MountainTrue

MountainTrue Riverkeeper Beer Series Clean-up in Brevard, NC with Oskar Blues 6/28
2025-06-28 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Pisgah Forest River Access, 3520 Wilson Rd., Pisgah Forest, NC, 28768
Our region’s rivers were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, and with breweries playing a key role in our tourism economy, MountainTrue, the French Broad Riverkeeper, and Oskar Blues are teaming up to help restore our waterways.
Join us on June 28 for a river cleanup! We’ll head out for an on-the-water cleanup, then return to the brewery to celebrate with beer and prizes.
We encourage folks to bring their own boats to clean-up but, MountainTrue can provide a spot on a boat for 20 people if you don’t have one. Please make sure you bring a PFD if you bring your own boat.Please click here to reserve your spot in a MountainTrue boat.
All participants, regardless of whether borrowing a boat or bringing their own, MUST pre-register so we can adhere to safety standards.
Meet-up location: Pisgah Forest River Access (3520 Wilson Rd, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768). Shuttling info: Everyone will meet at Pisgah Forest River Access at 1:00 PM and be shuttled to the put-in at Hap Simpson Park.
All volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours!
Kids under the age of 18 are welcome as long as accompanied by a parent or guardian AND they feel comfortable in a boat for several hours.
A HUGE thank you to Oskar Blues, Eno and Recover brands for sponsoring this event!
Additionaly, this event has been generously-sponsored by Explore Brevard through the Transylvania County TDA’s Transylvania Always grant program. Transylvania Always’ mission is to address the impact of users on the county’s public lands, specifically the safe and enjoyable use of natural resources, and we’re fortunate to have received funding to support our work to clean up the French Broad River.

We are also partnering with Conserving Carolina, a Hendersonville-based land trust servicing Polk, Henderson, and Transylvania counties, and parts of Rutherford and other surrounding counties. Their mission is to protect, restore, and inspire appreciation of the natural world, and we are grateful that their work includes bringing staff and volunteer support to clean-ups and other initiatives that overlap with ours.

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Post Hurricane Helene Swannanoa River clean-up in Asheville, NC with REI Co-op 6/29
2025-06-29 10:00 - 14:00 | 2 Hendersonville Rd, 2 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC, 28803
Come join the French Broad Riverkeeper and REI Asheville as we work to clean up Hurricane Helene damage along the Swannanoa River in the Biltmore Village area. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas. Please note this will be a land-based clean-up.
***Fun swag will be provided to each volunteer. Stick around after for a cold drink and social time with fellow volunteers.
Kids aged 14 and up are welcome as long as accompanied by a parent or guardian.
To thank you for your time, all volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours.
Thanks to REI co-op for their support!

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Say Hi to MountainTrue at the Town of Boone 4th of July Parade to support Public Lands 7/4
2025-07-04 11:00 - 13:00 | NC
Join MountainTrue for the Town of Boone 4th of July Parade to march for Public Lands. Please wear MountainTrue gear. Don’t have any? Check out our Shopify Store! (Please make sure you allow at least a week or two for shipping).
More info about the parade here.
For questions, please contact Wayne Williams: willwe@appstate.edu

MountainTrue Trash Trout Cleanout with 828 Real Estate in Boone, NC 7/8
2025-07-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Boone Fire Station #2, 1075 State Farm Rd, Boone, NC, 28607
Want to get in the river AND contribute to its health? Assist MountainTrue and 828 Real Estate with cleanout and inventory of trash types and brands found within the Trash Trout. This trash trout cleanout will be at Winkler’s Creek. Made from recycled materials, this passive litter collection device will be sure to get you asking questions and feeling good about what we can do to mitigate the trash found in the river.
Kids are welcome at this event, however, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the event.
Please Bring:

Water
Snacks
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
You are welcome to bring your own boots and waders if you have them

Anyone borrowing boots/waders from MountainTrue must provide sizing on the sign-up form.

