Shuck, Sizzle, and Savor at the Roast for the Coast

Indulge in a coastal culinary extravaganza at the 2024 Roast for the Coast! A tantalizing fest of steamed and raw NC oysters, savory clam, and corn chowder awaits you. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere complete with live music and the chance to win coastal treasures during our raffle. 

When you purchase Roast for the Coast tickets, you’re not just attending an event but making a meaningful impact! Every dollar raised directly supports the Federation’s crucial mission to restore our native oyster populations, including creating new reefs in the lower Cape Fear River.

Come sunbeams or cloud cover, this event promises an afternoon of delectable dishes and coastal camaraderie, reserve your spot now to dive into the excitement! 

Campus to Coast 

We have embarked on another fruitful year of collaboration with North Carolina Central University and its Department of Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences. Together, we’ve kicked things off with the first of three compelling spring field trips.

The students embarked on an enthralling journey, exploring living shorelines and oyster projects at Carteret Community College, NCSU’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, and Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium. Later this spring, another group will have the opportunity to visit the Oysters Carolina oyster farm, adding another layer of hands-on learning to their experience.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our partners at NC Central University and each of the field trip sites for their unwavering support. None of this would be possible without the generous funding from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, enabling us to continue fostering educational initiatives that make a tangible difference in our coastal communities.

Gardens to Creeks

Celebrate Cape Fear Creek Week with us on March 19 for a garden maintenance event. Cape Fear Creek Week is a collaborative effort with environmental organizations to highlight the importance of preserving our waterways. Help improve Burnt Mill Creek’s water quality by volunteering at the DREAMS Center for Art Education, a crucial nonprofit supporting over 600 youth annually in Wilmington. The stormwater retrofits and native plants at DREAMS help to capture, absorb, and filter polluted stormwater runoff from entering Burnt Mill Creek. 

 Volunteers can expect activities like weeding, mulching, and clearing debris in the gardens, including the ‘Secret Garden’ unveiled last year in collaboration with the Coastal Landscapes Initiative.

Creek Week is a synergistic effort involving the NC Cooperative Extension, the City of Wilmington’s Heal Our Waterways, Cape Fear River Watch, NC Coastal Land Trust, New Hanover County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the NC Coastal Federation. Together, we aim to educate and inspire a collective commitment to the preservation of our water resources. We thank the Landfall Foundation for their generous support, making the Federation’s participation in this meaningful event possible.

You can also join staff and volunteers to help maintain rain gardens and stormwater wetlands at Bradley Creek Elementary School in Wilmington on April 9. The project is part of the Hewletts and Bradley Creek Watershed Restoration Plan, which aims to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that makes its way into the creeks.

Rain gardens and wetlands help filter polluted runoff, protecting water quality and preventing swim advisories and shellfish closures. Rain gardens and wetlands also help to reduce hazardous flooding and provide wildlife habitat. Volunteers will remove invasive plants, pull weeds, prune trees, and spread mulch in the existing rain gardens and wetlands at the school. All project supplies and equipment will be provided as well as snacks and refreshments.- for the blog

The event is open to the public and suitable for all ages. Come on out to help work on a rain garden or find out what you can do in your backyard to protect your local creeks and coastal waters.

The Landfall Foundation and Cape Fear Garden Club supported this project.

Protect the Coast for Generations to Come

You can protect the coast for generations by including the Coastal Federation in your will or estate plans. This is a simple and lasting way to support the coast, along with other causes close to your heart, for years to come. 

A current Federation supporter recently let us know that she had included the Federation in her will. While she asked to remain anonymous, she shared her thoughts: “We think the work you all do is so important, and wish we could do more now to help. We’ve included the Federation in our will for just a modest amount, with everything else going to the kids and grandkids. We’d like you to send a membership to our kids when the time comes so that they might continue our family’s support for the coast. Keep up the good work!” 

 Learn more about including the Federation in your estate plan online or by contacting Sarah King.

Federation In the News

Here is a look at some of the latest news  featuring the Federation: