Because of You…
Six Interns explore a future in conservation Page 1
Parkway bears are better protected Page 3
Trail Crew project comes to life Page 4
Autumn 2014
High Vistas Journal The newsletter for members of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Rattlesnakes, Canal Boats and Bears, Oh My! Blue Ridge Parkway Interns thank you for ‘The Summer of a Lifetime!’ and tell how your generosity has changed their lives and shaped their futures.
T
hanks to your donations, FRIENDS was able to fund six Blue Ridge Parkway internships this year. The interns spent twelve weeks of their summer producing digital content such as a video on bear safety, maintaining the Parkway’s social media pages to increase online presence and awareness, creating
L-R: Casey Jenkins, University of Tampa; Jillian Cullen, State University of New York - Potsdam; Gabbi Romero, University of New Mexico; Callie Reuland, Indiana University; Rhakia Alcarez, California State University Channel Islands; Not pictured: Claree James, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
interpretive podcasts and educating visitors at the Blue Ridge Music Center. The summer of 2014 is one these young people will never forget - from spending a day on a replica canal boat at the James River Bateaux Festival, to rattlesnake handling training, to picking fresh blueberries at Graveyard Fields.
Thank you for supporting the Parkway Intern Program which cultivates our next generation of park stewards!
H
ere’s what some of our interns had to say:
Rhakia Alcarez, Anthropology major at California State University - Channel Islands “I have a stronger connection Continued on page 2 >>
FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway uses your donations wisely. See how on page 4