2016 Summer MRNR Brochure copy

MOUNT ROGERS SUMMER NATURALIST RALLY
AUGUST 19-21 2016
Buy one ticket and get three days of activities!
The Summer Rally gives us a chance to explore Mt.
Rogers in a different season. We have assembled a
wide variety of field trips with leaders who are experts in their field and who are able to make it understandable and interesting for everyone from inquisitive amateurs to accomplished naturalists.
NOTE: Opportunity to choose your field trips will
begin Friday at 5PM. All field trips have a limited
number of participants and will be first-come-firstserve basis. All times listed are
actual departure times. Please allow extra time if
you still need to register. All trips will go out regardless of weather conditions! Come prepared!
LO C A T I O N
S c h e d u le o f E ven t s
Fr iday Dinner & Meeting
FRI DA Y, AU GUS T 19
BRDC A N N UA L M E E TI N G
‣ 5:00 PM: Registration & trip selection
@ Konnarock Community Center
‣ 5:30-6:30 PM: Friday Potluck Dinner
‣ 6:45 PM: Rally welcome, field trip details
by trip leaders, and announcements
‣ 7:00 PM: BRDC Annual Meeting & Discussion
‣ 9:00 PM: Nighttime Activity
SA TU RDA Y, A U G U S T 20
The Mount Rogers Area: This area which includes
Virginia's three tallest peaks, has long fascinated
scholars and explorers. Not only is there a wide
variation in altitude within a short distance
(2000’-5,729’), there are many different ecosystems
within a short drive or hike of each other. In addition,
there are many interesting overlaps between the
extreme ranges of "southern" and "northern" species
of plants, animals, and folks. ‣ 7:00 AM: Registration & trip selection
Coffee & pastry breakfast for sale
The Konnarock Community Center: Friday Night
Dinner/Activities and Saturday Field Trips. (Address:
6535 Whitetop Rd, Troutdale,VA 24378)
‣ 1:00-4:00 PM: Afternoon Field Trips departing from Konnarock Community
Center
Grindstone Campground: Camping, Nighttime Programs and Sunday Field Trips. (GPS: 36.68694, -81.54111)
‣ 6:30 PM: Communal Camp Dinner at
Grindstone Campground
C AM P IN G & LODG IN G
Camping will be at Grindstone Campground. To
make your reservation visit www.recreation.gov
There are numerous other campgrounds, bed &
breakfast inns and rental cabins in the area. Visit
www.virginiablueridge.org for more information and suggestions.
For more information visit:
www.blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrsnr
www.facebook.com/MountRogersNaturalistRally
‣ 8:00 AM: Morning Field Trips departing
from Konnarock Community Center
‣ 11:30 AM: Lunch Break (hot dog lunch
and snacks for sale or bring your own.)
‣ 9:00 PM: Nighttime Activities
SU NDA Y, A UG US T 21
‣ 8:00 AM: Communal Camp Breakfast at
Grindstone Campground
‣ 9:00-12:00 PM: Sunday Morning Field
Trips departing from Grindstone Campground
Join us for the Blue Ridge Discovery Center
Annual Meeting. After a potluck feast, join in
discussions about the future of Blue Ridge
Discovery Center and how we can better
accomplish our mission to inspire creativity,
discovery, and critical thinking through interest-driven and hands-on activities focused on
the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bring your curiosity
and big ideas!
Roald and Ellie Kirby will be bringing in the evening with some traditional old time tunes.
STAR WATCH & MOTH EXPLORATION
Join BRDC astronomer Evan Worrell for an
exploration of the stars or BRDC guides for
an inspection of lighted sheets (expect moths
and other flying insects). Activities begin at
9:00 PM Grindstone Campground parking
area.
The 1st Annual Mount
Rogers Summer Naturalist
Rally will highlight the 50th Anniversary of the
Mount Rogers National
Recreation Area!! for
more information visit
www.mountrogersfifty.org
1ST ANNUAL
MOUNT ROGERS SUMMER NATURALIST RALLY
AUGUST 19-21 2016
KONNAROCK, VIRGINIA
blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrsnr
While attending any part of the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally
you must take full responsibility for your own health and well
being, and decide if participating in a planned activity will be
safe for you. Neither The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally Committee nor Blue Ridge Discovery Center will be responsible for
accident, injury or damage to personal property.
Photo Credit: Aaron Floyd
Mount Rogers Summer Naturalist Rally
Registration:
SA TU RDA Y M O RN I N G
SA TU RDA Y A F TE RN O O N
Please return before August 12th, 2016
All Day Hike to Mt Rogers:
Snorkeling:
Name_______________________________________
Phil Shelton, Emeritus Professor of Biology at UVA
Wise, leads this 9 mile round trip to Virginia’s highest
point. Explore geology, climate, plants, animals and cultural history. Sturdy shoes, dress for high altitude
weather, food and water are necessary. (Limit 9)
Join BRDC’s aquatic guru, Lisa Benish, for a fresh
water snorkeling event. We will investigate the
aquatic life of a stream with wetsuit and snorkel
mask. Ever wonder what lurks beneath the water’s
surface? You will be amazed at what you see! Expect
an array of colorful native fish from darters to dace
and searching for Hellbenders.
