College Students Volunteer in the Roan
Students from Mars Hill University and Warren Wilson College joined us this spring for a Golden-winged Warbler habitat management workday and camping trip along the Appalachian Trail in the Highlands of Roan.
The energetic volunteers cleared downed tree limbs and lopped saplings to create ideal breeding ground for this threatened species of neo-tropical migratory songbirds.
The following day the group enjoyed a nature hike along newly forged trails at our Elk Hollow Preserve. Thanks to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy & the National Forest Foundation for supporting our management work on the Grassy Balds this year!
“I’d like to give a big thank you to AmeriCorps members Israel Golden and Cate Jaffe for coordinating this overnight volunteer event,” says Laura Boggess, Coordinator of the Environmental Studies Program at Mars Hill University. “You were fantastic hosts: everything was well-planned and executed, down to perfect weather and a huge birding day! The students were buzzing about the trip in Ecology class later. And I especially appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with folks from Warren Wilson College on Saturday. The weekend was altogether a big success. I am SO grateful to have this partnership with SAHC!”
