Crafts + Cocoa

Following the big snowfall last weekend, we are feeling very festive at Blue Ridge Discovery Center! And so, we are inviting elves aged 3-15 to join us for an afternoon of crafts and cocoa at our Nature’s Little Elf Workshop next Thursday, December 20th!

After picking an elf name, children will have the opportunity to make suet feeders, ornaments, garlands, animal tracks, and more! We will have hot cocoa, cookies, a toasty fire, and marshmallows on hand, and we certainly encourage all to join us in elf costumes!

The price is just $10 per child to cover the cost of materials, and the event is free to members. This open house-style event takes place from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the Blue Ridge Discovery Center cottage at 6402 Whitetop Road in Troutdale, VA.

Registration is required and space is limited, so be sure to sign up your elves today!

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 Science Fair! Independence Middle School hosted the Science Fair again this year and accommodated all the students and their projects as they set up in the gymnasium.

Judging for the event began on Thursday evening with the review and scoring of the projects. Scoring was based on the students research question or problem, design and methodology, data collection, analysis and interpretation or construction and testing (engineering projects), creativity, and their display board. Friday morning, the judging continued with the presentation/interview section of the scoring. This is where the students got to shine and tell the judges all about their experiences working on the projects and the results of their experiments and testing.

During the event, BRDC provided programs for the students about animals and “What makes Grayson County so Special”. Darin Handy and Aaron Floyd (BRDC Executive Director) presented the programs. As this is a community event, parents and family members were invited to view the projects and be there for the awards ceremony in the afternoon.

The Grand prize was once again a mini 3D printer (back by popular demand) with subsequent 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes of Acorn Naturalist gift certificates, Best in School plaques and participation certificates for all. The Winners of this years Science Fair are:

A.J. Perry, Grayson Highlands School; The Humidity Dilemma; Grand Prize and Best in School
Meg Donley, Grayson Highlands School; Color Fade; 1st Place 6th grade
Kristina Barnette, Independence Middle School; Which Wipe Works Well; 1st Place 7th grade and Best in School
Christopher Barnette, Independence Middle School; Recycled Technology; 2nd Place 6th grade
Tierca Lawson, Independence Middle School; Germs are Everywhere; 2nd Place 7th grade
Preston Jones, Aaron Peterson, Independence Middle School; Do Plants Grow Better with Sugar Water or Well Water; 3rd Place 6th grade
Emily Vaughan, Independence Middle School; Keep Your Fire Burning Longer!; 3rd Place 7th grade
Ethan Lineberry, Rachel May, Jasalyn Trimble, Fries School; Make our Cafeteria Cleaner; Best in School

BRDC is very thankful for all the community support for this great event. Grayson Express, Woody’s Pharmacy and Subway all contributed financially towards the prizes. Also, we could not have done it without the help of our fantastic volunteer judges: Deb Greif, Kim Phipps, John Kovacich, Bill Hylander, Brenda Bonk, John Fant, Niki Weir, Henry Hobson, Ken Kreuzer, Beverly Fermor, Heidi Breedlove, Keith and Pat Andrews. Many hours were spent reviewing all the 161 projects. We could not have done it without you….many heart felt thanks to you all!

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!

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. Their family managed to keep this invaluable resource safe since the school closed in 1959, nearly 60 years ago. 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. We here at Blue Ridge Discovery Center are very honored to have been entrusted with this resource.

Historic Photo Album 1

Historic Photo Album 2

Historic Photo Album 3

Our first step has been to digitize the photographs, and we will be delivering copies to the Grayson County, Smyth County, and Washington County Historical Societies. In the long run, these photos will form the core of the historic interpretive displays about the property, but in the short term, we have created a page to view the photos on our website, which is listed below.

The full wealth of information in this archive has yet to be discovered. It will take the eyes of family members and the community to draw out the entire story. Please share this archive with friends and family so they can let us know more about these photos. Anyone with more information can contact us at info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org.

The timing of this gift could not be better. With the imminent restoration of the building, these historic photos are directly informing our design decisions. But beyond that, these photos are giving us an incredible insight into the landscape at that time. By observing the background carefully you will see landmarks, trees that where saplings then and a massive stump now, old roads and paths, outbuildings, pastures, and more. There are photos of a steam powered excavator, a basketball game in the 20’s, the old Roosevelt Farm, early girl scout activities, and Whitetop’s bad weather (ha!).

