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Carteret County Wildlife Club (CCWC) members participate in a variety of activities. All outside activities are weather-dependent. If you would like to participate in or have any questions at all, please contact us at ccwc1985@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
November 8, Sunday 10 am — Ward Creek Paddle
Wards Creek (located near Otway, NC) offers a scenic, protected coastal paddling experience winding through Carteret County’s Down East salt marshes. The creek is part of a vast network of salt marshes, tidal creeks, and estuarine environments that feed into the North River and the broader sounds. It is an ideal spot for paddlers seeking tranquil flatwater and rich wildlife viewing away from heavy boat traffic. It features winding channels framed by smooth cordgrass in the low intertidal zones, transitioning to black needlerush, saltmeadow cordgrass, and groundsel bush across the high marsh fringe. These calm, sheltered waters give you a front-row seat to hidden estuarine ecosystems largely inaccessible to motorized boats. This part of Carteret County is a haven for birdwatchers. One is likely to see ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, various shorebirds, and waterfowl (especially during the migration months). The creek also serves as vital habitat and nursery grounds for oysters, blue crabs, shrimp, flounder, red drum, spotted seatrout, striped mullet, and menhaden.
We will paddle north up Ward Creek from Hwy 70 and back. We will meet at the US Hwy 70 bridge just west of Otway (Google Maps: 34.78090, -76.57229), the last bridge before Harker Island Road when traveling from Beaufort. Park on the north side. Contact Cindy at cindy@verticon.com for more info and to sign up.
November 20, Friday 9–10:30 am — Bird Sighting Boat Ride at Hammocks Beach SP
Ranger Garrett Newman at Hammocks Beach State Park is offering this trip a second time for free. We will use one of the Ranger Boats to explore the bays around the state park and look for migratory birds. The park has loaner binoculars as well for those who don't have their own. Prior sign-up required as there is space for only 11 on the boat. However, if demand is large enough Garrett has offered a second trip immediately after the first (at 10:30 am) for those who signed up late. We'll meet at the Visitor Center (Google Maps: 34.67075, -77.14071). Contact Cindy at cindy@verticon.com for more info and to sign up.
Past Events
Past Events
2025's Activities
01/21 - Member Meeting - cancelled because of snow
02/18 - Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail (FMST) Project Manager Ben Jones will give a tour of the recently acquired NCCF North River property that will be part of "Coastal Crescent" section of the Mountains to the Sea trail, in the North River Wetlands Preserve.
02/18 - Ben Jones, Coastal Crescent Project Manager of the FMST gave a presentation of the current Mountains to the Sea Trail projects in this area.
02/23 - Hike on Patsy Pond Nature Trail
03/08 - Hike on the Neusiok Trail from the Little Deep Creek Rd trail head
03/18 - Member Meeting - Jeff Pierce of the NC Native Plant Society presented a program on identifying the mushrooms of the Croatan Forest.
04/05 - Paddle trip on the Contentnea Creek between Kinston and New Bern.
04/08-09 - Core Sound Earth Day
04/15 - Member Meeting - Jake Vitak, a Ranger at Hammocks Beach SP, spoke on the "Flora and Fauna of the Hammocks Beach and Bear Island"
05/17 - Paddle trip on Little Swift Creek near Vanceboro
Red wolf, Red Wolf Center, Columbia, NC, 11/16/2024, courtesy R. Tramontano
05/20 - Member Meeting- NC Aquarium herpetologist Fred Boyce presented “Snakes we’re likely to encounter in Carteret County”
06/07 - Paddle trip to Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, near Swansboro
06/17 - Member Meeting - Low Country Boil at the home of Ron & Jackie on the Newport River
07/15 - Member Meeting - Fort Macon SP Ranger Randy Newman spoke about the wildlife at the Roosevelt Natural Area in Pine Knoll Shores on Bogue Bank and at Fort Macon State Park.
