RMR-015: Xtreme Roan Adventures – Questions and Answers

Posted on by Ken TurnerSeptember 25, 2014

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In this episode I answer some of the questions that have come in regarding the Xtreme Roan Adventures.

The Xtreme Roan Adventures is a children’s naturalists rally sponsored by the Friends of Roan Mountain. It is to encourage kids to get outdoors. This is the fifth year of the Xtreme Roan Adventures and it really is a lot of fun. Kids get to explore all kinds of outdoor activity and learn from some very knowledgable and enthusiastic naturalists.

The Adventures start on Friday evening with Exploring Nature at Night. The feeling that you get from the Saturday Adventures has been described as a circus of activity. There are over 18 nature adventures that kids can do. Many of these activities are going on at the same time like a three-ring circus.

If you have children or know someone with children, please pass this along to them. It is a great outdoor learning opportunity.

LINKS:

Xtreme Roan Adventures – Schedule

Xtreme Roan Adventures – Adventure Map

Xtreme Roan Adventures – Registration

Friends of Roan Mountain.org

RMR-014: Adventure Leaders Jennifer & Jeremy Stout share enthusiasm for Xtreme Roan Adventures

Posted on by Ken TurnerSeptember 25, 2014

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Pass this along to your friends.
Adventures are more fun when they are shared.

Kids rock at the Xtreme Roan Adventures. This July 26 & 27 will be an exciting outdoor adventure for children from ages 4 to 14. Over twenty-three hikes and activities to excite interest in all kinds of nature exploration.

One question was emailed to us asking “What is the 100-Inch Hike?” Jennifer Stout is the Adventure Leader for that activity. She explains that it is a way to help young Adventurers “see small things in a big way.”
(Be sure to listen to the podcast to hear Jennifer’s enthusiasm about the 100-Inch Hike as a way to get young Adventurers excited exploring the world on their scale.)

Another exciting Xtreme Roan Adventure: Geology of Roan Mountain will be lead by Jeremy Stout.
Jeremy is the Director of the Nature Center at Steele Creek Park in Bristol TN. He has also been an interpretive ranger at Roan Mountain State Park.

Listen as he describes the Geology Hike as more than just rocks. This is going to be an Adventure of discovery. (Be sure to listen to all of Jeremy’s recommendations and his “guarantee.”)
LINKS:

Xtreme Roan Adventures

Xtreme Roan Adventures – schedule

Xtreme Roan Adventures – registration

RMR-013: Rhododendron Bloom update, Baatany Goat Project update and Birdbanding with Mark Hopey

Posted on by Ken TurnerSeptember 25, 2014

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The Rhododendron Festivals in Bakersville NC and Roan Mountain TN had great weather last weekend. Some Catawaba rhododendron blooms were open, but you had to search for them. As of June 19, the blooms were coming in at Carver’s Gap and in the gardens. The next week or so will be well worth the trip to see the display that helps to make Roan Mountain the Jewel of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

The 6th summer of the Baatany Goat Project got off to a great start on Wednesday. Thirty-two goats were unloaded and all reported for duty on top of Jane Bald. Great weather and a great group of volunteer goatherds made for an “uneventful” march up to their first paddock on Jane Bald. The new dog (rightly named Big Dog) was easy to get along with and quickly took up his patrol of the perimeter. I can’t wait for the eleven month-old kids to get settled and begin acting like . . . . kids.

The Southern Appalachian Raptor Research’s Vacation Bird School is July 5-8. Mark Hopey is the director of the Southern Appalachian Raptor Research and is based out of his perch on Big Bald Mountain just over the North Carolina line from Erwin TN. Mark is also an expert at calling owls. That talent will be on display on Friday evening, July 26, at the Roan Mountain State Park amphitheater as a part of the Xtreme Roan Adventures.

LINKS:

Big Bald Banding and the Vacation Bird School

Baatany.org

Goat Adoption Forms

Xtreme Roan Adventures .org

Xtreme Roan Adventures registration form

Author’s Google+

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RMR-012: Rhododendron Bloom Report and Baatany Goat Project update with Jamey Donaldson

Posted on by Ken TurnerNovember 1, 2013

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Rhododendron Bloom Report as of June 4 with Jamey Donaldson

Jamey Donaldson is my “go to” botanist and best source for scientific answers on the Roan. He not only lives near the top of the mountain, but he is a meticulous observer of all of the changes that occur on the mountain.

Jamey will teaching the Smoky Mountain Field School session on Roan Mountain on Saturday June 8.

Baatany Goat Project update with Jamey Donaldson

This will be the sixth year of the Baatany Goat Project. It is a scientific study using Angora goats to restore and preserve some of the grassy balds of the Roan Mountain highlands. There is a limited season due to severe weather conditions. The goats will be up on the mountain June 20 until mid-September.

The project is funded with grants and your donations. You can “Adopt-a-Goat” for a month, a summer, or for the year. This is your chance to be an important part of helping to restore and preserve the grassy balds.

LINKS:

Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival June 15-16

http://www.baatany.org

Goat adoption form: http://www.baatany.org/documents/goat_brochure.pdf

Tennessee State Parks Online Campsite Reservations

RMR-011: “Eye of the Newt and Toe of the Frog” – Lisa Powers’ topic Tennessee’s Spellbinding Amphibians

Posted on by Ken TurnerApril 27, 2013

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Spellbinding Amphibians

The Friends of Roan Mountain’s 55th annual Spring Naturalists Rally is a full weekend of outdoor education and fun for the whole family. The after-dinner speaker on Saturday, May 4, is Lisa Powers. She is a well-published nature writer and photographer and herpetologist.
Her topic and slide presentation is titled “Eye of the Newt and Toe of the Frog”. How cool is that?
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. In Tennessee there are a lot of frogs and salamanders to study. There are at least twenty-one species of frogs and over fifty-six species of salamanders. (Newts are part of the family of salamanders.)

Roan Mountain is a great place for salamanders.

Lisa Powers’ unique chandelier

See more of her photography at Froghaven Farm.
Be sure to read her very interesting article “Frog Watch USA” in the Friends of Roan Mountain Spring Newsletter.

This will be a great evening of outdoor entertainment. The perfect way to finish off your jam-packed day on the mountain.

Be sure to get your dinner reservations in by Tuesday, April 30.

You can still register at the door for the hikes and programs, but dinner is on your own.
Get your registration and schedule here: FriendsofRoanMtn.org.