High Country Local First Launches Local First! Rewards Card
High Country Local First, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting independently owned, local businesses, is pleased to announce the release of its Local First! Rewards Card. The rewards card entitles the bearer to members-only discounts and special offers at locally owned retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
Local schools and area nonprofit organizations have partnered with High Country Local First to sell the rewards cards as fundraisers. Cards will be sold for $20 each and will offer a wealth of discounts ranging from service providers, retail, restaurants, outdoor recreation opportunities and events. Each time a card is sold, $5 will go directly back to the organization or school that sold it to use at its discretion. In addition, $5 from each card sale will go into a Farm to School grant fund to provide local schools with money to implement innovative measures to educate and teach children the health and value of fresh, local food. A matching grant has been received from Heifer, USA for the Farm to School grant program and the Appalachian District Health Department has generously given HCLF a grant to get this project off the ground. The remaining $10 will go to HCLF to create, manage and market the reward card program and to continue it’s work in the community.
According to Mary Scott, co-founder of High Country Local First, “The Local First! Rewards Card is an initiative designed to connect and support many elements of the High Country community: our schools, our farms, our charitable organizations, our hard working local business owners, and our local economy. Shopping at local businesses keeps more money circulating in our local economy and strengthens the unique character of the High Country.” 
Local First! Rewards Cards can be purchased at Stick Boy Bread Company, Art Mart & Academy in Boone, or by going to www.highcountrylocalfirst.org/rewards beginning June 1. Cards will be valid until June 1, 2013. Cards will also be available at area schools in the Fall. For more information, including a list of participating local businesses and their special offers, visit www.highcountrylocalfirst.org. If business owners wish to join HCLF and offer a discount, please contact Mary Scott at highcountrylocalfirst@gmail.com.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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New River State Park Presents: Hike to identify Edible & Poisonous plants!
Saturday, May 26th
10:30 am
Wagoner Road Access
Join a park ranger at the New River State Park’s Wagoner Access for a mid-morning hike. This hike will be approximately one mile long and will begin at 10:30 am.
The purpose of this hike is to identify plants that are in bloom and how to tell the difference between edible and poisonous plants.
Be sure and wear good hiking shoes.
For more information on this program or any others that the park advertises, please call the park office at 336-982-2587 during regular business hours. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
For more info, visit: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/neri/main.php
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids In Parks program to Open Third TRACK Trail
Over the past few years, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program has been installing a network of kid friendly hiking trails, called TRACK Trails, on and in communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Kids in Parks program are installing their network of TRACK Trails to help get kids and families “un-plugged”, outdoors and actively engaged in nature, for their health and the health of our parks. Each TRACK Trail provides a series of self-guided, brochure-led adventures designed to turn an ordinary hike into a fun-filled adventure. And, kids who register their TRACK Trail adventures on the Kids in Parks website (www.kidsinparks.com) become members of the program’s Trail TRACKer Team and earn prizes (incentives) designed to make their next outdoor adventure more fun.
The Mount Jefferson State Natural Area TRACK Trail will be located on the Rhododendron Trail that begins at the upper parking lot and climbs gently toward the summit of Mount Jefferson and Luther Rock. The trail is a 1.1-mile long loop trail with two short out-and-back sections leading the way to both peaks. *Please use caution when visiting the peaks.
“We are excited to have partnered with North Carolina State Parks on our 3rd TRACK Trail together. The network of TRACK Trails we have formed within the state parks and other land management agencies in the region are giving kids and families from the area multiple options to get outdoors, “unplugged” and connected to the resources and special places that make this region so wonderful. From New River State Park, to Grayson Highalnds State Park in VA, to W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir in Wilkesboro and now at Mount Jefferson’s State Natural Area, the region’s network is one of the strongest networks of TRACK Trails in the program.”
“Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area is excited about adding the Track Trails program to park activities. “
The grand opening celebration of the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area TRACK Trail will be held on May 26th at the trailhead located just above the picnic area in the upper-most parking lot. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2:00pm.
Address to trailhead: 1481 Mt. Jefferson State Park Rd. West Jefferson, NC 28694
(Once in the park, proceed all the way to the top parking lot, the trailhead is just beyond the picnic area).
Phone Number for More Information: (336) 246-9653
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble At Grandfather Mountain Starts Early This Year!
