Ranger to learn how to tie and untie several common and useful knots! Registration Required - call (984)250-1370 or email [email protected].

4. Hummingbird Banding at Sandhills Nature Preserve | August 19 - 8:30am | Join Park Naturalist and Hummingbird Expert Susan Campbell for a banding demonstration and Q&A on the ecology and behavior of Ruby Throated Hummingbirds! Banding will be at the Visitor Center and will generally go until around 11am depending on the number of birds being caught.

5. Catfishing Basics at the Pechmann Fishing Center | August 21 - 4:00pm - 8:30pm | Looking for the ultimate freshwater fishing adventure? Join us for an exciting, hands-on program where you’ll dive into everything catfish—from reeling in giants to cooking up your fresh catch. Perfect for ages 12 and up! Don’t miss out, hook your spot today – contact [email protected]
 

6. Compass Basics at Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center | August 22 - 9:00am-11:00am | Wanted to learn how to navigate by compass? This course will reach you the necessary skills through a hands-on experience. The course will end with a fun orienteering activity. Age: 10-13 yrs - Adults must

You’ve been going on the same field trips for years – now’s your chance to switch things up! Swipe right for 5 Field tri...
08/13/2026

You’ve been going on the same field trips for years – now’s your chance to switch things up! Swipe right for 5 Field trip sites off the beaten path.

1. The Land at Hawkins Loop | Ecologically diverse property with trails and outdoor meeting spaces available for events and field trips.

2. Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute | One of only two dark sky parks in the whole state, PARI’s 200+ acre campus offers STEM and space science programming.

3. Gorges State Park | Located near the tripoint where North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia meet, Gorges State Park sports plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, and sheer rock precipices.

4. The John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center | The only fishing education center of its kind in NC, the Pechmann Fishing Center offers a variety of aquatic programs to anglers of all ages and abilities.

5. Attend a Sturgeon Release on the French Broad River | Since 2015, the Wildlife Resources Commission has worked to restore the Lake Sturgeon’s population in Western NC – actively restocking the population at sites like the French Broad River. Reach out to WRC staff to see if your class/club can attend the next restock.

Secure $5,000 for Field Trips Like These Today | Apply for a Go Outside Grant today to secure up to $5,000 in funding for your school’s next field trip. Interested? Visit Gooutside.nc.gov today!

Address

1751 Varsity Drive
Raleigh, NC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19197074030

Website

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