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Summertime Long Float with MountainTrue & Rutherford Outdoor Coalition in Rutherfordton, NC 7/12
2025-07-12 09:00 - 17:00 | NC
Join your Broad Riverkeeper and Rutherford Outdoor Coalition for a long, fun paddle on two sections of the Broad that have just opened up for recreation. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recently completed the Hwy 221 access, our take-out point. We’ll start at the Coxe Road access and paddle 14 miles! The first section of the river is upstream of the confluence with the Green River, so is relatively narrow and shaded with some trees to maneuver around. Once the Green enters the Broad, the river is much wider and has more flow and no obstacles, with a few fun class I-II rapids.
Meetup is at 9:00 AM sharp at the Coxe Road access, 35.292635, -81.991388
We will stop for lunch and a swim along the way. With an average speed of 2-3 mph, total time on the river will be 7 to 8 hours. Not recommended for inexperienced paddlers. (Please, no kids on this trip.)
Please bring: your boat, paddle, and lifejacket, water, lunch, snacks, sunscreen, sturdy water shoes or sneakers (no flip-flops), and a dry change of clothes. If you want to enjoy the scenery, you are encouraged to bring binoculars as well.
If you reserve a boat, please call David at 704-300-5069 to confirm PFD (life jacket) size.
The RAIN DATE is July 19th. Please reserve both dates on your calendar.

Trivia Night with MountainTrue and NC Conservation Network in Asheville, NC 7/16
2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:00 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
🌿🌎Calling all nature fans, climate champs, and curious minds! 🌎🌿 Join MountainTrue and NC Conservation Network for a night of environmental trivia where you can flex your knowledge on forests, rivers, wildlife, climate, and all things green.
📅 Date: Wednesday, July 16th🕖 Time: 7 to 8:30 pm📍 Location: The RAD Brewing Co. 13 Mystery St. Asheville, NC 28801
🍃 Free to play🌟 Prizes for the sharpest green minds🥤 Snacks, drinks & good company👥 Come solo or bring a team (up to 6)
We’ll see you in the wild (or at least at the trivia table)! (Sign-ups not required, but encouraged).

MountainTrue Lower Green River Clean-up near Saluda, NC 7/18
2025-07-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Fishtop Access, 2302 Green River Cove, Saluda, North Carolina, 28773
Please join our Green River work crew for an afternoon cleaning up a small section of the Lower Green. This work day will not require a boat, but volunteers should be prepared to be in and out of the water on steep banks and uneven terrain.
Please be prepared for the day to be strenuous, as you will be pulling large trash from the river and its banks to haul up to the road to be loaded into a dump trailer.
Closed-toed shoes are required. Work gloves and tools will be provided, but please bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks, hats, medical needs, and appropriate clothing to pull out large and potentially sharp objects from the river. We will meet at Fish Top Access to sign waivers and talk about how the day will run, and then we will carpool to the cleanup location.
All volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours!
Please, nobody under the age of 18.

Sign-up!

Party on the Mountain Weekend at Beech Mountain, NC 7/18 & 7/19
2025-07-18 16:30 - 22:00, 2025-07-19 16:30 - 22:00 | Beech Mountain Resort, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 28604, United States
Join MountainTrue at the Party on the Mountain at Beech Mountain this year! Remember to bring your (empty!) water bottle; we will have a water bottle refill station at the concert series. Swing by to chat about Clean Water with us and see what the Riverkeepers have been up to at MountainTrue this year! New MountainTrue merch will also be available for purchase.
Get your tickets and answer questions here: https://summerconcert.beechmountainresort.com/
Friday, July 18
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
with Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge
Boy Named Banjo · Susto Stringband · Ashes & Arrows · Holler Choir
Adrian and Meredith · The Ain’t Sisters
Saturday, July 19
Lake Street Dive
with the 502s
The Wilder Blue · Jon Stickley Trio · The Wildmans
If Birds Could Fly · Goldpine · Taylor Winchester
David Lamotte · Adam Bolt
Doors & Schedule
4:30 p.m. – VIP Doors Open & Food Truck Village
5:30 p.m. – General Admission Doors Open & Food Truck Village
7:00 p.m. – Show Start (Set times are subject to artist discretion)
Please note: Party weekend includes a broader schedule of bands throughout the day at various venues.
Tickets
All tickets are general admission.
VIP tickets include priority stage-front standing room.
Re-Entry
No re-entry to concert grounds, except for emergencies.
Seating Policy
Chairs are permitted but not in front of the stage.
All Ages Welcome Children 5 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

7/19 Nature Yoga at The Little Tennessee Greenway, Franklin NC
2025-07-19 09:00 - 10:30 | Macon County Library, 149 Siler Farm Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734
Join MountainTrue for a rejuvenating experience of nature yoga and forest bathing. Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level. Immerse yourself in gentle yoga movements surrounded by nature and unwind under a canopy of leaves. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, relax, and be in community with others.
Please leave pets at home.

Please Bring:
– Comfortable walking shoes
– Yoga mat (we cannot provide additional mats)
– Water (and snacks for yourself)
– Any medication you might need

Registration is required, limited spots available.

MountainTrue Hemlock Hike at John Rock near Brevard, NC 7/19-CANCELED
2025-07-19 09:00 - 12:30 | John Rock Loop Trailhead, Fish Hatchery Ln, Brevard, NC, 28712
We regret that this hike has been canceled. We hope you will check out our other upcoming events! Join MountainTrue and Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) on a guided hike at John Rock to see hemlock trees! Learn from Josh Kelly and HRI’s Olivia Hall about hemlock conservation and the importance of these ecosystems.
John Rock Trail Loop is a moderately difficult 5-mile hike with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. We’ll be back to the trailhead by lunchtime, but please bring plenty of water and any snacks you would like along the way.
*Children are welcome if they can hike up to 5 moderately strenuous miles. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.

As much as we love our furry friends, no pets are permitted on this hike.
Please remember to:
-Wear sturdy hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather (including rain gear).
-Bring water, lunch, snacks and any medications you may need
The trailhead for John Rock Loop Trail is to the left of the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Park and meet our group at the trailhead at 9 am.
The RAIN DATE for this event will be July 26th. Please save both dates in your calendar.

French Broad River Clean-Up - Island Ford River Access to Morrow Landing near Dunns Rock, NC 7/19
2025-07-19 10:00 - 15:00 | NC
Volunteers are invited to help clean up trash with French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, Jack Henderson, and other members of MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper team.
The clean-up will be boat-based and focus on the French Broad River in Transylvania County between Island Ford River Access and Morrow Landing.
MountainTrue can provide canoes (with paddles and PFDs) to volunteers with previous paddling experience, but attendees are otherwise requested to bring their own boats. MountainTrue will also provide gloves, trash bags, a dumpster for trash removal, and a shuttle to the put-in.
If you need to borrow a boat from MountainTrue, please use the boat request form. (We have a limited number of boats so you must complete this form to borrow a boat).ALL participants, regardless of whether you are borrowing a boat or bringing your own, must sign-up through the “sign-up” link to ensure we can adhere to safety standards for the maximum number of participants.
Please bring:

PFD if bringing your own boat.
Appropriate clothing and footwear for paddling and cleaning up trash (closed-toed shoes recommended).
Drinking water, snacks, lunch.
Change of clothes for after the event.

Kids under the age of 18 are allowed as long as accompanied by a parent/guardian AND are experienced paddlers.
Meet-up coordinates: Island Ford River Access (GPS Coordinates: 35.17843014706829, -82.75543437584966)
To thank you for your time, volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours.
This event has been generously-sponsored by Explore Brevard through the Transylvania County TDA’s Transylvania Always grant program. Transylvania Always’ mission is to address the impact of users on the county’s public lands, specifically the safe and enjoyable use of natural resources, and we’re fortunate to have received funding to support our work to clean up the French Broad River.

We are also partnering with Conserving Carolina, a Hendersonville-based land trust servicing Polk, Henderson, and Transylvania counties, and parts of Rutherford and other surrounding counties. Their mission is to protect, restore, and inspire appreciation of the natural world, and we are grateful that their work includes bringing staff and volunteer support to clean-ups and other initiatives that overlap with ours.

Sign-up!

