BRDC Summer Camp Announcement

Dear Camp Families,

We have made the decision to scale back on summer camps due to the ongoing threat of Covid-19. We are canceling all camps for the month of June and are limiting participation for the rest of the summer to a level that ensures we can meet safety guidelines. At the core of our decision-making process is first and foremost our ability to provide a safe environment for participants along with staff. Secondly, as a community-funded non-profit, part of our decision-making process is how to best serve our community in a time of great need. It is essential now more than ever for our youth to spend time outdoors, away from screens, and have access to essential education opportunities. Couple this with parents' need for childcare to relieve pressure from work and the situation becomes critical. The scale of our operations and mission puts us in a unique position to assist our community during this threat. We are therefore giving you our full commitment to providing a safe and enriching summer.  

Below you will find updates regarding this summer. Please feel free to reach out at any point with concerns or unanswered questions. BRDC is preparing modified safety protocols at this time and will have those available for parents to review prior to camp. This is an evolving situation, so more updates will come as the summer progresses. If at any point we are not able to operate the remaining camps due to state and federal mandates, or if the threat evolves to the point in which we cannot offer these services safely, full refunds will be provided to all participants.

Updated Summer 2020 Schedule (please visit: Summer Camps for more information):

Overnight:

• New River Expedition (11-17), July 8-11, 2020

• Wilderness Discovery (11-17), July 27-31

• Fly Fishing Camp (11-17), August 4-8

• Birding Expedition (11-17), Fall 2020

Day Camps: 

• Discovery Day Camp: Session I (6-10), July 13-17*

• Discovery Day Camp: Session II (6-10), July 27-31*

Canceled:

• All Galax Day Camps have been canceled

• All Science in Nature Camps have been canceled

• Konnarock Day Camp Session II July 20-24 is canceled (Session III now becomes “Session II”)

*The two remaining day camps will be located on the BRDC Campus.

If your camp has been canceled: 

We are as disappointed as you are with this cancelation. We hope your kid will be able to join a BRDC camp in the near future. Considering that this is a difficult time economically for both families and non-profits like Blue Ridge Discovery Center, we are making three options available concerning refunds for all cancelations: 

1. Credit towards space in another camp so long as space allows. 

2. Make your registration fee a tax-deductible donation to BRDC.

3. Full refund of the registration fee.

Please email us as at your earliest convenience about your preference and we will process right away.

Sincerely,

Aaron Floyd

Executive Director, Blue Ridge Discovery Center

FISH ON THE FLY

The rains came, the streams swelled, but that did not discourage our group of avid fly fishing campers. They spent every waking moment tying flies, setting up and taking down gear, loading gear, traveling, and FISHING! Lots of FISHING!

Learning to cast and practice, practice, practice makes for the best fly fishing success. Learning to set the hook and getting the fish to hand comes next. The best place to get that right is with pan fish in a farm pond. So that is the first place we go. And...it was a success. All of us caught fish. Since the rains had blown out the streams, we tried our luck for trout via kayak on a small lake, fun in and of itself.

As the high elevations streams rid their peaks of water, we decided to start at the top and fish for our endemic native brook trout. We landed a few fish and the falls, scenery, and rock climbing added to the wonders of the Blue Ridge and the sport of “bluelining”. This is the term used when we seek out the small blue lines of a map in search of elusive native fish.

Then there was the majestic New River. What a day we had. A vast 7-mile stretch of green water holding our prime target, the smallmouth bass. It was a long day but a productive one as multiple species of fish were landed; sunfish, bluegill, rock bass, and smallies all to the boat.

It was a fun and memorable experience where friends of years past were reacquainted and new ones made. We couldn’t have done it without the help of two wonderful guides that donated their time to these young men. Thank you to Matt Reilly and Joey Whisnant for your rafts, time, patience, and expertise!

