New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club

Another perfect day to be in the great outdoors!

Thanks to all who came out to the Island Creek Day Hike and Overnight Backpacking event with the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club this past weekend on March 14th-15th.

The 2.7 mile day hike hike was attended by 13 eager participants. The weather was perfect and there was a lot to enjoy: the early signs of spring; the wonderful sounds of the local birds and flowing creek along parts of the orange trail loop.

Later that same afternoon, a smaller group of five backpackers hiked off trail and enjoyed sharing an evening of camping out with beautiful night sky, evening sounds of frogs and owls and early Sunday wake up call listening to many various birds species including some wild turkeys!

Less than a week away from the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club Island Creek Day Hike and Backpacking Overnight Trip set for Saturday March 14th!

Event details are posted on Facebook and on the https://www.nboac.org/Events website

NBOAC - Events Island Creek Day Hike and/or Backpacking Overnight Trip Saturday March 14th, 2026

The Patsy Pond Day Hike/Backpacking Trip event held on Saturday February 28th was a success - Even with two days of steady rain (prior to this event) the trail was in great shape!

Fourteen hikers and two pups joined in on the easy three mile morning hike on the Orange trail, enjoying the view of the long leaf pine forest and Patsy Pond.

Later in the afternoon eight backpackers trekked back in and spent the evening enjoying a clear moon lit sky, trail food and great company.

Many thanks to all who helped prepare for this event and for the hikers that showed up to support the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club. Check out our other future events coming soon!

Update - After receiving several inquiries about the trail condition after two days of rain - It will be fine. Patsy Pond is flat and sandy and most of the trails will not be impacted.

There are no plans to cancel this Saturday's Patsy Pond Hike.

The Hike is still a GO!

Saturday's forecast looks good. Hope to see some hikers on Saturday!

A little rain on Saturday February 21st did not stop our brave members from attending the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club's Annual Chili Cook-off!

It was the perfect day to enjoy some hot delicious chili plus some wonderful sides and dessert!

There were five great chili entrees and it was hard to pick the best one since each one was unique!

Congratulations go to this years winner Cindy Belangia for her fabulous Chicken Taco Chili!

Thanks to all who attended. Looking forward to next years event!

Reminder! Our Monthly Meeting is tonight at 7pm at the West New Bern Recreation Center located on 1225 Pine Tree Drive.

Reminder!!

Join us this Tuesday evening on February 17th at 7 PM for our Monthly Club Meeting at the West New Bern Recreation Center located on 1225 Pine Tree Drive New Bern NC 28562!

The purpose of the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club is to provide opportunities for people with common interests in outdoor activities.

If you are interested in joining the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club - We look forward to meeting you - bring along any interested friends or family who also enjoy fun outdoor activities!

Camping used to mean something.

It wasn’t just about photos, aesthetics, or weekend escapes.
It came with an unspoken agreement—you enjoy nature, but you take care of it.

Lately, that agreement feels broken.

Too many campers want the experience without the responsibility.
They want the quiet, the view, the campfire moments…
…but not the discipline that comes with them.

They want to arrive, consume, and leave—like nature is a service they paid for.

I’ve seen campsites where trash is hidden behind trees, as if out of sight means forgiven.
Fire pits left burning because “someone else will put it out.”
Food scraps scattered, inviting animals into dangerous habits.

And every time, the excuse is the same:
“It’s just a small thing.”

But the mountains don’t break from one big mistake.
They erode from thousands of small careless ones.

Camping isn’t hard—but it asks something from you.
It asks you to plan.
To clean up even when you’re tired.
To think beyond your comfort and convenience.

Responsibility isn’t the opposite of fun.
It’s the price of being there.

The problem isn’t that more people are camping.
The problem is that many were never taught how.

Social media shows the highlight, not the discipline.
It shows the tent, not the teardown.
The bonfire, not the cold water used to put it out properly.
The sunrise, not the trash packed back home.

So new campers arrive expecting magic—without understanding the work behind it.

But nature doesn’t work like a resort.

There are no staff to clean after you.
No reset button for damaged ground.
No second chances for wildlife harmed by human habits.

Every irresponsible act pushes the outdoors closer to restriction.
Closed campsites.
Stricter rules.
Limited access.

And the people who suffer most?
The ones who cared from the beginning.

Camping is not about entitlement.
It’s about participation.

You don’t just take memories—you leave the place capable of giving memories to the next person.

If you can carry a cooler in, you can carry trash out.
If you can stay up late by the fire, you can wake up early to clean.
If you want the view, you accept the duty.

This isn’t gatekeeping.
It’s respect.

Because the outdoors doesn’t belong to the loudest or trendiest.
It belongs to those willing to protect it—even when no one is watching.

Too many campers want the experience without the responsibility.

And until we talk about it honestly, the mountains will keep paying the price.

Reminder!!

Tuesday January 20th - 7 PM Monthly Club Meeting at the West New Bern Recreation Center located on 1225 Pine Tree Drive New Bern NC 28562

The purpose of the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club is to provide opportunities for people with common interests in outdoor activities

If you are interested in joining the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club - We look forward to meeting you!!

REMINDER! Monthly Meeting
Tomorrow Night, Tuesday November 18th, at the Rec Center at 7:00