Land of Fire and Ice: Exploring Sullivan Swamp, A Southern Appalachian Shrub Bog

Join Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s Devin Floyd for an expedition to an ice age ecosystem at Grayson Highlands State Park. Participants will enjoy Devin’s exploration and discovery-based approach to guiding while learning about the unique volcanic history and periglacial activity of the Mount Rogers complex. He will share stories about the events of the deep past and how they influence landforms and plant communities over time. This will be a unique opportunity for participants to go off trail and visit a globally rare plant community. Participants will have the opportunity to partake in a small Bio-Blitz to add to the biological inventory created during BRDC’s SiteSection project. Join us! Let’s see what we can find!

Topics covered: Blue Ridge natural history, biological survey, microclimate plant communities, reading the landscape, relic species, ecological change over time, volcanoes, lessons in how to find or rediscover rare or missing plant species, and survey methodology for classifying ecosystems.

Please RSVP 

Feel free to contact Devin with questions: devin.floyd@gmail.com

Cost: FREE, however park entrance fee is required.

Audience: general public, youth 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Location: meet at the Massey Gap parking lot no later than 9am

Time: 9am-11:30am (pack a lunch if you wish to stick around for some follow up conversation and biological inventory)

Difficulty level: moderate. This rare habitat is in a bog. This means that your feet will be getting wet. NOTE: We will be going off trail for about ¼ of the hike. (Total hike is 2 miles). Wear appropriate attire.

Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.