Education and Outreach

The Blue Ridge Parkway has more than 5,000 original maps and drawings dating from 1934 to the present. Many of the older maps and drawings, located in the parks engineering offices and archives,  are not digitized and are in very poor condition.   With your support, you can fund the work of archivists who will locate, identify, pack and ship historic maps and drawings to National Park Service’s Denver Service Center for inventorying and digitizing. Digital copies will be made accessible to the public and staff online. 

Mabry Mill is the beloved centerpiece of a collection of fascinating historical structures at milepost 171 in Virginia. In fact, the rustic mill reflected in the adjacent pond is said to be the most photographed scene on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The mill, including its wheel and roof, and surrounding structures are in dire need of repairs. With a donation, you can support rehabilitation projects that will preserve the complex and make the site more accessible for all visitors. 

With your support for this project, visitors will find single-sheet trail guides to help them explore and learn more about 16 popular hiking destinations along the Parkway, including Humpback Rocks, Otter Creek and James River, Roanoke Valley, Cumberland Knob, Julian Price Park, Linville Falls, Mount Pisgah, and Waterrock Knob. The guides will include information about safety, resource protection, and opportunities for children, such as the Junior Ranger and Kids in Parks programs. The funding need for this project is $15,000.

With the addition of an interpreter-in-residence at Crabtree Falls Campground, milepost 339, the National Park Service will be able to expand its services for visitors, including demonstrations, campfire programs, guided hikes, and more. This popular spot has seen an increase in campers in recent years, making it the perfect place to launch this new program designed to share a greater understanding of the national park with those who visit. The total fundraising goal for this project is $20,000. Donate

Each year, the Foundation prints and distributes maps of the Cone estate to help guide visitors on the 25 miles of carriage trails and share the past of the historic gem. Your gift will ensure more visitors can appreciate the backstory and beauty of this park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fundraising goal for this project is $5,000. Donate

With your help, summer Sunday afternoons will be filled with mountain music at popular destinations along the Parkway, allowing the Blue Ridge Music Center to reach a wider audience of visitors. Akin to the down-home Midday Mountain Music presentations at the Music Center, this free series of intimate outdoor concerts will showcase local musicians playing traditional music in Virginia at Humpback Rocks, Peaks of Otter and Mabry Mill, and in North Carolina at Doughton Park Picnic Area and the Asheville Visitor Center.

This season, volunteer rovers will protect peregrine falcons at Devils Courthouse and rare plants at Craggy Gardens and Rough Ridge by educating visitors about these important ecological sites. Your generosity can ensure the rovers are equipped with the supplies they need, including hand-held radios, backpacks, rain gear, and first-aid kits. The remaing goal for this project is $4,000.  Donate

This season, volunteer rovers will protect peregrine falcons at Devils Courthouse and rare plants at Craggy Gardens and Rough Ridge by educating visitors about these important ecological sites. Your generosity can ensure the rovers are equipped with the supplies they need, including hand-held radios, backpacks, rain gear, and first-aid kits. Our goal for this project is $5,000.

Parkway volunteers fill a wide range of roles within the park, from operating chainsaws and repairing trails to serving as rover at popular visitation sites. By lending their time and talents, volunteers make the Blue Ridge Parkway a better and more beautiful place for everyone. With a gift, you can provide the supplies, training, and tools volunteers need to  rejuvenate sites and help visitors all along the Parkway.

No matter where you are, webcams can keep you connected to the Blue Ridge Parkway. To provide park views year-round, we are asking for your support to fund the installation of state-of-the-art webcameras, like the unit at The Bluffs Restaurant, at additional key locations along the scenic route.  Our goal for this project is $20,000. Please donate today! Give