2023 Wayne County Teachers Retreat – Beaufort

This page is for REGISTERED participants of the 2023 Teachers Retreat in Beaufort, NC. Please read all details carefully so that you are prepared to have the best frustration-free arrival possible. We also recommend making a plan for how you think you’d like to spend your free afternoon on Tuesday well before arriving, to ensure you get the most out of your time. Make sure you also pack according to what you will need based on what you decide.) Questions about the retreat can be directed to CarolinaK12@unc.edu.

Event Date & Agenda

The 2023 Wayne County Teachers Retreat will take place Monday, July 24 –Wednesday, July 26. (Please remember that attendees must be able to attend all sessions, including Monday’s Teacher Appreciation Dinner. The Tuesday evening sunset sail is the only optional activity.)

CLICK HERE FOR THE AGENDA.

Cancellations

Please remember that this retreat, valued at over $1200 per teacher, is being provided FREE OF CHARGE by the Wayne County Friends of Public Education. There is an extensive waiting list to participate, so if you are registered and find at any point you cannot attend, it is critical you contact us with a cancellation notice by contacting our registrar, Brian Entzminger, at entzming@email.unc.edu or (919) 962-1544. Failing to cancel and then not showing up results in extreme financial and resource waste, and prevents another teacher from filling the coveted spot. A $75 “no show” charge may be applied to your credit card if you do not show up or cancel in a timely fashion. (***Please note that cancellations related to an emergency or sudden illness will not be subject to a charge, but it is imperative you provide as much notice as possible so that our staff can plan accordingly.)

Monday & Tuesday Location & Parking

The first two days of our event will be held at the Beaufort Hotel, located at 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort, NC 28516. We will be in the Upstairs Ballroom, accessible via the stairs or elevator in the main lobby. (Just head towards the row of windows facing the water upstairs, and you’ll find us!)

The self-parking lot is located on the LEFT, right BEFORE reaching the right-hand turn into the Beaufort Hotel. Look for signage on the LEFT of Lennoxville Road that says “EVENT PARKING” in red – it is a gravel lot with iron fencing. The walk from the parking lot to the hotel entrance is less than 4 minutes. Valet parking is also available at the hotel for $15 per day. If you choose to valet, you will need to cover the cost on your own by providing a separate credit card for the parking charges.

If you are self-parking and have luggage, you may want to pull up to the front of the hotel, drop your luggage off with the front desk, and then return to the self-park lot.

Our event will kick off on Monday, June 26 with lunch and registration between 12:30 – 1 pm. Please plan to arrive in Beaufort no later than 12:45pm to give yourself time to park, make your way to the upstairs ballroom, and get your lunch.

Overnight Guests/Hotel Information

Click here for information about the hotel’s rooms and accommodations. The hotel also has a pool, fitness center, and shuttle service.

Hotel guests can check into your room at 4:15pm. (You can either leave your luggage in your trunk until this point or leave it with the front desk upon arrival. A few rooms may be ready for early check in before our 1 pm start time. You are welcome to ask at the front desk about early check in, but know there is no guarantee rooms will be ready early. Please also ensure you will still have time to join us in the Upstairs Ballroom no later than 1 pm.

***When you check in, you will simply provide your name at the front desk and let them know you are with the Teachers Retreat. You will need to provide a credit card for incidentals, but your card will not be charged unless you make a purchase (i.e., put a meal or drink from the hotel restaurant or a purchase from the gift shop on your room; utilize valet parking, which is $15 per day; etc.) Typically, your statement will show a “hold” from the hotel on your list of “pending transactions”, but this hold does not become a charge if you do not make any purchases. Remember, the cost of your room is entirely covered by us. (If you do not have a credit card that can be used for incidental security at the hotel, please send a message to CarolinaK12@unc.edu so that we can make an alternate arrangement for your room.)***

***If you would like to book an additional night at the Beaufort Hotel using your own funds, they are offering a discounted rate for teachers for Sunday evening and/or Wednesday evening ($219 a night, plus tax.) To extend your stay, you will need to call the Beaufort Hotel directly and speak with Alyce Kelly, Senior Sales Manager, at 252-838-7237. While Carolina K-12 will be covering the cost of your room for Monday and Tuesday evenings, you will need to provide a separate credit card to cover any additional nights you choose to add.***

Wednesday Event Location & Parking

Wednesday will be an truly experiential day, so pack your sense of wonder and adventure! We will meet first thing in the morning on Harkers Island at the Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor’s Center, located at 1800 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531. Make sure to give yourself time to check out of the hotel and make the 30 min. drive to Harkers Island – you’ll need to arrive between 9 am – 9:30 am. We suggest locking any luggage in the trunk of your vehicle.

