70 Degrees Before Groundhog's Day? Time to Get Outside and Explore the Triangle!

Indian summer? Sure, I’ve heard the term, but I haven’t really had an opportunity to use it—that is, until I moved to Raleigh. Now I can certainly use the term, albeit later than normal, since it’s February 1st, 70 degrees, and I’m planning an afternoon trip to one of my favorite outdoor destinations.

February 1st and 70 degrees? Hellooo, Raleigh!

While February does not usually conjure up images of hiking in the sun—ice storms tend to come to mind instead—I wanted to share some of the places my family and I have found that help make the Triangle such a great place to be.

Some of our favorite Triangle spots where we go to escape into the outdoors:

• What better way to start off this list than with Triangle Land Conservancy, an organization that makes it so easy and fun to explore local lands and connect with nature. We love making treks all over TLC's Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, with its stony creeks and winding trails. If planning your own excursion seems like a lot of work or you think you've seen everything TLC has to offer, visit their Backyard Adventure page for more inspiration. Also, be sure to check out their updated website—we are honored to have helped pull it together! 
• The Eno River has become one of our favorite spots; even the occasional snake sightings are fun…at a distance! You can wade in the river, play in the woods, set out on a hike, explore some forts, wander across a swinging bridge…plenty of options to make for a full day! Also, the Eno River Association hosts the incredibly popular Festival for the Eno, as well as events throughout the year from history hikes to bird watching.
• Just as it opened, we had the chance to explore the newest stretch of the Capital Greenway, the Upper Neuse off Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh. In addition to the wonderful biking trail, there is a spot to launch a canoe. Checking out the Greenway is worth a trip in itself, and the Upper Neuse section is definitely a well-used addition!
• I was lucky enough a couple of years ago to attend a native plant and gardening course at the North Carolina Botanical Garden at UNC. Since that course, I have spent lots of time exploring their course offerings, walking trails, and investigating the nuances of the LEED Platinum building. While there is plenty on site to keep you busy, I particularly love taking trips to Mason Farm Biological Preserve.
• While it may seem strange to think about outdoor adventures in the middle of winter, spring will officially be here before we know it!

I know there are plenty more great outdoor spots around the Triangle that either didn’t make the list or that I haven’t explored yet. I would love to hear what some of your favorites are!

Businesses Giving Back: Keihin in the Community

Both of my parents are from Tarboro, a small town in eastern North Carolina, and, even though I didn't grow up there, it will always be a special place to me. Tarboro is the county seat of Edgecombe County, which happens to be one of the most economically distressed counties in the state.

That said, I was particularly excited last fall when we brought on a client that is based in Tarboro--and one that is making such a big impact in the community. We are helping them develop a formal sustainability program, but we're especially pleased to highlight just how much they are already doing to give back in so many meaningful ways.

The Client

An electronics manufacturer, Keihin Carolina Systems Technology...but we'll just call them Keihin (see the end of this post for more in-depth details on what they do).

In an effort to create regional job growth opportunities, Keihin actively supports investing in the local educational system and enhancing schools’ technical capabilities. They also created a fine arts grant program that gives teachers funding for projects that round out the student experience (which would not otherwise be possible in the current economic environment).

Go find 'em on Facebook, give 'em a "Like," and check out all their recent community contributions.

Andrew Revkin: Science Cafe and Musical Treat

Last night we enjoyed an intimate venue to listen to NY Time Opinion blogger (dotearth.com), Andrew Revkin. He made an appearance at Tir Na Nog in downtown Raleigh (and many other places around the Triangle this week). If you aren't familiar, Revkin was the environmental writer for the NY Times over the past 15 years, and recently left to go into academics at Pace University (Senior Fellow in Environmental Understanding - a title he referenced as the only one he could come up with that addresses how humans perceive environmental information). He's been writing on environmental issues that really matter to our survival on the planet and presents some very thought-provoking ideas on climate change, energy, and other pertinant topics on sustainability.

Okay, without boring you about all the titles of books, lists of awards, and the litany of impressive resume filler (check it out if you would like, but don't skip over his work in exposing political operatives who were attempting to rewrite government climate reports in the early 2000s). Let's just agree that he's an impressive author. Oh, and muscian. I enjoyed a little ditty he played called, "Liberated Carbon." (A video I found online of the number is at the end, since I couldn't get my phone recording in time).