Have a yen to try a local hike, but don’t know where to begin? Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic hikes close to home this summer and fall. The Sampler Hike Series is a free four-pack of popular treks lead by Parks and Recreation staff on Saturday mornings.

Explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Space is limited to 12 hikers and advanced registration is necessary.

Up first is the Lake Powhatan hike. We will begin our hike at Bent Creek River Park and take the Mountains to Sea Trail until we hop onto NC Arboretum property to join the Old Mill Trail and Bent Creek Road Trail that takes us into the Pisgah National Forest on our way to Lake Powhatan.

This hike follows a multi-use gravel path for most of the journey with some dirt paths here and there. The grade is flat and is considered a very easy hike. The overall distance that we will be traveling is 6.5 miles and it will take around 2.5 hours.

Stayed tuned to buncombecounty.org/parks for details on September’s hike.

What to Bring Hiking

• Daypack or backpack
• Weather-appropriate clothing (The temperature and wind can change with elevation, so moisture-wicking shirts and layers are recommended.)
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Water
• Trail snacks
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellant
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Hat or bandana (optional)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (optional)
• Trekking poles (optional)
• Compass (optional)
• Whistle (optional)
• Knife or multi-tool (optional)
• First aid kit (optional)

Follow Parks & Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Buckle up your helmets and get ready to ride bikes! Buncombe County Parks & Recreation is excited to announce our first annual Bike Rodeo & Safety Day on Saturday, Sept. 10. This fun, free family event is open to all ages and tailored to children and youth with lots of fun activities designed to set young riders up for safety. We’ll be serving up free hotdogs, and the first 100 children and youth ages 5–15 yrs. will receive a FREE bicycle helmet.

“We are so excited to host this event,” says Parks & Recreation’s Lynn Pegg. “Thanks to our community partners, we’ve got a super fun day lined up with activities and safety and maintenance tips that will help young riders pedal with confidence. Kids can bring their own bike or we will have a select few to borrow to ride the skills course.”

Marshall from Paw Patrol will be assisting the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators with Kid ID Kits and Fingerprints, and K9 Deputy Kora will stop by for a visit. Thanks to the Weaverville Fire Department there will be a huge Ladder Truck on site demonstrating a water feature, and you might even get wet. WNC Safe Kids will be there to share bike safety information, and kids will have the opportunity to learn bicycle maintenance tips with Daily Cycle AVL. We hope to see you there.

Shibori, the Japanese art of tie dying, looks a lot more complicated than it actually is. You can create beautiful, random patterns by simply wrapping string around cloth and dying it, or you can make more intricate, intentional designs by stitching your “resists” instead.

In this captivating, four-hour workshop, textile artist Camille Duanno will teach you how to create three stitched shibori patterns: wood grain, circular, and free-form.

Everyone will leave the class with three cotton squares (two 22” x 22” squares and one 17” x 17” square) that can be framed, turned into pillows, or incorporated into other projects. Each student’s pieces will be unique because each woman will stitch them differently, but they will ALL be exquisite!”

No stitching or dying experience necessary!

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Instructor: Kim Smith
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Materials & Tools Needed: Small, sharp scissors and an apron or clothes that can be stained. You may also want to bring some fun papers, washi tape, and/or scraps of ribbons or fabrics. All other materials will be provided.

Do you have lots of creative materials hanging around but aren’t sure what to do with them? Here’s your chance to learn how to pull all that great stuff together to create unique mixed media works of art. With instructor Kim Smith’s training as an art teacher and professional artist, you’re sure to be successful regardless of your previous collage or mixed media experience!

In this inspiring workshop, you’ll start by learning techniques to bring depth and interest to mixed media collage backgrounds. Then, Kim will teach you how to select, layer, and properly adhere multiple mediums to create a colorful, layered, mixed media collage. In the process, you’ll learn how to apply principals of design and color theory to your work.

This course will introduce beginners to basic mixed media collaging concepts and provide intermediate creators some new techniques and best practices. Students of all levels have found success working with Kim-and they’ve had a ton of fun doing it!

No previous drawing, painting, or collaging experience necessary!

The Veterans Healing Farm, in collaboration with LivingWorks is offering
safeTALK, a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to
persons thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with
further help.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about
suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
 Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training.
 You will also be encouraged and empowered to talk openly with someone about
suicide through a 4-step model.
 Overcoming personal and community attitudes to seeking and providing help is a
key theme of this training.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 Over 800,000 people have attended this training since its inception.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
 Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how
you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
 Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide and connect them with further help.
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 15+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks safeTALK.
 It will prepare you to raise and respond to concerns about suicide in relationships
with family, friends, and co-workers.
 It will equip you to build a culture of safety from suicide in your organization or
community.
 You can play a vital connector role in what LivingWorks has called a Networks of
Safety.

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

There is no instructional cost to attend this class but each participant is required to
purchase the ASIST participant kit, $43.25 each, plus $3.00 shipping costs.

What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop
a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
 You will learn to apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this
SafePlan through a collaborative helping relationship.
 You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect
someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
 This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide
suicide first aid.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 More than one million people have attended LivingWorks ASIST globally over 35
years.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations and powerful videos to stimulate discussion and support
learning
 Extensive opportunities for skills practice
 Shared participant experiences that enrich learning
 Trainer-facilitated workgroups to optimize participation
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide, and to help them keep safe.
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Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 16+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks ASIST.
 It provides a suicide first-aid intervention model for relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers. It can also be incorporated into more formal helping roles
such as counseling, health care, crisis services, or chaplaincy.
 You can play a vital role in creating Networks of Safety from suicid

In celebration and honor of National Public Lands Day, Come to the 5th annual DuPont
Forest Festival, a family friendly event that includes yoga, group bike rides, group hikes, a group trail run, face painting, nature
walks, “meet the horses,” fly fishing demo, clinics and classes, kids rides, history tours, food trucks and more, Free, Hosted by the
Friends of DuPont Forest, Guion Farms Paring Area of DuPont State Forest, Hendersonville, DupontForest.com/9999-2

Come experience the national parks! On five days in 2022, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2022. Please check operating status at this park and others before traveling as there may be changes due to Covid-19.

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits.

About National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is organized annually by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in cooperation with Department of the Interior, Department of the Army, and Department of Agriculture. The National Park Service is one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. Other participating federal agencies include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

Get Involved

There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to #RecreateResponsibly!

• Visit a national park for free.
• Take part in a volunteer work project. Certain in-park projects may provide a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date. See the list of National Public Lands Day events below or check out all volunteer events at national parks.
• Have fun and enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors!
• Share your favorite outdoor activity on social media channels with the hashtag #NPLD, #NPSVolunteer, and #FindYourPark!

There will be 18 vendors selling crafts, jewelry, and food on field #5 beginning at 5pm. The
children’s Fun Zone will be held on field #2 with face painting, inflatables and Mills River
Dental activity tent. A Food truck alley will feature 5 different food vendors selling food from
5pm-8pm. The evening concert will begin at 6pm featuring the Irish bluegrass band, JIG JAM.
They are one of the top international blue grass groups in the world, and currently on tour in the
United States this fall.
The Title sponsor for the Festival this year is ADVENT HEALTH, the entertainment sponsor is
RINEHART RACING. MILLS RIVER DENTAL is the sponsor for the children’s Fun Zone,
5pm -7pm. No pets will be allowed in the Festival area.
This is a free community family event presented by the Fletcher Parks & Recreation Department
& the Town of Fletcher.