In July, we asked the Wolfpack community to share pictures and memories from a favorite park or an outdoor adventure for this special feature, “Where the Pack Plays: Favorite Parks and Outdoor Adventures.” We hope you enjoy this collection of memories and photos as much as we did. They might inspire you to go on a big adventure.

Emma Rossbyers

• Development Writer
• Development Communications and Stewardship

In July, my book club visited The Forks, an outdoor adventure resort in Maine, and I went whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River. It was a five-hour trip, and the first rapids — the Big Mama and the Three Sisters — were like a roller coaster and caused some participants to fall out of their rafts. I was one of the lucky paddlers who didn’t get knocked out, but those who did were hoisted back into their rafts unharmed. There was a calmer section of the river toward the end of the trip that allowed us to go into the water voluntarily and enjoy the pull of the current without the roller coaster feeling. I would do it again.

Val Schwartz

• Head of Admissions and Communications
• Institute for Advanced Analytics

I’ve visited 20 U.S. national parks and have had some very memorable experiences — such as riding a seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida and staying on a houseboat at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. One of my favorite trips was to visit Utah’s five national parks in May 2022. The cherry on top during that trip was a stop in Marysvale, where we rented a side-by-side vehicle and explored the Paiute ATV trails. While daytime temperatures for the earlier part of our trip were in the 80s, they dropped significantly when we were in Marysvale. So we layered up as best we could with the clothing we had and procured beanies and gloves at a gas station. This resulted in the absurdly colorful and oh-so-stylish ensemble I’m wearing in the photo above.

Jenny St. Jean

• Director of Classification and Compensation 
• University Human Resources

This summer, my family and some friends fulfilled a bucket list trip by spending 10 days in Ireland. The weather was perfect for the 20,000-plus steps we took each day hiking, sightseeing and soaking up wonderful memories. It rained only one day. My favorite memory from the trip was seeing the Slieve League. The sheer size and majesty of the mountainous cliffs are not exaggerated in the photo above.

Dave Herpy

• Coordinator of Extension Organizational Development
• NC State Extension

This summer, my family explored the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks during an unforgettable vacation in Wyoming. From hiking around Jenny Lake and horseback riding at Goosewing Ranch to spotting moose, grizzly bears, black bears, bison, bald eagles and other wildlife in their natural habitat, every day brought a new adventure. Beyond the incredible scenery, the trip gave us something even more valuable — uninterrupted time together as a family while disconnecting from work, technology and the pace of everyday life. It was a week of reflection, renewal and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

More Photos and Memories