40 Years of Victories Challenge
Complete the challenge and earn one of our commemorative 40 Year MountainTrue Merit Badges by honoring past victories and taking action to continue our legacy of success!
Here are the rules (in no particular order):
1) Visit one of the places listed below that represent significant MountainTrue victories. Take a picture of yourself in that place and send it to susan@mountaintrue.org along with a brief explanation of why that place matters to you.
2) Before the end of 2022, respond to at least three MountainTrue action alerts, thereby continuing our legacy of advocating to protect the places we share! Our current action alerts are listed below.
Not sure where to start? Check out our staff examples below for some inspiration!
Examples
Significant Places
Rivers in the Southern Blue Ridge
Western North Carolina and North Georgia
In honor of our ongoing Clean Waters Program work across the region. MountainTrue tip: take a photo while you enjoy your favorite form of river recreation in any of the rivers that MountainTrue’s four riverkeepers and Clean Waters staff work to protect — check out MountainTrue’s Swim Guide results to see if the water is safe before you go!
Lake Julian
Arden, NC
In honor of MountainTrue’s fight for the Clean Smokestacks Act of 2002, as well as our fight to shut down the coal plant in 2020. MountainTrue tip: take a picture with the coal plant in the background!
Panthertown Valley
Glenville, NC
In honor of the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance (JMCA), who helped form the Friends of Panthertown back in 2005. JMCA is one of MountainTrue’s three predecessor organizations.
Bluff Mountain
West Jefferson, NC
In honor of the Western North Carolina Conservation Alliance’s (WNCA) successful fight to prevent a timber harvest in this special place. WNCA is one of MountainTrue’s three predecessor organizations.
Lake Chatuge
Hayesville, NC and Hiawassee, GA
In honor of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition’s (HRWC) Lake Chatuge Ecological Health Rating Improvement win. In 2019, HRWC merged with MountainTrue to become MountainTrue’s Western Regional Office.
Town of Highlands
North Carolina
In honor of the country’s first BearWise certified community. MountainTrue tip: get a picture with one of the three BearWise Community signs. One is located in the parking lot for Sunset Rock on Main St./Horse Cove Rd. across from the Highlands Nature Center.
Pedestrian Bridge at Jean Webb Park
Asheville, NC
In honor of the Asheville Design Center’s (ADC) Design Build Project in 2013. ADC is now MountainTrue’s Healthy Communities Program.
Fires Creek Recreation Area
Hayesville, NC
In honor of HRWC and WNCA’s fights to protect this special place.
Four Seasons Swamp on US 64
Hendersonville, NC
In honor of the successful fight by the Environmental and Conservation Organization (ECO) to protect this special place. ECO is one of MountainTrue’s three predecessor organizations.
Lakeshore Tunnel
Bryson City, NC
In honor of HRWC’s Northshore Road Victory.
Bee Hotel at UNCA
Asheville, NC
In honor of ADC’s Design Build Project, for which the bee hotel was built in 2016.
Oklawaha Greenway
Hendersonville, NC
In honor of ECO’s work to establish and expand this greenway.
Current Actions
Take Action to Protect Old-Growth and Mature Forests in Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests
The U.S. Forest Service has announced a plan to amend all 128 forest management plans nationwide — including the plan for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forests — in accordance with President Biden’s...
ACTION: Support Road Safety in Downtown Asheville
Let the City of Asheville know that you support making College Street and Patton Avenue safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders. The City of Asheville is wavering in its...
ACTION: Tell NCDEQ to Deny the Draft Clear Creek Wastewater Permit & Stop Additional Pollution of Local Waterways
The NC Department of Environmental Quality is accepting comments on the Draft Permit for the Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Project (NPDES Permit NCO090247). We invite you to join our opposition...
ACTION: Stop the NCGA from Stripping Local Governments of Authority to Fight Plastic Pollution
Breaking News: A draft conference report of the state budget released to the media includes language that would prohibit counties (§ 153A-145.11) and cities (§ 160A-205.6) from passing ordinances,...
Take Action! Sept. 19: Plastic-Free WNC Rally at Buncombe County
It's time for Buncombe County to act. Join MountainTrue, the Sierra Club’s Western North Carolina Group, the N.C. Public Interest Research Group, and the Creation Care Alliance for a rally to call...
Take Action: Ask the Town of Woodfin To Support A Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags
We need you to take action to help pass a common-sense law to reduce plastic pollution in Buncombe County. The first step is getting the Town of Woodfin to pass a resolution of support. Please email...
Take Action: Ask the Town of Black Mountain To Support A Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags
We need you to take action to help pass a common-sense law to reduce plastic pollution in Buncombe County. The first step is getting the Town of Black Mountain to pass a resolution of support....