Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks

09/08/2026

‼️‼️CONTROLLED BURN TODAY ‼️‼️

08/18/2026

🐢 𝑼𝑷𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬: 𝑨𝑳𝑳 𝑵𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑺 𝑯𝑨𝑽𝑬 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵 𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑫!!!!!

🐢 Every available Fort Fisher sea turtle nest has been adopted! 🐢

A huge thank-you to our wonderful Community Conservationists who stepped up to support these nests and the sea turtles of Fort Fisher. Your generosity helps strengthen conservation, education, and protection right here in our park.

Every nest has a name. Every adopter is now part of its story. And every single adoption shows what a caring community can accomplish together.

We are officially ADOPTED OUT—and incredibly grateful! 💚

117 nests later, the turtles have done their part. Now it’s our turn. 🐢🐢

Eleven Fort Fisher sea turtle nests were adopted early in the season, but 18 adoptable nests are still waiting for adoptees.

A $50 donation provides one symbolic nest adoption for one named person and includes:

* The adoptee’s name displayed at the assigned nest
* A custom certificate mailed in December with information about the nest
* The adoptee’s name on the Community Conservationist Plaque at the Fort Fisher Visitor Center

Adopt a nest for yourself or give one to someone special. Each adoption is for one person and one nest.

Adoption does not include nest sitting or monitoring. For the protection of the sea turtles and hatchlings, all nest work is performed by trained Fort Fisher sea turtle volunteers.

🐢🐢18 nests. 18 names. Let’s finish what we started.

Visit friendspisp.org and select Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest.

If Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest is no longer displayed, all available nests have been adopted.

07/31/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲

It’s World Park Ranger Day, and we can’t let it pass without celebrating some pretty special people.

At Carolina Beach State Park: Superintendent Crystal Lloyd and Rangers Jesse Anderson, Chris Watts and Alexis Silva.

At Fort Fisher State Recreation Area: Superintendent Jeff Owen and Rangers Jason Howard, Kip Futch, Emily Abernethy-Sexton and Stephanie Covell.

We know them as professionals, but we also know them as friends and mentors.

They probably would have preferred their dress uniforms—the flat hats and ties—for these pictures. But we wanted you to see them the way we do: boots on the ground and ready to do whatever needs to be done.

They are law enforcement officers, conservationists, naturalists, environmentalists, educators, community advocates and public servants. They also clean bathrooms, pull trash, cut grass, make repairs, maintain trails and jump into ocean rescues when needed.

They can go from the flat hat to working in the trenches without missing a beat. There is no “that’s not my job.” They see what needs to be done and do it.

These parks don’t stay beautiful, safe and thriving on their own. They thrive because these men and women show up every day and give the work everything they have.

The Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks, your families, friends and community see how much you give. We never take it—or you—for granted.

We truly believe we have the best rangers in North Carolina. Our parks and our community are better because of you, and we are beyond fortunate to call you our rangers, mentors and friends.

On World Park Ranger Day and every day, please know how deeply grateful we are for each of you.




North Carolina State Parks and Recreation
Friends of State Parks
1% for the Planet

07/17/2026

Thank you Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce for celebrating the people who help make sure visitors leave with memories —and these special places remain protected for the next one. 💚

North Carolina State Parks and Recreation
Friends of State Parks
NC Recreation & Park Association
Governor Josh Stein

Today, July 17, we proudly celebrate Park & Recreation Professionals Day! 🌿💚

The State of North Carolina recognizes the dedicated park and recreation professionals whose work strengthens our communities, connects people with nature and each other, and creates opportunities for healthy living, environmental stewardship, and outdoor adventure.

Here on Pleasure Island, we're incredibly fortunate to have two extraordinary state parks that are central to our community, tourism, and quality of life.

Carolina Beach State Park welcomes visitors from across the country with astronomy and birding programs, guided hikes, camping, marina access, and the rare opportunity to see the famous Venus flytrap growing in its natural habitat.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, the third most visited state park in North Carolina, welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors each year. It's home to the annual Cape Fear Kite Festival, hosts countless outdoor adventures, and has even served as the backdrop for film and television productions, including 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'.

