Education and Outreach

The Blue Ridge Parkway has more than 5,000 original maps and drawings dating from 1934 to the present. Many of the older maps and drawings, located in the parks engineering offices and archives,  are not digitized and are in very poor condition.   With your support, you can fund the work of archivists who will locate, identify, pack and ship historic maps and drawings to National Park Service’s Denver Service Center for inventorying and digitizing. Digital copies will be made accessible to the public and staff online. 

The Parkway is a fascinating place, and sometimes visitors need a little help to get to know it better. With the addition of an interpreter-in-residence at Crabtree Falls, the National Park Service will be able to expand its services for visitors to include demonstrations, campfire programs, and guided hikes. This popular spot has seen an increase in campers in recent years, making it an ideal place to station a knowledgeable interpreter to share details about the flora, fauna, and history of the area.

Each year, the Foundation prints and distributes maps of the Cone estate to help guide visitors on the 25 miles of carriage trails and share the past of the historic gem. Your gift will ensure more visitors can appreciate the backstory and beauty of this park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Donate

Milepost Music is a series of free summer concerts hosted from June through Septemberat popular destinations on the Parkway. These Sunday afternoon shows supplement educational programs for visitors as park staffing shortages continue and help support local and regional musicians. Because of the success of past seasons, the Music Center is increasing the number of concerts at Humpback Rocks and Mabry Mill in Virginia and Doughton Park and Asheville's Parkway Visitor Center in North Carolina this year.

This season, volunteer rovers will protect peregrine falcons at Devils Courthouse and rare plants at Craggy Gardens and Rough Ridge by educating visitors about these important ecological sites. Your generosity can ensure the rovers are equipped with the supplies they need, including hand-held radios, backpacks, rain gear, and first-aid kits. The remaing goal for this project is $4,000.  Donate

In 2023, the Parkway hosted more than 800 volunteers who dedicated more than 45,000 hours to critical operational support and visitor services in the national park, from repairing trails and protecting rare plants to directing visitors on their journey. These energetic and dedicated volunteers require training, uniforms, and equipment to perform their jobs safely and successfully.

The places you enjoy nature on the Parkway desperately need your help! As the National Park Service faces an astonishing price tag to repair all aspects of the Blue Ridge Parkway, coupled with budget constraints, care of the trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and overlooks is falling to the bottom of the long list of priorities.

Printed annually, the Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Activity Guide features trail maps, safety information, and adventure opportunities. It is an essential guide to a well-planned Parkway excursion. With your support, the guide will be updated with new maps and information and made available by the National Park Service at visitor centers for free.

Our Kids in Parks program got its start in 2009 with the opening of the first TRACK Trail at the Asheville Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Today, there are five trails along the route that engage children and their families with the outdoors through activity brochures. You can expand these adventures for future land stewards by supporting the creation of new experiences at two fascinating Parkway sites in Virginia: the James River and Rocky Knob/Mabry Mill. 

A rehabilitation project for one of the most popular trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway is underway! A crew with the American Conservation Experience is repairing Craggy Flats Bald Trail, which has become deeply rutted, leading to erosion.