2022 Summer Camp Registrations Are OPEN!
Registrations are now open for 2022 Summer Camps.
We are excited to announce that registrations for the 2022 Summer Programs and Overnight Adventures are now OPEN!
BRDC offers a unique variety of summertime experiences suitable for youth ages 6-17 (please see individual Camp webpages for details). We feel confident that we have something for everyone -- kayaking and backpacking, fly fishing, survival skills, science experiments, and everything in between! We welcome novice and experienced naturalists who are interested in old-fashioned fun, learning about nature, and developing a sense of connection to this beautiful place that we call home. See the list of camps that will be offered next summer below. Please follow this link if you would like to be taken directly to the Summer Camps overview webpage, where you will be able to select the camp you’re interested in and Sign-Up: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/camps
New River Expedition
Primitive Skills
Wilderness Expedition
Fly Fishing Adventures
Nature Day Camp
Summer Camp Wrap-Up
As summer 2021 closes in, so do BRDC’s summer camps. The camps may have only lasted 4-5 days, but the camaraderie and memories will last a lifetime. Each camp brought unique experiences and challenges, as well as new skills and admiration of the Blue Ridge.
As summer 2021 closes in, so do BRDC’s summer camps. The camps may have only lasted 4-5 days, but the camaraderie and memories will last a lifetime. Each camp brought unique experiences and challenges, as well as new skills and admiration of the beautiful Blue Ridge.
New River Expedition
25 miles down the winding New River made for an exciting start to the overnight camps. Snorkeling, swimming, games, and hikes were all included in this exhilarating trip. Battleship and Ninja were games that sparked competition and fun; while exploring riverside plants and animals, kept us curious and enthusiastic. The heavy rain didn’t cause us to lose our spirits, but the occasional rock in the water may have caused a lack of balance! We waited for the rain to pass by skipping rocks and adventuring along the riverside. In the heat of the day, we cooled off by swimming in the river and resting under a refreshing waterfall. Fishing spiders, slimy salamanders, and crayfish were some of our favorite critter friends found along the way. The campers were always a delight, especially during our fun games or as we bonded around the fire.
Primitive Skills
During this week, campers learned primitive technology that can be used in survival situations. By the end of camp, they were no strangers to fire building; as Joe Flowers helped teach several methods to catch a spark. We were also involved in shelter building, flint knapping, and foraging. Something often asked while pointing at a plant or fungus was, “is it edible,” as we walked through the woods. Using the wild plants and fungi that we harvested, we made teas, dyes, and salad toppings. Carrie Sparks showed us other ways to utilize wild plants that we may initially consider weeds and appreciate them for the medicinal or edible properties they hold. Other skills gained from camp were basket weaving, cordage making, knife safety, and primitive trapping. Perhaps the greatest things from this week were the appreciation for primitive skills and friendships that go beyond camp.
Wilderness Camp
Adventure was no stranger to us during this week in the Lewis Fork Wilderness. Days were spent hiking and exploring the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, finding critters, eating blueberries, and singing our way into the mountains. We spent our nights under the stars, with the Milky Way visible in the clear night sky as lightning bugs flashed and the campfire crackled. The highlight of our trip was backpacking to the highest point in Virginia to the peak of Mt. Rogers, then sleeping in the clouds. Journaling our findings was a must, as we encountered many different species of plants, animals, and fungi. Campers learned basic navigation skills, binocular usage, and proper backpacking techniques. Birding was one of many interactive lessons, especially being on the hunt for the Northern saw-whet owl.
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing in the Blue Ridge was a great way to send off the summer. We fished in creeks, ponds, and rivers, in hopes that everyone could catch a big one. Fishing for the endemic brook trout made for a challenge to the campers, but the beauty of the pristine mountain streams made it worthwhile. Campers practiced casting daily in order to ensure they all could perform “the perfect cast.” Fly tying became a nightly ritual before turning in for bed. Music by the fire (and in the van!) was a great way to bond. Many of the campers were friends of years past. It was an enjoyable and unforgettable experience where old friends were reacquainted and new friendships were formed. And...everyone caught a fish! We consider that a success!
Thank you to the campers who participated this summer. All of you brought something special to each trip. We hope to see you all again soon!
