Accomplishments

Hosted annual First Day Hike with members and park visitors.
Organized, consigned and installed the Raven sculpture outside the visitors center.
Won grant for and installed new bike repair station for mountain bike trail users.
Provided funding for and participated in the first Halloween at the Park event.
Provided funding for hummingbird feeder on an ongoing basis.
Conducted first in a series of cabin-camping drawings for members.

Provided funding for Appreciation Baskets for partner organizations.
Provided funding for lunch for county Chief’s Meeting.
Donated and helped set up a mounting block for horse riders on the north side of the park.
Donated and helped install a hitching post on the north side of the park.
Provided filtered water pitchers for park staff use.
Organized a S’mores by the Fire event.
Provided funding for Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course snacks.
Put together and funded an employee appreciation lunch.

Assisted with ice storm clean up on trails.
Partnered with Park to host Raven Rock’s Viewing of “100 years in NC State Parks” and supplied s’mores, popcorn and hot cocoa.
Provided tools and water for volunteers for trail work.
Planned and ran 2nd Trail Trek event in conjunction with Park Centennial Celebration and Earth Day Celebration.
Funded musical guests and artist as part of Centennial Celebration and Earth Day Celebration.
Provided frog costumes for Earth Day Celebration.
Held Donut Days – gave away donuts and coffee and had fun with hikers and riders.
Provided educational materials and volunteer assistance for the park’s Nature’s Seedlings programs and other educational events.
Provided sugar for Hummingbirds.
Purchased cam hangers for displays on rock wall in Visitor Center.
Purchased donation plaques for Visitor Center displays.
Funded cabinets for artifact display in the Visitor Center.
Supported Raven Rock Rumble.
Supported Raven Lunatic Run.
Purchased inked stamps for State Park Passport books.
Provided trail markers for Park.
Provided food and beverages for Volunteer Celebration event.
Added 11 non-degradable benches to the park.
Provided costumes for “Owls” event/play.
Designed new Park t-shirts and ball caps for sale at the Visitor Center.
Designed the Park’s Centennial Celebration poster.
Promoted Park events on Facebook, MeetUp and this site’s calendar.
Held second annual Photo Contest.

Provided tools for bike trail work.
Planned and ran the Trail Trek event in April – approximately 30+ people participated.
Held multiple Donut Days in the Avent Creek Access area of the park. Gave away donuts and coffee and had fun with riders.
Installed a six-foot fire ring behind the park’s visitor center and held a members-only first burn event.
Installed two FRARO donation envelope boxes in the park.
Assisted with bike trail building.
Purchased and installed seven new no-rot benches donated by sponsors in both sides of the park.
Participated in ConnectNC‘s signature drive in Raleigh.
Provided educational materials and volunteer assistance for the park’s Pollinator Party in June.
Provided sugar for Hummingbirds.
Volunteered for Earth Day Celebration.
Provided educational materials for events at the park.

Set up a Facebook page and a Twitter
Established procedures for donation box and placed it in the lobby of the Visitor Center.
Developed a Conflict of Interest document signed by each of the board members.
Supplied materials for Hummingbird Program held at the park.
Sent three members to the 2014 NC Trails Workshop in Raleigh.
Set up a PayPal account in order to take donations and membership payments online.
Helped recruit volunteers and had several members help with switching out old picnic benches with new picnic benches.
Provided a cake and drinks for the Kids TRAC Trail opening.
Worked with Park to establish a new mountain bike trail system. This effort has resulted in the Park attaining nearly $200,000 in Recreational Trials Program grants.
Budgeted to supply the park with a season’s worth of sugar for Hummingbird food each year.
Created a regular event called “Donut Day”. Gave out donuts, water and coffee on the Avent Creek Access area of the park.
Developed a design and had t-shirts made to be sold at the Visitor Center.
Developed a design and had ball-caps stitched to be sold at the Visitor Center.
Provided lunch, water and work gloves, and promoted the Trails Stewardship Workshop that then worked on the Avent Creek Access are of the park in August.
Created volunteer-lead “Discovery Hikes”.
Provided materials for a Learn About Leaves program at the park.
Set up a Meetup group to promote events at the park.

Sent two members to the Friends of State Parks Conference.
FRARO members donated two telescopes to improve the park’s astronomy programs.
FRARO Board Member donated fishing poles and other education supplies to the park.
FRARO held a fundraiser at Smithfield’s BBQ.

A donation box was built (handmade) and donated to the friends group before its formation in March 2012.
Sponsored a very fun Special Fall Festival Event in 2012.
Established a website and designed a logo.
Joined the Chamber.
Had a banner made to be used at events and membership drives.
Set up and started sending a regular newsletter to members.
Set up a booth at the 2012 Lillington Fall Festival.
Sent two members to the Friends of State Parks Conference.
FRARO held a fundraiser at Smithfield’s BBQ.