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NEXT GENERATION
Since 2010, the Fire in the Pines Festival has shared the “good fire” message with the Wilmington, NC community with fun-filled activities.
By Michelle Ly, The Nature Conservancy
The Virtual Fire in the Pines Festival – October 2-10, 2020
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exhibit booths with hands-on activities to engage attendees in the natural resources related to longleaf pine and fire. Festival-goers learn while enjoying live music, watching performers and jugglers, going on hayrides, and observing a live burn. The most important component of FIP is that it is entirely free. There is no vending (besides food trucks). This allows educational outreach to reach folks of all socioeconomic backgrounds without any monetary limitations. Launching FIP virtually was a challenge but necessary to keep controlled burning a part of the virtual education platform amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual FIP would not compare to our in-person festival but instead would take a new identity of its own. This was also an exciting opportunity to expand our outreach outside of Wilmington to the whole longleaf range – from Virginia to Texas.
Many longleaf and prescribed fire advocates understand the importance of increasing public understanding of conservation and management. Still, we often lack the tools to engage one of our most captive audiences — KIDS! “While you’re in the grass stage” aims to inspire your inner educator by highlighting unique educational resources and activities from educators across the longleaf range. [ 38 ]
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Without fire, longleaf pine ecosystems wouldn’t survive or thrive. Neither would the incredible plants and animals that call this landscape their home. Fire festivals are a great way to engage entire communities in the benefits of prescribed fire. In Wilmington, North Carolina, the Fire in the Pines Festival has shared this message since 2010. Originally known as the Fire in the Lakes in the town of Boiling Spring Lakes, the festival was created for the community, by the community. The first festival was a successful, but small, gathering around 300 people. In 2014, the festival moved to Halyburton Park in the heart of Wilmington and became Fire in the Pines. That year the attendance grew to 3,000 and has been growing ever since! Fire in the Pines (FIP) is one of Wilmington’s most successful educational festivals. As many as 45 local organizations