Parking is available in the lot of the Visitor’s Center, and also at the adjacent Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, located at 1785 Island Road (where we will end up for the end of our day.) 

Dress Code/What to Bring

Our time in Beaufort will be during the summer, so prepare for the heat – but also prepare for being potentially chilly in-door spaces.

• For Monday & Tuesday:
  • The dress code is professional/business casual while at the Beaufort Hotel.
  • While summer will be quite warm outside, we recommend packing a sweater or jacket in case the seminar room is chilly.
  • Our day on Monday will end with a private bus tour of Beaufort, which will drop our group off for our Teacher Appreciation Dinner at Queen Anne’s Revenge Restaurant in downtown Beaufort. Transportation will be provided back to the hotel at the end of the evening. Dinner is also business casual; there will be a break between 4:15 pm and 5:15 pm for check in, during which point you can change should you choose.
  • Check the weather in Beaufort before leaving home; you may need to bring an umbrella and rain gear, as our activities are rain or shine (if conditions permit.)
  • The Beaufort Hotel does have an outdoor pool and a fitness center. There is also an abundance of access points throughout the area to fresh salt water for swimming, kayaking, and other water sports – as well as nature trails and hiking possibilities. Pack accordingly depending on how you like to spend your free time!
  • Technology? You are welcome to bring your laptop on Monday & Tuesday if you choose, and free WiFi is available. However, you will not need a computer for the sessions and we invite you, in the spirit of a true retreat, to unplug! Please also keep in mind that your computer will need to be stored in your locked vehicle during our Cape Lookout excursion on Wednesday.
• For Tuesday evening’s sunset sail, dress comfortably. You might be most comfortable in clothing that won’t blow around.Once the sun goes down, you might want a light jacket. ***All footwear should be rubber soled and non-marking (a light color that won’t leave smudges on the deck of the boat.)*** You are also welcome to sail barefoot!
  
• For Wednesday’s excursion, make sure to dress for being outside & active in the elements – it will be very hot and much of the trip will be in direct sun. Prepare also for sand & mosquitoes, etc. (Also prepare for seeing one of the most beautiful places you can imagine!) When choosing your clothing and footwear for Wednesday, remember that we’ll be climbing up and down from the back of flatbed trucks and out in sandy terrain. We recommend COMFORTABLE athletic sandals that can get wet. (We end with some time at the beautiful seashore, and believe us you will want to get your feet wet – if not all of you! You are even welcome to wear a swimsuit underneath for a quick dip!) Bring with you: 
  • Water (no glass bottles are allowed on the ferry)
  • Sunblock, a well-fitting hat & sunglasses
    
  • Insect repellent (ideally unscented)
  • The riding tour of the Cape will be in the back of uncovered flatbed trucks. If you are sensitive to the sun or overheat easily, you may want to bring an umbrella to cover yourself with as well.
  • Any medications you might need
    
  • Please make sure any backpack or tote is as small as possible; space (especially in the back of the trucks) is limited.
  • We will have coolers of cold water & snacks, but feel free to bring your own if there is something in particular you like. Heat zaps energy, so we’ll want snacks and water to sustain ourselves!
  • Avoid flip-flops or any shoe with a heal. Wed. is a day to be comfortable and not cute! 

Meals

• Lunch and snacks will be available for all participants throughout all three days of the event. A plated breakfast will be provided on Tuesday, and a transportable continental breakfast on Wednesday before our ferry ride to Cape Lookout.
• A Teacher Appreciation Dinner will be provided on Monday night in downtown Beaufort. (Make sure you have chosen your course selections NO LATER THAN JULY 10 using this form.)
• To allow you time for independent exploration, your afternoon is free on Tuesday and dinner is on your own on Tuesday evening. There are many dining options throughout Beaufort and beyond. The hotel offers shuttle service to/from downtown.

Pre-Readings

It is impossible to even being to cover the expanse of NC history, heritage, and culture in just three days, so understand that the goal is that you leave excited and wanting to learn more. (And you’ll leave with several free resources to continue your explorations!) To get the most of your time with us, please read and view the suggested resources below. While these items will not necessarily be discussed, they will provide an important foundation to your time in Beaufort and Harkers Island.

