48th Annual MRNR Keynote Speaker
The 48th Annual MRNR keynote speaker is wetland ecologist, wildlife biologist, and author, Thomas Biebighauser.
The Rally is back!
We are very excited to announce the return of the Naturalist Rally!! After a two year remote hiatus the 48th Annual Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally is back in full force May 6-8! Online ticket purchasing and room reservation is now available.
Volunteer Weekend (In Lieu of Summer MRNR)
A volunteer weekend with projects such as trail building, habitat improvement, and painting will be held in place of the annual Summer Naturalist Rally.
Spring Rally Wrap Up!
Once again we were unable to hold our traditional Spring Naturalist Rally, but that didn’t stop BRDC from getting people outside, engaged with nature, discovering, exploring, and sharing in the Mt Rogers National Recreation Area!
Spring Naturalist Rally Begins this WEEKEND!
Its not too late to get in on the fun! This Saturday, May 1st begins the Mt Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally: Scavenger Hunt Edition.
Get Yours Now!
Now is your chance to win great prizes and snag a limited edition MRNR T-Shirt!
2021 Mt Rogers Naturalist Rally: "Scavenger Hunt" Edition
Grab your ticket to the “Scavenger Hunt” Edition of the 2021 Mt Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally!
Remote Rally Going Strong
Another stellar day on the iNaturalist Project! The leaderboard shows 97 observers with over 2,800 observations and 840 species…WOW! This is so awesome!
Remote Rally Update!
The Mt Rogers Naturalist Rally: Backyard Edition is off to a fantastic start! It is delightful to have so many participants in our iNaturalist project. We love seeing you getting outside to Explore, Discover, and Share with us.
Summer Naturalist Rally Celebrates the Ecology of the Blue Ridge
Spectacular weather helped make the 2nd annual Mount Rogers Summer Naturalist Rally a wonderful success. The summer gathering is a great addition to the very successful Mount Rogers Naturalist Spring Rally, held for the last 43 years, giving naturalists an opportunity to observe species that change along with the seasons.
Join BRDC for the Summer Naturalist Rally!
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.
Searching for Big Red
For the Spring Naturalist Rally, Austin Thomas and I set out with a group in search of Big Red- a very large red spruce that is the second largest of that species recorded in Virginia. The rain cleared out and we had partly cloudy skies when we set the GPS coordinates for Big Red. With measurements of 77 inches circumference, 108 feet height and crown 26 feet recorded in 2010, our group was excited to stand at the base and take current measurements to update the tree's current status.
Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally
Although the weather kept some away, the 43rd annual Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally drew a large crowd of enthusiastic participants during the second weekend in May. Field trips on Saturday included several new opportunities such as Caving, Intro to Birding and Ecology of Grassy Balds, while many of the tried and true trips from the past also remained popular. With the rain giving way to cloudy skies and even a little bit of sunshine, conditions were wet but good for the hearty naturalist who didn’t mind a little mud.
Mt Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally May 12-14!
Three days of exploration & discovery for all ages!
Bring your family and celebrate Mother's Day in the most beautiful place on Earth. There is something for the entire family to enjoy with an expert speaker Friday Night, trips Saturday and Sunday, and nighttime programs at the campground. Topics include salamanders, wildflowers, geology, birding, cultural history, mammals, medicinal plants, natural history and much, much more!
Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally Registration Update
Due to an error on the 2017 Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally Brochure, there was no place to purchase Friday Night Dinner Tickets on the form. The Updated Registration Form can be printed, filled out, and returned by mail.
Mt Rogers Naturalist Rally Featured Speaker
FRIDAY, MAY 12TH THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 14TH, 2017
Three days of exploration & discovery for all ages! Bring your family and celebrate Mother's Day in the most beautiful place on Earth. There is something for the entire family to enjoy with field trips Saturday and Sunday, an expert speaker Friday Night and nighttime programs at the campground. Topics include salamanders, wildflowers, geology, birding, fishing, cultural history, mammals, medicinal plants, general natural history and much, much more!
1st Annual Mount Rogers Summer Naturalist Rally
After many years of thinking about a summer season rally, this August we achieved our goal. Gathering at the Konnarock Community Center for a potluck dinner and meet and greet, many new faces joined the familiar for a weekend preview of programs and hikes spanning from Friday night through Sunday morning.
Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally Biological Survey
As part of the Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally this spring, participants joined BRDC guide Devin Floyd for a biological survey of the rich forest at Grindstone Campground.
2016 Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally
What a fantastic Rally weekend! There was so much to explore and share!