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Find your journey. Then help protect it.
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June 2017 - In this Issue of The Scenic:
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Photograph by Vicki Dameron
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Volunteer with us!
Your time and effort make a difference on the Parkway
 The Parkway needs you more than ever, that's why we are launching our Volunteer Corps to connect you with opportunities to help this amazing park.
More than 15 million visitors enjoy the scenic journey of the Blue Ridge Parkway each year. With stagnant and declining funding from the government, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's support has become essential in preserving and protecting the historical, cultural, and natural resources found along the 469-mile route. Philanthropic and volunteer efforts are vital to caring for this unit of the National Park System.
There are many ways to get involved. You can help us replenish materials at visitor centers and donor giving stations, serve as a Foundation ambassador at festivals, assist in planning fund-raising events, and repair and maintain trails along the Parkway.
Ready to get started?
Click the button!
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Friday, June 23, 11 a.m., milepost 241.1
Join us and Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods along with federal, state, and local leaders to celebrate the opening of the Doughton Park Visitor Center and Camp Store operated by
Eastern National. The store's opening is one of the first steps in the revitalization of this historic area that was home to Bluffs Coffee Shop and Lodge. For more info about our efforts to rehab Doughton Park,
click here.
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"When I visit the site of
Buck Spring Lodge, it's fascinating to imagine George W. Vanderbilt bringing friends to this hunting retreat near Mount Pisgah around the turn of the 19th century. The guests came by horse and carriage in the early years, then by car up a rugged road, before the Blue Ridge Parkway even existed. What an adventure it must have been just to travel to this spectacular spot in the wilderness."
- Rita Larkin
By telling us about your favorite places on the Parkway, you spread the word about its importance to all of us. Click here to share your Parkway story!
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Photo by Randy Johnson
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As the Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we're reflecting on the projects you've made possible.
Rough Ridge near Grandfather Mountain is aptly named considering it offers rugged and breathtaking views atop the windswept peak. Flowers and trees hold tight to this rocky terrain, doing their best to thrive. In 2009, the Foundation funded repairs and enhancement of the boardwalk that hovers above fragile plants, ensuring they are protected from hikers footsteps. Protecting the flora and fauna of the Parkway is just one of the projects we are celebrating thanks to your commitment over the last two decades.
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Order your North Carolina specialty license tag and help the Blue Ridge Parkway.
For each attractive license plate sold, $20 funds important projects on the scenic route,and $10 funds the N.C. Department of Transportation Wildflower Program. Get the plate today!
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Summer Sounds at the Blue Ridge Music Center
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Phil Wiggins |
Cool mountain air and great music. The
Blue Ridge Music Center, milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, has both with the Roots of American Music Summer Concert Series on Saturdays at 7 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater. Upcoming shows include:
Saturday, July 1, 7 p.m.; $10
(Arrive
at 6 p.m. for a flatfoot dancing workshop)
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Take the Kids Hiking on the Parkway!
Summer break is the perfect time to unplug and get outside with the kids, and we have a great way to do it:
TRACK Trails. Our Kids in Parks program features nine trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and even more in neighboring state parks, forests, and recreation areas. The adventures are easy and fun. Just pick up an activity guide at the trailhead kiosks, and start trekking. After the outing, be sure to register your visit at
kidsinparks.com and start collecting free prizes!
Start your summer Parkway adventure!
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Road to the Past
This photograph taken in the 1940s shows a group enjoying a ride at the Cone estate. The 3,500 acres that now make up Moses H. Cone Memorial Park were transferred to the National Park Service in 1949. Look closely and you can see Flat Top Manor and apple orchards on the hill. If you'd like to learn more about the estate, join Cone family scholar Bob Clark and additional speakers for a free lecture on the history and cultural significance of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park at 5:30 p.m., July 6, at the American Legion in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Learn more
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On the Parkway
Brush up on your Parkway knowledge with these free, ranger-led programs
Friday, June 23, 10 a.m.
Join rangers for an easy to moderate, 2.2 mile round-trip hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from the Mills River Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap. Meet at the
overlook, milepost 404.5.
Details
Bear Aware!
Saturday, June 24, 10:30 a.m.
A ranger will lead a discussion about black bears and what to do if you encounter one in the wild. Meet at Wilson Creek Overlook, milepost 302.
Details
Remembering History: Hunter's Raid
Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join rangers and reenactors to remember Hunter's Raid during the Civil War and learn about the impact that thousands of hungry soldiers had on the families on the Virginian home front. Activities include musket and artillery firing demonstrations and a performance by the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers. Meet at Abbott Lake at the Peaks of Otter, milepost 86.
Details
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Don't miss The Denim Ball!
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Photograph by Kathryn Ray
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 Join the Foundation for a fun-filled fundraising event on Friday, August 4, at
Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock
to support restoration efforts at
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
. Enjoy dinner, a silent auction, and dancing to the music of the Lucky Strikes Orchestra while supporting this beautiful estate listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tickets are $100 and are on sale now.
Donate to the Auction:
We love to feature art, jewelry, vacation packages, gift certificates, antiques, and more in our auction to raise money for the estate. Businesses and individuals who donate will be acknowledged in the evening's program.
To donate, contact Mandy Gee at [email protected] or (866) 308-2773, ext. 364.
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Join our Community of Stewards
As the primary fundraiser and trusted steward of the
Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foundation is forever committed to preserving the past, enhancing the present, and safeguarding the future of America's Favorite Journey™. Learn more about joining our Community of Stewards at
BRPFoundation.org.
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