No, a Naturalist Rally is NOT a nudist event! It is a weekend long series of expert guided field trips focused on the natural history of the Mount Rogers Region! Expect a fun and educational gathering of like-minded people exploring science, art, and nature!

Rally Tickets are $30 for non-members, $22.50 for BRDC Members and kids 12 and under are free. With a Rally ticket you enjoy access to a full weekend of activities including the Friday Night Featured Speaker, Saturday morning field trips, Saturday afternoon field trips, night programs and Sunday morning field trips!

All hikes have limited participation and are first come first serve with sign up starting at 4:00pm on Friday. Please reserve your spot in-person at the trip sign up location. You can also sign up Saturday morning starting at 7am, however some trips may already be full.

While the physical address is:
Blue Ridge Discovery Center
6402 Whitetop Rd
Troutdale, VA 24378

The field trips take place on the BRDC campus and around the Mount Rogers region. The excursions interact with a variety of landscapes including wetlands, grassland balds, spruce-fir forests, northern hardwood forests, mountain cold-water streams and more!

We host four seasonal Naturalist Rallies with specific dates varying year to year. Please see our Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall description pages for this year’s actual dates.

You can buy Rally tickets online or at the door during the event, however if you would like food service during the rally, that must be pre-purchased online by the Tuesday before the event.

Absolutely! To encourage family and youth participation we provide a series of kid programs throughout the weekend. We also rent entire bunk rooms and bedroom suites that can accommodate families and friends.

You are welcome to bring your own meals, however, we do provide delicious hot meals throughout the Rally weekend. If you are interested in food service you must pre-order meal tickets prior to the Tuesday before the Rally.

We love pets, but to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants, and to protect the natural environment, this event and hikes are pet-free. Thank you for your understanding!

Yes! BRDC offers Bedroom Suites, Bunk Rooms, Single Bunk Bed Rentals, and Primitive Camping for the weekend. Learn more.

Most field trips are easy to moderate physical activity because guides are moving at a slow pace to explore and discuss topics. Even the long distance all day hikes typically move at a slow pace. With that in mind, some field trips encounter difficult terrain including rocks and steep slopes. If you have any concerns, please consult with the person leading the program or BRDC staff prior to the activity.

While some of the field trips are hosted right on the Blue Ridge Discovery Center campus and don’t require any travel at all, others require a short travel distance. When our vans are not available for group travel, we recommend carpooling with friends and family to the Guide specified meet up spot. Field trips depart promptly at 8:00 am and 1:00 pm unless otherwise specified.

Although BRDC provides a variety of outdoor equipment for the programs, including wetsuits, butterfly nets, binoculars, guide books, art supplies, and much more, please feel free to pack your own naturalist gear. We supply fresh iced water, so bring water bottles and let's avoid the plastic bottled water. Ultimately the only thing you need is a curious mind and proper clothes!

All events will go on rain or shine! Come weather prepared! Weather in the highlands can be unpredictable and it is a rare rally without rain! We recommend quality hiking shoes, rain jackets and layers for cold mornings.