Families are invited to get up close and personal with some of the Outer Banks’s most interesting and important vehicles at this year’s Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday, Oct. 17, sponsored by the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children and Hyde County Schools.
The family-friendly event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, offering children and adults the opportunity to climb aboard, explore and learn about large vehicles of all shapes and sizes while meeting the people who operate them and help keep the community running.
This year’s lineup is expected to include vehicles from Hyde County EMS, the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office, Tideland EMC, Marine Patrol, the tram, restored vehicle owners, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department and more. Organizers are also hoping to welcome a National Park Service vehicle — along with a VERY special, top-secret, over-the-top surprise vehicle that will be announced closer to the event.
Community partners will be on hand offering resources, information and activities for families. The Ocracoke Health Center will provide flu shots and goodies, while the Ocracoke School Student Health Ambassadors will engage children and adults in conversations about important health issues facing young people today.
The Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children will also provide free car seats to local families who bring proof of residency and a vehicle to the event so Partnership staff can install the seat.
This year’s event will also have an educational and career-focused component. Ocracoke School Career & Technical Education has been invited to coordinate a career fair portion of the event specifically for middle and high school students.
The goal is to give students an opportunity to meet professionals, learn about different career paths and discover the many roles involved in serving and supporting a community.
To accommodate the event safely, the portion of Irvin Garrish Highway in the block of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department will be closed from 8:15 a.m. until approximately 12:05 p.m.
Organizers who secured the road closure with NCDOT last year, have looped in the Hyde County Sheriff’s Department and Hyde County Manager Kris Noble to improve coordination around this year’s closure.
The goal is to ensure the closure is clearly marked, begins on time and the road is reopened as soon as the event concludes.
Organizers recognize that even a one-block detour can be an inconvenience, but hope the community will agree that a few hours of family fun, learning and connection are well worth it.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our children and families to meet the people who help keep our community running,” organizers said.
Local owners of trucks or interesting vehicles, as well as community organizations interested in participating, are encouraged to contact Nancy Leach at nleach@hyde.k12.nc.us.
Leach is helping coordinate the event in her capacity as a board member of the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children and as Director of Student Services for Hyde County Schools.
Taylor Cavaco, outreach coordinator for the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, is also coordinating from the Partnership’s Washington, N.C., office. You may also contact Taylor at taylor@bhckids.org.
