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Jan. 2025 | Volume 65

Note from the Director

The new year started with some extraordinary winter beauty!

Cold temperatures, snow and ice have highlighted the spectacular landscape, but it also caused some trouble. We had temporary closures that included local schools, businesses, the Canyon Center, and even the Little River Canyon National Preserve. It may happen again so, please remember to always follow our Meta page for notifications.

Despite the weather, it didn’t deter a few photographers from capturing some beautiful images.

Neither has the weather deterred our volunteers, JAX State staff, and National Park Service partners from starting the year off with my sense of having the best team of people ever! Our Canyon Center is blessed. While we unabashedly, love Little River, the Preserve, and its wild inhabitants, I’d like to point out the degree to which it we all love our work and our terrific family of colleagues.

And, by the way, with all that love in the air, it should be a great time for a Valentines dinner and jazz show at the Canyon Center! Right? Please read the story below and consider surprising your sweetie on Valentine’s Day with tickets to the dinner show on the following weekend.

So, while the temperatures continue to dip and it’s feeling cold, please remember, Winter is a good time to enjoy the Canyon Center’s sustainable and geothermal heat, and of course, more so, it’s always a great time to appreciate the warmth of one another.

Thanks for being a part of the Canyon Center family. Certainly, 2025 will be filled with plenty of fantastic programs and big surprises. Please stay tuned!

Pete Conroy, Director

*Important Closure Notice: The Canyon Center will be closed on Feb. 4 for floor maintenance.



Field School Focus

Welcome, Joubert Pierre, Our New Educational Associate!

We are thrilled to welcome Joubert Pierre as the newest member of our team at the Little River Canyon Center! Joubert brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role, along with a passion for connecting people to the natural world.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Joubert credits his parents for inspiring his deep love of nature. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida International University in 2015, setting the stage for a diverse and impactful career.

Joubert’s background spans over five years of hands-on experience with commercial organic farms, where he developed a profound understanding of sustainable agricultural practices. He also spent seven years as a STEM educator in Tennessee and Georgia, integrating Project-Based Learning into his Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Horticulture classes. “I love encouraging scientific application,” says Joubert, “and seeing learners bridge the gap between the information they gain in the classroom and the world in which they may be called to use it.”

Now residing with his family on a homestead in Mentone, Alabama, Joubert enjoys exploring Lookout Mountain through biking, hiking, and foraging for edible and medicinal plants. His enthusiasm for teaching and his commitment to sustainability make him a perfect fit for our team.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Joubert! We are excited to see the impact he will have on our programs and the community.

Rebekah Moore Taylor

Assistant Director, JSU Field School

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