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. 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 

Join BRDC for the Summer Naturalist Rally!

Get Outdoors & Discover New Heights
August 18-20, 2017

EXPLORE THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MOUNT ROGERS, THE CROWN JEWEL OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

The Summer Rally gives us a chance to explore Mt. Rogers in a different season. We have assembled a wide variety of field trips with leaders who are experts in their field and able to make it understandable and interesting for everyone from inquisitive amateurs to accomplished naturalists.

GUIDED TRIPS INCLUDE:

• Mushrooms
• Butterflies
• Wildflowers
• Geology
• Birding
• Salamanders
• Stream Ecology
• Big Trees & More!

FEATURED SPEAKER

Ann Berry Somers, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, will discuss the natural history of the box turtle and the 100-year study The Box Turtle Connection (BTC), now entering its 10th year. 

An award-winning teacher of biology and wildlife conservation, Somers teaches courses on NC wildlife and sea turtles (travelling with students to Costa Rica to collect data). She serves on several conservation organization boards and is a member of the North American Box Turtle Conservation Committee. Her international work includes serving as a consultant for the “Safe Home for Turtles” conservation and education project at the University of Bengkulu in Sumatra, Indonesia.

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER
5:30PM @ THE KONNAROCK COMMUNITY CENTER

BRDC is excited to partner with the Independence Farmers Market www.independencefarmersmarket.org to provide high quality and locally sourced ingredients!  The meal will feature a meat or vegetarian option, plenty of local veggies, home-made baguettes, and a garden salad to die for. Home-made desserts will finish off the meal.

Dinner is by pre-paid reservation ONLY.  There will be no dinners sold at the door. Registration is due by August 14. Please join us for this great meal, catchup with old friends, and proudly support our local farmers with this opportunity to eat a locally sourced home-cooked meal.

Announcing 6 Camp Scholarships in partnership with Friends of Mount Rogers!

BRDC is seeking applicants for six full scholarships ($795 value) to our Discovery Camp, July 31 - August 5, Ages 9-12 or 13-15. Location: Base Camp, Troutdale, VA

The Rudolph and Louise Tilson Scholarship Fund was generously provided by The Friends of Mount Rogers in support of youth exploration of the Mount Rogers area.  Rudolph Tilson absolutely loved Grayson county and the Mount Rogers area, and was an active Boy Scout leader, avid camper, and outdoorsman his whole life.

The Friends of Mount Rogers is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation and enjoyment of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area by supporting it and its heritage through education, cooperation, financial assistance, and volunteer service. For more information, visit: www.friendsofmountrogers.org

The scholarships are available for the under-served youth in Grayson, Carroll, Galax, Ashe, Alleghany, Smyth and Washington counties. Qualifications include demonstrated financial need and residence within the core focus area. 

To apply for the scholarship, please fill out the following form and mail to Blue Ridge Discovery Center: Scholarship Application Form

The scholarship application will be open until July 1st, 2017. On July 5th, BRDC will notify the recipients of the scholarships!

For more information on the Camp, visit http://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/discoverycamp/

To learn more about the scholarship contact info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org or call 276.293.1232  

Wilderness Backpacking Camp June 27-July 1

Tue-Sat, June 27-July 1
5 days / 4 nights
Ages 13-17
Location: Mount Rogers, VA

SIGN-UP

One of the most rewarding opportunities of the summer is discovering more of the Blue Ridge in the company of exceptional guides on this multi-day backpacking expedition. On the trail, you’ll observe and document the wildlife we encounter along the way, including unique birds, trees, plants, insects, mushrooms, salamanders, and many others.

Learn new wilderness skills including meal preparation, orienteering, primitive technology and fire building! Join us on this journey through the highest mountains of the Blue Ridge and experience moss laden spruce-fir forests, shrub balds, and the best vistas in the East! (Backpacks, tents and sleeping pads provided).  

Visit blueridgediscoverycenter.org/wildernessbackpacking, call 276.293.1232, or email info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org for more information.

Mount Rogers Wilderness Camp

We finished off summer camp season by heading up the mountain and exploring the habitats of Mount Rogers with a basecamp at the Scales on Pine Mountain. Unfortunately we timed it with a massive system that brought three days of solid rain!!

After picking up the crew, the caravan of 4x4's crawled up the trail battling sheets of rain and a boulder covered road. When we arrived at the top 45 minutes later, it became abundantly clear that the rain had set in and our first task was to build some shelter. We all slipped on rain gear and started laying out our 16' wooden poles, making lashings and marking the corners of our tent shelter. A short time later we proudly huddled under our canvas tarp to get out of the rain! 