One of the greatest joys of scanning these at 600dpi and looking at them full-screen is realizing that when a photographer goes to take a photo, kids will be kids regardless of the era! Their fidgeting, their expressions, picking on one another, the poses, and their boundless smiles are timeless and tell all!

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.

What is the Summer Outside Initiative?

The Summer Outside Initiative encompasses multiple outdoor education day camp and overnight camp programs held in various locations throughout Southwest Virginia from June through August. Some camps cover a range of topics while others have focused themes, such as ornithology and fly fishing. Full camp descriptions are available on our website at: blueridgediscoverycenter.org/camps/.

Who can participate?

Youth aged 6-15 are welcome to participate in our camps, regardless of experience. Specific ages vary by camp; see camp descriptions on our website for more details.

What makes the Summer Outside Initiative different?

Our goal, new for 2019, is to offer each of our four week-long day camp programs for FREE. By offering the program at no cost to participants, we are able to reach even more youth in our core service region. This includes: Smyth, Washington, Grayson, Wythe, Carroll, Ashe, and Alleghany Counties, as well as the city of Galax. Every $125 raised will cover the cost of the day camp program for one child.

How can I help?

To raise money for our scholarship fund, Blue Ridge Discovery Center is participating in #GivingTuesday, a national fundraiser event as an antidote to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As a bonus, Facebook and PayPal are teaming up to match donations made through Facebook up to $7 million. Your contribution could have twice the impact! Donation matching begins at 8:00 am on the 27th and continues until funds run out.

If your own childhood was made up of quests through the woods, catching critters, and playing outside until long after dark, you’ll likely understand how important this opportunity is. If you would like to be an integral part of our mission, please mark your calendar and make a donation to BRDC through our Facebook page Donate button at 8:00 am on November 27th. *Donations made prior to this will not be matched.*

Thank you for your support!

Working Together to Keep Golden-Winged Warblers in Smyth County

A Golden-winged Warbler on its breeding territory in Smyth County along the Appalachian Trail.

Conner McBane, Natural Resource Specialist with Appalachian Trail Conservancy, after several hours of brushing.

During the last week in September, Blue Ridge Discovery Center teamed up with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers, AmeriCorps NCCC, the Quarter Way Inn and the US Forest Service to maintain and enhance golden-winged warbler habitat along the Appalachian Trail in northern Smyth County. The ecologically valuable tract of old field and shrubby habitat is one of the few areas with known breeding golden-winged warblers in the county. These habitat specialists require just the right mix of vegetative structure for a successful breeding season. The old field habitat that is currently found throughout the tract is in various stages of succession. If allowed to progress through succession, much of the area will revert back to forest and the diversity of wildlife that is found within the tract will decline. Habitat loss though natural and unnatural means is thought to be one of the leading causes of the drastic decline in golden-winged warbler populations across their range, so maintaining known breeding habitat is critical for the species. While the warblers are headed to Central and South America for the winter, this yearly maintenance of strategic brush hogging and non-native invasive plant control can safely be completed to maintain the correct ratio of structure across the tract. Not all of the work was done with machinery, AmeriCorps NCCC crew members and a few folks form Celanese Corporation provided much of the enthusiasm and energy to tackle the invasive plants across patches of the tract. All of the hard work that was accomplished this fall will assure that the golden-winged warblers will find the habitat that they need when they return to this small corner of Smyth County next spring.

AmeriCorps NCCC member removing non-native multiflora rose from the habitat.

Mountain Boomer

You may wonder why this small tree squirrel has caught my attention and is now being shared in writing. I have found them to be quite intriguing and am told, by a colleague (not mentioning any names) that I am quite similar to this small rodent. I am flattered and shall share why.

More commonly know as a pine squirrel, chickaree or mountain boomer, this little squirrel is great at scampering through the trees with their compact, muscled bodies even though they spend the majority of their time on the ground flitting around gathering and collecting. Their color is variable depending on the region and season but generally reddish brown on the upper parts with a creamy white belly. They don’t have a very bushy tail like the gray squirrel but have a most distinguishing feature of white bands that encircle their large black eyes.

They prefer coniferous forests for their cool, moist environment, and that have abundant conifer seeds, fungi, and tight canopies for efficient foraging and escape. This preferred habitat aids in preservation of food and fungal growth. Being omnivores, they eat seeds, berries, fruit, mushrooms, bird eggs, and tree sap; Sugar maples in particular. In the Eastern US, they are scatter hoarders (much like my sons) and will store large quantities of food in caches called middens.