Expedition on the New

Twelve eager young people and four BRDC staff set out on one of our favorite summer adventures: a four-day, three-night expedition down the New River, camping on its banks by night and paddling on its waters by day. The trip covered around 25 river miles with some Class I and II rapids adding to the excitement.

We snorkeled and swam before the river became churned up from the heavy downpours and then made good use of our time on land searching for insects and amphibians, all of which were found a plenty. A special treat was a nice dunk under a waterfall on the last night. Quite refreshing after paddling in the hot sun…no, we weren’t complaining after the rains, but it did get warm!

And there is nothing like a hot meal after a long day on the water. Breaking bread morning, noon, and night added to the camaraderie and friendship around the stove and the fire. Roasting marshmallows and eating key lime pie and cherry cobbler riverside can’t be beat. Games such as battleship, ninja, and ultimate frisbee kept us competitive and laughing all the while.

We couldn’t have asked for a better crew and surely lifelong friendships and memories were made. At least they were for us! This camp is supported by the 2018 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia. Thank you for your support in purchasing kayaks and helmets to keep our kids safe and actively exploring, discovering, and sharing the wonders of the Blue Ridge!

Birds of a Feather

Birders are passionate about birds. Age plays no factor here. From 9 to 99, they love them all and will sometimes go to great lengths to see them. The campers at BRDC’s Ornithology Camp were tough! It was cold (for June) and the days were long but nary a complaint came from a one of them. They were on a mission to see as many species (mostly new ones) as they could in our time together.

We visited multiple habitats where a diverse number of birds could be seen. It’s that life list. A list of all the species one has seen. Everyone added birds to their list! We managed to hear and view nearly 80 species from hummingbirds to bald eagles. Not only did they observe birds all day each day, but we listened for and saw them at night too. We viewed the Center’s resident screech owl and attempted to hear a Northern saw-whet owl.

This camp was the epitome of all that is BRDC. We explored an array of habitats, discovered new birds, and shared it with the world. As rain entered the forecast and our day, we sought shelter in the cottage at the Center. We connected to eBird as citizen scientists and documented our findings in the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas. Did I mention that they also observed all birds for breeding activity? Well they did that too! It was not just “I see hummingbirds!”, it was “Oh…they are building a nest!” For every species seen, our ornithology campers also noted any type of breeding behavior, be it nest building, food gathering, or singing.

This was an amazing bunch of passionate, knowledgeable young people. We all learned from one another and shared that information lovingly and cheerfully. Our feathered friends are in good hands.

A big THANK YOU shout out to Allen Boynton, Katie Cordle, and Aaron Floyd for all their help during this very special camp!

New River Expedition 2018!

Being in the thick of winter we thought it might be a good time to compile the footage from our New River Expedition last summer, when the days were hot, long, and filled with all sorts of fun! Going through video clips from summer camps always cracks me up. You never fully hear all of the conversations taking place in the field but the microphone captures all, so I had to put some captions in here just for clarification! As much as our camps are about exploration and experiential learning, the greatest thing about camp is ALWAYS the personalities of the kids. It never fails that we have one or two comedians on the trip to keep us highly entertained! (wait till you hear the Russian/Trump impersonation on the Fly Fishing Camp)

The New River Expedition is one of those adventures that will stick with you for a lifetime, embedded in your identity. With all the gear packed into canoes and kayaks, we start down the river on a 4day/3night trip, pitching camp in three different locations. Along the way we snorkel, fly fish, go on an owl prowl, portage a dam, look at birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and aquatic insects, we talk about geology and riparian ecology, and we do LOTS of swimming. We keep them well fed with snacks and camp meals to fuel their 72 hour adventure. In the end, when we arrive at the boat ramp, we are all cooked! No doubt these kids crash into sleep in the backseat of their parent’s cars, and maybe hit up Arby’s right away, hehehe, but I imagine that their reflection on the trip begins immediately as they recite stories to family. I also imagine that, like us, they are dreaming of their adventure during the cold winter days of January!

Looking forward to 2019!

Proud Virginia Wildlife Grant Recipient!

