NORTHERN HIGHLANDS CHAPTER to the Northern Highlands Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our volunteers help to preserve, promote and enhance this national treasure as it winds through the Highlands District of northwestern North Carolina. With 16-18 million travelers enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway each year, the Parkway continues to be impacted by deeper and deeper funding and staff reductions. As this valuable historic, cultural, economic and spiritual resource is more and more threatened, our efforts as volunteers through FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway become more and more important. Join us on the Parkway! Our Chapter cares for trails, overlooks, campgrounds and picnic areas from the North Carolina and Virginia border on the north down to about Deep Gap on the south. Working in partnership with National Park Service staff, we adopt, maintain and restore trails, and we care for scenic overlooks within our portion of the Parkway, from milepost 217 through milepost 276.
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
NORTHERN HIGHLANDS CHAPTER PROJECTS We welcome, value and need the participation of adult volunteers. Our Chapter also focuses on recruiting and inspiring young people to serve as Youth Volunteers in Parks (YVIPs) so these young people will develop a deep and lasting appreciation for our national parks. In addition, we raise funds to provide resources for Junior Ranger nature programs and other interpretive events led by Rangers in our Highlands District and all along the Parkway.
WORK SCHEDULE The Northern Highlands Chapter is most active on the Parkway from March to October. Scheduled workdays are announced via email, with dates, times, locations and other details included. Snacks are often provided! Our Chapter’s efforts are managed by a leadership team responsible for planning and coordinating efforts behind-the-scenes. Additional leaders are always welcome! Please give us your contact information and join us on the Blue Ridge Parkway! NorthernHighlands@FriendsBRP.org Friends of the BRP Northern Highlands Chapter
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
R OA N O K E VA L L E Y CHAPTER to the Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our volunteers help to preserve, promote and enhance this national treasure as it winds through the Plateau District of southern Virginia. While some 16-18 million travelers enjoy the Parkway each year, the Parkway continues to be impacted by deeper and deeper funding and staff reductions. As this valuable historic, cultural, economic and spiritual resource is more and more threatened, our efforts as volunteers through FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway become more and more important. Join us on the Parkway! Our Chapter cares for trails, overlooks, campgrounds and picnic areas. Working in partnership with National Park Service staff, we adopt, maintain and restore trails, and we care for scenic overlooks on the BRP.
Our Chapter recruits and inspires young people to serve as Youth Volunteers in Parks (YVIPs). Energetic YVIPs prepare Roanoke Mountain camp sites and picnic areas for opening each Spring. We also engage YVIPs in annual tree
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
planting events to enhance the scenic views which have been threatened by development adjacent to the Parkway. Our Chapter raises funds to support Park programs. Through efforts and events such the Blue Ridge Marathon, we underwrite the summer-long series of music concerts on Roanoke Mountain. We also fund resources for other interpretive programs led by Rangers all along the Parkway. Our Chapter provides learning opportunities for youth as Junior Rangers. Through participating in and producing events such as Earth Day, Fishing Days, and TreePlantings, we teach environmental stewardship to children through hands-on learning activities.
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
WORK SCHEDULE Our Chapter is most active on the Parkway from March to October. Volunteers usually work one or two Saturday mornings each month. Scheduled workdays are announced via email, with dates, times, locations and other details included. Snacks are often provided! Our Chapter efforts are lead by a steering committee responsible for planning and coordinating efforts behind-the-scenes. Additional leaders are always welcome! Please give us your contact information, and join us on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Roanoke@FriendsBRP.org /
FriendsBRP Roanoke Valley
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
ROCKY KNOB CHAPTER to the Rocky Knob Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our volunteers help to preserve, promote and enhance this national treasure as it winds through the Plateau District of southern Virginia. While over 10 million travelers enjoy the Parkway each year, the Parkway continues to be impacted by deeper and deeper funding and staff reductions. As this valuable historic, cultural, economic and spiritual resource is threatened, our efforts as volunteers through FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway become more important. We assist in cleaning the Rocky Knob Campground and picnic areas, Mabry Mill and Smart View areas so they are ready for seasonal visitors. Working in partnership with National Park Service staff, we adopt, maintain and restore trails, and we care for scenic overlooks within our portion of the Parkway, from milepost 150 through milepost 200. We welcome all volunteers.
WORK SCHEDULE Our Chapter is most active on the Parkway from March to October. Volunteers usually work one or two Saturday mornings each month. Scheduled workdays are announced via email, with dates, times, locations and other details included. Snacks are often provided! Our Chapter efforts are lead by a steering committee responsible for planning and coordinating efforts behind the scenes. Additional leaders are always welcome! Please give us your contact information, and join us on the Blue Ridge Parkway! For more information, contact the FRIENDS office. RockyKnob@FriendsBRP.org • 540.772.2992
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
ROCKY KNOB CHAPTER PROJECTS FLOYD FEST
Each summer, we work as volunteers at Floyd Fest and have consistently earned over $1,200 for FRIENDS. We volunteer in shifts doing diverse tasks such as serving as camp hosts in the off-site parking lot, selling tickets, checking identification, gathering trash and helping out any way we can.
