Calling all Skaters!

This coming Wednesday, August 13, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Liberty Fair Mall parking lot American Ramp Company will set up a complete skate park for local riders from the Martinsville and Henry County area to experience ARC equipment firsthand.

This is also an opportunity for city officials and local enthusiasts to gauge the level of interest in the possible future construction of a skate park in the Martinsville area.

The mobile skate park will feature equipment from each of American Ramp Company’s three product lines which will help determine which building method may be right for Martinsville.

During the skate session local skateboarders will get hands-on access to all the equipment, music will be provided, and ARC representatives will run contests, give away prizes, and will be available to answer any questions and explain the products.

Skater owned and operated American Ramp Company is located in Joplin, Missouri and designs, manufactures and installs skate parks throughout the world. More information is available about the company at www.americanrampcompany.com

Article by Jeannie Frisco, Activate Martinsville-Henry County

Youth Explore Nature at VMNH Camps

The Virginia Museum of Natural History provided a variety of programs for the MHC After 3 summer camps throughout the month of July. Groups of middle schoolers from seven sites each participated in both indoor and outdoor programs led by museum educators. In the classroom, Glenda Hairston led the groups through hands-on science experiments and machine building in the "Science Plus" and "Robotics" camps. Robin Jensen brought the groups outdoors to Fairy Stone State Park and the Richard P. Gravely Nature Preserve for the "Wet and Wild" and "Forest Explorers" camps.

Wet and Wild- This camp was all about the water! On the first day, students learned the importance of water conservation, they used water quality testing kits to monitor a stream, and they finished up by searching for aquatic macro invertebrates (this was the most popular activity of the day!). On the second day, the group paddled around on Lake Fairy Stone. While practicing their canoeing skills, everyone learned the history of the lake, what used to be there before the dam, and the lake's connection to our watershed. On the final day of the camp, the students visited the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve and hiked the new Rhododendron trail. At the end of the trail, the kids enjoyed the view and sounds of the Smith River while creating their own nature-inspired artwork.

Forest Explorers- While hiking at the Gravely Nature Preserve and at Fairy Stone State Park, the students in this camp learned all about the forest surrounding them. They explored the variety of life that depends on the trees, and they each "became a tree" to learn about succession and what trees need to survive. They also created their own "tree cookies" to represent their own life story. The groups were also introduced to GPS (Global Positioning System) while out in the woods. They were members of a Search and Rescue team that used GPS units to find pretend lost hikers, and they also participated in a geocaching hunt. All of the kids were also encouraged to increase their awareness of the forest, by looking and listening closely. The most common sound the students asked about was the loud buzzing of the cicadas which were very active on the warm July mornings!

Article and Photos provided by Robin Jensen, VMNH

"Lunch on the Run" Awards Frequent Walker

At this week's Lunch on the Run and Low Impact Walk programs the quarterly giveaway was announced. Each time a person participated in the programs they were entered into a drawing for great prizes. Close to 20 people showed up with tickets in hand for the drawing. Susan McCullough from MURA showed up as well! Activate- Martinsville Henry County provided a Foot Locker Coupon for walking shoes and Susan Perkins, a local business owner, donated Environmentally Sensitive personal/home products worth $75 wholesale. In addition the winner, Bobby Fisher of Martinsville won a night light for his bike to stay safe in dusk riding! A total of about $150 in winnings just for investing in his personal health!

(l-r) Jeannie Frisco of Activate, winner Bobby Fisher, and Susan Perkins
of the Henry County Bike Club

Congratulations Bobby for this quarters Giveaway! Come on out and walk with us this fall!! Temps will be cooler and the trees will be gorgeous!! A special thanks to Charlie Roach and his walking workmates from VA Glass who have regularly lead and participated in the 12:05 walks for the past 6 months!!

Article and photo by Susan Perkins

Planning a Safe River Trip

Canoeing or kayaking the Smith River through Henry County can be a safe and fun outing for the entire family. The key is planning your trip properly to ensure safety. Most of the time, the river provides a gentle float appropriate for beginner paddlers. Because the Smith is a tailrace river below Philpott Dam, the depth and speed of water can change drastically when power is being generated. When planning a river trip your first task should be to call and find out when water will be released. By calling 276-629-2432, you can listen to an automated message explaining the week's generation schedule.

