MountainTrue

MountainTrue University - The State of the French Broad River
2020-07-01 11:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)

MountainTrue University - Forest Communities
2020-06-24 11:30 - 12:00

MountainTrue University - SwimGuide
2020-06-17 11:30 - 12:00 | Webinar–online

Forest Plan Panel Discussion: Recreation
2020-06-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Webinar–online
On June 16, MountainTrue will host an online panel discussion via Zoom during which our staff and guest speakers will explore issues of interest in the draft management plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests for recreation users such as mountain bikers, horseback riders, hikers, and paddlers. The speakers will discuss the plan alternatives and what they hope will end up in the final management plan. Please register in advance to submit questions for our panelists beforehand. We will also leave time during the session for live Q&A with the audience using the chat feature.
Featured panelists:

Julie White, Representative of the Southern Off-Road Mountain Bicycle Association (SORBA)
Deirdre Perot, Public Lands Representative of the Back Country Horsemen of North Carolina
Mike Reardon, Executive Director of the Carolina Climbers Coalition
Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director for American Whitewater

This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off. You’ll only be able to see the speakers and moderator, though you will be able to submit typed questions through the Q&A panel.

Discerning Next Steps in Creation Care - Live Virtual Workshop
2020-06-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Webinar–online

Virtual Green Drinks - June
2020-06-11 18:00 - 19:00
Hendersonville, NC – On Thursday, June 11th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Carleen Dixon, Henderson County Parks & Recreation Director. In her talk, Carleen will provide an update on what’s new with our parks, including new programs and upcoming changes to the online registration system. Carleen will also discuss potential upcoming improvements to local parks and highlight how the department looks different and is changing based on COVID-19 guidelines.
Using this link, bit.ly/junegreendrinks, you can register for the event. Once registered you’ll receive an email allowing you to join the online presentation or to call in by phone. We hope to see you virtually on Thursday!
Carleen Dixon was born in Transylvania County and received a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation from Colorado State University. Since receiving her degree, Carleen has worked for five different government Parks & Recreation Departments, gaining over 20 years of professional experience. She is a certified Parks and Recreation Executive, the top certification available in the field. Carleen and her family believe that the mountains of Western North Carolina are the most beautiful place to live and enjoy exploring new parts of our region whenever possible.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Appalachian Coffee Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, 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. We are gathering virtually for the time being.

No Man's Land Film Festival: Diversify the Outdoors
2020-06-11 - 2020-06-30 | Webinar–online
MountainTrue has hosted the No Man’s Land Film Festival for the past three years, and we want to highlight this new program that they are offering for the rest of the month. From June 11-30th, No Man’s Land Film Festival is offering a “Diversify Our Outdoors” Virtual Film Program. This film program features films from 2015 through 2020 that elevate Black athletes, filmmakers, and advocates as well as their joy, talent, and stories. All proceeds to this event will be donated to Outdoor Afro, a national non-profit organization and network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.
You can buy your tickets & support Outdoor Afro here.

Building Our City Speaker Series with Dr. Richard Jackson
2020-06-10 16:00 - 17:30 | Webinar–online
Building Our City Speaker Series with Dr. Richard Jackson
Many of today’s health problems, including obesity and depression, can be linked to decades of bad design decisions in urban and suburban areas. On Wednesday, June 10th, the Building Our City Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Richard Jackson to discuss how a community’s city design can affect its residents’ mental and physical health. Dr. Jackson currently serves as the chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA’s School of Public Health. He also has co-authored several books and hosted a 4-hour PBS series. He will be talking about ways we can prioritize our limited resources to ensure the improved health of our community, especially during a global pandemic. This event will be online from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Building our City is brought to you by the Asheville Design Center, a program of MountainTrue, and Thrive Asheville, and sponsored by Urban 3, Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, and Carleton Collins Architecture. Sign-up below!