PARKWAY DONATION BOX
Members maintain the Mabry Mill donation box. Visitors are invited to leave their contributions to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the donation box referred to as the "Iron Ranger." Members collect the money monthly. FRIENDS provides the donation box funds to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
YOUTH & COMMUNITY EDUCATION
The Rocky Knob Chapter's goal is to provide environmental education opportunities for the youth in our community. As our Chapter grows, we will collaborate with local groups to provide youth environmental education programs. The Chapter also hosts a group of college students as part of FRIENDS' Alternative Break Program.
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
FISHER PEAK CHAPTER to the Fisher Peak Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We have accomplished more than we would have ever dreamed! Thanks to the help of our volunteers of all ages, the National Park service, the students who come from the University of Notre Dame's Center for Social Concerns, and the local musicians, who make our mission all the more fun. From trail blazing to guitar pickin' to interpretive education, we have volunteer projects for everyone, good fellowship and unforgettable experiences on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And the best part is that we leave it a little better than it was for future generations! Notre Dame students contribute time and energy to FRIENDS' projects.
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
FISHER PEAK CHAPTER PROJECTS TRAILS Parkway trails need continuous maintenance, additional blazing and erosion control. FRIENDS recently completed Trail work includes building bridges. the 4.5 mile loop trail, with brook crossings, elevated walkways across wetlands, bridges with signage and blazing! We are leaving quite a legacy - won't you join us?
LANDSCAPING
FRIENDS volunteers maintain landscaping and erosion control around the Blue Ridge Music Center and plan to plant additional shrubs this year. We assisted the National Park Service by planting the native trees and shrubs around the Blue Ridge Music Center's amphitheater.
FENCES
T he chapter has repaired more than 500 sections of split rail fence in Grayson and Carroll Counties which desperately needed attention. Please join our Chapter in the reconstructive efforts Restoration of the Parkway split rail fences for one of the most is imperative. distinctive characteristics of the Parkway.
WORK SCHEDULE From March to October, FRIENDS volunteers work one or two Saturday mornings each month. Schedules are issued quarterly via email, with dates, times, locations and other details included. Please provide your email address and join us on the Blue Ridge Parkway! FisherPeak@FriendsBRP.org
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
ASHEVILLE CHAPTER When the Blue Ridge Parkway’s first resident landscape architect, Stanley Abbott, envisioned the 469-mile scenic motor road in 1935, he said its purpose was “to reveal the charm and interest of the native American countryside.” The same principle today guides the National Park Service and volunteers who maintain the Parkway through the Southern Appalachians, connecting Shenandoah National Park near Waynesboro, Va., with Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, N.C. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Chapter assists National Park Service staff in mainThe Blue Ridge Parkway has taining the 48-mile everything, a famous commentator section from Craggy once said: romance, history, Visitor Center to Wagon excitement, beauty. Road Gap as it winds – 'The Blue Ridge Parkway, around high elevation the First 50 Years' by Harley Jolley peaks such as Craggy Dome (6,085 feet) and Mount Pisgah (5,721 feet), dips into valleys and skirts Asheville (2,200 feet), the second largest city along the Parkway. Most of this route is bordered by Pisgah National Forest. FRIENDS volunteers help clear litter and debris from Parkway overlooks and highway intersections; clean and paint signage and milepost markers; and generally keep an attractive, neat landscape at Craggy Gardens and Blue Ridge Parkway visitor centers, Parkway Headquarters, and Folk Art Center of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, all busy attractions near Asheville.
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www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
ASHEVILLE CHAPTER PROJECTS One of the FRIENDS Asheville chapter's most ambitious projects is to prepare the Mount Pisgah Campground for the season, which has included installation of bear-proof food lockers and cleaning/repairing campsites. Established in 2007 as one of 8 chapters of the nonprofit FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Asheville chapter also participates in Parkway informational events and activities, works with the Carolina Mountain Club on trail maintenance where necessary, and supports educational and research programs. All chapter activities serve the overarching mission of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway: to help preserve, protect, promote and enhance the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality and cultural distinctiveness of this linear national park and its surrounding landscape.
