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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Republican Women to Meet Aug. 26

The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its next monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 26th, at The Sagebrush Steakhouse, 111 NC-105 in Boone, NC. The meeting will begin at noon. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in The High Country are welcome to attend and are invited to join. Call 828-295-9020 for more information. The WCRWC meets the last Wednesday of each month.

2) August Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park

Volunteer Trail Work Day

Sat, August 15, 2015

9:30a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration Required) Starts at: 9:30 a.m. Meet at: Contact office for location Suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal adult guardian present. Do you enjoy being outdoors and meeting new people? Share in the adventure by volunteering on one or more of our trail work days. Volunteering is a great way to have a little fun while giving back to some of your favorite hiking spots. Join our park’s staff for a day of trail maintenance and get a feel for what goes into managing a highly popular hiking destination. Volunteers will learn how to safely and effectively use tools, be shown sustainable trail design techniques and become familiar with trail labor. Work will be based on experience and skill level of volunteers and will range from easier, low level physical activity to advanced, highly physical trail construction. Volunteers should be dressed in appropriate clothing for outdoor work, bring work gloves, wear closed toed shoes. Bring food and water for refreshments during the day. Volunteer Work Days are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from May to October. Please note: Registration is now required for our volunteer days. Volunteers must register no later than 2 days before scheduled work day. To register, please contact our office at 828.963.9522 or grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov.

Forest Literacy

Fri, August 21, 2015

5:00p.m.-6:30p.m. Meet at: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC Appropriate for Ages 8 and up; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please no pets. When you walk through the woods, what do you see? Most of us see the plants, animals and nonliving objects but fail to read the story behind these. If you know what to look for and how to ‘read’ the forest you get a glimpse into the past and understand the how and why of what brought the forest to its current state. Join a Ranger and learn the skills of reading the forest. Become forest literate and unlock the secrets of the forest! Program is appropriate for ages 8 through adult. Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a hike lasting approximately one hour. For Directions to the park office, visit https://goo.gl/oq7dAH. Please contact Luke Appling with any questions. 828-963-9522 or luke.appling@ncparks.gov.

Grandfather Mountain State Park — Go G.R.E.E.N. Day (Annual Event)

Sat, August 22, 2015

11:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Meet at: Foscoe Grandfather Community Center, 233 Park Road, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Save The Date!!!

Join us to celebrate the mountain, state parks, natural resources, local history, environmental education, the Year of the Amphibian, summer in the mountains and everything that is fun about being outside! The fifth annual Grandfather Mountain State Park Event, Go G.R.E.E.N. Day will be held August 22, 2015 at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Park. The name has changed, but the event will still be an exciting day with our staff and presenters.

Scheduled Events:

8am: Profile Trail Guided Hikes: call office for details/registration

9am: Profile Trail Guided Nature Hike: call office for details/registration

11:15 – 12:00: Mountain Stream Ecology

12:00 – 12:30: Storytelling by local Storyteller ReVonda Crow

12:30 – 1:15: Mountain Stream Ecology

1:30 – 2:15: Mountain Stream Ecology

1:30 – 2:00: Author Randy Johnson presents – “The Brief History of Grandfather Mountain: A Photo Tour”

1:15 – 2:30: Mountain Stream Ecology

2:30 – 3:00: Storytelling by local Storyteller ReVonda Crow

3:30 – 4:00pm: The famous State Park Ranger Skit

See the newest hiking gear from Footsloggers, play amphibian games, visit with native wildlife from Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary, learn to live safely with bears, learn about birds and bees; trout and amphibians, learn about your state park! Plus many more activities, exhibits and demonstrations. We are looking for volunteers too; from environmental educators to those who would like to help us set up for the event – and everything in between. Please contact the park office at 828.963.9522 or grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov for more information.