MountainTrue Hominy Creek Water Quality Sample Blitz near Asheville, NC July 22, 29 & Aug 5th
2025-07-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-29 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-05 10:00 - 14:00 | Ingles-Enka, 1572 Sand Hill Rd., Candler, NC, 28715
We’re doing an intensive water quality look in Hominy Creek. For three weeks, we’ll be taking samples specifically looking at bacteria pollution in Hominy Creek.
We’ll meet at the Ingles parking lot (address below), where MountainTrue staff will give you materials and teach you what you need to know. From there, we’ll all go grab samples from different locations and then meet back at the Ingles parking lot by 2PM to drop samples off, so MountainTrue staff can bring them back to the lab to process.
Bring lunch and a small cooler if you have one. We’ll provide sampling materials and gloves. We’ll be working off of Google Maps, so it’s helpful to have that app on your phone, or partner with someone who does. Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
Meet-up location: Ingles Parking Lot 1572 Sand Hill Rd, Candler, NC 28715
Please wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
Samples will be taken on three consecutive weeks. Please sign up for the shifts that work for you.

Sign-up!

MountainTrue Lower Green River Clean-up with Conserving Carolina near Saluda, NC 7/26
2025-07-26 10:00 - 15:00 | Green Riverkeeper Office, 7347 Ozone Dr, Suite 4, Saluda, NC, 28773
Join your Green Riverkeeper and Conserving Carolina to Clean the Lower Green!
We will meet at the Green Riverkeeper Office in Saluda, NC at 10 am and carpool down to the river. The exact clean-up location will be announced in an email closer to the event date.
This event will be land and river-based. If you want to be on the river, please plan to bring your own boat (MountainTrue is not providing boats for loan for this event) and appropriate river gear (pfd, helmet, paddles etc).
Please wear closed-toe shoes, weather-appropriate attire (including things you don’t mind getting wet). Bring drinking water, lunch/snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward. We will have plenty of trash bags and gloves for use, along with some hand tools such as shovels, loppers, etc.; however, feel free to bring your own if you would like.
All volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours!
Kids under the age of 18 are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian AND they feel comfortable in a boat for several hours.

Sign-up!

High Country Benefit Concert: Watkins Glen Summer Jam at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Boone, NC 7/26
2025-07-26 18:00 - 22:00 | AMB-Boone, 163 Boone Creek Dr., Boone, NC, 28607
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 6 PM, Appalachian Mountain Brewery will host a WATKINS GLEN SUMMER JAM TRIBUTE CONCERT: The music of THE BAND, ALLMAN BROS, and GRATEFUL DEAD performed by members of The Dead of Winter, Soul Benefactor, dB’s Foscoe Four, and MORE… in celebration of the 50th birthday of our pal David Bryan and to benefit The Watauga Riverkeeper during their extensive and important post-Helene river clean up efforts! All ticket sales will go directly to The Watauga Riverkeeper. Swing by the MountainTrue tent and learn how you can support our work and help protect the places we share!
Happy Birthday David B. + Thank you Dave Brewer!
For more info or to buy tickets click here

Nolichucky Mine Public Hearing in Bakersville, NC 7/29
2025-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Former Bowman Middle School Auditorium, 410 S. Mitchell St., Bakersville, NC, 28705
Something deeply troubling is happening in our backyard — and state regulators need to hear from all of us. Horizon 30, a proposed mining operation in North Carolina, is currently operating illegally on the banks of the Nolichucky River in Poplar, NC. That’s not an exaggeration — it’s a fact.
Let’s make our voices heard. The public hearing on July 29 at 6pm. It will be in Bakersville at the Former Bowman Middle School Auditorium (410 S. Mitchell Ave.)
This company has been mining without a valid permit, in direct violation of the North Carolina Mining Act. Even worse, DEMLR (Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources) — the agency tasked with enforcing these laws — has issued three separate notices ordering Horizon 30 to stop operations.
The company has ignored every single one.
To make matters worse, Horizon 30 hasn’t just continued operating — it has expanded from 5 acres to over 50 acres. That’s a tenfold increase in activity, with zero public accountability and no environmental oversight.
So why does this matter?
Because when companies like Horizon 30 operate without permits, they skip the critical safeguards designed to protect:

Our water and wetlands from contamination and sedimentation
Our air from dust and pollution
Our communities — especially nearby homes, farms, and schools — from noise, traffic, and health impacts
Our ecosystems from habitat destruction

DEMLR’s job isn’t just to process permits. It’s to enforce the law. And in this case, enforcement means denying Horizon 30’s permit and holding the company accountable for months of unpermitted and unlawful activity.
Approving this permit now would send a clear message: that mining companies can break the law, ignore warnings, expand at will — and still get what they want in the end.
We can’t let that happen.
Can’t make it to the public hearing? Click HERE to submit your comments! We can send comments to DEMLR until Aug 8. You can use the template provided or customize it to your liking.

