A Week of Discovery
Thirteen kids joined BRDC at Matthews State Forest Pavilion for Discovery Day Camp.
Geology, birds, butterflies, cartography, stream ecology, primitive pottery interspersed with arts, crafts and hands-on activities filled our week. Thirteen kids joined BRDC at Matthews State Forest Pavilion for Discovery Day Camp.
On Monday, we learned about types of rocks and the rock cycle, minerals and crystals. Using play-dogh and sugar, the kids created examples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and crystals from sugar. Later in the day, they examined a local map and then created a treasure map and found the hidden treasure from their maps.
The interns from Matthews State Forest took the kids on a hike around the property on Tuesday finding leaves to create a "Book of Trees". They put their hands into the Mystery Box and tried to identify the objects found inside. We later found seeds, nuts and fruits of trees and played games.
Wednesday was primitive cultures and tracks and signs. They created pinch, coil and slab pots out of clay and later expressed their artistic talents painting these creations. We played a game focused around information gathered from tracks and then created tracks of animals of the Blue Ridge. In the afternoon, we hiked to find tracks of animals and made casts of these tracks.
Thursday continued our adventures with birds and butterflies. After basic binocular use, we explored the Forest for as many species of birds as we could find. They found fifteen species of birds! After collecting materials that would be used for nests, the kids built nests and played games such as Migration, Bird Beak and had paper airplane contests. These games emphasized adaptations, basic needs, and physics of bird flight. During the afternoon, we caught Silver-spotted skippers and Common buckeye butterflies.
Friday was a day of playing and exploring in a creek. After scouring the bottom and rocks for aquatic insects, crawfish and fishes, they spent the remainder of the day splashing around. What a great week of discovery and sharing. A special thank you goes out to Matthews State Forest for allowing us to utilize this great property to explore, discover and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge!
Summer Day Camps
BRDC staff and interns have been sharing the Blue Ridge with the kids of Grayson, Smyth and Washington Counties.
For the last two weeks, BRDC staff and interns have been sharing the Blue Ridge with the kids of Grayson, Smyth and Washington Counties.
Explorers Camp and Prehistoric Cultures Camp with Fairview Elementary, Prehistoric Cultures and Highland Games Camps with Baywood Elementary and our very own Discovery Day camp in Konnarock have filled our days with excitement and FUN!
The kids at these camps have joined us on explorations in the fields of ornithology, entomology, geology, herpetology, dendrology and stream ecology. They have traveled to new places, used tools and equipment of a naturalist and experienced the wonders of the outdoors. And this is just the beginning as our camps continue throughout the summer.
2018 Summer Camp registration is now open!
We are excited to announce our 2018 Summer Camps. Online registration is now open!Blue Ridge Discovery Center has put together six exciting camps for next summer, including backpacking, fly fishing, kayaking, ornithology, and two discovery day camps.
We are excited to announce our 2018 Summer Camps. Online registration is now open!
Blue Ridge Discovery Center has put together six exciting camps for next summer, including backpacking, fly fishing, kayaking, ornithology, and two discovery day camps. Even though each of these camps originates with different subjects of focus, they are all ultimately gateways to exploring the rich natural history of the Blue Ridge. There is nothing more powerful than spending time outdoors with mentors who can connect you to the wonders of nature.
ORNITHOLOGY CAMP
$355 (Members) / $395 (Non-members)
Wednesday-Saturday, June 6-9
4 days / 3 nights
Ages 9-13
NEW RIVER EXPEDITION
$355 (Members) / $395 (Non-members)
Wednesday-Saturday, July 11-14
4 days / 3 nights
Ages 11-15
WILDERNESS DISCOVERY
$455 (Members) / $495 (Non-members)
Monday-Friday, Jun 30 - August 3
5 days / 4 nights
Ages 11-15
FLY FISHING
$795 (Members) / $755 (Non-members)
Tuesday-Saturday, July 24-28
5 days / 6 nights
Ages 11-15
DISCOVERY DAY CAMP: KONNAROCK
$50
Monday-Friday, June 11-15
8:30am-3:30pm daily
5 Days including lunch and snacks
Ages 6-10
DISCOVERY DAY CAMP: GALAX
$50
Monday-Friday, June 25-29
8:30am-3:30pm daily
5 Days including lunch and snacks
Ages 6-10
We are keeping the limits of the camps low to provide an engaging experience for the kids and allow us to take flexible trips in the BRDC van. With this slate of camps we have the opportunity to serve 64 kids throughout the summer. We need your help getting the word out and connecting us with youth who could really benefit from our camps! Tell your friends and family about BRDC and get them signed up! You can sign-up and learn more on our webpage.
Of those 64 kids, we aim to offer 22 full scholarships to our camps, opening the door for everyone in our community to participate in these opportunities. If your child has a real drive to attend camp or your family has a financial limitation, we encourage you to apply for one of our scholarships at: Summer Camp Scholarships
BRDC Partners with Galax for Hands-On Summer Day Camp Fun
Continuing a successful relationship built through afterschool programs and weekend field trips during the 2016 and 2017 school years, BRDC partnered with Galax Public Schools this summer to offer four unique, weeklong camps in June and July. The camps were hands-on, experiential learning based, outdoor skills focused, and offered free of charge to 3rd-7th grade Galax students.
Continuing a successful relationship built through afterschool programs and weekend field trips during the 2016 and 2017 school years, BRDC partnered with Galax Public Schools this summer to offer four unique, weeklong camps in June and July. The camps were hands-on, experiential learning based, outdoor skills focused, and offered free of charge to 3rd-7th grade Galax students.
Pioneering Camp was one of the three camps hosted at Matthew State Forest new facilities at off State Route 58 west of Galax. Students learned first-hand about the ingenuity and grit it took to be an Appalachian pioneer. The students practiced lashing construction techniques, used to bind poles together.
During the Blue Ridge Explorers Camp, students got out and explored the broad range of ecological and recreational opportunities available within the Blue Ridge. The camp featured field trips to Grayson Highlands and Fairy Stone State Parks, the New River, Stone Mountain, and Doughton Recreation Area.
Archaeology Camp, dug into the recent and ancient human past of the Blue Ridge, focusing on the tools and techniques of archaeologists.
Discovery Camp touched on the variety of natural history subjects that are so richly accessible in the Blue Ridge such as geology, birding, forests, and aquatic ecology. The final day camp of the summer ended with a creek exploration where students discovered what critters lie beneath the rocks.
Discovery Day Camp
31 kids had a fun-filled week of exploration as part of BRDC's Discovery Day Camp. From splashing in the water and examining what lives in a mountain stream, learning to use a map and compass, studying birds, bugs, flowers and rocks, nature arts and crafts, fun games and songs, to the age old pastime of dropping handcrafted vessels into the creek, exploring the Blue Ridge has never been so much fun!
31 kids had a fun-filled week of exploration as part of BRDC's Discovery Day Camp.
From splashing in the water and examining what lives in a mountain stream, learning to use a map and compass, studying birds, bugs, flowers and rocks, nature arts and crafts, fun games and songs, to the age old pastime of dropping handcrafted vessels into the creek, exploring the Blue Ridge has never been so much fun!
Even the rainy Friday at camp, didn't stop these campers from having fun outdoors.
This Discovery Day Camp is funded through generous volunteer support and donations to provide interest-driven and hands-on educational opportunities for regional youth. BRDC would like to thank Nima Crotwell for the generous donation that helped make this week of exploration and discovery possible!