Free Environmental Justice Boat Trip

Event Details:

The Rachel Carson Council (RCC) is excited to invite you to our 2026 RCC Environmental Justice Boat Trip aboard The Henrietta in Wilmington, North Carolina (Cape Fear River) from 11am-1pm.

This signature event brings together students, faculty, journalists, policymakers, and local advocates to take action on biomass, greenwashing, and community health. If you, your students, or others in your community are passionate about environmental justice, civic engagement, or climate issues, we would love for you to join us.
Please note: After the trip, there will be an SIGN-UP ONLY catered lunch workshop hosted at the University of North Carolina Wilmington from 1:30-3:30pm; separate registration is required and SPOTS ARE LIMITED. The event is geared toward students. You will see the luncheon as an "Add on" event in your registration, available to the first 60 guests who sign up. The location will be Discovery Hall 1070, with free parking in the UNCW Visitor Lot (information here: https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/services/parking-transportation/parking/visitor-parking).

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Departure Time: Arrive at 10:30 AM sharp for an 11:00 AM boat departure—no exceptions! The boat is on a strict schedule.

Address: Cape Fear Riverboats, 101 South Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Info on bus/large vehicle parking (free): https://capefearriverboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cape-Fear-Riverboats-Large-Vehilce-Parking-info.pdf

Who Should Register for this Event?
This event is open to all! Specifically, we're thrilled to accept:

• Students (both undergraduate and graduate; all majors welcome)
• Faculty and staff who may want to attend, help coordinate attendance, or bring a class of students (highly encouraged)
• Advocates, conservationists, and general public
• Journalists and lawmakers/staff

What to Expect

Attendees will join a focused, on-the-water conversation with students, journalists, lawmakers, and local advocates. The conversation will focus on the ecosystems of the Cape Fear River and how the expanding wood pellet industry poses a threat to its forests, communities, and economy. The boat ride will last around 2 hours. We encourage everyone to bring their curiosity, questions, and commitment to “Go Forth and Be a Thorn.”
Following the trip, we’ll transition to an interactive workshop at UNCW designed to equip participants with tangible tools for taking local action (please indicate in your registration if you would like a spot at the lunch workshop; first-come first-served).

Please note that, by registering for this event, you consent to receive communications from the Rachel Carson Council.

Info: General parking information can be found here: capefearriverboats.com/parking. Cape Fear Riverboats also offers FREE parking for buses/large vehicles. See this link: capefearriverboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cape-Fear-Riverboats-Large-Vehilce-Parking-info.pdf)

Info: Our boat, the Henrietta, departs 11am and docks at 1pm.

Info: Following the boat trip, there will be a free, first-come first-served lunch workshop (1:30-3:30) at the UNCW Campus; REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Geared toward students. The location will be Discovery Hall 1070. There is free visitor parking available in the UNCW Visitor Lot, with information here: https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/services/parking-transportation/parking/visitor-parking. From the visitor lot, attendees will want to navigate to Discovery Hall 1070 (520 Kenan Hall Drive, Wilmington NC, 28403).

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