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia have partnered together to support engaging youth in the outdoors with a grant funding program. This effort is supported through gear purchases, fundraisers and private donations.

This year, BRDC applied for and received this grant to help meet our mission and get youth outside and engaged through kayaking, providing them with the opportunity to learn an enriching lifelong hobby and acquire basic outdoor skills such as camping and fishing. This grant will also provide comprehensive, safe paddling opportunities to our regional youth.

We thank VDGIF and WFV for supporting our youth and assisting us in connecting youth to the outdoors!

Discovering the Wilds of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

It is Wilderness Discovery Camp. Five days based at Scales Campground with daily excursions covering approximately 30 miles of trail. They left no area unexplored, seeking new discoveries at every turn.

A full camp of 8 guys and gals took on the challenge, come rain or shine, of traversing two wilderness areas and reaching the highest peak in the state of Virginia: Mount Rogers. They caught butterflies, salamanders, toads, aquatic insects, crawfish. Saw birds, wild ponies, experienced a multitude of trees and habitats, and learned map and compass skills.

Every evening before dinner, they documented their day in a journal with words and drawings then shared that with the group; each highlighting something special and unique. The rains that came did not deter this bunch. They huddled up in the walled tent for card games and conversation. This bunch was numero "UNO"!

Fly Fishing Camp

Seven young lads joined BRDC for a week of fly fishing in southwest Virginia. They set out to experience all the habitats and environs of the prominent fish species of the area and that they did! Who knows how many fish they actually caught but I know they caught at least 8 species of fish.

We began teaching them the basics of fly casting in a field and quickly let them test the waters of a local pond. They wasted no time catching three of the species: Bream, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Even at night, they had it down using no lights and nothing but the sound of their flies "popping" across the dark water.

Each day they practiced and perfected their cast and learned new techniques such as shooting line, roll casting, and hauling; even Tenkara style fly fishing. They made flies by night and cast them to potential fish by day. It was "FISH ON" for the rest of the week as they traveled to stocked trout streams, tailwaters, high elevation streams and the New River. They caught all three species of trout as well as smallmouth bass and sunfish.

They experienced fly fishing to the fullest extent possible in a little less than a weeks time. They ate good food, played games and roasted marshmallows for S'more's...how much better could it get?

The Crew on the New!

What a great expedition along the Upper New River! 10 kids joined BRDC guides Lisa, Joe and Aaron for a 4 day, 3-night adventure on the New River.

Loading their gear for the trip at the "forks" in North Carolina, the Crew pushed off the banks of the New and traveled downstream for four days covering roughly 20+ river miles ending at the Independence Boat Launch. The weather, the water, the camping, the food and the camaraderie were great. Couldn't have asked for a better crew of kids.

Kayaking was not all they did though. They snorkeled for hellbenders and treasures hidden on the bottom (a trip long companion accompanied us, rightly named "potty" - was a hefty stainless steel pot that they adopted as the trip mascot); they fly fished for the spunky smallmouth bass, and they swam and jumped and floated through plunges and pools. Their skills were tested and all persevered the challenges of the New.

A special thanks to all the people who made this such a great experience and helped create memories that will last a lifetime: Keith Andrews, Lisa Benish, and Jim and Andrea Bradshaw for the use of their kayaks, Paddleyax Kayaks for a generous donation of a tandem Vibe kayak, and several property owners that allowed us safe respite from the waters each night.

A Week of Discovery

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

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.

Budding Birders

Blue Ridge Discovery Center kicked off the Summer Camp season with our Ornithology Camp! Seven fun and energetic kids joined guides, Jay Martin and Lisa Benish for four days and three nights of non-stop birding (and the occasional butterfly hunt). 

Exploring various habitats such as riparian zones, meadows, lakes, grassy/shrub balds, high elevation and Spruce/fir forests allowed for a list of over 60 species to be seen and heard. From the New River to Whitetop Mountain and places in between, the young birders explored, discovered and shared the avian wonders of the Blue Ridge. Along with a rare sighting of the Swainson's warbler, three species of butterflies were added to the BRDC butterfly collection!