MountainTrue University - How Geology Has Shaped Our Mountains and Waterfalls
2020-06-10 11:30 - 12:00

Madison County 2020 BioBlitz
2020-06-06 08:00 - 2020-06-20 17:00
Madison Natural Heritage and MountainTrue are hosting a virtual Madison County BioBlitz. The Madison County BioBlitz will run from June 6th-June 20th, and naturalists, kids, students, hunters, fishers, scholars and all area residents are invited to participate. This event is FREE.
The goal of the BioBlitz is to gather as much information about the biodiversity of plants, animals and other species in the county as possible. County residents can explore their neighborhoods, nearby forests and open public lands to record their finds using the iNaturalist smartphone app or website (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/madison-natural-heritage). If you can’t identify what you’ve found, don’t worry. Our experts can identify what you find once you upload it to the app. We’ll be sending out more information on how to use iNaturalist and tips for IDing what you find to folks who sign up. We also encourage you to also share your discoveries with us on social media using the #madcobioblitz.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, all participants are urged to practice safe social distancing by surveying alone or with family members or other people with whom they have been in isolation. People should comply with all remaining public lands and trail closures. Please practice standard trail safety when participating in the BioBlitz, including bringing water and wearing close-toed shoes.

Forest Plan Info Session: Invasive Species
2020-06-02 17:30 - 18:30 | Webinar–online
There are various plants, insects, and other invasive species that threaten the biodiversity and overall resilience of our forests. On June 2, MountainTrue will host a webinar during which Bob Gale, MountainTrue’s Public Lands Director and Ecologist, will look more closely at how the draft management plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests proposes to address and manage invasive species. Register to receive access to the webinar. Those who register before Monday 6/1 will receive Bob’s presentation slides in advance and have the opportunity to submit questions before the presentation. We will also have about 15 minutes for live Q&A at the end of the presentation.
This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off. You’ll only be able to see the speakers and moderator, though you will be able to submit typed questions through the Q&A panel.

Solar 101 with CCA & NCIPL
2020-05-28 18:00 - 19:30

MountainTrue University - Urban Renewal
2020-05-27 11:30 - 12:00

MountainTrue University: Top Native Alternatives
2020-05-20 11:30 - 12:00

Forest Plan Info Session: Management Areas
2020-05-19 17:30 - 18:30 | Webinar–online
On May 19, MountainTrue will host a webinar during which Josh Kelly, MountainTrue’s Western Field Biologist, will examine the various types of management areas proposed within the draft management plan and environmental impact statement for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Allocation of these areas determines what types of activities can happen in various parts of the forest. Register to receive access to the webinar. Those who register before Monday 5/18 will receive Josh’s presentation slides in advance and have the opportunity to submit questions before the presentation. We will also have about 15 minutes for live Q&A at the end of the presentation.
This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off. You’ll only be able to see the speakers and moderator, though you will be able to submit typed questions through the Q&A panel.

Virtual Green Drinks
2020-05-14 18:00 - 19:00
On Thursday, May 14th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Lauren Pyle, the Executive Director of Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC). Lauren’s talk will be titled Creating and Environmentally Literate Citizenry. Lauren will discuss environmental education and how it’s an important tool in protecting our natural resources.
As a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, we have shifted this event to be online. Using the link above you can register for the event. Once registered you’ll receive an email allowing you to join the online presentation or to call in by phone. We hope to see you there virtually!
RSVP to get the link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g-R6ajAxSZuCvznnTfpd7Q

Hendersonville Green Drinks
2020-05-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Appalachian Coffee Co., 1628 5th Ave W, Laurel Park, NC, 28739
This month’s Green Drinks features Lauren Pyle, the Executive Director of Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC). Lauren’s talk will be titled Creating and Environmentally Literate Citizenry. More information on the speaker to come.
Parking at Appalachian Coffee is limited, but overflow parking is available across the street at First Congregational Church.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Appalachian Coffee Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, 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. Appalachian Coffee Co. offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

MountainTrue University: Ancient Forests of the Blue Ridge
2020-05-13 11:30 - 12:00

Climate Interactive Game
2020-05-12 18:30 - 20:30

MountainTrue University: The Importance of NEPA
2020-05-06 11:30 - 12:00

No Man's Land Film Festival
2020-05-05 18:00 - 23:00
MountainTrue is proud to bring No Man’s Land Film Festival – the premier all-women adventure film festival – to our mountain region for a third year. The Festival features short films about women adventurers who will inspire you with their tenacity, their spunk and their femininity – all interwoven to showcase the full scope of woman-identified athletes and adventurers.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve moved this year’s No Man’s Land Film Festival online. Join us on May 5 as we uplift the voices of women in the outdoors and celebrate all of the powerful outdoors women in our community. Find more info here: https://mountaintrue.org/nmlff2020/

Public Policy Network Forest Plan presentation
2020-05-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Webinar–online
Public lands field biologist, Josh Kelly will be doing a live reprise of his April 7 webinar of MountainTrue’s perspective on the draft Nantahala Pisgah Forest Management Plan for the Public Policy Network’s regular May meeting. Also included will be tips and information about how the public can positively influence the final version.

