MOUNT ROGERS FALL NATURALIST RALLY

October 11-12, 2024

$30 Non-members; $22.50 Members; Youth FREE!

Join us at Blue Ridge Discovery Center this October for the Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally! Each year we assemble a wide variety of field trips with leaders who are experts in their field and who are able to make it understandable and interesting for everyone—from inquisitive amateurs to accomplished naturalists. There is something for the entire family with an expert speaker Friday Night, nighttime programs at BRDC, and field trips on Saturday. Topics include salamanders, mammals, phenology, seed saving, birding, cultural history, art, and so much more!

NOTE: Opportunity to choose your field trips will begin Friday at 4pm. All field trips have a limited number of participants and will be first-come first-serve basis. All times listed are actual departure times. Please allow extra time if you still need to register. All trips will go out regardless of weather conditions, so come prepared!

Meals will be available BY PRE-ORDER ONLY. Please be sure to order your meals before you arrive, as no meals will be sold at the door. On-campus rooms are available in our historic schoolhouse. You may purchase an individual bed and be placed in a bunkroom with same-sex roommates, or reserve an entire room with 2 to 6 beds

Finally, while we love pets, they are not permitted on campus or on any off-campus field trips.

Visit the Rally Shop to purchase admission, meals, and reserve rooms

Friday night dinner

Meals offered at our Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally will consist of locally sourced ingredients that allow us to support our local community. These meals will be for PRE-ORDER ONLY, so get your meal tickets today before they sell out!

featured speaker

Nature Author & Illustrator Rosalie Haizlett

Book Talk and Signing

On Friday evening, join author and illustrator Rosalie Haizlett for a book talk and signing to celebrate the release of her second book, Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains: An Artist’s Journey (Mountaineers Books, 2024).

SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIPS

Field trips depart at 8:00AM on Saturday morning.
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Introduction to Nature Watercolors

In this beginner-friendly workshop, we'll go over the complete watercolor process, from pencil sketch to final painting. Weather permitting, we'll start the class with a 15-minute walk to see what natural subjects we can use for inspiration, taking photos and making observations of what we see along the way. Then, we'll use a combination of living references and reference photos to bring our lovely muses to life on the page. Ages 8+ with an adult. Maximum capacity: 15 students.

Trees/Phenology

Walk around the BRDC campus with naturalist Mark Archibald to learn about trees, tree identification, and tree phenology. We will look at leaves and discuss leaf forms and characteristics. Tree identification often involves more than leaves, so we will look at tree form, habitat, and bark. We will also look for flowers and fruit, and discuss the timing of leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Fall migrant birds

Allen Boynton will lead a field trip to discuss the fall migration. There are many interesting birds present during this time of year!

Beginner birding

Bob Riggs will introduce you to birding in this beginner birding walk focusing on sight and sound identification of resident and migrant birds in the Mt Rogers area. Bring binoculars and field guides If you have them.

Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

Join seasoned Horticulturist, forager, and self-proclaimed plant nerd, Ben Casteel of VHCC on a walk around the grounds of BRDC to see what useful plants can be found in our ecoregion.

SERVICE PROJECT

Pull on your boots and gloves and let’s get to work! Join Lisa Benish and Brendan Murphy on a mission to clean up the BRDC campus of brush and debris left over from Hurricane Helene.

Saturday Afternoon Field Trips

Field trips depart at 1:00PM on Saturday afternoon.
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Seed Propagation and Sowing

This lecture with Ian Catron of Wood Thrush Native Plants, is an introduction to the techniques and challenges of collecting, storing, sowing and growing your own native plants. Growing your own plants from seed can be a fun and rewarding way to produce large numbers of plants for your garden for relatively little cost. But many people are not familiar with the best ways to do so successfully. How to time collection and sowing properly in order to overcome seed dormancy. How to properly store seeds so they do not lose viability. What tools will be needed and what to do after you have successfully germinated your seeds.

Stream Ecology

Maddie Cogar is an Assistant Nongame Fisheries Biologist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). She completed a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and then continued her education in Missouri studying aquatic insect and fish response to varying restoration and conservation efforts. Here in the nongame and endangered fishes section of DWR she and her coworkers focus on conservation, management, preservation, and restoration to benefit present and future generations. Come catch, observe, and identify macroinvertebrates and learn about what makes them feel at home in Big Laurel Creek.

