FIELD TRIPS

Friday, June 2 – Saturday, June 3, 2017 (overnight)
A1: FRENCH BROAD RIVER SNORKELING
Field Trip Time is 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 with overnight lodging on Friday, June 2.
Pricing does not include transportation.
It does include Friday lodging at Earthshine Discovery Center, all necessary equipment, lunch on the river as well as one breakfast and one dinner.
Maximum: 20
A1: Price: $295

Take a snorkel tour of the beautiful French Broad River in Western North Carolina! Led by outfitter Oxbow River Snorkeling, this trip provides an opportunity to see the fauna of Appalachian Rivers up close and personal. Our snorkeling adventure will begin at the forks of the river at Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman, NC, and end at Lyon's Mountain Bridge approximately 2.5 miles downstream. A canoe will accompany the group throughout the trip, which will last approximately 5-7 hours depending on how much exploration takes place. This is a great option for SFS members driving east to break up the trip. Saturday, June 3, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Price does not include transportation, it does include the snorkeling adventure, all necessary equipment, and lunch on the river; plus lodging and 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) at Earthshine Discovery Center (EDC). Bring your own cooler and alcoholic beverages. Earthshine will provide the ice!
http://www.oxbowriversnorkeling.com/french-broad-river-snorkeling-adventure.html
http://www.earthshinediscovery.com/

A3: FICKLE CREEK FARM TOUR
Saturday, June 3 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Transportation and Lunch are Included
Maximum: 30
A3: Price: $86

Take an afternoon tour of an innovative and scenic local Farm! Fickle Creek Farm is a diversified, small-scale farm near Hillsborough, NC. Tour will be led by Noah, former faculty at North Carolina State University, who will share how Fick Creek practices environmental stewardship and humane animal treatment over the farm's 235 acres. During the tour, you'll learn about the farm's integrated crop-livestock rotation, efforts to protect water quality, and related topics. Enjoy a farm-made sausage or vegetarian dinner and see why Fickle Creek is a favorite at local farmer's markets! Saturday, June 3, 12 – 7 p.m. $86 cost includes dinner and transportation. More information at http://www.ficklecreekfarm.com/about.html

Sunday, June 4, 2017
A4: BREWERY TOUR
Sunday, June 4 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Transportation and Lunch are Included
Maximum: 13
A4: Price: $50
This brewery tour will attend 3 breweries in Hillsborough and Durham. These breweries were among the favorites of Bob Hall during his sabbatical in Durham. We meet at noon in Raleigh and drive to Mystery Brewing, which produces European style ales. We will eat lunch there. Next we will drive to Durham where we will visit Ponysaurus Brewing, home of fig saison. The head brewer there is a former home brewer and is now making some of the best beers in the Triangle. Following Ponysaurus we will walk or drive 1 mile to Fullsteam Brewing, an iconic brewery that makes what they call Southern Beers (e.g., sweet potato lager or pecan porter). Along the way we can grab food from one of many restaurants or food trucks. We will leave at 5:00 from Fullsteam to return to Raleigh by 6 pm. Cost is $50 and includes chauffeured van service to the breweries and donation to the Pat Mulholland fund.

Friday, June 9, 2017
A2: PADDLE THE BLACK RIVER THROUGH ANCIENT CYPRESS TREES
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2017
Transportation, Equipment, and Lunch are Included
Maximum: 16
A2: Price: $178

The Black River in the Cape Fear River basin is an exceptional example of a black water river system in eastern North Carolina, known for its extensive old-growth bald cypress swamps along the lower portion as well as mature bottomland hardwoods further upstream. Old cypress trees have been dated to nearly 2000 years old, the oldest trees known in the eastern United States, and the river itself has been classified by the State of North Carolina as an "Outstanding Resource Water." Come paddle a segment of the Black River that has been extensively protected by conservation groups and includes the Three Sisters- a cypress slough where you have to meander your way through the knees of the ancient trees. This is a full day adventure that will depart at 8:00 a.m. for the 2-hour drive. We will spend approximately 6 hours on the water with lunch provided, and return around 7 p.m. Please be physically prepared for a full day of paddling (with a canoe or kayak, moving with the current), with possible wet adventures of getting in thigh-deep water as we meander through the cypress. Also, please note any dietary restrictions.