Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway Brochure

FRIENDS

of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Preserve America’s Favorite Drive

Join Us! Become involved and support our mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Blue Ridge Parkway. Become a volunteer or provide your financial support in order to protect this National Scenic Byway for future generations.

Who We Are FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) membership organization committed to preserving and enhancing America’s most visited park – the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Stretching 469 miles and traversing the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is supported by the financial and volunteer efforts of FRIENDS. An important partner in preserving and promoting the Blue Ridge Parkway for over 20 years, we invest 90 cents of each dollar into programs benefiting this scenic treasure.

What We Do… We PRESERVE.

One of our primary missions is preserving the Parkway’s assets – from maintaining its split rail fences and mile markers, to landscaping facilities and cleaning camp grounds, to removing litter and clearing invasive vegetation.

Our signature program, the Save Parkway Views initiative has become a national model for collaboration with communities and developers to ensure the Parkway’s ecological buffers are protected. Our role as community diplomats and fundraisers includes an active tree planting projects.

FRIENDS funds research to eradicate the wooly adelgid, an invasive insect decimating our native hemlocks. Our Preserve the Hemlocks initiative secures funds for biological controls as well as chemical soil treatment.

FRIENDS’ Preserve Endangered Species projects put volunteers in the role of research assistants to Parkway biologists studying threatened species.

FRIENDS funds data collection to protect the Parkway’s complex ecosystem and protect its natural resources.

We PROMOTE.

Volunteers In Parks encourages volunteerism along the Blue Ridge Parkway. FRIENDS funds volunteers for cultural demonstrations, youth fishing programs, craft workshops, historical re-enactments and theatrical performances along the byway.

The Junior Ranger Program, a cooperative endeavor between FRIENDS and the Blue Ridge Parkway, engages youth in committing to environmental stewardship through tree plantings, endangered species presentations and other educational programs.

The Youth VIP Program funds resource materials enabling youth to provide interpretive programs to the public, engaging young people and building the next generation of conservationists.

We ENHANCE.

Our Trails Forever volunteers maintain, adopt, construct and enhance over 131 trails spanning more than 353 miles and 271 overlooks. We also support trail interpretive signage and maps and improve trail accessibility for physically challenged visitors.

Restoration of Historic Structures is critical to the public’s understanding of the significance of this historic and cultural American scenic byway. FRIENDS supports the restoration and preservation of the Kelley School, which will tell the story of Appalachian education from 1871 to 1939. A special Kelley School Fund has been established to support this effort.

Humpback Rocks Barn, VA, Pat and Chuck Blackley Photographers

The Parkway Needs Your Help‌ And The Need Is Urgent!

Our nation's national parks - including the Blue Ridge Parkway - are facing significant challenges with loss of funding and resources. We recognize the country's economic models are experiencing a seismic shift, and we must all step up as individuals and as private businesses to protect these parks and preserve them for future generations. Become a member of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and help protect, preserve and enhance this national treasure so rich with history, culture and precious natural resources.

A Word From The Superintendent The value of the Blue Ridge Parkway, its natural as well as man-made resources and its role in preserving the vibrant culture, history and beauty of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, is immeasurable. As the most visited unit of the National Park Service, the Parkway offers many of us valuable access to nature, to the environment, and to one another as we travel its 469 miles together. Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an incredibly important partner to the Parkway, galvanizing volunteers who help us maintain and preserve this national treasure as well as reaching out to future generations of stewards. Please consider becoming involved in this worthy organization and join us in ensuring the Blue Ridge Parkway's well-being for years to come.

Phil Francis, Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent

Appalachian Trail, Hanging Rock, VA, Pat and Chuck Blackley Photographers

CONTACT US TO VOLUNTEER: BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org staff@friendsbrp.org 1-800-228-PARK (7275)

P.O. Box 20986 Roanoke,VA 24018 800.228.PARK (7275) 540.772.2992 www.BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org