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Community Engagement Update
February 2025
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Save the Date:
3rd Annual Non-Profit Mission Mixer Set for April 3
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Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 5:00pm
Outer Banks Brewing Station
Presented by The Outer Banks Community Foundation and The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
This free event is an opportunity for local nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteer leaders to network with others who are making a difference in the community, as well as learn about the power of leveraging various media platforms and tools to help effectively communicate an organization’s story. Registration details will be available soon!
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2024-25 State of Dare County Tourism Report | |
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The 2024-25 State of Dare County Tourism Report provides a year-in-review snapshot of tourism’s impact on Dare County over the past year, including: economic data, grant recipient spotlights, non-profit partnerships, community engagement and LRTMP updates, media coverage, tourism sales activity and trade show highlights and marketing and promotional efforts.
In an effort to share this report with residents and visitors, communication and distribution tactics include leveraging internal marketing channels, industry partnerships and local media outlets.
If you would like copies of the report for your organization or office, please contact Jeff Schwartzenberg, Community Engagement Manager, at community@outerbanks.org.
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ECU-Led Open Houses and Online Survey to Explore Perceptions of Workforce Housing in Dare County | |
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Dare County residents are encouraged to participate in a series of public open house events and an online survey organized and conducted by East Carolina University (ECU) as part of a research effort to gather community input, resident sentiment and perceptions on the topic of workforce housing.
The study is being led by Misun Hur, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Community and Regional Planning Program and Emily P. Yeager, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation Sciences and Interim Director of the Crisp Small Business Resource Center in the Miller School of Entrepreneurship.
The open house sessions will consist of residents engaging with a series of visuals, as well as interventions to share their thoughts. The events are not formal public meetings and you can join at any time during the sessions.
Upcoming Open Houses:
Thursday, March 6 - 11am-1pm; 4pm-6pm at Coastal Studies Institute, Wanchese
Thursday, March 27 - 11am-1pm at Rodanthe Community Center; 4pm-6pm at Fessenden Center, Buxton
The deadline to complete the online survey is Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
For more information, please contact Dr. Hur at hurmi@ecu.edu or 252-328-1270.
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Next LRTMP Special Committee Meeting Set for April 3 | |
Due to scheduling conflicts, the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) cancelled its meeting on February 12, 2025 and will meet again on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (9am) at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices in Manteo. | |
The Outer Edge Video Series: Episodes 1-5 are Live! | |
Discover The Outer Edge, a captivating six-video series created by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau as part of its ongoing commitment to responsible travel and the vibrant local community it serves. Explore the heart and soul of the Outer Banks of North Carolina through the stories of OBX locals who pour their passions into photography, commercial fishing, boat building, crafting local products, analyzing weather patterns, and fueling the grassroots music scene. Celebrate the beauty, resilience, and creativity that define the Outer Banks. The first five installments of The Outer Edge have been released online, with Episode 6 slated to be released on March 10. | |
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FFHS Senior Captures First Place in NC Wildlife Resources Commission Photo Contest | |
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Benjamin Lashley, a senior at First Flight High School, recently won first place in the Youth 13-17 division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's Wildlife in North Carolina magazine competition. Ben, who also serves as an intern with THE OBX WAY through the Bureau's Careers Beyond the Counter program, captured the honors with a photo entitled, The Pocosin Paradox, a visual story of how nature's cycles mix with the bigger ideas of virtue and adversity.
"I've spent a lot of time at the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge, honing my photography skills and observing barred owls as they grew from fledglings to adults," recalls Ben. "I witnessed some truly amazing moments during that time, and this (photo) was one of them."
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Vote for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in USA Today's 10Best Readers Choice Awards | |
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The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rodanthe has been nominated in the USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge spans approximately 5,000 acres of diverse habitats including salt marshes, dunes, maritime forests, and ponds. Serving as a nesting, resting and wintering area for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, visitors can observe impressive flocks of swans, ducks, and other waterfowl, in addition to other wildlife like river otters and sea turtles.
You can vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, March 10 at 12 pm ET. The 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 19.
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Outer Banks Promise Spotlight: Carolina Designs Realty | |
At its annual company retreat on January 30, 2025, Carolina Designs Realty collectively made The Outer Banks Promise. The company’s commitment to giving back to the community was the focus of their pledge. “We promise to continue supporting efforts and organizations that prioritize conservation, education and preservation of the unique history and culture of the Outer Banks.” If your business or group is interested in highlighting your commitment to enhancing stewardship efforts on the Outer Banks, please contact us at community@outerbanks.org. | |
Events in Support of Outer Banks Non-Profits and Municipalities | |
COA Dare to Offer Practical Project Management Workshop | |
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College of the Albemarle's Dare campus will host Practical Project Management from March 20-23, 2025, a four-day workshop (24 contact hours) that focuses on basic project management tools and techniques. Participants will explore the following topics:
- Bringing projects in on time, on budget and with desired performance results
- Reducing scope creep
- Creating realistic deadlines
- Estimating and managing resources effectively
- Anticipating and managing problems
- Improving project team communication and interaction
- Reducing stress related to project work
Registration Fee: $145 (This workshop fee may be waived for Dare County residents who qualify under the Dare Guarantee Scholarship.)
For more information, call 252-473-2264 x7037.
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Thank you for your interest in staying connected to our work on the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) and our ongoing commitment to promoting responsible travel and the vibrant local community it serves. We look forward to sharing these updates on a regular basis and welcome any thoughts you have as we continue to move forward. | | | | |