The first exploration of the trip was to check out the headwaters of Big Wilson Creek. The kids put on their wetsuits at camp since it was raining and down the trail we went. Fellow campers at Scales gave us some strange looks for sporting snorkel masks on top of the mountain! The kids insisted on getting to some holes deep enough to swim in so we hiked downstream until we came to a large plunge pool that was over six feet deep. The water was already dingy from the rain so observation was limited but the kids explored the edges of the pool and the falls. We tried our hand at seining for fish and came up with a small wild rainbow trout in the bubbles of a water fall. Max found an old beat up fly that still had monofilament attached to the hook and sure enough Zeke pulled out a small native drifting it through the current by hand! We also found lots of crayfish and even one that was munching on the head of a salamander. On the hike back we took a short detour to check out the Fraiser Fir Seed Plot and the Appalachian Bog of Sullivan Swamp. Lisa's ever delicious Walking Tacos were waiting for us at camp upon return. (Day 1: 3 miles)

Day 2. The camp awoke to heavy rains and but by 10am it had transitioned to a drizzle and then to a continuous cloud mist. After studying the maps the campers packed their day packs and slipped on rain gear and out into the weather we went. From the Scales basecamp we hiked west across the Southern Appalachian Shrub Balds of Pine Mountain and into Lewis Fork Wilderness in search of natural wonders. Even though the mist was thick, butterflies surfaced on multiple occasions including common wood nymphs and american coppers. During our snack break Max was convinced he saw a large black animal sauntering through the woods, so out came the binoculars and we went in hot pursuit hoping for a glimpse at a black bear. About a hundred yards away we found our subject, a massive black dog being put back on the leash by some hikers. 

Entering Lewis Fork the forest canopy protected us from the rain pouring down. While we worked our way deeper into the woods we found a huge black-bellied salamander, lots of red-backed salamanders, a dusky species and and one tiny pygmy salamander along the trails. Hiking through the High Elevation Cove Forest we came across a grove of massive red spruce trees that warrant future measurement for a possible state record! Nearing the end of the forest trail we became enchanted by what appeared to be a roar of wind from the ridge but upon further inspection we found a rather large creek running under the boulder field we were crossing. The rocks had a typical forest growing on top of it, so very disguised until you found an opening between the rocks to peer into. Returning to camp we picked a gallon of blackberries for the following night's dessert. (Day 2: 8 miles)

As the cooks prepped for a dutch oven lasagna dinner we did journal illustrations of observations along the trail. That evening we were joined by Christy and Ed from Friends of Mount Rogers who had sponsored four scholarship kids to the camp! The rain continued coming down so we circled under our shelter and got out the flint knapping kits. After giving a whack at some local rhyolite we had found along the trail, we moved on to more workable chert to produce some arrowheads with antler billets. As night fell it was cold and wet, so we built a small charcoal fire in the middle of our shelter and got out a deck of cards to play the ever fun game of assassin.  

Day 3: We kicked off the following morning with wild blueberry pancakes and bacon. After reviewing the maps, we packed our daypacks and set off for the highest point in Virginia: Mount Rogers. Throughout the day we went from hot, to drenched, to cold, to hot again three times! In between the waves of rain butterflies abounded and the birds sang their bright songs. In one short cycle the kids caught three species of fritillary: Meadow, Variegated and Aphrodite! Other butterflies included common wood nymph, red-spotted purple, pearl crescent, eastern-tailed blue, american copper, clouded sulphur and eastern tiger-swallowtail.

As we ascended the trail the spruce-fir dome of Mount Rogers loomed in the clouds ahead. After climbing on some outcrops we entered into the red spruce and fraiser fir zone at around 5,400' in elevation. The trail was wet and muddy and alternated between meadows, laurel thickets and spruce trees. Along the way we spotted high elevation breeding birds including golden-crowned kinglets, dark-eyed juncos, magnolia warbler, black-capped chickadee, cedar waxwings, common ravens, common yellowthroat, hairy woodpecker and heard the enchanting songs of the hermit thrush and veery. The magnolia warbler was especially cooperative, gleaning insects from the blackberries only a few feet away. Over Wilburn Ridge we spotted a soaring broad-winged hawk. Entering the enchanting spruce forest near the peak astounded all of the hikers.

Although we did not need any more emphasis, the moss laden branches illustrated just how wet it is at 5,729' in elevation. Happy with their accomplishment of reaching the highest point in Virginia, the kids parked it for a snack, mended blisters and soaked up the dense forest. The return hike featured the standard pony fare and a report of a black bear from hikers heading the other way. With endlessly wet feet and many miles behind us we stopped frequently to patch up blisters on worn feet. Returning to camp the kids beamed with the accomplishment of having the highest peak of Virginia in their bag! (Day 3: 10 miles)

At basecamp we did a fire building session for coals to cook our dutch oven blackberry cobbler. (I don't recall what was for dinner...) While the fire cooked down we finished some arrowheads and made cordage from dried dogs bane. After dinner wrapped up we kicked up a game of ultimate frisbee until darkness prohibited us to continue. The last evening of the camp finally brought crystal clear skies. We set up the spotting scope and watched the moon fall behind the ridge, counted the moons of Jupiter and looked in awe at the rings of Saturn. As we sat around the campfire a neighboring cowboy wailed a sad trail tune and the coyotes took up chorus on the surrounding ridge tops. The camper's eyes got as wide and bright as the stars above. Resisting sleep hour, the kids talked us into another round of assassin, but this time we played with a deck of bird cards with the menacing golden-crowned kinglet as the killer! 

