By Barbara Musumarra
Children beamed in Robbinsville, N.C., as the Cherokee chief cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the Snowbird Youth Center in July, which marked the first time since forming in 2002 that the Snowbird youth group will have a building to call their own. The new space is expected to boost efforts in preserving traditional heritage among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Snowbird community.
The U.S. Forest Service collaborated with the tribe to create the center, which functions as an after-school and summer program for children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18.
Youth can connect with nature while enjoying the facility’s hiking trails on 20 acres of the Nantahala National Forest. Classes and craft demonstrations are offered to enrich tribal history knowledge, and further developments may include a Cherokee language immersion program.
The center encourages litter cleanup and volunteer work, and the energy-efficient construction of the building reflects the importance of the environment in the community.
With the new location, trails, classes and volunteer programs, the program aims to triple attendance. Visit: facebook.com/SnowbirdYouthCenter
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
Halloween Approaches, and Night School Is in Session
The House of Art in Bluefield, West Virginia, looks like a haunted tower, making it the perfect location for its sixth annual haunt event: Night School. The Night School will be open every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 31.
‘The Most Perfect Act of Love’
After losing its rural pride celebration, hundreds of people attended the second annual Affirming Sumner Pride celebration on a 24-acre farm dubbed “Fruity Farm” in Bethpage, Sumner County, Tennessee.
Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment