BRDC visits the Matthews Living History Farm Museum!

Click here for a gallery of the day's activities: GALLERY
Click here for a list of butterflies seen at the event: BUTTERFLIES

Through the great energy and support of Sandy Troth, and the Matthews Farm Museum staff, BRDC was proud to explore in the outdoors this last Saturday on those grounds. There is lots to discover in the fields and creek around the farm, and the setting was perfect. We also had the pleasure of sharing the event with Chestnut Creek School of the Arts, whose two volunteers , set up shop and fit right into our hands-on creative approach to learning in the outdoors. Local BRDC volunteers included Bob and Bill Perkins, Susan, Terry and Claire Gleason, Allen Boynton and Gale Kuebler, Jesse Pope, Jane Floyd, Michelle Pridgeon, Deborah Shell, and Laura Belleville. The farm staff also set up a creative blue bird house adventure, hosted by David Hauslohner, Sandy Troth and Sydney Rose Fant.

Among the activities were two stations set up by Jesse, chief naturalist for Grandfather Mountain; one consisting of highly technical gadgetry that read air temps at various altitudes, and the other a collection of bones, skins and feathers of a variety of critters, including squirrel, beaver, bat, sharp shinned hawk, and much more.

Allen and Gale helped with the critter station. Bob and Bill led a series of field trips concentrating on butterflies (butterfly images here-in by B. Perkins) and wildflower/insect associations.

Terry led field trips to the creek, with nets to gather and observe living aquatic creatures. Jane, Michelle and Deborah operated the flower press, concentrating on Queen Anne's Lace, complete with a live black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar, that feeds on Queen Anne's Lace. Kids were invited to create collages of the lace with butterfly printouts, and decorate as whim directed. Devin managed two stations, one devoted to deep local history defined by a collection of prehistoric projectile points, the other to brook trout and its ecology. Both of these stations had creative hands-on elements designed to draw participants closer to the moment, and were a big hit.

Claire brought her famous corn snake for another tiring day of being handled, along with a series of books on snakes and snakes as pets. Scott participated at all tables, accompanied a field trip, and kept attention on those coming and going...in other words, attempted to manage the event.

During the day we had two surprise guests. Chris Brooke, reporter from the Galax Gazette arrived late in the day with his wife, Beth, to take in the festivities including the last field trip. And Jack Pitcher, well known for his Star Watch contribution to a number of newspapers and journals, arrived with a gift of ginkgo trees and enthusiastic support. We hosted kids, accompanied by parents, friends and in some cases, grandparents, and everyone seemed genuinely captivated.

-Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Photographs by Scott Jackson-Ricketts, Robert Perkins, and Devin Floyd

Independence Day Weekend Event

July 3rd 2010
Historic 1908 Courthouse
Independence, Va.

Devin Floyd, who had driven down from Charlottesville the night before, and I met and set up on the courthouse lawn between 8 and 9AM. Soon joining us for the day’s activities were volunteers Cecelia Mathis, and Claire and Susan Gleason.

The main program, agreed upon by the Executive Committee, was designed around arrowheads found in Grayson County by the Floyd family over a period of years. The arrowheads were displayed for general inquiry as well as used for sketching models. Those who were willing, sketched a chosen artifact, and then used the sketch to match it to a chart, provided by Devin. From the chart one could determine the age and possible use of that particular arrowhead, while discussing and comparing the different examples on hand.

Claire Gleason brought her pet corn snake, the gentlest snake in the world. This attraction brought people to our table in droves, while Claire answered hundreds of snake questions and allowed any willing soul to hold and handle her snake. Claire’s mom, Susan, helped describe BRDC to folks, and tirelessly collected names and contact information. Cecelia shared her experience from the BRDC sponsored Spring wildflower walks, and enthusiastically drew curious people closer to the table and our arrowhead demonstration.

It becomes increasingly apparent that wherever one goes, parents, kids, grandparents and the rest of us all become enriched by the discoveries inherent to outdoor related activities. Many adults were fascinated by our small arrowhead display, and spoke of their own private collections or ones they knew about. Some of that information is contained in the contact list, and hopefully BRDC can return to those conversations in the near future.

As Grayson County’s BRDC initiative grows, so do the possibilities, endless and rich. It is great fun to see three or four generations gathered around such shared interests, and the curiosity displayed most edifying.

Big hugs to Cecelia, Claire and Susan!
Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Photographs by Scott Jackson-Ricketts and Devin Floyd