By Marilyn Shoenfeld 

Fall is here and the leaves are changing. It is absolutely beautiful—our calendars have been full with our favorite festivals like Leaf Peepers, the Forest Festival and Artober! Maybe the drought has lessened, but we will wait to hear from the United States Drought Monitor.

Our hearts break for all in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia who have suffered catastrophic damage from rainstorms caused by Hurricane Helene. Please support any rescue operations that you can. There are trucks that have already left Canaan Valley to bring supplies and lend hands to hard hit areas. Communities are pulling together to assess damage and rebuild. In this issue, you will find a helpful list of resources compiled by our friends at Appalachian Voices. As climate change continues to wreak havoc on our environment, we have to increase our efforts to restore balance to our earth. The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy would welcome any volunteers who want to work on climate change with us.

I would like to congratulate Dave Johnston and the Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards for winning the Spirit of West Virginia Award, given by the West Virginia Department of Tourism. This program educates visitors to the Dolly Sods area and promotes Leave No Trace principles. It is well deserved and is making a difference at the Dolly Sods trailheads. In just a few short years, the program has grown to include hundreds of volunteers who love Dolly Sods. The support for the program has been remarkable, and I am excited to watch the Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards expand in the future to make an even bigger impact on the Highlands.

Our staff has been busy with successful outings this fall and we look forward to another successful program next year. Our Fall Review is coming up soon—­please attend if you can. It is at Cacapon State Park in Berkeley Springs. There will be live music, engaging presentations, networking opportunities and so much more! We have planned an exciting program that will give an overview of the state of our beloved Highlands. 

This year’s Fall Review will provide a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the ongoing work being done to protect the Highlands and to ask questions about the challenges and successes in environmental advocacy. Whether you’re a longtime supporter of conservation efforts or new to the movement, Saturday’s sessions will offer valuable insights into how you can make a difference. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an engaging and inspiring weekend at Cacapon State Park!

Please email me with any questions or concerns at marilyn.shoenfeld@gmail.com.

See you in the mountains!