• “IT’S BORN IN US”: A Conversation with Barbara Garrity-Blake and Karen Willis Amspacher
• Catch: North Carolina Seafood
• Hatteras Island Weather
• Harkers Island Boat Builders
• Menhaden Chanteymen: Music was on the Water
• Core Sounders: Living From the Sea – The Emmy-nominated television documentary about the community of fishermen on Core Sound in the area known as Down East in North Carolina.
• The Carolina Brogue – Two excerpts of this documentary are available at the bottom of the page.

These readings may also be of interest, but are not required:

• “They have got hold of the Bible”– Beaufort, N.C. and the Civil War
• The Color of Water (This is a 10-part series by David Cecelski that explores Jim Crow in North Carolina’s coastal region. Scroll to the bottom to read each entry in order.)
• “We Are Five Africans Seeking Freedom:” A Civil War Story from Beaufort, NC

Area Information/Things to Do on Your Free Afternoon

A true retreat involves time to rest, reflect, ponder, and explore. Choose your own adventure for the remainder of the afternoon, which might involve one of the suggestions below, a dip in the pool, or even a nap in your room! (We recommend making a plan for how you think you’d like to spend your afternoon before arriving, to ensure you get the most out of your time. Make sure you also pack according to what you will need based on what you decide.)

• Beaufort Historic Site: North Carolina’s third oldest town, Beaufort lies on the coast bordering the southern tip of the Outer Banks. Originally a fishing village and port of safety dating from the late 1600’s, Beaufort has been visited by patriots, privateers, merchants, and skilled craftsmen who built Bahamian and West Indian style homes and public buildings. Approximately 150 of these restored historic homes proudly bear plaques noting names of earliest known owners and dates of original construction.
  • Use this map for a self-guided walking tour of the town. The Beaufort Historic Site’s Old Burying Ground also offers a self-guided tour map, as well as an online app available for download,
• NC Maritime Museum in downtown Beaufort reflects coastal life and interprets lighthouses and lifesaving stations, the seafood industry, motorboats, and more. Parking and Museum admission is free.
  • The Watercraft Center, across the street from the Museum, is a working boatbuilding facility that comes alive with the sounds and smells of traditional North Carolina wooden boat-building. It is open to the public and makes for a lovely quick stop.
• Atlantic Beach is around 20 minutes (pending beach traffic) from Beaufort and offers lots of beach access, dining options, shopping, and more.
• Fort Macon State Park is an 89-acre park along Atlantic Beach, which features a pre-Civil War fort that offers daily guided tours and frequent demonstrations. Extensive exhibits educate visitors on fort history and the natural surroundings. Gorgeous inlet views, beaches, and hikes are at every turn. (Fort Macon is free; it is a 20+ minute drive from The Hotel Beaufort, pending beach traffic.)
• NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores takes you on a journey from North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains to the open Atlantic Ocean with thousands of aquatic animals. (Tickets are $12.95 and sell out; reservations are required and should be booked as early as possible.)
• Rachel Carson Reserve is a scenic slice of preserved natural landscape that is an enticing destination for birdwatchers, kayakers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts. A number of ferries & water taxis depart from the Downtown Beaufort waterfront along Front Street, or book a private adventure tour from the hotel.
• Other tours and experiences: https://www.beauforthotelnc.com/adventure-experiences/

If you are participating in our private sunset sail with Lookout Cruises, please meet on the docks behind the Beaufort Hotel, where our private catamaran will pick us up – boarding begins at 6:40 pm with a prompt 7 pm departure.

Special Accommodations

If you have any type of mobility issues or need any kind of special accommodations to make you more comfortable during the retreat, please e-mail us ASAP at CarolinaK12@unc.edu.

Please make sure to note any dietary restrictions when choosing your dinner selection on this form. (If caterers are unable to accommodate, we will provide notice so that you can make alternative dining arrangements.)

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Bonnici at CarolinaK12@unc.edu.

Our Generous Donors

This event is hosted by Carolina K-12 at UNC-Chapel Hill, with funding generously provided by the Wayne County Friends of Public Education. These are local citizens and small Wayne County foundations and businesses who want to show their commitment to public school educators across Wayne County with a high-quality, all-expenses-paid opportunity to learn, feel appreciated, and rejuvenate after an incredibly difficult few years!