This past Friday I paddled the Smith River from Philpott Dam to North Bassett with my husband and several members of the Franklin County Creek Freeks Club. The photo above looks as though we were paddling in the winter, but prior to getting on the river it was a searing 95 degrees outside! Once we arrived at the base of Philpott the air was cooler and an erie fog stood over the water. The lower Smith River comes out of the bottom of Philpott Lake; therefore, it is about 55 degrees year round. When the Dam is generating, this temperature can drop to 45 degrees. Even though it was a very hot day, paddlers should be prepared for the cold water temperatures. If you notice the four men in the photo above, they are dressed in layers of synthetic clothing. The layers of synthetic fabric dry quickly and hold in air that insulates the body. Some of them are also wearing splash jackets, a water replellant outercovering that will keep them completely dry. The most important item is the PDF or lifejacket. Even experienced swimmers need one.
We had a great time, surfed some rapids, and as the sun set over the Smith River we loaded up our boats and headed home. To plan a safe outing for your family, follow these simple tips:

• Call before you paddle! Dial 276-629-2432 to hear the generation schedule.
• Never paddle alone!
• Never paddle in weather or water conditions that you are not capable of handling. (If you have never paddled a particular stretch of river, it is recommended that you go with a guide or someone who is experienced with that area.)
• Create a float plan. Tell family or friends where you are paddling and what time you should be off the river.
  
• Be prepared for cold water and dress accordingly. Cotton will only make you colder!
  
• Wear your PFD (Personal floatation device)!

To learn more about the sport of canoeing and kayaking contact the following groups:

Dan River Basin Association
Smith River Valley Canoe Club
Franklin County Creek Freaks
Three Rivers Outfitters
American Canoe Association

Article and photos by Jennifer Doss

Did You Know...

Not only does Team DRBA love getting outdoors for the fun of it, but it's great excercise too! According to Activate Martinsville-Henry County, in just 60 minutes you can burn...

220 Calories walking (2 mph)

315 Calories biking for leisure

357 Calories canoeing (2mph)

399 Calories kayaking

472 Calories hiking

672 Calories mountain biking

672 Calories running (5 mph)

or you could just burn 178 Calories washing dishes- now which is more fun?

Local Youth Enjoy Outdoor Adventure

Throughout the month of July nearly 75 youth from Martinsville and Henry County had an opportunity to get out and experience the great outdoors! Staff from the Martinsville-Henry County after 3 program, an initiative sponsored by the Harvest Foundation, lined up a series of trips in partnership with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) so that youth participating in the program could experience hiking and canoeing.

Youth from each of seven summer program sites throughout the county and city first took a trip to the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve in Ridgeway. While at the preserve, the groups enjoyed guided hikes of Jones Cliff Trail led by Jennifer Doss of DRBA and Jeannie Frisco of Activate Martinsville-Henry County. The groups especially enjoyed visiting the Burgess Family cemetery, “I think it’s neat to be able to look back into the past” said Patsy Quinnan of the Collinsville YMCA. At the end of each hike, the groups gathered in the preserve’s outdoor classroom facility to enjoy a healthy snack and learn about the importance of proper nutrition from Jerelle Carter, Activities Coordinator for the MHC Coalition for Health and Wellness.

DRBA, with assistance from Smith River Junction Outfitters and the Smith River Valley Canoe Club (SRVCC), also coordinated a series of river trip for the groups. Volunteers from DRBA and SRVCC gave lessons on water safety to the youth and assisted them with basic paddling techniques. They learned about pollution and the importance of protecting local rivers while on the five mile trip and some even assisted in picking up litter as they paddled.

The youth had a great time; one participant mentioned “I can’t believe how much fun I had! I never knew how much fun canoeing could be.” Jerelle Carter of the coalition felt “that all of the kids are getting a great experience. It shows the kids that there are other fun physical activities that they can do right here in our community, other than basketball, football, baseball, etc., which you can find anywhere. One of the best aspects of these activities is that the kids can continue to enjoy them with their families for FREE, as long as they have the equipment.”

For more information on paddling the Smith, as well as other area rivers, visit http://www.danriver.org/ or call 276-634-2545.

Local Students Win Bikes

Before school let out for the summer, Activate Martinsville-Henry County staff attended the award ceremonies for Albert Harris and Patrick Henry Elementary, and the carnival at Martinsville Middle School to present bicycles to students that were entered into a drawing for a bike give-away. The bicycles were an incentive for parents to complete the Safe Routes to School Parent Survey. These surveys are used to collect data on the thoughts and opinion of children’s parents on walking and biking to school. This data will not only be used nationally by the National Center for Safe Routes to School but also by Activate staff as they prepare to submit a Safe Routes to School grant application through SAFETEA-LU. Below are the proud bike winners.

More information on biking in Martinsville & Henry County can be found at http://www.activatemhc.org/.