The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network is honored to present the 2019 BRNN Naturalist of the Year to Jonathan Marchal, the Youth Education manager at The North Carolina Arboretum, who has been an integral and critically important part of the Youth Education program at the Arboretum since its inception in 2005. During these 14+ years, the Youth Education program has grown from 3,000 to 26,000 participants, and there will be hundreds more young participants as Jonathan fully realizes his vision for programs well beyond the Arboretum and Buncombe County.
This event is for members and their guests. Please bring a dish to share. 6:00pm The Cathedral of All Souls 9 Swan Street Asheville, NC
On Wednesday October 9th, nine hardy hikers met at Clingman’s Dome for our 2019 high altitude hike. Many thanks to Ed Kelley, who stepped in for Ken Czarnomski at the last minute to lead the hike. We began with a climb to the Clingman’s Dome observation tower for a 360 degree view of the surrounding area, helped by recent rains that had minimized the usual haze that gives the Smokies their name. From there we followed the ridge line to the west along the Appalachian Trail. Descending 1200 feet over the next three miles, we were rewarded with distant views in some places, and a moss covered fairy forest in others. At one point Ed heard some familiar bird calls and pished to bring in the Ruby Crowned Kinglets. While they remained elusive, we were rewarded with a close-up view of three Red-Breasted Nuthatches, a bird that nests at high elevations in our area.
The BRNN and the West Asheville Library present Rachel Muir speaking about John Muir`s Conservation Legacy.
“The development of the modern conservation movement has its roots in two principal and distinct philosophies. The first of these is the evolution of a conservation ethos which placed value on the natural world independent of the interests of humankind. The second is the rapid development of science and the evidence and observation-based perspective that is the basis for scientific thought. Perhaps no figure in American history embodies the merger and the conflict of these two perspectives more than John Muir, (1838 – 1914). We will examine his personal life and experience to see, through the lens of his life, writings, and activism, how the conservation movement developed in the United States and spread world-wide. We will also discuss the relevance of his ethics and the importance of his legacy at a time when the conservation movement is undergoing rapid change. We will also take a brief introduction to the landscapes preserved through his efforts, as seen in the National Parks and in the John Muir Trail.”
Rachel Muir is a scientist emeritus with the United States Department of the Interior. An environmental scientist and ecologist by training, Rachel worked for a variety of Federal agencies and private firms over her 40 year career, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Service and the Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy. In the course of her career she focused primarily on aquatic ecology, wetlands ecology, conservation of imperiled species and impact of environmental contaminants on wildlife and human health. Rachel is an avid gardener, outdoors woman, hiker, triathlete – and a grandmother.
Our Mission
The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network is an outgrowth of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Program through the N C Arboretum. Our interest is in the natural world and environmental issues, with a foundation based in science.