Summer Camp Scholarship Opportunity
Through the generous support of the Smyth County Community Foundation, Blue Ridge Discovery Center is offering full scholarships for our overnight summer camps! T
Do you have a child that loves nature? One that really wants a deeper connection with nature and the wonders of the Blue Ridge? Well, we have a camp for them! If you reside in Smyth County, your child may be eligible for a great week of fun outside with our team of guides.
Through the generous support of the Smyth County Community Foundation, Blue Ridge Discovery Center is offering full scholarships for our overnight summer camps! This Foundation supports select initiatives that promote health and wellness within our community. What could be healthier than spending time outside engaged in nature? Check out our summer line-up and apply today!
Get ready to explore, discover, and share with BRDC at one of our unique overnight camps. Youth ages 11-17 welcome at all overnight camps!
Ornithology Camp - April 23-25 and September 17-19, 2021
From our basecamp, we will explore the region's top birding hotspots including the New River, Rural Retreat Lake, Whitetop Mountain, Fairwood Valley, Blue Ridge Parkway, and more! During the adventure, we will identify between 80-100 different species of birds!
Primitive Skills - July 14-17, 2021
From primitive fire building to tool making and wild harvesting, this camp offers a multidisciplinary approach to wilderness activities including hands-on crafts, natural history, ethnobotany, camping, wilderness adventure, and plain old fun!Wilderness Expedition - July 26-30, 2021
Learn new backcountry skills including meal preparation, orienteering, and fire building! 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. Join our expert naturalists and wilderness guides on this journey of discovery through the highest mountains of the Blue Ridge.
BRDC will provide all camp gear, meals, materials, and supplies for all camps. Personal gear, sleeping bag, and toiletries are required by participants.
New School Partnerships: Fairview and Baywood
We are excited to announce two new school partnerships this summer with Baywood and Fairview schools in Grayson County. Blue Ridge Discovery Center will be offering "Summer Camps" to each school as part of their summer school programming.
We are excited to announce two new school partnerships this summer with Baywood and Fairview schools in Grayson County. Blue Ridge Discovery Center will be offering "Summer Camps" to each school as part of their summer school programming. If you have a student attending either school, encourage them to come out for some outdoor fun this summer!
We will be offering three camps. A traveling explorers camp, visiting the New River Trail, Doughton Park, Fairy Stone State Park, and Stone Mountain State Park. A prehistoric cultures camp combining craft, cultural heritage, and natural resources. And the "Highlands Games" camp exploring all sorts of traditional Appalachian fun and games.
These programs are a great opportunity for Blue Ridge Discovery Center to expand our reach and reconnect our local youth with the outdoors during the summer months!
Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology
BRDC recently hosted a Primitive Technology course as part of Galax Middle School Enrichment Week. The students were engaged with a variety of hands-on activities that connected them to skills used by early American Indians and materials found in their backyards.
BRDC recently hosted a Primitive Technology course as part of Galax Middle School Enrichment Week. The students were engaged with a variety of hands-on activities that connected them to skills used by early American Indians and materials found in their backyards.
They learned flint-knapping with chert and obsidian; basketmaking with willow branches and oriental bittersweet, survival shelter building; making cordage with dog bane, milkweed and deer sinew; making glue from white pine resin, charcoal and dried grass; tanning with an elk hide; lashing with inner bark; hafting a spear; and building a fire with flint and steel.
The students enjoyed Flint-knapping the most, where they attempted to shape blanks of chert into arrowheads. Using deer antler, sandstone and leather, they chipped each piece down to size.
In groups they built survivor shelters including a lean-to, a wiki-up and a wedge-shaped lean-to. During the construction two of the groups got creative with the invasive oriental bittersweet, one building a swing and the other a hammock from the vines.
In a semi-circle the kids patiently processed Dog Bane (Also called Indian Hemp). They conducted a "silly rap off" while their hands went to work. They started by quartering the stem, removing the core and cleaning off the outer bark to reveal the strong fibers. They then hand twisted the fine strands into cordage to be used for basketmaking.
At the end of the week they learned fire building, collecting dry grass, tinder, kindling and pitch wood. After building a tiny "nest" of grass they placed a small piece of pocket lint in the middle and lit it with sparks from the flint and steel striker.
By the end of the course they had learned about the physical qualities of basic materials and how to go from found, raw materials to finished product.