The Public Policy Network (PPN) of Western North Carolina and North Georgia is an all-volunteer group that monitors state and national policy proposals and provides data, information and resources to enable the citizens of western North Carolina and north Georgia to make informed decisions about policies that affect them.

The webinar is free of charge and you do not have to be a member of PPN to register for the webinar.

Forest Plan Info Session: Water Quality
2020-04-28 17:30 - 18:30 | Webinar–online
On April 28, MountainTrue will host a webinar during which Callie Moore, MountainTrue’s Western Regional Director, will present the organization’s analysis of specific water-related issues in the draft management plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Register to receive access to the webinar. Those who register before Monday 4/27 will receive Callie’s presentation slides in advance and have the opportunity to submit questions before the presentation. We will also have about 15 minutes for live Q&A at the end of the presentation.
This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off. You’ll only be able to see the speakers and moderator, though you will be able to submit typed questions through the Q&A panel.

Virtual Earth Day Vigil
2020-04-26 18:00 - 19:30

2020 Liquidlogic Kayak Raffle to Benefit MountainTrue
2020-04-22 - 2020-05-20

Earth Day Clean up Challenge
2020-04-22

Green River Spring (Quaran)Clean
2020-04-11 05:00 - 21:00

Sierra Club: Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Revision Plan
2020-04-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
On April 9, Sam Evans, lawyer with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Josh Kelly, public lands biologist with MountainTrue, will discuss the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Revision Plan as released by the U.S. Forest Service on Feb. 14, 2020. The release of the plan initiates a 90-day public comment period. This meeting offers attendees the opportunity to submit comments after hearing Evans’ and Kelly’s presentation.
Evans and Kelly will discuss the content of the Forest Revision Plan and will provide attendees with tips on how to write impactful comments. Don’t miss this opportunity to let your voice be heard. These comments are critical — the plan will be amended based on the public comments. Public comments will significantly impact the final version of the plan..
This talk is free and open to the public.
Evans is a senior attorney and leader of SELC’s National Forest and Parks Program, Asheville office. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law with highest honors.
Kelly is the Public Lands Field Biologist for MountainTrue. A western North Carolina native, Kelly studied biology at UNC-Asheville. Since 2004, he has worked to promote ecological restoration and protect the outstanding natural areas of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, 828-683-2176.

Virtual Hendersonville Green Drinks
2020-04-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar–online
For this month’s Green Drinks, we’ll hear from Lee Warren, Executive Director of the Organic Growers School, on the importance of growing organic. In her talk, Lee will discuss how industrial agriculture has impacted us on a global scale, from worsening environmental crises and a loss of worldwide biodiversity to increasing world hunger. She, and Organic Growers School, believe that the solution to these problems lies in bringing food systems closer to home and focusing on organic food production. By shifting our food system to rely on small to medium sized farmers, encouraging backyard gardens or orchards, and foraging local plants, she believes we can live happier and healthier lives.
As a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, we have shifted this event to be online. Register here for the event. Once registered you’ll receive an email allowing you to join the online presentation or to call in by phone. We hope to see you virtually on Thursday!
**Please note that we will start at 6pm, rather than the usual 5:30pm**

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Appalachian Coffee Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, 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.

Live Online Info Session on the Draft Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan
2020-04-07 17:30 - 19:00
On April 7, MountainTrue will host an online information session during which Josh Kelly, MountainTrue’s Public Lands Biologist, and Callie Moore, MountainTrue’s Western Regional Director, will present the organization’s analysis of the draft management plan and the environmental impact statement for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Our staff will answer questions from participants and give tips on how to craft effective comments. Please join us to share your own perspective on the draft plan and discuss your priorities with us. Sign up to receive a link to watch the presentation live.