The showy rose-lavender blooms that decorate Grandfather’s slopes and indicate the beginning of another breathtaking summer on the mountain have arrived early this year. The mild winter that brought an early advent for other floral mountain displays will likely move this year’s spectacular showcase of rhododendron on the Mountain forward as well.
The “Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble” hosted by the attraction’s naturalists will celebrate this memorable sight June 2-17 at 1 p.m. daily. Grandfather’s knowledgeable guides are looking forward to sharing the beauty of this year’s blooms with park visitors.
“I am really excited to show guests this wonderful flower and plant as it is very important to the Mountain,” said Katie Gray, chief naturalist at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “The history about Andre Michaux and the plant’s discovery is really interesting.”
The naturalists have planned guided walks to honor the native Catawba Rhododendron and educate guests on how the plant fits into the important ecological communities at Grandfather Mountain.
Found throughout the southern Appalachia, Catawba Rhododendron also hold special significance in the botanical world. It is among only four original species of rhododendron that have been used to cultivate thousands of hybrids. The Catawba Rhododendron covers more than 1,000 feet in elevation from MacRae Meadows to MacRae Peak where it reaches 5,845 feet. The wide range of elevation provides guests with a longer window of opportunity to see the rhododendron blooming on Grandfather. It typically first appears at overlooks near the entrance of the attraction in late May and arrives at the higher peaks near The Mile High Swinging Bridge by the end of June.
Due to this year’s unseasonably warm weather, blooms can already be found around MacRae Meadows. Staff naturalists may plan rhododendron-focused programs earlier than June 2 if the blooms are widespread late May.
“For each Rhodo Ramble we’ll lead guests on a short walk, teach them how to identify the differences between species, take pictures and discuss the vivid colors of this stunning plant,” said Gray. “Information boards in the Nature Museum and at the Entrance Gate will direct guests to where the ramble will begin.” All Rhododendron Ramble activities are included in the regular attraction admission.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Experience Naturalist Weekend At Grandfather Mountain!
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is hosting its annual Naturalist Weekend May 11-13. This weekend provides guests with an in-depth look at the diversity found in the mountain’s ecological communities through guided hikes and workshops.
The weekend starts off Friday with the all-day Grandfather Spring Bird Count. During the bird count, visitors will be birding at various locations around Grandfather Mountain, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and Grandfather Mountain State Park. That evening, guests will be guided throughout the park looking and listening for Grandfather’s native nocturnal animals in the Owl Prowl. Space for both of Friday’s programs is limited and reservations are necessary.
“The Owl Prowl is one of the neatest events on the Mountain. We go to the top, discuss natural history, play owl calls and wait for the owls to return them.” said Katie Gray, chief naturalist at the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Saturday’s busy schedule begins with a 9:30 a.m. Wildflower Hike and a “Birds of Prey” program at 11 a.m. Naturalist Weekend continues in the afternoon with a “Crayfish Research Project” at 1 p.m. offering participants an introduction to the project and an up-close look at some of Grandfather’s crayfish.
At 2 p.m., a Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Interpretive Ranger leads guests on the “Nature on the Edge Hike.” This trek will follow the Extension Trail loop, starting and ending at the Black Rock Parking Area. This moderately strenuous hike focuses on the transition of habitats from the Mountain’s flanks to ridgeline. Space for this hike is limited and reservations are necessary.
Another plant-themed hike begins at 4 p.m. called “Trees and Shrubs of the Southern Appalachians.” This moderately strenuous hike focuses on the native trees and shrubs on Grandfather Mountain. This hike begins and ends at the Extension Trailhead next to the Black Rock Parking area.
Sunday’s schedule begins at 7:30 a.m. with a Birding Hike on the Profile Trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park. “Geology of Grandfather,” a hike focusing on the unique geology of Grandfather Mountain begins at 10 a.m.
A “NASA Climate Workshop” begins at 11 a.m. and a “Habitat Animal Training” program at 1 p.m. A “Tracking Animals” guided walk takes place at 2 p.m. and focuses on tracks and signs of animals. The weekend will come to a close with a “Cultural Walk” at 3 p.m. followed by a “Diseases on Trees and Local Plants” program at 4 p.m.
For more information about Grandfather’s Naturalist Weekend or to make reservations for the Owl Prowl or “Nature on the Edge Hike” please call 828-733-4326. To make reservations for the Spring Bird Count please call 828-733-3224. For a complete schedule of the Naturalist Weekend events, please visit www.grandfather.com.
