Date: February 18, 2023

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve

Speaker: Steve O’Neil, executive director of Earthshine Nature Programs

Arriving in his Chevrolet Bolt, fully electric vehicle, Steve will go over its features, demonstrate its workings, and answer all of your questions about this clean, green, smart, and surprisingly affordable technology that is here to stay.  Steve has been driving all-electric vehicles since 2013 and has driven tens of thousands of gas-free miles in his solar-charged EV, saved loads of money, and greatly reduced his impact on the shared environmental life-support system that we all call nature. With this program, you can learn how, like Steve, you can “Kick Gas” and experience the freedom and joy of driving electric!  As part of this program, Steve will also bring some of his solar-charged electric yard tools to demonstrate how gas is no longer needed on the roads, on the lawn, and even in the camp kitchen.

Part of this program will take place outdoors, so you have the opportunity to learn about EVs hands on!

Update: Steve’s friend, Jim Hardy, will be coming and driving his Tesla Model Y.  He and his wife Alice also have a Nissan Leaf EV and therefore all their cars are electric!  They are huge advocates of driving electric and using renewable energy, and Jim will be presenting the program with Steve.

If the weather is predicted to be nice-ish, instead of driving his Chevy Bolt, Steve will be bringing his solar-powered mobile outreach classroom – the SS NaSA PoD – and present the program outside. (Chairs can be provided).

If attendees also drive an EV, please feel free to drive it and share your story with everyone!

Steve is from Hendersonville, North Carolina and has worked as an interpretive naturalist for many years and with many organizations. Currently, he is a naturalist and environmental science educator with Trails Carolina and he is the Executive Director of Earthshine Nature Programs. He received is Associate of Applied Science in Wildlife & Fisheries Management from Haywood Community College and his Bachelor of Science in Recreation Mgt./Outdoor Experiential Education from Appalachian State University, and he loves to share his passion for forests, mountains, caves, swamps, and dunes – in search of all things and all places wild and wonderful – with youngsters and adults.

In order to make this an enjoyable and educational experience for participants, space is limited to 100 participants and pre-registration is required.

*Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).  Thank you.

**Do you want to learn even more about EVs?  Join Conserving Carolina and Steve O’Neil at the Hendo Earth Fest on April 22nd!

Contact Pam Torlina, [email protected], with questions or for more information.