In 2016 we began a strategic planning process that covered all facets of the organization. The most significant conclusion to come out of that was the acknowledgment that we needed longer periods of engagement with program participants than our 1-2 hour programs. This pointed us to an atypical Discovery Center model: a residential facility! Our vision steered toward “a night in the museum” or “a giant naturalist cabin” … a support structure to launch explorations and discoveries throughout one of the great wilderness regions in the East.
We are so very excited to see that vision come to fruition, with the offering of 16 beautifully restored rooms with the ability to sleep 68 individuals in the historic 1924 Konnarock Training School. The rooms are set up with their own dedicated bathroom, except for the two ends which have Jack & Jill bathrooms. The second floor is all twin XL bunk beds while the third floor is set up with king and queen suites with one room being an entire studio apartment.
This new core asset for Blue Ridge Discovery opens the door to a variety of engagement opportunities, like the dawn warbler chorus, a night of wood frog calls, or after dinner astronomy, but most importantly it provides a house for peer to peer dialog where we can share our observations and ideas. It is a place for rest, sustenance, reflection, research, and sharing, all critical components for fostering curiosity and stewardship.
We have chosen to open this facility for the 48th Annual Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally, an event that was originally founded at the Historic Schoolhouse and one that will soar with the return to a residential support structure. On May 6-8 we will host a variety of educators, professionals, naturalists, and artists all co-mingling for an entire weekend of explorations focused on Virginia’s highest mountains. We have opened the rooms up for reservation to our members and rally participants and have already booked up except one six person room and a few beds. To learn more please check out our room reservation page: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/overnight-accommodations
As part of our interpretative mission, each residential room is going to be themed in a particular subject: salamanders, raptors, geology, butterflies, mammals, etc… and we are offering naming rights for these rooms. For instance, one of these rooms has been named the “Golden Eagle Room” in honor of Chester and Ann Robertson, featuring Raptors of the Blue Ridge! This will provide the opportunity for participants to further engage with artwork, collections, and books associated with each subject. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these bedrooms, please reach out to Linda Hylander, chair of our Capital Campaign Committee, at info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org.
