 |
 |
|
|||
|
Travel and learn in the mountains with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Discovery Place ... no experience necessary!Blue Ridge Discovery Weekend – a partnership between the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Discovery Place
Participants will be staying in the award-winning, exclusive Wildacres retreat nestled among 1400 acres at an elevation bordering the Blue Ridge Parkway. The all-inclusive price includes accommodations, meals (including social hours) and all activities. The amazing activities are designed to enthuse a variety of interests, ages and capabilities. No experience is necessary but curiosity is required; programs include Blue Ridge Discovery Weekend 2010 Program SessionsShaped by Nature Join Carolyn for a glimpse into how culture, place and people have been shaped by the richness that is the Blue Ridge. The place itself has been shaped by the forces of nature for thousands of years, and the resulting landscape has shaped the lives and culture of the people that call the ridges their home. This presentation will provide glimpses into the natural history of the Blue Ridge Mountains. EASY Medicinal and Wild Edible Plants From the ancient use to the modern cure, every plant has a purpose and place. Trees and Plants have been used by every culture and group that has inhabited these mountains. On this guided stroll through the mountains, you will discover some of the uses of plants and trees from the past, present and into the future. EASY TO MODERATE Do or Die Have you ever gotten lost in the woods? Well, if you did you would do or die. During this program kids of all ages will learn how to do and not to die in the woods. From building an emergency shelter, finding food, and getting water, we will discover some tips to keep us alive until help arrives. EASY Nature’s Relationships: Everything’s Connected John Muir once prophesied that, “when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” During this interactive hike, complete with songs, skits and stories, we will find out how true these words are. From pine bark beetles, bears and blue stain fungi, we will find out how everything else in the Universe is connected. EASY Tanning, Twisting and Tubing Keith takes us on a journey back in time to practice ancient customs of Native Americans and a typical 18th century settler. Participants will have an opportunity to tan a deerskin with pig brains (fun and nasty goodness), learn how to produce cordage with cotton, toilet paper and other natural items, making crowns/hats out of leaves and even make coil (tubes) pots out of clay. Explore customs deeply rooted in the Blue Ridge that have shaped traditions widely celebrated today. EASY Tracks and Trails Don your nature detective hat because we are going hunting for tracks and trails. Using prebaited sand traps and our senses we will use our sleuthing skills to find natural signs, scat and tracks to determine what animals live on Wildacres and make a cast of a track you find. EASY All-Day Hike/Half- Day Hike
Layers of the Forest There have been many changes in the Appalachian forests over the past 200 years. Jesse will lead a guided hike to learn more about the cultural and natural history of these forests and reflect on the delicate relationship between humans and the forest, with a close examination of how this relationship and changes have affected the composition of the Appalachian forest. EASY TO MODERATE Birding There is a great diversity of birds at Wildacres. Join Jesse and other birders for an introduction to the various habitats and niches that birds fill in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. From warblers to scarlet tanagers you are in for a special tweet. EA SY TO MODERATE Wildflowers Wildflowers are one of the things that define a spring experience in the Southern Appalachians and Wild Acres. Participants will learn to recognize the diversity and richness of our forests, and will leave inspired to explore their neck of the woods as well. EASY TO MODERATE Photography 101 Houck Medford, executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, will share his time and extensive knowledge about nature photography. Seize the opportunity to work with an expert on the Blue Ridge Mountains and history of Southern Appalachia. You will get the most out the setting (no pun intended)and learn how to capture the perfect picture while hearing the story of these majestic mountains. EASY Wildflowers and Photography Field Experience Capture the beauty of the spring wildflowers with your eyes or camera. Join Jesse and Houck for this exciting field experience designed to enable you to hike or stroll. EASY TO MODERATE Campfire Songs, Stories, and S’mores Enjoy sticky fingers and a roaring campfire under the brilliant night sky while listening to old mountain folklore, bluegrass music and live animals. Night Hikes Several species of owls and salamanders live in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pick your passion and join presenters for a guided owl prowl or salamander search.Using the latest technology learn about the habitats of these unique animals.Experts will also be on the lookout for other wildlife that emerges after the sun goes down. EASY Stargazing: Night Sky Come down to the fire pit or perhaps head up to Deerlick Gap for celestial observation and contemplation. Using the naked eye, telescope, or binoculars contemplate the night sky for a guided tour of constellations, planets, galaxies and meteors. EASY Featured speakers: You cannot experience a vacation like this with anyone else. Spaces are limited and sell out quickly. Book your adventure today! Travel Dates: May 1 – 3, 2009 Early bird pricing! Book before March 1 and save: $185.00 / $130.00 Reservations: 704.372.6261 x 300 Tentative schedule ...Blue Ridge Discovery Weekend Overview Friday April 30
Saturday May 1st
Sunday May 2nd
