In Western North Carolina, our mountains are inextricably linked to our way of life. Traditionally, our landscape has guided farming practices, town traditions, and community cultures. Today, the Blue Ridge Mountains serve as a backdrop for our outdoor adventures and lifelong memories.
Enjoying the beauty of our mountains is one way you can find what feels like home. For those who love our mountains, that means preserving their beauty for years to come. This month, let’s take a look at organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the local environment. We encourage you to learn more about the nonprofits on this list and consider a gift of time or money to support the programs that ensure these mountains remain a fantastic place to call home.
Every natural resource deserves protection. Here is just a short list of our many favorite WNC environmental nonprofits dedicated to protecting the local land in Brevard.
3 environmental nonprofits near Brevard, NC
Cradle of Forestry
Did you know that the Southern Appalachians are the birthplace of scientific forestry? The 6,500-acre Cradle of Forestry site was established to “preserve, develop, and make available to this and future generations the birthplace of forestry and forestry education in America.” The site’s trails allow visitors to explore seven historical buildings from the time of the Biltmore Forest School (1898–1914), climb aboard and ring the bell of a 1914 Climax logging train engine, and interact with historical interpreters through programs and special events.
11250 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest | (828) 877-3130 | gofindoutdoors.org/sites/cradle-of-forestry
Mountain Roots
Mountain Roots provides discovery and outdoor learning experiences with a focus on environmentally responsible (i.e. sustainable) and community-centered living. The organization offers intentional, hands-on outdoor learning experiences to local K–8 students to foster curiosity about the natural world and a deeper sense of place. Mountain Roots Leadership Education lessons also teach students to respect each other and work together as a community. From workshops to day camps, Mountain Roots takes folks outside to explore and make connections.
P.O. Box 248, Cedar Mountain | (828) 384-4629 | mountainroots.org
Muddy Sneakers
Muddy Sneakers teaches the NC core curriculum by taking kids out of the classroom and into the forest. In Muddy Sneakers’ first ten years alone, they worked with more than 2,500 fifth grade public school students from 39 schools in eight WNC counties, three counties around their second location in Salisbury, NC, and the South Carolina Upstate. Students are led by a field instructor through protected lands in the hopes of enhancing not only their academic achievement, but of cultivating a life-long love of nature. Learn more.
44 W Jordan Street, Brevard | (828) 862-5560 | muddysneakers.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits. Search homes for sale in Brevard. Contact us today!