Durham Clinics and Events

REI Gives: 2009 REI Raleigh Durham Area Grant Recipients

Grants 2009

Raleigh Durham is home to incredibly dedicated and avid outdoor stewards and recreational organizations. REI is excited to help support some amazing efforts through our grants program. In 2009, the REI Raleigh Durham area teams are thrilled to support grants to TORC, Trips for Kids, Friends of the MST, Neuse River Foundation, Trees Across Raleigh, and Triangle Land Conservancy toward their impactful projects in and around Raleigh Durham.

Triangle Off-Road Cyclists: $7,000
Natural Surface Trail Construction at Solite Park, Durham, NC

The Triangle Off Road Cyclists organization (TORC) plans to build natural surface bicycling trails around Solite Park in the Durham, NC Parks System. The proposed trails will be suitable for off road cyclists of both beginner and intermediate skill levels, and will enhance the recreational opportunities in Solite Park for individuals of all ages. Solite Park is adjacent to the American Tobacco Trail (ATT), a bicycle and pedestrian off-road thoroughfare in part built on a pre-existing railroad bed. The proximity of the ATT to the proposed trial system will provide easy and efficient access to Solite Park and the proposed trails, which are a potential gateway experience for individuals aspiring to develop off road cycling skills by riding natural surface trails.
http://www.torc-nc.org/

Trips For Kids ? Triangle: $5,000
Construction of a Bicycling Skills Pump Track in Solite Park, Durham, NC

Trips For Kids - Triangle (TFK-T) plans to build a bicycling skills pump track at Solite Park in the Durham, NC Parks System in collaboration with Triangle Off Road Cyclists. The proposed pump
track will become a recreational venue for bicyclists desiring the bike handling practice and development, and the fast fun a pump track offers. Pump tracks are dirt surface circuits that enable a bicyclist to use body dynamics to power over the rolling small mounds and banked turns without pedaling. They are a recreational feature that is becoming more widely adopted as an enhancement that requires little
upkeep and utilizes only a small area of open ground in parks. This feature will enhance the recreational opportunities in Solite Park for individuals of all ages, particularly young cyclists. Solite Park is adjacent to the American Tobacco Trail (ATT), a bicycle and pedestrian off-road thoroughfare in part built on a pre-existing railroad bed. The proximity of the ATT to the proposed trial system will provide easy and efficient access to Solite Park and the proposed pump track.
http://www.tripsforkidstriangle.org/

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Inc: $5,000
Expanding the Volunteer Trail Crew for North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Since 1977, the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail have been working on building a continuous 1,000-mile trail across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park. More than 500 miles of the trail are now complete. REI's support will provide financial and product support to help Friends recruit, train and energize new volunteers for their trail crew which builds and maintains North Carolina's flagship trail. In the last year and a half, FMST and local
and state governments have acquired land and designated new routes for 75 new miles of trail in nine areas across the state. Grant funds would be used to help FMST recruit and train leaders for nine task forces and then involve the hundreds of volunteers they will need to build these new sections of trail.
http://www.ncmst.org/

Neuse River Foundation Inc: $6,700
2010 Neuse River Spring Cleanup

The Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation recently celebrated 29 years of river research and protection. For sixteen years, it has supported the Neuse Riverkeepers who provide constant vigilance and a strong
voice for the protection of all 250 miles of the Neuse River. The Upper and Lower Neuse Riverkeepers work to advocate for and improve the water conditions for the citizens of North Carolina through investigation, education and public involvement. REI's support with go toward their annual volunteer stewardship event. The Neuse River Spring Cleanup will target an 80-mile stretch of the Neuse River running through a three-county area. On one day, more than 450 volunteers will clear trash from the Neuse River and surrounding land areas. Local city and county governments will participate by ensuring the proper removal and disposal of the trash and items removed from the River. In six years, the event has grown from involving 70 volunteers to having more than 300 participate this year. Their goal for next year is to recruit and deploy 475 volunteers.
http://www.neuseriver.org/

Trees Across Raleigh: $5,107
Tree Planting and Educational Youth Events

Trees Across Raleigh began in 1996 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees in public areas such as parks, rights-of-ways and medians. Since 1996 more than 4,300 volunteers have planted over 8,000 trees with a value of $1 million in donated plant materials and labor. REI's support will go toward two projects involving children from the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County and a local elementary school. The goals for both projects focus primarily on conservation and the benefits of trees in an urban setting. The Boys and Girls Club project is an opportunity to give back to this fellow non-profit group as they have helped with city-wide plantings for over 8 years, and this project will be educational and greatly benefit the children at their local club. The Joyner Elementary School project is a new teaching initiative geared toward first graders involving their teachers who will incorporate lessons from tree planting into their curriculum. The long term goal for this project is to carry it to other similar schools area throughout the city.
http://www.treesacrossraleigh.org/

Triangle Land Conservancy: $7,000
Irvin Learning Farm Trail System, Campgrounds and Youth Outdoor Education Programs.

The REI grant will support the completion of trail system, campgrounds and educational resources at Irvin Learning Farm, 269 acres of pasture, forest and wetlands preserved in perpetuity by Triangle Land Conservancy. The trail systems and campgrounds will be open for public use and for their Youth Outdoor Education Programs. These summer and after-school education programs provide children (5-12) the opportunity to learn about the natural world and conservation through nature hikes, exploration of ponds
and waterways, interaction with native plant and animal habitats and other outdoor activities. Families and teachers are also encouraged to participate to learn new ways to connect children with nature, and high school students can volunteer to receive community service credit or as counselors-in-training. The goal of Irvin Learning Farm is to promote engagement with the natural world and provide conservation and land stewardship education.
http://www.triangleland.org/