Frogs of 3P Every year at Three Pines Project we choose an animal or plant to become our focus for the program year. It gives us a new lens through which to explore the natural world, build skills, ask questions and make connections we might otherwise miss. For 2026-2027, that focus is …. FROGS! We’ve had the Year of the Bird, the Year of the Snake and most recent, the Year of the Tree. Each one had a purpose. Birds helped us welcome new birders and discover the fun of commun

Our Spring Apprentice Training participants celebrate completing the program and receiving their certificates Many meaningful communities begin with people who are willing to learn, grow but also share their passion with others. At Three Pines Project, our Apprentice Program was created with that idea in mind: to invite teens behind the scenes of outdoor education and give them the opportunity to become leaders in nature. The apprenticeship, led by co-director Christy Porter,

Interview with Oana Duma: 3P Community Coordinator Oana Duma has been working in outdoor education for nearly a decade, facilitating groups from toddlers to teens. In 2024, she stepped into the role of Community Coordinator with Three Pines Project, where she has focused on building partnerships with outdoor education and environmental stewardship organizations while helping expand free community meetups across the tri-county area. When she’s not in the woods, she’s usually i

This month, Three Pines Project, formerly known as Nature Connect NC, celebrates ten years of outdoor education, community and connection to nature. While the name and programs have grown and evolved over time, the core of this work has remained the same: creating opportunities for children to learn about the environment, with the hope that they will care for it and protect it as they grow. This work began in 2016, when Brinkley Hutchings, after graduating from University o

The Nature Explorers had the chance to meet Elizabeth and Zach, with Pender Parks and Recreation, to share ideas and help imagine what the Abbey Trail-head project could become. Our Thursday Nature Explorers group had the opportunity to take part in something truly special and meaningful for our community this past Thursday, March 19. At the invitation of Pender Parks and Recreation, participants shared ideas and input on the future of the wide open space at the entrance of

Celebrating nineteen of our thirty-two inaugural members as they officially join the Young Eco-Illustrators Guild! New members were welcomed with their own field guide and a certificate to honor this milestone. Written by: Oana Duma, February 2026 The idea of a kid-made field guide didn’t begin as a big project, but simply as part of the seasonal curriculum for our most popular program, Nature Explorers, in 2022. Each participant chose a bird species to observe and journal ab