
The Raven Soars On
Yesterday we lost one of the shining beacons and solid rocks of Blue Ridge Discovery Center. Board member William Roberts succumbed to a long battle with cancer, but only after one amazing journey.

Blue Ridge Explorers Club on the New
Stormy weather turned the July Blue Ridge Explorers Club "Full Moon Float" into a "Sunny Day Float" on a different section of river.

Pollinator Fields in Their Glory
In general I do not recommend trying to improve on nature beyond the boundaries of the yard since the beauty of natural scenes is often incomparable. However creation of a Pollinator Field from a portion of hay fields or pastures or even yards can provide habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees, while also providing enjoyment to the land owner.

Lab Girl
"Lab Girl is a book about work, love, and the mountains that can be moved when those two things come together. It is told through Jahren’s remarkable stories: about her childhood in rural Minnesota with an uncompromising mother and a father who encouraged hours of play in his classroom’s labs; about how she found a sanctuary in science, and learned to perform lab work done “with both the heart and the hands”; and about the inevitable disappointments, but also the triumphs and exhilarating discoveries, of scientific work."

Seeking Scholarship Applicants for Camp
BRDC is seeking applicants for full scholarships ($450 value) to our Mount Rogers Wilderness Camp. The scholarships were provided by The Friends of Mount Rogers National Recreation in support of youth exploration of the Mount Rogers area.

How Mammals Make a Living
Dr. William Hylander, Duke University Professor of Anthropology Emeritus, dropped by the Grayson County Library on Friday July 8th to share his 'How Mammals Make a Living' program.
Summer Marches On
As July starts, the nature lover can continue to enjoy some breeding birds and observe an increasing number of interesting insects.

Mammals Program @ the Grayson County Library
Darin Handy recently joined BRDC for an event held at the Grayson County Library. His amazing mammals program captivated an audience of 50 people from infant to 80 and over.

The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humbolt's New World
The acclaimed author of Founding Gardeners reveals the forgotten life of Alexander von Humboldt, the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world—and in the process created modern environmentalism.

Hyla Versicolor, the Grey Tree Frog
The June woods are alive at night with the call of Hyla versicolor, Grey Tree Frogs. They breed from April to August, with males gathering in trees near water and calling to the females.

A June Nature Ramble
Here on our Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain farm we are still having some cool nights in the 50's, but many days are sunny and warm and nature is in full growth and reproduction mode.

Blue Ridge Explorers Overnight Camp
Fourteen intrepid explorers joined BRDC for four days and three nights of adventure packed fun during the Blue Ridge Explorers Camp. We kayaked, hike Whitetop Mountain, and swam in the New River, but most importantly we learned what it means to be a Naturalist.

June is a Frenzy of Life
Here on our VA Blue Ridge Mountain farm, June is a time of rebirth and renewal in nature. Creatures seem to be in a rush to breed and of course must consume many resources to raise their young. It is a life and death struggle but an absolutely spectacular show for the nature lover.

Explorers Adventure Day Camp I
BRDC's first week of Explorers Adventure Day Camp offered a variety of opportunities for kids to investigate mud and weeds, ponds, woodlands, creeks and river- five days of nature exploration and wonder.

Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally Biological Survey
As part of the Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally this spring, participants joined BRDC guide Devin Floyd for a biological survey of the rich forest at Grindstone Campground.

Grayson 1st Graders Visit Matthews Farm
On May 13th, BRDC participated in Matthews Living History Farm Museum's Farm Day for Grayson County 1st graders.
The Blue Ridge Turning Green
The predominant color of middle May in the Blue Ridge mountains of SW VA is green.

2016 Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally
What a fantastic Rally weekend! There was so much to explore and share!

Milkweeds: Common and Native to NC/VA
2016 Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally speaker Sarah Ross shared a list of native milkweeds for our region that you should consider planting as an alternative to showy non-natives.