Join the Asheville Chapter Because federal funding has not kept up with Parkway needs, FRIENDS’ work has become more important than ever. Vital National Park Service staff positions remain vacant, and there is great need for volunteers to pitch in with their time and talents. If you’ve stopped at the Craggy Visitor Center or Folk Art Center, hiked the Shut-In or Mountains-to-Sea trails along the Parkway, picnicked or camped at Mount Pisgah, or simply driven the “commuter” stretch from U.S. 70 to N.C. 191 - you’ve enjoyed the benefits of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please provide your email address and join us on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Asheville@FriendsBRP.org /
FriendsBRP Asheville Chapter
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
H U M P BAC K ROCKS CHAPTER to the Humpback Rocks Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular parks, attracting more than 12 million visitors each year. Our Chapter volunteers help preserve, promote and enhance the fifty northernmost miles of this national treasure as it winds through the Blue Ridge Mountains of central Virginia. Our Chapter addresses challenges to its bountiful cultural, historic and natural resources. Join our growing community of stewards and volunteers. Working in partnership with Blue Ridge Parkway staff, we care for scenic overlooks and common areas, maintain trails and provide support and assistance for historic, cultural and natural resources.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
HUMPBACK ROCKS CHAPTER PROJECTS All volunteers are welcome, whet her working alone or in groups, with all skill sets and capabilities. Our Chapter also welcomes business sponsors for funding equipment, tree removal, events and programs. Details of our quarterly meetings, scheduled events and workdays are announced via email. Together we can ensure that the Blue Ridge Parkway continues to provide educational enrichment, historical preservation and outdoor recreation. You can help us cultivate the next generation of stewards for this unique treasure. Humpback@FriendsBRP.org /Friends Humpback Rocks Chapter
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
HIGH COUNTRY CHAPTER to the High Country Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our area is composed of incredible people who love nature, the outdoors and, foremost, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Parkway! Located in the Parkway’s Highland District (mileposts 271.9 to 305.5), our chapter is committed to protecting and preserving this national treasure, the Blue Ridge Parkway. We work collaboratively with the Parkway to adopt, maintain and refurbish trails. We support initiatives and interpretive programs with children and youth. We also provide volunteer recognition for the ASU student chapter of FRIENDS. We invite the community
to become involved in two ways: 1) as volunteers and 2) by providing much-needed funding. For those unable to do much physical labor, there are other volunteer jobs such as fundraising, following up on prospective FRIENDS members, and representing FRIENDS at various festivals!
HIGH COUNTRY CHAPTER PROJECTS Trail Revitalization & Adoption
Working with the Parkway we are committed to provide the labor and funds to renovate the Price Lake Trail and, in the future, other trails that need revitalization. Our chapter also focuses on inspiring groups, families and individuals to adopt the Parkway trails. Through volunteer and financial support of our chapter’s efforts – these trails will continue to be assets to our communities and enjoyed by generations to come.
Needed $2,500 Annually
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
Junior Rangers
FRIENDS’ Children in Nature and Junior Ranger programs are excellent examples of how children can be reintroduced to nature in fun, handson and engaging ways. Our chapter has made a park-wide commitment to provide Junior Ranger booklets, badges, pins and certificates as evidence of our commitment to children visiting the Parkway. Needed $7,000 Annually
Overmountain Victory Trail Re-Enactment at the Minerals Museum
This annual celebration educates the public on the importance of this historic site, its original owner, Joseph McDowell, and his role in the Revolutionary War, with historic interpretation presented by re-enactors in authentic period dress. Our chapter funds the event and re-enactors for three days. This high quality interpretation program is loved by hundreds of Parkway visitors and school groups. Needed $2,500 Annually
Student Conservation Association Interns
The Blue Ridge Parkway contracts with student interns to provide orientation and interpretation programs at both the Moses Cone and Linn Cove Visitor Centers each summer. N eeded $4,840 Annually
Youth Volunteer in Parks (YVIP) Program
Today’s youth are the future stewards of the Blue Ridge Parkway! Youth participate in training sessions and observe rangers providing interpretive programs to the public. These trained youth go on to present similar programs to Parkway visitors. Our chapter provides logo wear, recognition certificates and funding for all other needed materials. FRIENDS YVIP program began at the Parkway’s request in 2006 and, to date, is the only program of its kind across the entire national park system. Needed $2,500 Annually
Providing Over 21 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS’ success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is unique - for every dollar you invest in FRIENDS, Parkway volunteers provide $3.00 of volunteer service back to the Blue Ridge Parkway - together we are making a difference! FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Boone/Blowing Rock, North Carolina • HighCountry@FriendsBRP.org
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
PEAKS OF OTTER CHAPTER to the Peaks of Otter Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our volunteers help to preserve, promote and enhance this national treasure as it winds through the Ridge District of southern Virginia. While some 15 million travelers enjoy the Parkway each year, the Parkway continues to be impacted deeper and deeper by funding and staff reductions. As this valuable historic, cultural, economic and spiritual resource is more and more threatened, our efforts as volunteers through FRIENDS become more and more important. Join us on the Parkway today!
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)
PEAKS OF OTTER CHAPTER PROJECTS Our Chapter cares for trails, overlooks, campgrounds and picnic areas from milepost 50-100. Working in partnership with National Park Service staff, we help maintain and restore Johnson Farm through garden preparation, planting, weeding and watering. We maintain the picnic area along Little Stoney Creek, keeping tables and grill areas tidy. We restore and perform upkeep on Polly Wood’s Ordinary, a cabin that served as the first lodging for travelers through the area in the early 1830’s. FRIENDS volunteers help clear litter and debris from Parkway overlooks and trails; clean and paint signage and milepost markers; and generally keep an attractive, neat landscape at the much-visited area. PeaksOtter@FriendsBRP.org /Friends Peaks of Otter Chapter
Providing Over 25 Years of Service to the Blue Ridge Parkway FRIENDS' success has been achieved through the loyalty and financial support of our corporate partners, members and volunteers. FRIENDS is the official 501(c)(3) membership organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway and a National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved partner dedicated to preserve, promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.
www.FriendsBRP.org • 800.228.PARK (7275)