Address_____________________________________
_____________________________________________
Email _______________________________________
Become a BRDC Member
Receive discounts on BRDC programming and events.
Individual ($25) #___ x $25
Family
($40) #___ x $40
=________
=________
Preserver ($100) #___ x $100 =________
Rally Tickets $10
Price includes all activities. 17 years or younger FREE!
MRTC Hike: Join the Mt. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club on a 2.5 mile
hike from Whitetop to Elk Garden. Explore natural history and trail tales on one of the most beautiful trail
sections in our area.
Birding:
Join BRDC’s Allen Boynton, Wildlife Diversity Program
Coordinator with the NCWRC, and BRDC's Scott
Jackson-Ricketts for a birding foray along Fairwood
Valley. Expect early fall migrants including warblers as
well as local breeders.
Fly Fishing:
Mushrooms:
August is a great time to look for mushrooms in the
Blue Ridge! Join this group to learn the ins and outs
of identifying mushrooms found in the area.
Wildflower Walk:
Join Rally Godmother Carrie Sparks for a summer
extravaganza of high elevation wildflowers. Bring
your camera!
Salamanders:
Enjoy a summer day while you learn to fly fish for trout
with BRDC guide Lisa Benish. Join us for instruction
and fun while learning about the art of fly fishing. All
skill levels welcome. Licenses required!
Kevin Hamed, Professor of Biology at Virginia Highlands
Community College, Abingdon, will lead this hike to
examine the incredible salamander diversity of Whitetop Mountain. The hike will begin at Elk Garden and
sample at least two different habitat types.
Donation to support the Rally
Edible and Medicinal Plants:
Tree ID:
Donation Amount
=________
Maybe there is a free lunch after all. Join Carrie Sparks
on a walk to identify common plants that can be used
for food and medicine. Learn to make products from
these plants. (Limit 20)
Have you ever wondered what kind of tree this or that
is? Join ecologist Austin Thomas on a tree identification
walk. This program will help you identify native trees of
Virginia.
Total Amount Enclosed:
=________
Bugs:
Butterflies of Southwest Virginia:
Join Shawn Kurtzman, field technician with VTech’s Conservation Management Institute, for an arthropod discovery walk. Location and description to be announced.
After a brief discussion on identification and photography, we will look for butterflies around the community
center then head to Elk Garden. Expected butterflies
include silver-spotted skipper, pearl crescent, American
copper, and a variety of frittilaries and swallowtails.
Rally Tickets:
#___ x $10 =________
Members: (-25%) #___ x $7.50 =________
Guides:
#___ x FREE =________
Please consider making a donation to ensure this
grand tradition continues for the next generation.
PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE:
www.blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrsnr
OR FILL OUT THE FORM ABOVE AND RETURN
TO:
BLUE RIDGE DISCOVERY CENTER
12627 WILSON HWY
MOUTH OF WILSON, VA 24348
CHECKS PAYABLE: BLUE RIDGE DISCOVERY CENTER
Glaciers in the Blue Ridge:
Arthur Merschat, PhD, USGS will lead a short walk along
the Creeper Trail to examine evidence of glaciers and
discuss whether this was related to possible global glaciations. We will also examine the Iron Mountain fault, and
road cuts along US 58 and VA 600.
Native American Cultural History:
Devin Floyd will lead a field trip on relevant Native American cultural history. Details to be announced.
Flint Knapping:
Join BRDC's Aaron Floyd to learn the basics of flint
knapping while making your own arrowhead with antler
billets.We will also be searching out local metayholite
that was traditionally used in the region.
*KI D A C TI VI TI E S*
Gather all your senses: look, smell, touch, listen, taste,
and don't forget the most important thing…your
thinking caps. We'll sing, laugh, and play as we explore nature around the community center.
SUNDAY MORNIN G
(Departing from Grindstone Campground)
Field Ornithology: Ashley Peele, PhD
VTech,Virginia Breeding Bird Survey Coordinator
and Project Associate with VTech’s Conservation
Management Institute will lead a field ornithology
program.
Forest Diversity Hike: Join ecologist
Austin Thomas for a 6 mile hike from Elk Garden
down to Grindstone exploring the diversity of plants
along the trail. Sturdy shoes, dress for high altitude
weather, food and water are necessary. (Limit 8)
N I G H TTI M E P RO G RA M S
(Departing from Grindstone Campground)
Friday & Saturday Star Watch: Join
BRDC astronomer Evan Worrell for a exploration of
the stars. Activities begin at 9:00PM and will last one
hour. Locations to be announced.
Friday Moth Night: Join BRDC guides at
Grindstone Campground for an inspection of lighted
sheets. Expect moths and other flying insect critters
of the night. Begin at 9:00PM at Grindstone Campground parking area.
Saturday Salamander Courtship:
Plethodontid salamanders engage in elaborate
courtship rituals and many species are courting in lateAugust. Please bring a headlamp for this nighttime hike.
Led by Kevin Hamed, 8pm, meet at the beginning of FS
Road 89 (gravel road that leads to Whitetop). Based on
our research we should have courting yonoahlossee!