By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER;Lifestyles & Features Editor
The 2008 Big Sweep clean up and butterflies are among the topics on tap in October at the North Carolina Estuarium in Washington.
Big Sweep, planned for Saturday, Oct. 4, is a grassroots effort across the state with a mission of litter-free watersheds. The Estuarium is currently looking for volunteers to assist with clean up operations here in Beaufort County. For more information, contact local coordinator Linda Boyer at (252) 948-0000.
On Oct. 9, the Estuarium will host a Big Sweep River Roving clean up from 12:45 to 3 p.m. Volunteers will board the facility’s River Roving boat and head out to help clean up the beaches along the Pamlico-Tar River. Participants should wear old clothes and closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves. Children must be at least 8 years old and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Space is limited, so call ahead for reservations.
Next up on the schedule is “Refuge Mattamuskeet,” an Oct. 15 event featuring a 60-minute documentary film about the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County. The film was produced by the award-winning team of Emily and Blake Scott of Washington. The event runs from 1 to 2 p.m. and there is a $2 program fee.
On Oct. 22, Martha Hamblin will present a program titled “The Amazing Monarch Butterfly.” Hamblin will discuss the migration of the monarch and share photos of their wintering grounds in Mexico. Tips on planting a butterfly garden filled with native host and nectar plants will be offered, and several avid gardeners will discuss their experiences raising butterflies. The program runs from 1 to 2 p.m. and is suitable for adults and children. There is a $2 program fee.
On Nov. 1, artist Sally Sutton will lead an oil and acrylic painting workshop with the theme “Capturing Color and Light.” The workshop is offered for adults and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a $35 class fee; call to preregister and obtain a materials list.
October’s art exhibition at the Estuarium will feature the work of talented students from Northside High School. The exhibition is open during the Estuarium’s regular business hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The popular River Roving Education River Tours continue at the Estuarium, with tours scheduled Wednesday through Friday each week at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.; Saturday’s tours launch at 10:30 a.m. Passengers will learn the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront and the Tar-Pamlico River. There is no fee for the tour, but advance reservations are required since the boat is limited to 10 passengers. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The staff of the Estuarium invites shoppers to check out the assortment of items — including nature-oriented books and toys — for children and adults at the Crab Pot Gift Shop. The shop is also an authorized nautical chart agent.
The N.C. Estuarium is a Partnership for the Sounds facility, an organization promoting eco-tourism and sustainable economic development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. For more information visit www.partnershipforthesounds.org.