07/17 - Paddle trip to Rachel Carson Preserve near Beaufort
08/19 - Member Meeting - Carol Peoples of the NC Native Plant Society present a program about how & why to include native plants in your landscape
08/24 - Paddle trip on the White Oak Paddle, Dixon Field Landing to Haywood Landing
09/13 - Paddle trip on the Newport River
09/16 - Member Meeting - Jocelyn Hall - Dr. Louis Daniel, Senior Marine Scientist at the NCWF: Marine Fisheries Management in North Carolina—a 30 Year Retrospective (1995-2025)
10/21 - Member Meeting - Mullet Roast at Michelle’s home overlooking Clubfoot Creek, Havelock
11/01 - Hike on Patsy Pond Nature Trail
11/18 - Member Meeting - Oyster Roast at the home of Ron & Jackie on the Newport River
12/14 - Hike on the Neusiok Trail from Oyster Point
12/16 - Member Meeting - Holiday potluck dinner at Barbara's house in Swansboro, with business meeting and election of new officers
2026's Activities
01/20 - Member Meeting - CCWC President Ralph Tramontano presented “Carnivorous Plants of the Croatan National Forest”
02/15 - Behind the scenes tour of the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium with a focus on sea turtles. Led by Michelle Lamping, turtle volunteer coordinator.
02/17 - Member Meeting - Sabrina Godin, Lead Park Ranger and Volunteer Coordinator for the Cape Lookout National Seashore gave a presentation on conservation programs in the National Park.
02/22 - Hike at Hammocks Beach State Park. We hiked a 2.5 mile loop via the Live Oak, Coastal Fringe, Hickory Bluff and Evergreen Trails.
03/17 - Member Meeting - Hope Sutton of the NC Wildlife Commission spoke about the Terrapin Tally, a community science activity takes an annual snapshot of the overall population status and condition of the Diamondback Terrapin within the state.
03/22 - Mile Hike at Patsy Pond Natural Area. We hiked about 3 miles from our start on Pringle Road.
04/02 - Paddle Trip on the Newport River (see photos below).
04/11 - Paddle Trip on Great Lake, Croatan NF.
04/21 - Member Meeting - Shawn Banks, County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for Carteret County, discussed how to incorporate native edible plants into the landscape, not just to feed the wildlife, but to provide us with some nourishment as well.
05/19 - Member Meeting - Paula Gilliken, stewardship Coordinator for the NC Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve, told us about the latest activities and research programs taking place in the reserve system.
06/16 - Member Meeting - Cookout & Potluck with Mike and Michelle at their home on Clubfoot Creek east of Havelock.
06/21 - Beach Walk at Fort Macon State Park.
07/21 - Member Meeting - Keith Rittmaster, Natural Science Curator at the Maritime Museum and Director of the Bonehenge Whale Center gave a talk on Whales in NC and their diversity, distribution and conservation.
08/11 - Paddle Trip on Bogue Sound, from the Atlantic Beach Causeway to Hoop Pole Creek and back.
08/18 - Member Meeting - Unfortunately our planned guest speaker Jerry Barker had to cancel at the last minute due to a death in the family. President Ralph Tramontano stepped in with a presentation on Snakes and Lizards in and around the Croatan NF.
09/15 - Member Meeting - Ron Hudson, District Ranger for the Croatan National Forest gave a talk about the National Forest's Management Plan and threats to the NF such as the proposed Cape Carteret Bypass and other development projects.
10/20 - Member Meeting - Jerry Barker, a member of the Friends of the Mountain-to Sea Trail, hiked the entire MST in 2015-17 and and shared his adventures with us. He was also inspired to share the beauty and history of NC with others via a book, Discovering North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, A Companion for Hikers and Armchair Explorers, publishd by the UNC Press.
10/21 - Bird Sighting Boat Ride at Hammocks Beach SP led by Ranger Garrett Newman.
10/25 - Hike at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.
10/28 - White Oak River Paddle Trip - Dixon Landing to Quarry Lakes and back.
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