Blue Ridge Discovery Center

10/14/2026

Does the mention of snakes make your skin crawl? 🐍

If the thought makes your heart beat a little faster (with excitement, of course!), join us at the Fall Rally this weekend for a program on how snakes kill, by artist, herpetologist, and Adjunct Professor of Art and Biology at Ferrum College, Nell Fredericksen.

You'll learn what unique evolutionary adaptations allow snakes to skillfully hunt and kill prey (but don't worry, no critters will be harmed during this presentation!)

Sign up for the Rally online: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

10/07/2026

What's a Rally without a salamander stroll? 🦎

Join Virginia Tech graduate student Morgan Crum and get hands-on with native Appalachian Salamanders at the Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally! We'll learn how to identify our native salamander species, why Southern Appalachia is a salamander hotspot, and the role salamanders play in the ecosystem. Expect moderate hiking and getting your hands dirty!

Get your tickets today: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

10/06/2026

You know mussels are important for health, right? (And no, we’re not talking about the ones you build at the gym.)

Freshwater mussels play a crucial role in improving river water quality. These tiny animals help filter and purify water, bettering aquatic habitat for other organisms.

Want to meet these humble ecosystem engineers yourself? You can at the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally on October 16-18, 2026!

Join us for a freshwater mussel program with Tiffany Leach, Mussel Recovery Biologist with the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC). The AWCC was established by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and has successfully produced 40 species of freshwater mussels. During the visit, you will see mussels at various ages and the aquaculture systems that serve as their temporary homes.

Get your rally tickets today: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

There’s a treasure trove of valuable plants in your backyard if you know where to look!

Here’s a chance to learn from one of the best in the field at the Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally on October 16-18, 2026. Seasoned horticulturist, forager, and self-proclaimed plant nerd, Ben Casteel of Virginia Highlands Community College will lead a walk around the grounds of Blue Ridge Discovery Center to see what useful plants can be found in our ecoregion.

And after Ben’s program, stick around for a concert by The Boys! Ben and bandmates Brian Allgood and Dave Reimer will play a set on Saturday evening. One of Southwest Virginia’s finest local talents, this high-energy bluegrass fusion band is sure to have you dancing!

Get your tickets today! https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

10/01/2026

Connect with your inner artist at the Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally on October 16-18, 2026!

William King Museum of Art Resident Artist and author Suzanne Stryk will lead a session on drawing small creatures with magnifier lamps to study details. She'll also suggest ways to take notes to enhance your observations. Pencils, paper, and erasers are provided, or bring your own.

Get your tickets today: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

09/30/2026

If you enjoyed , you can learn all about spiders at the Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally on October 16-18!

Join Blue Ridge Discovery Center naturalist educator Cade Campbell as you venture into the Appalachian night to search for some of the “spookier” inhabitants of our fields and forests: arachnids! You’ll have a chance to meet some of the most fantastic, fascinating, and feared animals in the Mt. Rogers area and learn about their natural history, and you just might find that they aren’t as scary or dangerous as they seem at first.

Register for the Rally online: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall

09/23/2026

Do you look for arrows on trails to direct you where to go? Well, this one is pointing straight down...wait...that’s an Arrowhead Orbweaver (Verrucosa arenata)!

Arrowhead orbweavers are a common species of spider found across North America. Belonging to the family Araneidae, this species of orbweaver is one of the only orbweavers that sits on its web facing upwards so that the characteristic arrowhead shape on its abdomen points down. They do this because of their unique hunting methods.

Like all orbweavers, these spiders create extravagant webs that stretch out between trees and snare flying insects. Unlike most other orbweavers, however, these webs do not have radial threads and are asymmetrical, with an upper half of the web that's larger than the lower half. Arrowhead orbweavers have much stronger webs than other spiders and will actually pull their trapped prey in towards them, essentially reeling them in.

09/23/2026

🍂 Today marks the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

At this moment, the Earth is neither tilted away from nor toward the Sun, and the Sun is directly crossing the Earth’s equator. From now until the winter solstice on December 21, the Northern Hemisphere will experience longer nights and cooler temperatures as we tilt further away from the Sun.

As summer gives way to autumn, animals and plants respond. Phenology is the study of these natural events that are influenced by seasonal changes. While every living thing reacts in its own way to the shifting seasons, perhaps the most quintessential fall phenological event is changing foliage and leaf drop.

Over the next several weeks, deciduous trees stop producing chlorophyll and halt photosynthesis, causing a stunning transition from verdant green to yellow, orange, and red foliage.

If you’ve ever been curious about the science behind fall foliage and leaf drop, join us at the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally on October 16-18, 2026. BRDC board member and naturalist Mark Archibald will be leading an informative program on phenology and trees that you won’t want to miss!

Register for the rally online: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr-fall 🍁