Galax Elementary Winter Enrichment Week
After nearly a month of planning, BRDC along with other community organizations, teachers and the Galax City Public Schools’ administration office, came together to offer elementary and middle school students a wide array of educational options and opportunities. BRDC’s role focused on four programs: National Fishing in Schools, led by Aaron Floyd and Lisa Benish with assistance from Roald Kirby and Mike Floyd; Reading the Blue Ridge, led by Sarah Osborne and Brenda Bonk with assistance from Scott Jackson-Ricketts and teacher’s aid, Theresa Mawyer; Microscope Fun, co-led by Evan Worrell, Scott, Brenda and with assistance from Lauren Peery, William Roberts and Roald; and Blue Ridge Expeditions trip to Grandfather Mountain, led by William and Joyce Roberts. All of BRDC’s programs were held in the elementary school.
Galax Elementary Enrichment: Fly Fishing
During the week of February 9th, BRDC participated in the Galax Elementary Enrichment Week. This is a fantastic offering by the Galax Public School System where students get to take in-depth courses on particular subjects. One of the programs we offered was all about fly fishing. 32 enthusiastic second and fourth graders signed up for our five day, 15-hour fly fishing course.
(February 2015) The Signature of All Things: A Novel
This month's Book Club choice is the Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. The novel follows the fortunes of the extraordinary Whittaker family as led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker—a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia.
(January 2015) 9. Hunting from Home: A Year Afield in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Come along with Christopher Camuto for a year of transforming experiences in the shadows of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains: hunting grouse with his setter through snowbound forests in winter; wading trout streams in spring; closely observing birds and wildlife through summer; exploring the backcountry, cutting wood, and hunting deer in autumn.
(December 2014) 8. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail
Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than two hundred dollars. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. And in September 1955, having survived a rattlesnake strike, two hurricanes, and a run-in with gangsters from Harlem, she stood atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin. There she sang the first verse of “America, the Beautiful” and proclaimed, “I said I’ll do it, and I’ve done it.”
Hokie Bugfest!!
Clyde Kessler and Scott Jackson-Ricketts set up a BRDC booth at the 4th annual Hokie Bugfest. This year's Hokie BugFest (HBF) attendance was 6,112 - a significant increase over 4,229 of last year.
(October 2014) 7. Mountain Nature, A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians by Jennifer Frick-Ruppert
We're bringing this month's selection back to our region with Mountain Nature, A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians by Jennifer Frick-Ruppert.
Galax Middle School, Fall Enrichment Program
During the week of September 29th, BRDC got the opportunity to expose Galax Middle School students to two great hands on programs: Hands In the Dirt and National Fishing in the Schools Program.
Blue Ridge Expeditions: Brushy Mountain Hike, Bland County, VA
Finally, some fun in the sun! On September 27th, after two previous hikes in the rain, seven of us had a wonderful sunny day on the trail. With perfect temperatures, we traversed the spine of Brushy Mountain in the Crandon area of Bland, VA. Starting at Route #608, we hiked the 5.3 miles to Route #606 at a 150 foot long suspension bridge over Kimberling Creek. Participants came from Bland, Wythe, and Mercer counties.
Mushroom Walk at River Ridge Farm
Last Saturday's mushroom walk at River Ridge Farm was a great success! The weather was just perfect we had at least 16 participants. There was a lot of interest and excitement and the fungi were out in force. With the time we had; it was not possible to prepare a comprehensive species list. However, just in a quick run through I was able to ID 56 species from the walk. Not bad for a morning stroll through the forest!
(September 2014) 6. Missing Microbes, Martin Balser, MD, Henry-Holt, 2014
Our August 2014 book is: Missing Microbes, Martin Balser, MD, Henry-Holt, 2014. This book considers the human microbiome, its natural balance and role in common disease and well-being. Although this may be an anomaly in the longer list of books focused exclusively on Appalachian natural history an occasional foray into the larger picture of ecology may be informative on multiple levels.
Trout in the Classroom
With support from Grayson National Bank, we are happy to announce that we will be bringing Trout in the Classroom to two more regional public schools! This terrific program, developed by Trout Unlimited, brings hands-on science directly to the classroom. Students raise native Brook Trout from eggs to fingerlings in a 55 gallon aquarium throughout the school year. If they are successful, they will get release them into their local VDIGF approved watershed. I know there are a bunch of kids out there looking forward to this as much as we are!
MEGALOPTERA!
In recent news you may have seen that the largest aquatic insect in the world was recently discovered in China: Scientific American. At first glance this is a rather frightening foreign creature, but did you know that it's equally intimidating cousin lives right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains?
Blue Ridge Expeditions: Dismal Falls, Bland County, VA
The 4.3 mile hike on July 19th had gloomy, rainy weather, but the four cheerful participants made the hike to the Falls full of fun and frolic. Guide Amy Roberts and Master Naturalist volunteer Linda Gette led local and out of state participants through the Appalachian hickory-oak forest to the lovely 400 million year old falls.
(August 2014) 5. The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, by Rick Darke & Doug Tallamy
For the August book(s), the BRDC Book Club has chosen: The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, by Rick Darke & Doug Tallamy. "A home garden is often seen as separate from the natural world surrounding it. In truth, it is actually just one part of a larger landscape that is made up of many living layers."
As a complimentary book we are also recommending: The New American Landscape: Leading Voices on the Future of Sustainable Gardening, edited by Thomas Christopher. "Gardeners are the front line of defense in our struggle to tackle the problems of global warming, loss of habitat, water shortages, and shrinking biodiversity"
Blue Ridge Expeditions: August 23rd, Hike on Garden Mountain
On this hike you will see beautiful moss- and fern-covered trees and top of the ridge line views into Burke’s Garden, and hear calling ravens. There is a 3.7 mile stretch of sandstone cliffs that drops off abruptly in some places.
Trout in the Classroom: Grayson Highlands School
Over the past four months Mrs. Perry’s seventh grade life science students at Grayson Highlands School have been diligently raising native brook trout in their school lobby for all visitors to see. This is part of a program called “Trout in the Classroom” and revolves around the students learning about the biology and ecology of one of the most iconic species of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
K-2 Reading Program coming this fall!
BRDC has received generous support from the Harris Francis Block Foundation to fund a K-2 Reading Program for the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015! We are really looking forward to sharing some great reads with these young explorers!