Red squirrels build multiple nests in various locations in case one is destroyed or taken over by another animal, preferring cavities. They do not hibernate, are diurnal, and breed in very early spring having 2-5 young weaned quickly in just 7-8 weeks.

The thing I most enjoy about these little squirrels is their vocalizations or “barks” (most likely the reason for our similarities as stated above). They will “bark” at intruders and can do so for long periods of time when annoyed. And then just “chatter” when staking out and defending their territory and/or middens. There are five distinct calls of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus: a chirp - an alarm in the presence of potential predators, a rattle - threat call for territorial defense, a variable screech - alone or in a sequence with rattles, a growl - aggressive defense or female to male interaction, and a buzz - a male to female interaction. My guess is the variable screech and the growl are how I am associated with this lovely creature. Next time you are in a coniferous forest, stop and listen for the mountain boomer…and think of me.

Emory and Henry College's 2018 Service Plunge at BRDC

Thanks to Emory and Henry College’s dedication to serving local communities through acts of service, BRDC gained a crew of helping hands for a morning of ground maintenance during E&H’s 2018 Service Plunge. Students and staff from Emory and Henry joined BRDC staff on the Center grounds to tackle our crop of non-native, invasive plants. After a brief introduction to invasive plants by Jay Martin, the crew got to work eradicating the thorny thicket of Japanese barberry and the low light-loving Japanese stiltgrass around the property.

In the 1920’s, during the time that the Konnarock Training School was built, Japanese barberry had a 50-year history of being selected as an ornamental shrub in the United States. The plant grows under a variety of light and soil conditions, requires little maintenance, is deer-resistant, and turns a beautiful shade of deep red during autumn. Its size and thorns also contributed to its use as a hedge. However, its hardiness and browse resistance also allow it to thrive, outcompeting native plants. Further, its seeds are readily dispersed by birds and can remain viable in the soil for up to ten years.

Similar to the barberry, Japanese stiltgrass was also introduced in the United States from Asia – although accidentally – and also grows in a variety of habitats. Each plant is capable of producing 100-1,000 seeds which can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. This unpalatable annual grass both crowds out native plants and increases deer browse on more palatable natives.

Little by little, we pulled, trimmed, and hauled, removing these unwanted residents manually. In doing so, we uncovered salamanders, a young ring-necked snake, and a stone wall that was previously masked by shrubs.

Thank you, Emory and Henry College, for helping us to eradicate these invasives, making way for a future of healthy, native vegetation!

An introduction to non-native, invasive plants

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

E&H students tackling the thicket

Juvenile ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus)

The stone wall unveiled

3rd Annual Summer Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally

Rain, rain, rain. The 3rd annual Summer Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally was wet, but like always we had a great time enjoying the rich natural history of the area. With a nice mix of veteran and new participants, this rally pulled together a wonderful group of people who even while soaked with rain remained enthusiastic and positive.

After participants registered and chose their field trips, Friday night of the event kicked off with a Farm-to-Table dinner at the Konnarock Community Center. By partnering with Harvest Table Produce Farm, locally sourced ingredients were the foundation for the meal. After dinner, Tom McAvoy, senior laboratory specialist in the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, discussed several native and non-native insects and their relationships with North American ecosystems. Tom’s talk drew from his decades of non-native invasive pest research at Virginia Tech and the research of some of his entomology colleagues. With over 30 published papers, Tom’s work has helped shape the management of agriculture and forest pests, and he is held in high regard by the hemlock woolly adelgid research community.

The optional Saturday morning breakfast included coffee donated by Dark Hollow Micro Roasters and locally raised eggs provided by Savannah Brown. Field trips on Saturday included ecological tours of Whitetop Mountain, fly fishing, a non-native invasive plant workshop, a local cave tour, fungi foray and butterfly hike. With the rain continuing through the afternoon, our snorkeling and stream ecology groups were diverted from the bulging streams and treated to a tour of the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center at VDGIF’s Buller Hatchery.

This year we started a raffle prize fund raiser for our Summer Camp Scholarship Program. We had an amazing array of donated items from area artisans. We’d like to thank Peach Bottom Pottery, Mtn. Momma Spoons, and Joe Flowers for their contributions. Several local businesses also contributed items, including Green Cove Collective, Mojo’s Café, and Adventure Damascus.

