Troy can see the Blue Ridge Mountains from his apartment beside the interstate in downtown Asheville. But the nine-year-old had never hiked in them until last month.
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has helped create the Trail Blazers Youth Adventure Club. Children from inner city communities are learning outdoor skills on a series of adventures throughout the summer. Kids from public housing projects learn about the plants and animals while hiking, swimming, and exploring the summits and waterfalls of Southern Appalachia.
Currently the Trail Blazers are borrowing an old bus that has seen some miles. However, the Trail Blazers are hoping to raise $4,000 to purchase their own used 15 passenger van. View photos and a short video about the Trail Blazers’ efforts to grow their hiking program here.
