Girl Scout Day September 19
For the past 39 years Grandfather Mountain and Girl Scouts have joined forces for one day in September to learn more about the earth, appreciate nature and have a little fun while doing so. This year Girl Scout Day will be held Saturday, September 19. On that day, all Girl Scouts and their leaders will be admitted free of charge to Grandfather Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain adopted the Girl Scouts in 1971, inviting the girls to visit the mountain each September to learn more about nature and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Scouts returned the gesture by adopting Grandfather's late mascot, Mildred the Bear, as an honorary Girl Scout and presenting her with a series of pins to mark her many years with the organization.
"Girl Scout Day is a lot of fun because the Girl Scouts are here to learn about nature," said Naturalist Katie Gray. "The high energy of the girls and their excitement about learning is a breath of fresh air."
The day will begin with a high elevation hike led by Naturalist Gabe Taylor. This hike is only for Girl Scouts 10 years old and older. Scouts will need to bring water, snacks and have the appropriate footwear. Taylor will interpret nature along the way and engage scouts in environmental discussions. Space for this hike is limited to 15 scouts and generally fills up quickly. Please call the Grandfather Mountain's Department Naturalist for reservations (828) 733-4326.
There are many edible and medicinal plants in the mountains of North Carolina that can be helpful to humans. Naturalist Donovan Keith will teach scouts the importance of these plants and the role that they play in their eco-systems. Scouts interested in learning more about the exciting uses of these plants should meet at the Black Rock trailhead at 10 a.m. for a two-hour interpretive hike.
At
1 p.m. naturalists Jesse Pope and Gray are scheduled to meet the scouts
at the "Let it Rain" picnic shelter to teach scouts about the importance
of camouflage for animals in the wild. Half of the group will play the
Thicket Game, which is hide and seek with a nature twist. The other
half will participate in the "How Colors Help Animals Survive" program,
which is a hands-on animal demonstration. The two groups will then switch
activities. These hands-on events provide scouts an interactive way
to learn about nature that are sure to be a lot of fun.
From 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Habitat and Naturalist staff will be on hand to answer questions in the Animal Habitats. Grandfather Mountain's environmental habitats are home to eight black bears, two cougars, one bald eagle, one golden eagle, three otters and seven deer.
Grandfather Mountain offers scouts a rare opportunity to watch hawks at the top of the mountain at 3:30 pm. Naturalists Pope and Keith will meet scouts at Linville Peak on the far side of the Swinging Bridge to participate in a program about raptors and possibly catch a glimpse of these migrating birds of prey. This event is always a huge hit with the scouts and promises to be a lot of fun.
Girl Scout Day will end in front of the Nature Museum with a chance for scouts to learn about the natural history, migration and life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. Naturalists Gray and Taylor will lead the scouts through this program at 3:30 p.m.
Along with the many programs that the Naturalist Department hosts on Girl Scout Day, Grandfather's trails are available to the Scouts who wish to plan an excursion further into the backcountry. The Nature Museum, picnic areas and the Mile High Swinging Bridge are also open for the Scouts to enjoy.
Admission is free to scouts and troop leaders who present their Girl Scout membership card. Parents and families traveling with their scouts will receive a special discount admission upon request.
Grandfather Mountain is located one mile from the intersection of US 221 and the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 305 near Linville, NC. For more information call 800-468-7325. Or visit www.grandfather.com.
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P.O. Box 129 - US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville, NC - 28646
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