Onslow County History Museum

 Annie K. Ragsdale and Ione Griese, two prominent Richlands women, were united by a shared determination to preserve the rapidly vanishing history of Onslow County, They resolved one Sunday morning after church to act on this vision and start a museum in Richlands. The Museum’s beginnings were humble, but various members of the community demonstrated their interest by donating valuable artifacts reflecting days gone by. An important base for the collection was the donation of artifacts from the now defunct Swansboro Historical Society. Beginning as a volunteer with the fledgling museum in 1976, Albert Potts, a newly transplanted resident, was hired as the first Director when the Museum became a county agency in 1980.
 For many years the home of the Onslow County Museum was an upstairs portion of the old bank building in downtown Richlands, later growing to include a small adjacent storefront area that was home to not only changing exhibits, but also special public events and an annual summer art program for children. The Museum collection began expanding as artifacts from different aspects of local history became available.
As the Museum became a more recognizable entity, support grew slowly but surely, and staffing increased to four by 1989—a full-time Director, Assistant Director, part-time Registrar, and Education Coordinator. The history of the county was told through many different changing exhibits, and the Museum was soon overflowing with objects, making it clear that a newer, larger facility was much needed. In 1992, the County Commissioners forged ahead with a decision to purchase 3.5 acres of land in Richlands for a new facility and set aside approximately one million dollars for its construction. The new multi-functional Museum and Branch Library plan encompassed 18,000 square feet, with approximately 15,000 square feet set aside for the Museum. Moving the Museum “just down the street” took many months of planning until November 1994, when the old Museum’s contents, including artifacts, were moved into the brand new facility.
The Onslow County Museum staff soon began a long-term plan for a new, permanent exhibit that would tell the story of Onslow County from its pre-historic beginnings to the present day—a daunting task. Funding was not set aside for the exhibit itself, so the Museum’s Foundation began a capital campaign to raise the half-million dollars needed for planning, designing and installation. Gaines Brown Design of Charlotte was retained as the exhibit design firm, and the Museum Foundation continued its fundraising efforts. The Water and the Wood exhibit, planned and written by Museum staff, was opened to the public on May 1, 1999, a crowning achievement for all those involved.
Today, the Onslow County Museum is recognized as an important local history museum and serves the public through its permanent exhibit, changing exhibits, outreach programs to schools, and sponsorship of special events. The staff comprises the Director, Assistant Director, Collections (Artifacts) Manager, Education Coordinator, part-time Office Assistant, and part-time Exhibits Facilitator.

Winging It! Birds in Flight

PINE KNOLL SHORES — Winging It - Birds in Flight soars into the 2012 season at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores with an all-new show on May 25, the beginning of Memorial Day weekend. 

This special ticketed program stars native raptors and shorebirds, some of them swooping overhead in Big Rock Theater in response to commands. This season showcases bird training methods and highlights the unique features and adaptations of various owls, hawks, pelicans and vultures. An American kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, joins the cast this year. The audience enjoys extraordinary close encounters with these engaging creatures. Each day, a few volunteers are selected from the audience to feed a pelican or extend a gloved arm as a perch for an owl or a vulture. Winging It - Birds in Flight runs daily at 1 p.m. in Big Rock Theater. Tickets are $4 in addition to admission for ages three and up; membership discounts do not apply. There is no charge for "infants-in-arms" ages 2 and under. For more information, see ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.
ONSLOW COUNTY — Onslow County Parks and Recreation is now accepting registration for Co-Rec Softball. Co-Rec or Co-Ed softball consists of equal male and female players. Register teams now. Team fee is $400 and $10 per player. Games are played at Onslow Pines Park on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning in July. Games may be played at alternate sites if needed. Call 910-347-5332 or Visit onslowcountync.gov/parks.

Prepare Your Child for Their First Summer Camp Experience & Summer Camp Listings on the North Carolina Coast

Prepare Your Child For Their First Summer Camp Experience

If you were anything like my mother the first day of school you stayed by the door and watched your kid to make sure that they were okay all day on their first day. Summer camp is a very similar experience and it causes a lot of anxiety and stress to the parent that doesn’t need to be there. Summer Camp is meant to be a good experience for the kids and this article will help with the fears and anxieties of sending you child off to Summer Camp as well as help you choose which one to pick. Thank you Summer Survival Guide for the following article that will help so many parents.

A young child may find it difficult to verbalize the anxieties they have about going to summer camp. Parents should be very attentive to what may either be subtle changes in behavior to outright defiance. Even a child who has gone to daycare or school may find the experience intimidating and frightening especially if your child doesn’t know any other children this could result in clinginess, separation anxiety or even the child acting out toward the camp counselors or other children. It’s important to let your child know what to expect from the experience Talk to them about the daily routines and extracurricular activities they will be involved with. You know your child best. Highlight those areas of interest that will excite the, or at least encourage their curiosity.
Although the location of the camp may be important, consider the type of camp your child will enjoy the most from where he or she can meet other children with common interests. Include your child in the research of the camps in your area.
When a camp is chosen they will feel some sense of control about what they are doing, which will take some of the stress away and create an excitement. You can build on that excitement by talking about what it is that made them choose that camp over the others. It's a good idea to call the camp beforehand to find out what kind of experience your child will have. Will it be a structured environment, with activities all day or will there be time for free play? Are the children in specific groups they must remain in for the duration or are they allowed to meet a variety of children? This will help you decide which camp to choose, based on what experience you want your child to have.
Talking to the camp ahead of time will also help you prepare yourself for the natural anxiety of sending your child away to camp for the first time. Asking about health care facilities sleeping arrangements menus and the experience and qualifications of the camp counselors will ease your mind as you put your child in their hands. It is important to find out what you are allowed to send with your child as some foods and snacks such as peanut butter are strictly prohibited in some cases, due to the sharing of food with children who may have allergies.
Allowing the child to help you shop and pack for camp items will help them feel more prepared if they know they have everything they will need when they get there. It may also be helpful to find out they are allowed to pack a special toy or blanket that may be a comfort, especially in the beginning.
Most importantly, expect that there will be a degree of homesickness. It is the rule not the exception and tear will likely flow. Be calm and reassuring without dismissing their concerns. Just remind them of all the preparations they have helped you make and the fin activities they can expect. Write to them often and try to keep your tears at bay until you have waved goodbye!

