Local Park Outing: A Fall Evening at Jordan Lake

On Saturday, October 19, I hosted a Local Park outing at Jordan Lake to give students a chance to slow down and enjoy a fall evening outdoors without needing to travel far from campus. Only a short 30-minute drive from Chapel Hill, Jordan Lake was the perfect spot for a relaxed, community-focused trip.

We set up at one of the picnic shelters, hung hammocks between the posts, and got a volleyball game going. Before dinner, we walked down to the beach to watch the sunset. The sky lit up in warm shades of gold and pink, and for a few minutes, everything felt calm. Some people skipped rocks while others stood still, soaking in the view.

Once we headed back to the shelter, we fired up the grill and cooked burgers for dinner. Everyone also received an Oxo tumbler from the National Park Trust, which was a fun way to make the day feel special and encourage people to keep exploring the outdoors on their own. After dinner, we made s’mores, hung out in the hammocks, and listened to music as the night cooled down.

What made this trip stand out was how simple it was to bring people together. For many students, it was their first time at Jordan Lake, and several said they were already planning to come back.

I am grateful to the National Park Trust for supporting this outing and helping make local outdoor spaces more accessible. A beautiful sunset, good food, and shared time by the water reminded everyone how easy it can be to enjoy nature close to home.