All programs and guided walks offered as part of the Naturalist Weekend are included in the regular price of admission. Those who attend for more than one day should keep their receipt from their first visit and present that for discount admission the following day.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
First Annual Grandfather Campout At Grandfather Mountain
This summer at Grandfather Mountain brings a brand new event, offering participants unique and new opportunities on the Mountain. The First Annual Grandfather Mountain Campout July 27-29, is an all-weekend event hosted by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
During this campout, guests can spend up to three days and two nights camping in MacRae Meadows between organized events all over the Mountain. Grandfather’s education and interpretive staff will be present in the camp area to assist novice campers, answer questions and even offer campfire treats and activities. The campsite will be safe, cater to all levels of camping experience and welcomes families, couples, and solo adventurers throughout this weekend of wonder.
These opportunities are included in the price of registration: “Night Adventures,” “The Wonders of Bees” children’s program, a climate and weather program, a tree and shrub walk and an orienteering workshop. Also included in the registration price is “A Bug’s World” children’s program, a clouds and weather program, a butterfly program, “Nature Near the Swinging Bridge” and several campfire and evening gatherings. There are also additional, more in-depth activities like “Grandfather’s Attic Hike” and Behind the Scenes habitat tours, available at an additional charge.
Campout participants also get the added bonus of extended hours on Grandfather. Campers receive access to the park’s overlooks, Woods Walk picnic area and walking trail and the Mile High Swinging Bridge in the morning starting 30 minutes prior to sunrise and in the evening from closing time to 30 minutes after sunrise, allowing for incredible and rare scenic photo opportunities.
Registration for the Grandfather Mountain Campout begins May 1 on www.grandfather.com. Registration forms must be printed and mailed in. Those who wish to resister for a guided hike and/or a Behind the Scenes Tour must be sure their registration is received by July 25. Registration for the Campout must be received by July 27.
Campsites are $30 per night for participants or $25 per night for annual pass holders. Admission to the park is not included in the campsite fee. Those who attend multiple days of the campout should keep their admission receipt to receive discount admission into the park the following days of the event. For questions about registration please call 828-733-4326.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
2012 Spring Draw-a-thon to be Held April 28th at Turchin Center
Appalachian State University’s Arts Management Organization (AMO) and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) Community Outreach Program are working together to present the Annual Spring Draw-a-thon on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
The Spring Draw-a-thon is a free campus and community event that celebrates and promotes drawing, creativity, spontaneity and artistic collaboration. Students, professors and local artists (of all levels and ages) are invited to gather at TCVA, classroom 3200 to draw from life models during an all day event with the goal of creating a casual, fun atmosphere that is open to the curious novice, the devoted expert and every level in between. Participants are invited to be involved in the entire event or drop in as their schedule allows.
Attendees will have the option of drawing from live models (who will pose in rotation throughout the event) or working on personal sketches and drawing projects of their own designs. This event will include a special model session that will be “all audience friendly” with costumed models and a portrait drawing session on Saturday afternoon from 1– 3 p.m. A complete schedule can be found below.
To further promote and celebrate the vibrancy of our artistic community, these drawings will be put on temporary display in Appalachian State University’s Department of Art in Wey Hall. Email amo.asuart@gmail.com for more info.
Draw-a-thon Schedule
Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, classroom 3200
9 a.m. Ceremonial “Kick off”
9:15 a.m. Drawing begins! (breakfast from Mountain Bagels, Boone Bagelry, and AMO)
12 – 1 p.m. Break for lunch
1 – 3 p.m. “All Audience Friendly” Model Session (costumed models)
3 – 6 p.m. Model Sessions
6 – 7 p.m. Pizza Dinner (provided by Hungry Howie’s and AMO)
7 – 11 p.m. Model Sessions
11 p.m. Event wrap-up
Sponsors
Organizational and program support is being provided by AMO and the TCVA Community Outreach Program. Community sponsors include: Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Mountain Bagels, Boone Bagelry, Cheap Joes and Art Mart. Each of these local businesses has graciously donated food or supplies for the event. A special thanks, as well, to volunteer faculty members from Appalachian’s Department of Art.
About AMO
The Arts Management Organization is a university recognized club that seeks to promote professionalism and networking within the arts fields by increasing the awareness of the arts on Appalachian State University’s campus and in the community. For more information, please email amo.asuart@gmail.com or visit www.appamo.webs.com.
