The work is never done in the wilds of the Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Sanctuary. Even with two full-time employees, there is a to-do list longer than there are hours in the day. To help out, Audubon North Carolina opens the gates to college service organizations to complete much needed maintenance activities and inspire the next generation of conservation heroes.

Twenty-four student volunteers flocked to the Outer Banks as part of the University of Akron’s 2015 Alternative Spring Break Trip. On one day of their alternative break, the students helped paint Purple Martin birdhouses and an old hunting gear storage building, trim back trails and roads, and cut back invasive species. Audubon’s vision for the sanctuary and working on the grounds inspired the students.

The group spent just under a week working on a variety of projects in Dare and Currituck Counties coordinated by the N.C. Coastal Federation. In addition to working at the Sanctuary, the group completed oyster restoration projects, created rain barrels and constructed a rain garden.

If you have a college service group interested in work at our expansive sanctuary, please contact Robbie Fearn at rfearn@audubon.org or 252.453.0603.