Appalachian State University Paddles Price Lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway
National Park Trust’s College Ambassador Program equips college students with the resources to lead outdoor recreation, conservation, and stewardship outings for their campus communities. Ambassadors plan each trip themselves, connecting their peers to parks, public lands, and waters, often for the first time. The story below was written by Gracyn Luke and Courtney Dennis, National Park Trust College Ambassadors at Appalachian State University, about their recent outing to Price Lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina.
On Friday, Sept. 4, students from Appalachian State ventured over to Price Lake, which is off of the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Boone, North Carolina. As a part of our local park outing supported by National Park Trust, a group of 20 student participants went out to the lake to escape the heat and connect with a local park.
We chose Price Lake because of its convenient location, as it was only a 15-minute drive from campus, and its access to both water and hiking trails. Julian Price Memorial Lake was created in the 1940s from the damming of Boone Fork Creek and was created for recreation activities and leisurely enjoyment. Currently, Price Lake Boat Rentals resides on the lake and allows customers to rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and double kayaks. The group spent the afternoon paddling around the lake, exploring further down the river, and hanging out on shore in their hammocks.
One of the most memorable moments of the day was getting to see some students who brought out their whitewater kayaks teach others how to roll and do wet exits, as well as seeing everyone meet each other and celebrate the long weekend with a lake day!
Thanks to support from National Park Trust, this outing provided an accessible, welcoming gateway to outdoor adventure. Participants left feeling more relaxed, energized, and excited for future events!
About National Park Trust
National Park Trust is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has protected national park land since 1983, acquiring missing pieces of our national parks and benefiting 58 national park sites nationwide. Our mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.
Our youth education and family initiatives — Buddy Bison School Programs, College Ambassador Program, and Military Family Programs, along with National Kids to Parks Day — connect tens of thousands of people to the outdoors each year.
We believe public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all, for current and future generations. Learn more at parktrust.org.