A couple of the recommended Summer Camps on the Coast are:

Onslow County

ONSLOW COUNTY—The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Onslow County Board of Education are sponsoring a Summer Day Camp Program at various school sites. Campsites are: Dixon Middle School, Hunters Creek Middle School, Southwest Middle, Swansboro Middle and Summersill Elementary School. (Registration is open for session I and II. The eight weeks of camp includes a full day of scheduled field trips, games, activities and arts. Camp is Monday-Friday, June 18-Aug. 10 from 7:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. Cost is $120 per child with each additional child from the same family paying only $110 per child to attend each four week Session. For more information, call 910-347-5332 or visit onslowcountync.gov/parks. 

Lanier's Waterside Campground
1161 Spot Lane, Surf City
910-328-9431

Surf City Family Camp Ground
2460 Island Drive Sneads Ferry NC

Carteret County

Arrowhead Campground
1550 Salter Path Road,
Atlantic Beach

Good Creek Family Resort
350, Red Barn Road, Newport

Whispering Pines Campground
24 Whispering Pines Newport

Cedar Creek Campground and Marina
11 Canal Drive, Sealevel

White Oak Shores
400 Wetherigton Landing Road,
Stella, NC

Camp Ocean Forest
Emerald Isle

Craven County

Pamlico Pines Family Campground
51 Black Bear Lane, New Bern

New Bern KOA
1565 B Street, Bridgeton

Lenoir County

Maxwell Mill Campground
142 Maxwell Mill Camping Road
Pink Hill

Pamlico County

Camp Don Lee
252-249-1106. Arapahoe

Camp Sea Gull for Boys
252-249-1111, Arapahoe

Camp Sea Gull for Girls
252-249-1212, Arapahoe

Camp Carolina
252-249-1992, Arapahoe

Camp Vandermere
252-745-3171

Another very good article from Sheknows.com can be read below I highly suggest this one as well:

Summer Camp Without The Cost

Shocked by the high price of summer camp? Want your child to have fun this summer without taking on an extra job to pay for it? Why not make your own camp? Yes, if your circumstances are right, your child can play with other campers, be involved in fun activities, and be well cared for, at absolutely no cost! 

Getting started

I too was blown away by the astronomical price of camp last summer so I took matters in my own hands. I joined forces with four of my friends with kids my daughter's age and started our own camp. We called it "Camp Cookie Dough" and one day a week, each of us would be in charge of all the kids (a total of 6). On our given day, we put together and supervised one craft (we painted a "Camp Cookie Dough" t-shirt, decorated a popsicle stick frame to house a group photo, painted a flower pot and planted a seed, etc.), and organized an activity (a scavenger hunt, a water balloon fight, making actual cookie dough, etc.). There'd even be lunch with each camper bringing his or her own pre-packed meal.

Customize your camp

Depending on the age of your child and how many close friends you have, you can customize your camp! If you have less than four trustworthy friends, or there are too many children for one mom to carefully supervise, scale it down and have camp fewer days or fewer hours. If the kids are older, the activities can be age appropriate (a swim in a pool or a bike ride to a nearby park). You can schedule your camp to start any time and for however many hours a day that works for your group. I know it may seem overwhelming to take care of a gaggle of kids, and at times it was (I contemplated having my tubes tied on several different occasions). But, it can also be overwhelming just to take care of my own child (I've contemplated having my tubes tied on several different occasions as well). Besides, other people's kids are usually better behaved than your own kids. They do what they're told and they don't ask for money. Plus, the four days of that week that I got the house to myself for a few hours, made it totally worth it!

The requirements

Of course, this plan doesn't work for everyone. You have to be at home for several hours one day a week and have friends that you can trust enough to care for your child. Your camp can't have so many children that they can't be cared for properly or be made up of a group of kids (or moms for that matter) that don't get along. But, if you have enough kids, and enough good friends, you can have a summer that's fun for both you and your kids (and, did I mention, you get the house to yourself for a few hours!)
Although it's been almost a year since Camp Cookie Dough was in session, my daughter occasionally wears her camp t-shirt and smiles as she looks at the group photo in her popsicle stick frame. And I smile too when I think about the hundreds upon hundreds of dollars I saved by sending my kid to camp!

Tips for a successful camp

If you want to start your own camp, here are some tips: • Avoid having very young children who need constant supervision. We moms are amazing, but even we can't run in five different directions at all times.
• Safety first! Be sure you know any food allergies, or health concerns of the children in advance. And each home must be properly child proofed and safe.
• Set up discipline rules. Talk to the other moms about how you'd like your child to be disciplined when they're in their care, and how you should discipline theirs if need be.
• Have each craft and activity prepared in advance so you don't have to multi-task between watching campers and prepping the ingredients for make-your-own-play-doh.
• Have a list of emergency phone numbers close at hand as well as a list of contact numbers for each parent in case you need to reach them at a moments notice.