Sunset Beach Treeboard tasks education subcommittee to design summer children’s and public outreach programs

The Town of Sunset Beach Treeboard on June 17 authorized its education subcommittee to develop recommendations for a set of event-focused education initiatives, including children’s programming at Oldbridge, school outreach, and public workshops.

At the meeting the Chair and members described a proposed Oldbridge children’s segment aimed at 4–11 year olds that would run 20–30 minutes with parents present; Michelle reported she had spoken with Ann Buckleman and expects the program controller to be available after June 20. The board discussed using hands-on activities, fruit samples and simple crafts to engage young children.

Members identified multiple avenues for outreach: coordinating with local schools (Sharon Morrison, volunteer coordinator at Jesse May/Monroe School, was suggested as a contact), linking with Oak Island’s programs (Karolina/ Oak Island contacts), and using the town marketplace and Sunset at Sunset to advertise events. The group suggested short formats for children (15–30 minutes) and longer workshops (about an hour) for adults and homeowners.

Speakers recommended vendor-free or low‑cost formats where possible. Potential partners and speakers named included the county extension/master gardeners, the North Carolina Forest Service, and local arborists. Members recommended creating simple printed materials for kids (trifold activity guides, leaf identification quizzes) and exploring reuse or customization of the Kids in Parks materials.

To focus the effort, Candace moved that the education subcommittee develop recommendations on which events to prioritize, the core objectives for public education, and practical staffing and material needs. The motion was seconded and passed with one recorded opposition (Nate). The subcommittee was asked to meet with Amy, the town events coordinator, before finalizing recommendations and to return with a proposed list for the board’s next meeting.

Next steps: the education subcommittee will (1) draft objectives for each proposed event (Oldbridge children’s visits, walk-and-talks in the park, Sunset Green Gatherings), (2) research partner availability and low‑cost materials, and (3) consult with town staff about scheduling and messaging so the town calendar and marketplace outreach can be used for promotion. The motion requires no immediate budget approval; any funding needs will be brought back to the board.