About TCVA
The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone, NC. Hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, and Noon – 8pm, Friday. The center is closed Sunday and Monday and observes all university holidays. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. For additional details about the Turchin Center or the upcoming exhibition program, please call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Turchin Center presents the North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Awards Exhibition
Galleries A and B of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts are alive with the creative musings of 16 artists, all recipients of the 2010-11 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Awards. This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, withfunding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibition at the Turchin Center runs April 6 – July 28, 2012.
“These fellowships are vitally important as they support and nurture great art and artists across the state,” said Hank Foreman, Director and Chief Curator for the Turchin Center and Associate Vice Chancellor for University Communications and Cultural Affairs. “The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for communities to participate in the arts. I think our patrons will find it engaging on many levels,” he said.
The NCAC established the artist fellowship initiative in 1980 to recognize artists for their essential roles as catalysts of innovation, creativity and stimulating dialogue in their communities. Artist contributions in the creative industries account for more than 5 percent of employment statewide.
Nancy Trovillion, NCAC’s acting director, says the program provides financial support for artists during crucial points in their careers, and the opportunity to deepen their work and explore new territory. “One of the greatest and most enduring public services an artist can perform is the creation of new work,” she said. “In this regard, the fellowships are a symbol of the state’s recognition of the value of having artists in our communities.”
Over the past 32 years, more than 500 artists have been recognized as fellows. Currently, 18fellowships of $10,000 are awarded annually. The program operates on a two-year cycle: choreographers and visual arts, crafts, film and video artists are represented in the 2010-11 cycle. This fall songwriters, composers and writers of othergenres will begin the application process for the 2012-13 cycle.
The works of the artists selected as fellows this year comprise an exhibition of metal and wood sculpture, furniture, photography, film, videography and the visual arts and crafts.
Jeff Pettus, NCAC senior program director for artists and organizations, says he is “struck by the level of commitment these individuals make to their crafts.”
“They all have stretched as artists in unique ways. And in doing so they’ve fashioned compelling realities that have the power to take us places we’ve never been before,” he said.
Meet the 2010-11 NCAC Artist Fellows
Elizabeth Brim says her metal sculptures – high heels, pillows, a ballerina’s tutu – “poke fun at what is expected of a Southern woman of my generation.”
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Phoebe Brush’s video “SPITTY,” features a father/daughter team and their subversive and politically charged ditties.
Painter Kirk Fanelly creates comical snapshots of everyday life with paint and collage. His spare, graphic style reveals narratives that unfold gradually.
Gail Fredell, a pioneer in the women’s studio furniture-making movement, specializes in finely crafted architectural tables and benches grounded in a minimalist aesthetic.
Painter and installation artist Maja Godlewska’s work explores phenomena that seem permanent, yet are subject to change and evolution, such as clouds, icebergs and weather patterns.
“I regard the camera as a tool for excavation,” says filmmaker Christopher Holmes. His films explore issues of history, environment and class, and feature people struggling to make sense of the world.
Photographer Mark Iwinski’s work re-envisions vanished landscapes by superimposing transparencies of old photographs over those of modern locations – simultaneously revealing past and present.
Installation artist Young Kim uses materials such as salt and red clay combine to create portraits that are meditations on time, memory and the human condition.
The politically charged content of Anne Lemanski’s sculptural portraits – formed with copper rod armature and artificial sinew – represent her view of the worlds’ inconsistencies and hypocrisies.
Mixed media artist Nava Lubelski combines painting and sculpture with embroidery, lace and paper cutting to examine ideas of repair and redemption – for instance, embroidery over stains on a tablecloth.
“My life’s work is to invite everyone to see a visual comedy in the makings of my hands,” says multi-media artist Sean Pace. “My creations involve many ideas. In each is a vein of sardonic humor.”
Susan Harbage Page’s photographs of possessions left behind by immigrants crossing the U.S./Mexico border document the losses and relics of transition.
Fiber artist Vita Plume creates ghostly distortions of visual and cultural identity by merging weavings and dye patterns with portraits on a digital Jacquard loom.
The traditions of daily life in ceramist Shoko Teruyama’s native Japan inspire her hand-built bowls, vases and other precious objects. Her work is alive with movement and color.