Snorkel the French Broad River Headwaters in Rosman, NC 8/2
2025-08-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Champion’s Park River Access, Champion Park's River Access - 39 Old Turnpike Rd, Rosman, NC, 28772
Join MountainTrue staff and partners for a guided snorkeling experience on the French Broad River’s headwaters at Champion Park in Rosman, NC. Come reconnect with the river post-Hurricane-Helene. We will be guided by Kevin Merrill – Owner & Biologist with Oxbow River Snorkeling.
Kevin has intimate knowledge of the fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates on this particular site and within Western North Carolina in general. You’ll learn about what you’re seeing, the conservation and preservation efforts occurring to help protect these species and their habitats, and the state of the river after the Hurricane.
Masks, snorkels, wetsuits, and booties can be rented through our partnership with Mountains to Seas. If you rent equipment, please make sure to complete ALL of the sizing fields for each ticketed guest to ensure we get the correct size for wetsuits and booties. The water in August can still be pretty chilly so please plan accordingly. Gear rentals are helping our friends in the recreation field keep their doors open.
Due to the sensitivity of the site and the capacity of our guides, we will be limiting this adventure to two separate two-hour time slots with no more than ten people each.
The first tour starts at 10:00 AM and the second tour at 12:00 PM.
Please Note that snorkeling tours like this one are at the mercy of Mother Nature. High water velocity and poor visibility following a heavy rain event may create conditions unfavorable for this activity to continue as planned. If this occurs for our scheduled date, we will unfortunately need to cancel and refund any expenses.
Register:**If the ticket type or timeslot that you need are not available please contact amy@mountaintrue.org for assistance or to be put on the waitlist. Registration will close on August 1st.

Register for the 10 am tour

Register for the 12 pm tour!

Love Your Watershed Happy Hour at Oklawaha Brewing Co in Hendersonville, NC
2025-08-07 17:30 - 19:00 | Oklawaha Brewing Company
Join us for a Love Your Watershed Happy Hour with your local water quality partners and learn more about what you can do to support cleaner rivers and streams in WNC. Drop-by and chat with folks from Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue, Mills River Partnership, and others, and hear about the incredible ongoing efforts to bring our waterways back to life post-Helene. There will be a short presentation, including a “State of the Watershed” update. Thanks to Oklawaha, 10% of beer sales will be donated to the French Broad River Partnership to support this vital work. And don’t miss your opportunity to win a totally rad YETI® Cooler during the raffle!

MountainTrue Riverkeeper Beer Series Clean-up in Asheville, NC with Wedge Brewing Co. 8/9--FULL!
2025-08-09 13:00 - 17:00 | The Wedge Brewery, 37 Paynes Way, Asheville, NC, 28801
Our region’s rivers were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, and with breweries playing a key role in our tourism economy, MountainTrue, the French Broad Riverkeeper, and Wedge Brewing Co. are teaming up to help restore our waterways. This event if FULL. Please check out our other volunteer opportunities.
Join us on August 9th for a river cleanup! We’ll head out for an on-the-water cleanup, then return to the brewery to celebrate with beer and prizes.
We encourage you to bring your own boat to clean-up. Please make sure you bring a PFD if you bring your own boat. If you need to borrow a boat, MountainTrue has boat spots for 20 people
All participants, regardless of whether borrowing a boat or bringing their own, MUST pre-register using the “sign-up” button to ensure we can adhere to safety standards.
Meet-up location and shuttle info will be emailed to participants the week before the event.
All volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours!
Kids under the age of 18 are welcome as long as accompanied by a parent or guardian AND they feel comfortable in a boat for several hours.
A HUGE thank you to Wedge Brewing Co., Eno and Recover brands for sponsoring this event!

