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
Photo of MountainTrue staff at Schoolhouse Falls in Panthertown Valley submitted by Susan Bean: “This place is just magical! I’m so grateful to the Jackson Macon Conservation Alliance for helping form the Friends of Panthertown to keep this wonderland protected and publicly accessible.”
” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” desc_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dipi_carousel_child][dipi_carousel_child img_src=”https://mountaintrue.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Callie-Lakeshore-Tunnel.png” title_text=”Lakeshore Tunnel” desc_text=”
Photo in front of the Lakeshore Tunnel in the Great Smoky Mountains submitted by Callie Moore and Andrea Leslie: “We are so glad that Lakeshore Trail is just that — a TRAIL — not a drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park!”
” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” desc_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dipi_carousel_child][dipi_carousel_child img_src=”https://mountaintrue.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Chris-bridge.png” title_text=”Pedestrian Bridge” desc_text=”
Photo of Chris Joyell in front of the pedestrian bridge at Jean Webb Park: “The 13 Bones bridge, completed in 2013, was the first piece of infrastructure installed along the Wilma Dykeman Greenway — eight years before the greenway was finally constructed! I’m proud that ADC could be a part of making this project possible.”
” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” desc_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dipi_carousel_child][/dipi_carousel]
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
Action Alert: Help Us Remove Debris From Our Rivers After Hurricane Helene
This action has expiredOur rivers are in a state of emergency. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left our waterways choked with millions of tons of debris and pollution. While our communities...
Protect the Broad River Basin: Comment on The 2024 Broad River Basin Plan for the Future of Our Rivers, Lakes, & Streams
This action has expiredPaddlers enjoying the First Broad River. Now is your chance to make your voice heard and help influence our Department of Environmental Quality in planning for a healthy Broad...
Speak Up for Old Growth Forests
This action has expiredWe need you to tell the US Forest Service to implement strong protections for old-growth forests. Please submit a comment urging the Forest Service to strengthen NOGA by...
Encourage Clarity and Public Participation in GAP Restoration Project
This action has expiredEncourage Clarity and Public Participation in GAP Restoration Project In July, the US Forest Service released a draft environmental assessment for the Grandfather,...
Take Action: Oppose Weakening Macon County’s Flood Protection Ordinance!
Let Macon County Commissioners know that you oppose weakening Macon County’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance by removing restrictions on the use of fill dirt to elevate new houses or expand...
Petition to Designate the First Broad River as a State Trail
The First Broad River is a gem in North Carolina, offering stunning natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and economic benefits for our community. By designating it as a State Trail, we can...
Letter to Our Members: We’re Going to Court to Protect Endangered Wildlife
On Thursday, April 18, MountainTrue, in collaboration with our partners at the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Center for Biological Diversity,...