Sculptor Bob Trotman’s wooden people – often posed falling, sinking or at the moment of some impending transition – evoke both humor and anxiety.
“My goal always is to hit ‘the sweet spot’ – where parts are in exquisite relation to one another,” says assemblage artist Linda Vista. She creates small sculptures from the stuff of flea markets, antique malls and junkyards.
To learn more about the NCAC exhibition, visit: http://tcva.org/exhibitions/520
About the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents exhibition, education and collection programs that support Appalachian State University’s role as a key regional educational, cultural and economic resource.
The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.,Tues.-Thurs. and Saturday, and Noon-8 p.m., Friday. The Center is closed Sunday and Monday, and observes all university holidays. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted.
Foradditional details about the Turchin Center, becoming a donor, the upcoming exhibitions, to be added to the mailing list or to schedule a tour, please call (828) 262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org. You can also follow the Turchin Center on Facebook and Twitter @TurchinCenter.
Sponsors
The Turchin Center receives critical support from a group of outstanding media sponsors that are dedicated to promoting the arts in our region, including: The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, the High Country Press, the Winston-Salem Journal, WNC Magazine, Charter Media, Mountain Television Network, Mix 102.3, Oldies 100.7, WFDD 88.5, WDAV 89.9, WETS 89.5 and WASURocks 90.5FM.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Earth Day Celebration at New River State Park!
Sunday, April 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The live music picnic will begin at 11:00 a.m. featuring musician Jeff Martin and others. Some grilled foods (hotdogs and a vegetarian option) will be served until supplies run out. (Or bring your own lunch and join us at the riverside picnic area).Thanks to Food Lion, Ingles, Lowes Hardware and Walmart for your support of this community event.
The activities begin at noon with a Ranger-led River Ramble. Please wear close-toed shoes that can be worn in the river and have a change of clothing, as you will get wet.
At 1:00 p.m. River Girl Fishing & Rafting Company will provide a fly fishing demonstration near the riverside picnic area.
At 2:00 p.m. there will be a ranger-led Earth Day sing-a-long for kids in the visitor center.
At 3:00 p.m. there will be a Junior Ranger “animal signs” activity. Participants will be looking for signs of park animals on a short hike starting from the Visitor Center.
From 4:00 p.m. – 6:00pm there will be a movie shown at the visitor center with an earth/sustainability theme. Title TBA.
Also from 1:00pm – 4:00pm, the park will host the following Earth-supporting organizations and businesses to give the public the opportunity to become familiar with their ideas and services. These include non- profit organizations such as:
Friends of High Country State Parks-The mission of Friends of High Country State Parks is to enhance and perpetuate the High Country State Parks and State Natural Areas for the enjoyment and benefit of all the state’s people.
The Nature Conservancy of NC-The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Conservancy was founded in 1951 and is the world’s leading conservation organization. Since its inception in 1977, the North Carolina Chapter has protected over 700,000 acres of critically important lands across the state including over 12,000 acres in northwestern NC. The Conservancy has an office in Boone, NC and we own several nature preserves in the region including our Bluff Mountain preserve in Ashe County near West Jefferson.
The Appalachian Voices (Appalachian Voices is a regional non-profit committed to protecting the land, air and water of the central and southern Appalachian region by working to reduce coal’s impact on the region and advancing our vision for a cleaner energy future. Since the impacts of coal threaten Appalachian states like North Carolina more than any other single source of pollution, we have recently launched our Red, White and Water campaign to mobilize citizens to stand up for their right to clean water.)
The Blue Ridge Conservancy-“Working with willing landowners and local communities to permanently protect land and water resources with agricultural, ecological, cultural, recreational and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.”
The National Committee for the New River-(NCNR) is a multistate non-profit organization focusing on the health and preservation of the New River Watershed. NCNR uses a 3 pronged approach in safeguarding the New River: Land Protection, Restoration, and Advocacy. NCNR protects land critical for preserving important wildlife habitat, rare and endangered species, cornerstones of biodiversity, and working farmland along the New River and its tributaries, through voluntary acquisitions and conservation easements. NCNR works with private landowners to stabilize eroding stream banks, restore riparian buffers to prevent further erosion, and to create healthy riparian habitat for wildlife and aquatic life. NCNR works to increase citizens’ capacity to defend and protect the New River watershed, working with local citizens to identify and address specific land and water uses activities that threaten the New River’s health, wildlife, and scenery.