Support the Watauga Riverkeeper at Beech Mountain Summer Concert Series 8/9/25
2025-08-09 16:30 - 22:00 | Beech Mountain Resort, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC, 28604, United States
Come enjoy the last Beech Mountain Summer Concert Series show with us on August 9th, featuring Charley Crockett and 49 Winchester. Remember to bring your (empty!) water bottle– and visit our table with a water bottle refill station at the concert. Swing by to chat about Clean Water with us and see what we have been up to at MountainTrue this year! New MountainTrue merch will also be available for purchase. Get your tickets and answer any questions here: https://summerconcert.beechmountainresort.com/
Doors & Schedule
4:30 p.m. – VIP Doors Open & Food Truck Village
5:30 p.m. – General Admission Doors Open & Food Truck Village
7:00 p.m. – Show Start (Set times are subject to artist discretion)
Purchase tickets at: https://summerconcert.beechmountainresort.com/

MountainTrue Water Quality Sample Blitz in Mud Creek Watershed near Hendersonville, NC-Aug, 12, 19 & 26th
2025-08-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Ingles-Hendersonville, 1980 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, NC, 28792
We’re doing an intensive water quality look across the Mud Creek watershed. For three weeks, we’ll be taking samples specifically looking at bacteria pollution in Mud Creek.
We’ll meet at the Ingles parking lot (address below), where MountainTrue staff will give you materials and teach you what you need to know. From there, we’ll all go grab samples from different locations and then meet back at the Ingles parking lot by 2PM to drop samples off, so MountainTrue staff can bring them back to the lab to process.
Bring lunch and a small cooler if you have one. We’ll provide sampling materials and gloves. We’ll be working off of Google Maps, so it’s helpful to have that app on your phone, or partner with someone who does. Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
Meet-up location: We will meet at Tunnel Rd. Ingles (1980 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC 28791
Please wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
Samples will be taken on three consecutive weeks. Please sign up for the shifts that work for you.

Sign-up!

Pint night at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Boone, NC Benefiting MountainTrue 8/14
2025-08-14 17:00 - 20:00 | AMB-Boone, 163 Boone Creek Dr., Boone, NC, 28607
Stop by Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) in Boone to chat with MountainTrue staff and grab a cold beverage! $1 of all beer pours on August 14th will benefit MountainTrue.
Can’t make it on August 14th? You have all of August to support AMB and MountainTrue! MountainTrue is proud to be AMB’s featured nonprofit for the month of August. $1 of all Hop Rain Drop pours during August will go to benefit MountainTrue.
Come on out to say hi and help us support our supporters!

Pint night at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Mills River, NC Benefiting MountainTrue 8/14
2025-08-14 17:00 - 20:00 | AMB Mills River, 46 N Mills River Road, Mills River, NC, 28759
Stop by Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) in Mills River to chat with MountainTrue staff and grab a cold beverage! $1 of all beer pours on August 14th will benefit MountainTrue.
Can’t make it on August 14th? You have all of August to support AMB and MountainTrue! MountainTrue is proud to be AMB’s featured nonprofit for the month of August. $1 of all Hop Rain Drop pours during August will benefit MountainTrue.
Come on out to say hi and help us support our supporters!

Green Drinks: A Brief History of Air – air, air pollution, and solutions (Hendersonville, NC) 8/14
2025-08-14 17:30 - 19:30 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
The history of air and the science of air pollution is part of the history of Western North Carolina. We will take a brief look into the past, present, and future through the lens of combustion and air pollution. We will discuss how science was used to help clean North Carolina’s air, and to continue to study the air and keep it clean for both individual and environmental health.
Keith Bamberger works for the Division of Air Quality out of the Asheville Regional Office of the Department of Environment Quality. His primary responsibility is coordinating the Western North Carolina Air Awareness Program. This program includes direct education and outreach to students and the general public, supporting local governments, non-governmental agencies, and community resources groups in understanding air quality, environmental health, and the intersection between their programs and the health of the air. His responsibilities also include working on many statewide initiatives and committees, and partnerships include NASA Earth to Sky Partnership, the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, the Asheville Buncombe Air Quality Agency, NC Soil and Water Conservation District, the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, the Environmental Educators of North Carolina and others. Past work includes nature centers, museums, the National Park Service, and North Carolina 4-H.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks; just come and listen. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.
Photo courtesy of Conserving Carolina.