GUIDED PROFILE TRAIL HIKES (Go G.R.E.E.N. Day)

Sat, August 22, 2015

Go G.R.E.E.N. Day Event Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 – 8:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. Meet at: Lowes Foods (Hwy 105/Hwy 184 intersection) – Banner Elk, NC Shuttle will be provided to trail and leaves promptly at 8:00am for guided hikes and 9:00am for nature hike. Pre-registration is required by August 21. Call the park office at 828.963.9522 or email: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. As part of Grandfather Mountain State Park’s Go G.R.E.E.N. Day Event on August 22, Boone’s very own hiking club, The Chargers and Re-Chargers are leading hikes of varying difficulty levels on the Profile Trail. If you ever wanted to tackle the Profile, but needed a little encouragement, this is your chance! Experienced Hike Leaders will lead the traditional hikes at 8:00am. Local Naturalist Bob Cantu will share his knowledge of native flora and fauna found along the trail on a special nature hike at 9:00am. ALL HIKERS ARE WELCOME AND MAY CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING HIKING OPTIONS: Guided Trail Hikes – (8:00AM – meet at Lowes Foods for shuttle) Moderate: 4.5 miles round trip to Profile View with approx. 1100’ elevation gain – Strenuous: 5.5 miles round trip to Shanty Springs with approx. 1,600’ elevation gain – Very strenuous: 7 miles round trip to Calloway Peak with approx. 2,000’ elevation gain Guided Nature Hike with naturalist Bob Cantu (9:00AM – meet at Lowes Foods for shuttle) Easy: 2 miles round trip with approx. 130’ elevation gain – This educational hike will be slow-paced to enable hikers to stop and observe plants and animals along the trail. Hikers on the easier hikes will return by 12:30pm, which will leave time to participate in other Go G.R.E.E.N. Day events. The Shanty Springs and Calloway Peak hikes will take most of the day. Please no dogs. Please wear sturdy hiking boots, bring snacks and water, dress in layers and bring a rain jacket. Don’t forget your hiking poles if you use them. Hike leaders are providing a shuttle for hikers from the Lowes Grocery Parking Lot, near McDonalds (intersection of Hwy 105 and 184) to the small Profile parking lot. Hikers are to meet at Lowes Foods – the shuttle will leave the parking lot promptly at 8:00am (Rides will also be provided for the 9:00am hike – leaving Lowes promptly at 9:00). Park website: http://ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/grmo/main.php Park Office: (828) 963-9522 | Email: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov

3) Blue Ridge Parkway Ranger Programs

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:30 am – Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:30, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

Saturday August 15, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. To reserve a tour: call 828-295-3782 or sign up at the NPS information desk at the Manor House. Reservations are accepted beginning at 10:00am Friday for the upcoming weekend only. No advance reservations, please.

Julian Price Campground Amphitheater – Milepost 296          

7:00 p.m. – Skunks!!!

They are wonderful animals and unique to the Americas. Come and learn more about these useful and loveable creatures.

Approximately 45 minutes in length

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. (See Saturday above)

ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Special thanks to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Eastern National, and FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway for their financial support of these programs

4) Upcoming Programs on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Friday, August 14, 2015

Linville Falls Visitor Center- Milepost 316

11:00am- Hiking for the Perfect Picture

Join a ranger to explore Linville Falls on a guided hike focusing on engaging your photographic eye. Bring your camera, an eye for beauty, bottle of water, and comfortable shoes.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Linville Falls Campground Amphitheater – Milepost 316

7:00pm- Night Flyers

The owl has long been a representation of intelligence and wisdom, but it also symbolizes death in some cultures. Come learn about this silent night flyer, and why it is associated with such a diversity of characteristics.

Approximately 45 minutes in length

Crabtree Falls Campground Amphitheater- Milepost 340

7:00pm- Yell Fire

As one of the classical elements, fire has been seen as a powerful force within the universe. Learn about fire’s positive and negative effects and how wildland fire is fought.

Approximately 45 minutes in length

 

All programs are Free and open to the public

Special thanks to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Eastern National, and FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway for their financial support of these programs