Botanical Artist & Illustrator, Lara Call Gastinger, to Speak at Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally
Amid winter’s decaying leaves, forgotten acorns, and the emerging buds of spring, one might also find pens, journals, and watercolors . . . in the capable hands of Lara Call Gastinger, our Featured Speaker for the 45th Annual Spring Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally.
Enrichment with Galax Middle School
What a week loaded with lots of fun both inside and out! The students of Galax Middle School played games, made camp, knapped arrowheads, and caught BIG fish.
Uncovering the Secrets of Northern Saw-whet Owls
As a charismatic representative of the high elevations within the central Appalachian Mountains, the northern saw-whet owl (NSWO) is a perfect ambassador to highlight the unique ecology of southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Due to its small size and secretive nature, much of the northern saw-whet owl’s history remains a mystery in Virginia. Blue Ridge Discovery Center is beginning to uncover the secrets of this mysterious creature. Can you help us?
Field Trips Announced for 45th Annual Spring Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally
If you were to glance at a biodiversity hotspot map of the United States, you would see a striking pop of color stretching across the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the highest level of diversity right here in our backyard among the three highest peaks of Virginia: Mount Rogers, Whitetop Mountain, and Pine Mountain. Is it any coincidence, then, that people have been coming to this region for 45 years to take part in the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally?
Virginia Master Naturalist Course begins this week!
Love Southwest Virginia? Want to learn more about it? The Holston Rivers Chapter Virginia Master Naturalist Basic Training Course begins this Thursday. If you’re ready to connect with the natural history of our region as a Master Naturalist, check out the course details here and register today!
The Blue Ridge: A Geological Autobiography
If the Blue Ridge could write its own long and complex history, surely it would chisel the words in stone. Fortunately, it did just that. And fortunately, we have a translator in our midst. During our January 2019 Geology Expedition, USGS Geologist Arthur Merschat unraveled the story of the geologic events that left Virginia’s oldest basement rocks exposed for us to access and admire.
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!
Experience 2019 with Blue Ridge Discovery Center
In the quiet of the winter woods you may see a blanket of fallen leaves or a dusting of snow and think of the life resting beneath it, awaiting the rains and warmer temperatures of spring before emerging to bloom or forage. But not all life is waiting out the winter.
BRDC Science Fair - Grayson County Middle Schools
The fun and excitement continues as 246 students in Grayson County competed for prizes at the 3rd Annual BRDC Science Fair!
KTS Historic Photos
Recently we were gifted a treasure trove of over 500 historic photos of the old Konnarock Training School by Sheila (Blevins) Brown and the Blevins family. The three albums appear to have been compiled over the lifespan of the school, from 1924-1959, with photographs ranging from the construction of the facility to field trips up Whitetop Mountain to yearbook-style portraits.
2019 Summer Outside Initiative
Looking ahead to 2019, Blue Ridge Discovery Center will be launching its Summer Outside Initiative in an effort to connect even more youth to the wonders of the Blue Ridge for an exciting and memorable summer! With technology having such a strong presence in the daily lives of youth in the 21st Century, there has never been a more important time to get outdoors and reconnect with the myriad of benefits provided by this magnificent, natural resource.
Mountain Boomer
You may wonder why this small tree squirrel has caught my attention and is now being shared in writing
Emory and Henry College's 2018 Service Plunge at BRDC
BRDC gained a crew of helping hands for a morning of ground maintenance during E&H’s 2018 Service Plunge.
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.