High Country Audubon Society covers Avery, Ashe, Alleghany, Watauga, and Wilkes counties and is designed to encourage beginning birders and experts alike to engage in conservation, education, and research for the birds of western North Carolina.
River Girl Fishing & Rafting Company- “At Rivergirl Fishing Company, we love to share the resources and knowledge that are at the core of our passion for fishing and floating down the river. We offer a wide range of services tailored to the needs of our customers, including fly-fishing lessons, guided fishing trips, kayak, canoe, tube and bike rentals. Need a fishing license? We can provide that too. Come on by the old train depot in Todd and let us help you enjoy your time outdoors in the splendid wonderland that mother nature offers. Live. Learn. Fish! “
Riverside Canoe -The Riverside Canoe located on the South Fork of the New River in Crumpler, NC. Riverside Canoe, is a full service outfitter, offers New River canoeing in Northeastern Ashe County. With Riverside Canoe you can begin your adventures canoeing or kayaking on the beautiful south fork along the 26 mile section of the National Wild & Scenic New River.
Florence Thomas Art School-The Florence Thomas Art School is a non-profit art school that provides resources for instruction, exhibition and experience in the fine arts, master crafts and heritage crafts for Ashe County, the region and the world. It has been promoting and preserving the legacy of its founder Florence Thomas, by fostering an environment for creative thought and artistic expression, since 2007.
West Jefferson Chevrolet- The Cruze Eco on site and they will a representative to discuss its attributes. (West Jefferson Chevrolet Buick GMC offers a full lineup of fuel efficient cars, trucks, and SUVs. Our vehicles are designed to meet all transportation needs while being eco-friendly. General Motors and West Jefferson Chevrolet offer vehicles featuring the latest in fuel saving technologies such as extended range electric vehicles, two-mode hybrids, e-assist, and active fuel management.)
Blue Ridge Electric (who will be giving away CFL light bulbs to the first 50 visitors)
J & S Construction (a certified “Green builder”)-It is our mission at J.S. Construction to provide our clients with unsurpassed quality and availability every step of the way. Our unique management strategies, scheduling techniques and professional attitudes translate into a seamless construction experience no matter the scope of the project. Whether its New Home construction, Renovations, Decks, or Additions.
B & R Energy Works LLC -Blue Ridge Energy Works has been working in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry since we formed in 2007. We offer solar electric, wind electric, and micro hydro electric power systems. We also offer solar hot water systems and are happy to coordinate with your HVAC contractor to increase your heating efficiency. We install spray foam insulation to keep your heat where it belongs, inside!
Sunny Day Homes: Sunny Day Homes is a leader in energy-efficient, green building in the High Country; we help homeowners improve the energy conservation of their existing home or help them plan and construct a new home or addition that will be gentle on the planet as well as a healthy place to live and raise kids. You can learn more about us at www.boonegreenbuilders.com or email us at boonegreenbuilders@gmail.com.
Come on out to New River State Park in support of Earth Day and the New River. Enjoy the day with friends and family while learning a few more ways to be good stewards of our Earth and make some wholesome New River memories.
Call 336-982-2587 for more information.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Grandfather Mountain Lowers “Keeper For A Day” Rates and Adds a Three-Hour Option!
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has lowered the cost of the ‘Keeper for a Day’ Program this year to $150 for guests and $120 for season-pass holders. The Mountain is also beginning to offer a three-hour option in addition to the full, six-hour option.
The full day option includes admission to the park, a t-shirt, lunch with the animal caretakers and six hours of experiencing the daily chores of the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats staff: feeding, cleaning and caring for the five species of animals that call the habitats home. The new half-day option, which costs $75 ($60 for season pass holders), includes admission to the park, a t-shirt and three hours of hands-on animal care.
“We hope to give people a better appreciation for our habitat staff and the wonderful animals that they care for,” said Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation President Penn Dameron.
Participants must at least 12-years-old; capable of walking up and down steep, rough terrain; wear closed-toe hiking or work boots and be willing to sign a waiver of liability.
The Keeper for A Day Program is available on certain Tuesdays, April-October. Both the three-hour and six-hour options begin at 8 a.m. Reservations for the program must be made at least 24 hours in advance. A full schedule of dates can be found on www.grandfather.com. For more information or to reserve your spot, call the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats at 828-733-8715.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
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