French Broad River Clean-Up Penrose Boating Access Area to Blantyre Park near Hendersonville, NC 8/16
2025-08-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Blantyre Park, 120 Grove Bridge Rd., Hendersonville, NC, 28739
Volunteers are invited to help clean up trash with French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, Jack Henderson, and other members of MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper team.
The clean-up will be boat-based and focus on the French Broad River in Transylvania and Henderson counties between Penrose Boating Access Area and Blantyre Park.
MountainTrue can provide canoes (with paddles and PFDs) to volunteers with previous paddling experience, but attendees are otherwise requested to bring their own boats. MountainTrue will also provide gloves, trash bags, a dumpster for trash removal, and a shuttle to the put-in.
If you need to borrow a boat from MountainTrue, please use the boat request form. (We have a limited number of boats so you must complete this form to borrow a boat).ALL participants, regardless of whether you are borrowing a boat or bringing your own, must sign-up through the “sign-up” link to ensure we can adhere to safety standards for the maximum number of participants.
Please bring:

PFD if bringing your own boat.
Appropriate clothing and footwear for paddling and cleaning up trash (closed-toed shoes recommended).
Drinking water, snacks, lunch.
Change of clothes for after the event.

Kids under the age of 18 are allowed as long as accompanied by a parent/guardian AND are experienced paddlers.
To thank you for your time, volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. Please email members@mountaintrue.org to request yours.
This event has been generously-sponsored by Explore Brevard through the Transylvania County TDA’s Transylvania Always grant program. Transylvania Always’ mission is to address the impact of users on the county’s public lands, specifically the safe and enjoyable use of natural resources, and we’re fortunate to have received funding to support our work to clean up the French Broad River.

We are also partnering with Conserving Carolina, a Hendersonville-based land trust servicing Polk, Henderson, and Transylvania counties, and parts of Rutherford and other surrounding counties. Their mission is to protect, restore, and inspire appreciation of the natural world, and we are grateful that their work includes bringing staff and volunteer support to clean-ups and other initiatives that overlap with ours.

Sign-up!

Brainy Brews: "Planting" Hope after Hurricane Helene (Asheville, NC) 8/20
2025-08-20 18:00 - 19:00 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Are you finally ready to start recovering your yard after Hurricane Helene? MountainTrue is thrilled to have former MountainTrue Public Lands Director (and ecologist) Bob Gale present on how to clean up, rebuild, and replant using native plants that bounce back better after storms. We’ll cover what to do first, what to plant, and how to create a yard that’s not just beautiful, but more resilient.
Seating is first-come, first-serve so come on the early side if you can to snag your spot. The on-site food truck is closed on Wednesday nights, but guests are welcome to bring their food or consider purchasing dinner from the nearby Taqueria at The Grey Eagle.
RSVPs not required to attend, but helpful for planning purposes.
If you’re ready to start planting, stay tuned for our online Native Plant Sale launching Oct 1st (all plants sourced from Carolina Native Nursery). (Pick-ups will be in Asheville, NC, in November 2025). Sign-up here to be notified when the plant sale goes live.

MountainTrue Trash Trout Cleanout in Boone, NC 8/22--CANCELED!
2025-08-22 10:00 - 12:30 | Boone Fire Station #2, 1075 State Farm Rd, Boone, NC, 28607
We regret that this event is canceled. The Trash Trout was dislodged during a recent storm and will not be in operation in time. Keep an eye out for upcoming events! Want to get in the river AND contribute to its health? Assist MountainTrue with cleanout and inventory of trash types and brands found within the Trash Trout. This trash trout cleanout will be at Winkler’s Creek. Made from recycled materials, this passive litter collection device will be sure to get you asking questions and feeling good about what we can do to mitigate the trash found in the river.
Kids are welcome at this event, however, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the event.
Please Bring:

Water
Snacks
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
You are welcome to bring your own boots and waders if you have them

Anyone borrowing boots/waders from MountainTrue must provide sizing on the sign-up form.
