Your August OBX Park News: It's National Aviation Day!

Happy National Aviation Day!

While the title of “first in flight” is controversial in certain circles, OBX is incredibly proud to hold a unique place in the history of aviation as the site of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first heavier than air powered flight.

Today we’ll be joining the National Aviation Heritage Area and other aviation parks and friends groups around the country on Twitter to discuss and share stories about the history and future of aviation. Hop on and check out the hashtag #NationalAviationDayChat throughout the day today to join in!

We are also honoring another Wright today with a special Happy Birthday to Katharine Wright! This year Katharine’s birthday coincides with the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, protecting women’s right to vote. Katharine was not only her brothers’ biggest supporter as they pursued their quest for flight, she was also an outspoken advocate of the women’s suffrage movement – even leading the Young Women’s League of Dayton, Ohio.

Click here to learn more about Katharine and her influence on aviation, education, and the women's movement.

See you in your parks,

Jessica Green

Director, Outer Banks Forever

Community Updates:

Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean - Text JOIN OBXBEACHCONDITIONS to 30890 to get daily updates on ocean conditions to keep you and your family safe at the beach this summer.
What's open in your parks today? Park staff have created the following guides to help you know what's open in your OBX national parks:
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Social distancing doesn’t stop when you hit the sand. Click here for updates and local guidelines to stay healthy on your OBX vacation.

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Project Spotlight: Artist in Community

National Parks have been inspiring artists for over 100 years, and no where is that more evident than here in your OBX national parks.

With your support we can help your parks launch a new program this year that will help connect locals and visitors with our vibrant OBX art community. This new Artist in Community program will showcase and support local and national artists who find inspiration in the history, culture, and natural beauty your parks protect.

Read on to hear from Maeve Coughlin, the Community Volunteer Ambassador for your OBX national parks about the program and why it is important to our community.

If you love art and want to help make this project a reality,

consider giving a gift today in honor of your favorite local artist!

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Meet Your Ranger: Sarah Merrill

Our Meet Your Ranger series is back! We're introducing you to the amazing men and women who work to protect your parks everyday, and showcasing the wide variety of skills and talents it takes to manage these special places.

This month we're excited to introduce you to Sarah Merrill, Management Analyst for your OBX national parks. While her job is mutli-faceted, we love having Sarah as our liaison to our parks!

Read on to learn more about how Sarah got introduced to the National Park Service, and how she finds creative ways to use data and partnership to improve how we manage our parks.

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In The News:

Great American Outdoors Act Becomes Law

Earlier this month the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law, pledging over $9 million in support of public lands over the next 5 years.

What are these funds for? What does this mean for your OBX national parks?

We've got an overview to help you understand the importance of this new law, and how your support of Outer Banks Forever is still critical for your parks today.

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Photo Credits: OBX artist Tricia Cutler, National Park Service

Outer Banks Forever is an official partner of the National Park Service and the three national parks of the Outer Banks.

Learn more at www.obxforever.org

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