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Summer Saunter with Naturalist Aldo Leopold: Guided Hike Atop Grandfather Mountain Saturday, Aug. 24

Aug. 9, 2013. On Saturday, Aug. 24 Grandfather Mountain will offer the final program of our Summer Saunter guided hike series, “A Stroll with Aldo Leopold.”

This saunter along the Bridge Trail led by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s Director of Education Jesse Pope will explore how the land has been used in this area and what insight Aldo Leopold might have suggested for Grandfather Mountain.

Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Director of Education Jesse Pope speaks to guests about a famous naturalist on a Summer Saunter.  The August 24 Saunter focuses on Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management, and begins at 11 a.m. at the base of the Bridge Trail.  Photo by Landis Taylor
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Director of Education Jesse Pope speaks to guests about a famous naturalist on a Summer Saunter. The August 24 Saunter focuses on Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management, and begins at 11 a.m. at the base of the Bridge Trail. Photo by Landis Taylor

Aldo Leopold, known as the father of wildlife management, had a curiosity about nature and a sense of ethical responsibility toward protecting the land and all its inhabitants from a very young age. After earning his Master of Forestry degree from the Yale Forest School he became a member of the U.S. Forest Service. Leopold helped found game protection associations throughout the Southwest. In 1935 Aldo joined a group of conservationists to establish the Wilderness Society.

“I’m really eager to explore our park with visitors to look at Grandfather through Leopold’s lens,” said Pope. “His monumental thoughts on land ethics have challenged me to become a better naturalist and have greatly influenced me over the years. I hope this saunter with Leopold will inspire others as much as he has inspired me.”

This Summer Saunter focuses on examining our relationship and responsibility to land and environmental community. As an educator Leopold’s main objective was “to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees and enjoy what he understands.”

This hike is free with regular admission to Grandfather Mountain. No reservations are required. Interested guests should meet at the base of the Bridge Trail across the road from the Black Rock parking area at 11 a.m. The Saunter will last approximately 1.5 hours.

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainability 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.