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Basecamp at Scales

Day 4: The last morning we chowed on a Mountain Man Breakfast (hash browns, bacon, eggs and cheese in the dutch oven) then compiled a comprehensive species list of the camp on the whiteboard and in journals: all the birds, butterflies, mammals, salamanders, fish, insects, rocks and habitats we visited! The kids broke camp and we headed down the mountain in our 4x4 caravan to conclude one awesome year of Blue Ridge Discovery Center Summer Camps!

Many thanks to the Friends of Mount Rogers for making this camp happen by providing four vital scholarships. Their support allowed a group of local kids to explore one of the most amazing habitats in the world that just happens to be right in their backyards. Also thank you to the US Forest Service for allowing us to explore these fantastic lands!

Mount Rogers Christmas Bird Count

December 19th, 2010

We met in Volney, Virginia at 8 AM to receive our assignments from Allen Boynton, the

compiler for the Mount Rogers/White Top circle. This would be the 111th annual CBC

(http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count).

In order to prepare for a CBC day in the frigid high country, one must pack the

appropriate clothes, field binoculars and scopes, energy food, water and a truckload of

humor. Mica Paluzzi, Jim Minick and I were gifted part of area five and all of area four,

(which include both lower and higher elevations), thus offering us the chance to actually

see some birds.

We set off for Sugar Grove, (taking a short side jaunt down Homestead Road and back),

where we caught back roads to Buller Fish Cultural Station, along the edge of the South

Fork of the Holston River, and earnestly began our count. Ice covered the hatchery

driveways, so we took it easy and spent most of our time on foot. At first it looked like a

bust, but perseverance paid off as we quietly watched and waited. Peering into the woods

we found a mixed flock consisting of golden-crowned kinglets, Carolina chickadees, a

tufted titmouse, one downy, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, and blue jay. We noted crows

harassing a pileated woodpecker as Mica spotted a flyover flicker. On the water we

found a dozen mallards who spooked in mass, associating any human with a gunner.

While working our way back to the road, we observed the arrival of a lone fisherman,

who flushed three great blue herons and one kingfisher, causing us some jubilation.

Deciding to inspect the marshy spots at the entrance to the hatchery proved to be a sound

idea…yielding two of both Wilson’s snipe and killdeer.

Onward. Most of the lower country covered turned out to be residential, making

conspicuous and annoying our slow driving and rubbernecking. A few times did we

receive the impression that folks were not happy sharing the road with us, or scoping out

their bird feeders. But here it was that we saw the large portion of the 36 species tallied,

including rusty blackbirds, not always expected.

Relieved to leave the human density behind, we headed to Konnorock and Fairwood

Valley, on the way stopping for lunch at an iced-in overlook. While munching on carrots

and granola bars I spied a red-tailed hawk perched above the parking lot, and we three

got a decent look as it lifted up and away.

Many of the roads were either not plowed, or simply too slippery for safe negotiation,

so we played it safe and stayed on the main road alongside Big Laurel Creek, making

several stops and short hikes. A swampy zone gave us our hermit thrush and swamp

sparrow, the swamp being a ‘lifer’ for Mica. Nearby a feeder hosted purple finches,

(another lifer for Mica), a goldfinch or two, and the needed white-breasted nuthatch. Jim

kept finding turkeys, with our first handful found on Homestead Road, and last at the

very edge of our circle. Crows and juncos were abundant…where ever a birder be, so be

a crow, or more likely, many crows. Between crows (61), white-throated sparrows (19),

dark-eyed juncos (70), blue jays (31), mallards (28), and wild turkeys (25), our count

numbers grew rapidly.

We pulled into Grindstone Campground with determined hopes of adding a red-breasted

nuthatch and brown creeper. Joining us, on their way home, was another of our circle

group whose entire day had been spent in the higher elevations. Together then, we made

an effort to find either of these little birds, and just when we were about to give up, Mica

spotted a creeper flitting from one tree to another. His keen, (young), eyesight prevailed

upon the moment.

Not being satisfied without at least one winter wren, Jim urged us to stop at a couple of

likely wren habitats…along the fast flowing creek…and finally, we succeeded not with

one but two. Deciding that we were done, I nosed the truck towards ‘home’ and just as

we were crossing the circle line, we added two bluebirds.

It needs to be said that when otherwise perfectly rational people find themselves on such

a foray as this, they begin to wonder about choosing to spend a day in such harsh climate

over, say, sitting in a chair by a fire reading a book, cup of tea in hand. In defense of

what some would insist is a temporary condition of questionable sanity I offer this. The

winter landscape in the high country is infinitely beautiful, and cannot be experienced

through calendar pictures. Nope, you gotta be there, wind in face, toes and fingers numb,

laughing out loud at the pure joy of it all.

SJR