Scholarships offered for 2018 Summer Camps

Through the generous support of the Great Outdoor Provisions Company and Mitchel Morton and Johnny Foster of Foster Lake and Pond Management we are able to offer four full scholarships to local youth to our summer camps! Ornithology, Fly Fishing, New River Expedition, and Wilderness Discovery! Learn more about these camps here.

APPLY NOW for need and/or merit-based scholarship today!

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. If you have a student attending either school, encourage them to come out for some outdoor fun this summer! 

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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!

BRDC and Fairveiw Elementary School

Blue Ridge Discovery Center is excited to be adding additional opportunities for the students at Fairview Elementary School. We currently provide our K-2 Reading program and Natural Heritage Programs there for the 1st and 5th grades. Now, as part of their 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, we will be providing after school enrichment three days a week and three weeks of summer camp!

Through the remainder of the school year, we will immerse the seedling scientists (K-2) and the junior naturalists (3-5) with hands-on, experiential outdoor education revolving around the Blue Ridge. This summer we will bring even more adventures their way. We thank Grayson County Public Schools for supporting our mission!

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 

Discovery Camp

While camping along Fox Creek in Grayson County, campers were immersed into the wonders of the Blue Ridge. The week-long Discovery Camp included activities such as snorkeling Fox Creek, photography, catching butterflies, birding, primitive technology, and local geology. The campers gained skills to become naturalists while experiencing the ecological wonders of the Blue Ridge. 

Six local children attend the camp through The Rudolph and Louise Tilson Scholarship Fund. which was generously provided by The Friends of Mount Rogers in support of youth exploration of the Mount Rogers area.  

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

Camp on the Fly

What an awesome week of fly fishing! Not only did these kids learn and hone in on their fly rod casting skills but they caught 9 species of fish! Each day we targeted different fishes on different water.

Everybody started the week-long Fly Fishing Camp by learning how to cast a 5 weight fly rod. Each day we advanced instruction to include shooting line, roll casting, and hauling. We also had daily casting competitions, always with a different goal: distance, accuracy, or technique. Other activities included snorkeling, Tenkara fly fishing, reading water, and of course, fly tying. 

Our first fishing adventure was on a pond with self made poppers. Large mouth bass, crappie, and bream were caught by everyone. The second day had us exploring a high elevation stream for southern Appalachian brook trout...which everyone also caught! The next two days we spent on the New River fishing from rafts hammering the smallies, red eyes and sunfish. Our one rainy day was spent on a wild trout stream catching rainbows and browns nymphing with pheasant tails and hare's ears standing in frigid waters taking a beating by the rain. Cold and soaked to the bone, these kids were never discouraged or gave up!

They met the challenge of creating an imitation fly, casting to a specified target and setting the hook on a number of species in different bodies of water. 

An Expedition on the New

The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world and Alleghany and Grayson Counties are graced with its presence. BRDC shared its majesty with 9 eager kayakers during a 4 day/3 night camp we call New River Expedition.

Carrying all provisions in canoes and kayaks, camping at canoe-in-only campgrounds or on private, remote islands allowed these campers to see and experience the beauty and tranquility of the New River. Traveling past meadows and farmland, through rugged hillsides and craggy rock cliffs, on flat water and Class II/III rapids accentuated the power of this ancient river.

Each day, these campers traveled 6-9 miles down the river honing in their boating skills. They loaded and unloaded their gear and set up camp every night. Campfires were built, dinner was prepared and hammocks were hung. And along the way, they learned fly fishing, snorkeled, investigated nighttime wildlife and learned about protecting our riparian zone and the web of life associated with this river. Eagles flying overhead, floating down rapids in and out of boats, jumping off rocks, playing games and telling stories, and the camaraderie among campers and guides along this age old river, will not soon be forgotten.

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.

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.