As always, Blue Ridge Discovery Center could not have held this event without the help of many partners and volunteers who worked to make the event a success! With all of the support and the participation from the public, this 3rd annual Summer Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally was a testament to the strong community surrounding the ecological treasure at the core of this event.

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?

A Reunion of the Konnarock Training School Alumni

Blue Ridge Discovery Center and the Konnarock Retreat House hosted the alumni of the historic Konnarock Training School and their families on July 7th, 2018. Since the 1960's this group has been getting together to share stories and pass down the oral history of the KTS.

The group has dwindled but the ones in attendance were no doubt as feisty as ever. Beyond the stories of polishing the dining room floor with the weight of their rumps being pulled around on a rug, of climbing out on the roof for fresh air, tending the school garden, of the inspiring Biology teacher Mrs Kirby, and riding the school truck to Whitetop. Beyond all of that. The most inspiring part of the event was the engagement of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It is very clear that the impact of the Konnarock Training School has reverberated throughout the community for generations, affecting the trajectory of all sorts of families. It is a powerful idea, to build an educational institution, but often times it is difficult to see the broad-reaching impacts.

This weekend, we not only got to look into the past, but we also got to see our future, an insight into the potential impacts BRDC can have on individuals, families, and a community. It was heartwarming and inspiring and we can't wait to continue that legacy in Konnarock!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

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! 

The Secret Life of Butterflies

Meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona)

With such striking coloration, this meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) easily stands out against its floral backdrop when feeding and in flight. However, it needs to be a little more inconspicuous at times of rest. By situating itself on a dead plant and closing up its wings, this butterfly’s drab underwing (cryptic) coloration allows it to blend in with the dead flower buds. This camouflage, in addition to lack of movement, makes the meadow fritillary very difficult for predators to detect.   

Meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) with cryptic coloration

Meadow fritillaries belong to the family Nymphalidae, or brushfoots, for the long brush-like scales on their reduced forelegs, as seen below. The brushfoots use these modified appendages for chemoreception (taste and smell), leaving only four legs for walking. Other brushfoots include monarchs, admirals, commas, and pearl crescents, to name a few. Together they make up the largest family of butterflies with over 6,000 species worldwide. Like the meadow fritillary, many butterflies in the Nymphalidae family are brightly colored above with cryptic coloration below.

Meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) with brush-like forelegs

Life history strategies on display!

This most recent BRDC visitor, a pipevine swallowtail caterpillar, gets its name from its obligate host plant, pipevine. The pipevine (or Dutchman’s pipe) is so named for its unusual lobed flowers that resemble Dutch smoking pipes. While the flowers’ shape makes them an unsuitable food source for adult pipevine swallowtail butterflies, the rest of the plant is essential for this butterfly’s life cycle.  

These reddish-black, orange-spotted larvae feed exclusively on plants within the genus Aristolochia, which contain aristolochia acid, a toxin that the larvae ingest, making them distasteful and poisonous to potential predators. This toxin remains in the caterpillar’s body throughout metamorphosis and adulthood as a defense mechanism. Even the eggs retain this toxin when they are oviposited on the leaves and stems of the pipevine plant, ready to hatch out the next, hungry generation.

Here at BRDC we can currently see three different instars of the pipevine swallowtail caterpillar around the property! 

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!

Color in the field!

As spring rains give way to warm, sunny days, the meadows of Mount Rogers come to life with the emergence of a plethora of insects. Among these creatures is a beetle with a striking iridescent blue body and a yellow-orange wash across its elytra (forewings). The elderberry borer beetle (Desmocerus palliatus) also has knots running up its long antennae, lending to its alternate name, cloaked knotty-horned beetle.

This species of long-horned beetle is an obligate specialist, requiring elderberry plants for larval development. Eggs are laid near the base of the stem. After hatching, larvae burrow into the stem and down to the root system. Here, they feed until they are ready to form a pupal cell in the pithy stem tissue. Maturation takes two years. As soon as the mature female emerges in the spring, her scent begins to draw in males and mating takes place immediately.

This individual was spotted near a cluster of elderberry plants in a Konnarock meadow.

Very distinctive, the elderberry borer was featured on a US postage stamp in 1999.

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!