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce has the privilege of working alongside the incredible teams at Carolina Beach State Park and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area throughout the year. Whether partnering on events, welcoming visitors, preserving our natural resources, or sharing the stories that make our island special, their knowledge, professionalism, passion, and commitment make a lasting impact on our community.

Today, we extend our sincere gratitude to every park ranger, educator, maintenance professional, volunteer coordinator, and staff member who helps protect these treasured places and creates unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Thank you for all you do to make Pleasure Island a place we're proud to call home. 💚

07/15/2026

🐢🐢𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑🐢🐢

Fort Fisher SRA is doing Fort Fisher things — and the 100th sea turtle nest of the season was discovered this morning!

WHOOP WHOOP! 🎉

That makes 2026 the third-highest nesting year on record at Fort Fisher since sea turtle nests began being documented in 1985.

🐢 160 nests in 2019
🐢 130 nests in 2022
🐢 100 nests and counting in 2026!

What an incredible milestone for Fort Fisher, the sea turtles, and the dedicated staff and volunteers who work so hard to protect them. Let’s hear it for Nest 100! 💚🌊🐢🐢🐢


North Carolina State Parks and Recreation
Friends of State Parks
1% for the Planet
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

**Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Conservation work is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, permit 23ST26**

07/10/2026

Three orphaned Red-shouldered Hawks. One incredible second chance.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning at Carolina Beach State Park as Skywatch Bird Rescue returned these magnificent young raptors to the wild. A special thank you to Morgan Hooks, Skywatch volunteer, for sharing the journey of these birds—from arriving as orphaned nestlings, through rehabilitation, to soaring into the tree canopy along the marsh's edge where they belong.

This is what conservation looks like. State parks, nonprofit partners, volunteers, and a community that shows up to celebrate wildlife and protect the places we all love.

Who knows where we'll spot Ashley, Frank, or Fred Bartholomew next? We hope they make Carolina Beach State Park home for years to come.

Want to keep the birding going? Join park staff for a guided Bird Walk on Wednesday, July 15, from 8–10 a.m, marina flagpole. You never know who might be waiting in the trees.

Skywatch Bird Rescue
is a 501(c)(3)that is 100% volunteer-operated, donation-funded nonprofit Every donation helps make future rescues, rehabilitation, and releases like today's possible. If today's release inspired you, please consider visiting their page to learn how you can support their mission

North Carolina State Parks and Recreation
Friends of State Parks Bird Rescue

1% for the Planet

07/10/2026

THREE HUNDRED turtle nests on Hilton Head
This was July 1. Wozer.

As of today, July 10th, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area has 97.
97.
Last year total was in the 30s.
🐢🐢excitement!!

NEST 300!!!! Our joyous noises were probably heard all the way to Bluffton! We had some very excited beachgoers there to celebrate with us! (MTP566)

07/08/2026

Come on out on Friday for this majestic release at Carolina Beach State Park!

Three Pines Project
Cape Fear Group of the Sierra Club

Please join us for another PUBLIC RELEASE!

Next on our tour of releases, we have our Red-shouldered Hawks! These hawks each came to us orphaned due to different circumstances, but continued to grow up strong together in our care and are now ready to return to the wild.

We are partnering with Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks to release the hawks at 10:30am this Friday, July 10th at Carolina Beach State Park. Parking is available at the picnic area, the first parking lot on the right after passing the campground. We will meet in this lot and then release the hawks into the adjacent wetland. Look for our volunteers’ blue shirts. No pets, please.

Every time we release a bird, much time, funding, and resources fly away with it. This release will be a fundraiser, so if you plan to attend, please bring a donation as we will “pass the hat around” after. You can donate via cash, check, or through ANY of our methods at linktr.ee/skywatchbirds.

07/02/2026

Congratulations Jesica Blake!

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust Names Jesica Blake as Next Executive Director Nationally Recognized Conservation Leader Will Succeed Harrison Marks Beginning October 1 The Coastal Land Trust announced on July