Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

July 24, 2008 issue


Mountain Adventure Days Program Puts a Business Twist into Summer


Story by Jenna CrawleyExpanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant Melanie Murphy worked with Kathy Pardo and Andrew Burleson during her Creative Cooking Class.

The Mountain Adventure Days Program began its second consecutive summer of work and play with an entrepreneurial focus in mind. Currently, a select group of Avery Middle and Cranberry Middle School students are in the process of taking part in activities designed to teach hard work, self-discipline, the value of creativity and how to have fun when the work is done.

Support Our Students Coordinator Bobbie Willard keeps the schedule and learning experience busy and interactive with field trips, guest speakers, special projects and an ongoing curriculum all designed to teach business sense to the group. “We’ve got a great group of students this year,” said Willard. “It’s been really neat to see them start thinking about how they might one day be able to start their own business.”

Mountain Adventure Days is located in the historic Cranberry High School and throughout the summer, the students will participate in a variety of skill-building workshops, including a babysitting clinic, the completion of 4-H’s ESI curriculum and an introduction into the magic and juggling business sponsored by Flow Circus. Students also participate in weekly classes centered around healthy cooking and food preparation taught by Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant Melanie Cashion.

Field trips to the farmers’ market and the Art Mart in Boone, as well as DT’s Java and Southeast Fire in Spruce Pine, provide the students with the chance to see local business people at work, ask questions about how the businesses were started and find out the ins and outs of being your own boss.

“The idea is that by the end of the program, the students will have a well-rounded introduction to what it takes to be a businessperson, as well as a host of knowledge to help them get started as soon as they want to,” Willard said.

Mountain Adventures is not just about work though. The schedule provides for an ample amount of play time as well. Lead teachers Emily Prochuto and Candi McPeters make sure the students have ample time to relax, get creative and participate in local adventures as well. With McPeters finishing her degree in education and Prochuto actually owning her own successful business, the lead teachers are “well rounded, creative, and obviously care greatly about what they are doing,” said Willard.

Between the workshops and skill-building experiences, Mountain Adventure Day students go whitewater rafting, fishing, bowling and swimming at the YMCA. Students also participated a high ropes course at the Blue Ridge Learning Center and took a tour with ScreamTime Ziplines.

Students attending the 2008 Mountain Adventures Program include Olivia Brown, Jessi Pardo, Tommy McKinney, Lee Ackley, PJ Clark, Kathy Pardo, Eli Koniak, Abby Baker, Andrew Burleson and Austin Tupay.

Mountain Adventures is made possible through WAMY Community Action, Inc. and funds provided by the NC Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the United Way, Community Foundation Grant, and a variety of donations.