Old Kelly Orchard Tour

Meet Tom McMullen, Tumbling Creek Cider Company co-owner, educator and orchard manager to begin the tour of Kelly Ridge Farms, a 240-year-old family farm. This session focuses more on the science behind apple propagation and growing methods both old and new. It includes a visit to the Old Kelly Orchard, the Upper Orchard (a trellised orchard installed in 2023) and the Lower Orchard (a trellised orchard installed in 2019). These orchards have more than 1200 apples trees most of which were grafted by Tumbling Creek Cider folks. The orchards contain more than 60 varieties of heirloom apples preserving some apple diversity and resulting in some excellent hard cider.  After the orchards tour, we head to the Cider Barn for free tastes of award-winning ciders and a discussion of the "apple to glass" process of hard cider making. Bottles of hard cider, growler fills and merchandise will be available for purchase at the conclusion.  Adults please have valid ID available.

Mushroom Hike 

If you're curious about the strange world of Fungi, join experienced wild mushroom forager Cade Campbell on a gentle walking tour of the BRDC campus. We'll talk about the mushrooms that we collectively find, learn about their life cycles, their unique characteristics and relationships with the forest residents, and what their roles are in our mountain ecosystems.

Raptor ID at Whitetop

Dr. Steven Hopp, BRDC Board member and former Emory and Henry Professor, will present a program titled “Beyond Birding: The Natural History of Songbirds.” If time and interest permit, Dr Hopp will give a second presentation on "World Bird Diversity.”

Salamanders

Join BRDC’s own Neil Fredericksen on a hike around campus to explore our region’s incredible salamander diversity. Home to one of the temperate world’s most biodiverse salamander assemblages, this area boasts a wide variety of species common to Southwest Virginia and those adapted specifically to high-elevation forests. Participants will also explore the area’s unique ecosystems while examining its amphibian life.

Youth Programs

From critters to crafts to hands-on hikes, your young naturalist(s) will have a variety of opportunities to explore, discover, and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge. All kids programs will be led by BRDC staff. The minimum age limit is 6 years old. Children under 6 need to be supervised by their guardian during the kids programming.
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FRIDAY NIGHT

Campfire Building: Learn different ways to build a fire and then use that knowledge to start a campfire to make s’mores!

Intro to astronomy: (weather permitting)

SATURDAY MORNING

Nature Walk: Take a nature walk around BRDC’s campus and complete a scavenger hunt!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Nature Walk: Take a nature walk around BRDC’s campus and complete a scavenger hunt!

Nighttime Activity

Field trips depart at 8:30PM on Friday.
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FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAMS

Star Gazing with BRDC

Join us for an exploration of the stars, planets and anything we can find in the sky!

Owl Prowl

Join BRDC staff for an Owl Prowl in search of screech, barred, and great-horned owls.

Lodging

Since the restoration of our building, we have opened our doors to rally attendees in need of lodging. Staying on our campus allows you to have a more immerse outdoor experience while being at the rally. Get your room before they fill up!

There are a limited number of campsites on BRDC’s campus for rent. Please contact info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org for reservations.

Other options available in the area include overnight lodging in "Downtown Konnarock" through Airbnb. Beartree Campground is also located within 10 miles of Konnarock, and Hurricane Campground is within 15 miles of BRDC. For Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, and rental cabins, try www.visitsmythcountyva.com or www.visitdamascus.org.

Directions

Blue Ridge Discovery Center: 6402 Whitetop Rd, Troutdale, VA 24378. From I-81, take exit 35 (Chilhowie). Turn south (toward Hardee’s) and continue for 11.2 miles. RT 762 will become RT 600 and will cross over Iron Mountain. When you reach the intersection of Whitetop Rd (RT 600) and RT 603, the BRDC Campus and parking will be on the left.

lasting legacy

The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally has a long history, all the way back to 1974! Check out these historical brochures!

Leave No Trace

The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally has adopted the Leave No Trace Principles as a guiding reference for participant and guide etiquette. Please refer to their 7 Principles for more information.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK

While attending any part of the MRNR you must take full responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, and decide if participating in a planned activity will be safe for you. Parents/guardians take full responsibility for their children at all times. The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally Volunteers and Blue Ridge Discovery Center will not be responsible for accident, injury, or damage to personal property.

Consider Supporting the Rally

The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally is a grand tradition that dates back to 1974. Over the years it has gone through many changes but the root goal has stayed the same: to connect our community to one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. If you would like to see this tradition continue for the next generation, please consider making a donation to support the Rally. 

All of our field trip leaders volunteer their time for the Naturalist Rally, so let them know you appreciate them sharing their time and knowledge with us!!

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BRDC MEMBER?

Blue Ridge Discovery Members get 25% off at all Naturalist Rallies, in addition to other benefits! If you are interested in becoming a member, click the button below to explore our different membership options.

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