Greetings and logistics ...Greetings Blue Ridge Discovery Participants, We are energized and looking forward to your participation in the Blue Ridge Discovery Weekend.. We have planned many exciting and rich activities that will share the stories of the Blue Ridge Mountains and examine how it has sculpted its inhabitants and how its inhabitants have sculpted it. Enclosed please find the program descriptions, schedule of events, bios of lead presenters, a map of Wildacres and directions to Wildacres. Additionally, we have included a list as to what to bring and check-in procedures. Items to bring
Check-in and checkout Check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and continues until 5:00 p.m.; plan to arrive before 6:00 p.m. supper is served promptly at 6:30 p.m. If you know that you will not arrive before 6:00 p.m., please contact Karen McCall at (704)372-6261 ext. 606, prior to April 30. Checkout is at noon on Sunday. Site emergency contact info and cell phone service The Wildacres facility office number is (828)756-4573. Coin-operated public telephones are available for outgoing calls. There is minimal service for cell phones in the area. Lodging Arrangements Upon check-in, you will be assigned your room number. Please let a member of our team know immediately if there are any problems with your room. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact Mary Bures, 704-372-6261, ext 441, or Karen McCall, 704-372-6261, ext 606. We look forward to spending an exciting and enriching weekend with you in the mountains! Many thanks, Lead Staff Bios...Keith Mastin, Sr. Naturalist, Western North Carolina Nature Center Karen McCall, Coordinator, Charlotte Nature Museum Karen has varied interests in plants, animals, habitats, and teaching. She has worked at the museum for over 8 years, loves the outdoors, and spends lots of time hiking, biking, running, camping, and sailing. She went to UNC-Wilmington to pursue a degree in marine biology and, although she still loves the ocean world and has salt water in her blood, finished with a BS in mathematics with an emphasis on physics. She also enjoys reading, painting, doing linoleum block printing, and dabbles in pen and inks. Houck Medford, Founding Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Houck is an experiencde-by-default photographer. He learned it from the ground up and never out-sourced any step of his workflow or production. He has mastered all the elements. He enjoys photography for the express purpose of sharingwith others. This remains his intent with his students. Jesse Pope, Chief Naturalist, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Jesse attended Lees-MacRae College from 1998- 2002 and earned a degree in Biology with a Naturalist concentration. His degree focused on Appalachian ecology with an emphasis on botany. He has worked on many levels at Grandfather Mountain, including Park Ranger, Zookeeper, Naturalist, and currently Chief Naturalist. During his 7 years at Grandfather Mountain, he developed a deep interest in the flora and fauna of the southern Appalachians. In recent years his interest has been in birds and bird watching. Additionally, Jesse has led birding trips all over North Carolina over the past few years including trips to many sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pungo Lake, Lake Mattamuskeet and Pea Island Wildlife Refuges. Jesse enjoys engaging folks with the outdoors, and aspires to help people make the connection between humans and the natural world. In addition to his professional work, he is also the President of the High Country Audubon Society, President-elect North Carolina Association of Environmental Education Centers (NCAEEC), a member of The North Carolina Wildlife Society’s Conservation Review Committee, and a member of the North American Association of Environmental Education Trainer’s Bureau, of the Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education. Jason Urroz Jason Urroz is a natural resource interpreter who loves providing children with meaningful connections to nature through outdoor education programs. Prior to earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Humboldt State University in natural resource interpretation, Jason spent over 11 years working with children in various fields ranging from outdoor education to standard classroom education and physical education. Upon completing his degree, Jason is looking forward to a successful career in the field that combines two of his passions – teaching children and nature. He has spent 1/3 of his life working with children in an outdoor setting. Jason has also camped, hiked, studied, and loved the outdoors for a long as he can remember. Jason Urroz is no stranger to the field of residential outdoor education. He has designed and taught several outdoor education lessons – from plant and animal adaptations, to ecosystem analysis, geology and more. Jason specializes in bringing nature to life through storytelling, skits, and song. Jason’s favorite quote is: “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. The sun will flow into you as it flows into trees. The wind will blow its freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir. And, Jason believes residential outdoor education is the perfect way to impart this philosophy upon our youth and help them develop life-long relationships with nature. Carolyn Ward, Ph.D. Carolyn grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She graduated with a degree in Geography from Emory and Henry College in 1990, and worked as a natural resource interpreter in the Virginia State park system. She went to graduate school at Virginia Tech and earning her Master’s and Ph.D. in Forestry with a specialization in Outdoor Recreation.
|
 |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
Join the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and 
Don your sturdy walking/hiking shoes and head out with us from Wildacres for an energizing, scenic hike. Designed for multiple ability levels choose to a shorter half-day hike or endure the full day experience. MODERATE TO STRENUOUS
