Get Involved
How will you connect?
At the Appalachian Center for Civic Life, we believe you have the skills, knowledge, and understanding to be an active and engaged citizen of this place and to make a meaningful difference in the community. Check out the project opportunities below or stop by and see us to learn how you can connect your passions to civic engagement!
Intentional Break Program
Want to do something meaningful over Fall Break? Sign Up Here
The Intentional Break Program at Emory & Henry College gives students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to travel regionally and nationally over fall and spring break to:
- engage in community-identified service
- immerse themselves into another culture
- live simply and grow in relationships
- learn about and consider solutions to broader social issues
- Students reflected about the experience and displayed their reflections through a collage.
- A game of twister broke out at the closing dinner
- Closing dinner
- Eliana exploring Bear Tree Lake
- Scavenger hunt at Bear Tree Lake created by Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- A puzzle to determine where the scavenger hunt would take place.
- A selfie at Bear Tree Lake
- Blue Ridge Discovery Center provided a wonderful 3 day experience of civic engagement and education.
- Students hiked around Creek Junction while learning about edible and native plant species.
- Students built a display cabinet for the library space at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Preparing the school house for visitors at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Making biscuits on a stick at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Students learned how to build a fire and other survival skills.
- Preparing for biscuits on a stick.
- Lori taught the group about local native and edible plant species.
- Students unloading mattresses for the dorm rooms at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
- Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
- A selfie at a scenic overlook on the way to Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Teambuilding-the "Acid River Challenge".
- The chapel at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
- A picnic near Whitetop Mountain.
- Students pet and fed horses at Blue Mountain Therapy despite the pouring rain.
- Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
- Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
- Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
- Our partners at Blue Mountain Therapy
- A hike near Whitetop Mountain.
- Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Join us for Intentional Fall Break ’23 at Hungry Mother State Park
Dates: October 5-8 2023
Reach out to Leah Wilson for more information.
Want to do something meaningful over Fall Break? Sign Up Here
Ongoing Civic Engagement Projects
Want to make a difference while at Emory & Henry? Get Involved in any of the projects below.
There are lots of ways to get involved in this project, if you are interested, email Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
Student volunteers work to organize, catalog, digitize, and archive documents related to African American history and life in Smyth County, Virginia
To learn more about the work Mount Pleasant Preservation Society is doing, check out this video.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
Our students have worked with BRDC on trail maintenance and removal of invasive species.
To get involved, contact Ali Reilly: landscape@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Students volunteers involved in this project will be paired with a local community organization already doing work around social issues.
If you are interested in joining this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Emory & Henry students are welcome to join the group for their monthly meetings as well as any of their projects.
If you are interested in joining this project, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
This food “serves four Head Start early childhood development programs, local restaurants and even E&H students at the cafeteria.”
Learn more about the E&H Garden on their webpage or follow along on their social media.
Even if you aren’t taking a class that works in the garden, you can still help as a volunteer.
If you want to get involved, contact Deni Peterson at dcpeterson@ehc.edu.
They need volunteers to help lead horses, be side walkers for therapy rides, and provide general care to the horses.
you are interested in getting involved, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
This project is a great mixture of research for exhibit creation and maintenance of the nine beautiful trails in the park.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
To learn more about the Stinger’s Supply Shelf, check out the website.
Student volunteers will help educate, promote, and maintain the Stinger’s Supply Shelf. We are always looking for creative and new ideas to meet the needs of our students on campus. If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
To listen to some of the episodes this group has created so far, check out their webpage.
This group is always looking for fresh, new ideas. If you’re interested in getting involved reach out to Ryan Vaughan at rwvaughan21@ehc.edu.
There are two main goals of the project. The first is to develop and maintain promotional materials (website, mobile app and print brochure) promoting the museums of SWVA. The second is to support coordination, partnerships and capacity building opportunities so that the museums can collaborate more effectively.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
There are many ways for students to get involved in the ongoing work of the Watershed Project.
If you are interested in joining the team, fill out the Watershed Project, Skills & Interests Form or reach out to Tal Stanley at tastanle@ehc.edu.
Students who are involved in this project will work alongside PFSC in fulfilling their mission of providing service to vulnerable and marginalized residents in our community. PFSC also serves survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence, as well as addressing issues of poverty and homelessness in the region.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
To learn more about River’s Way, check out their website.
River’s Way and E&H have a long standing relationship that continues to grow. Each semester, we host River’s Way for on-campus day or weekend events where participants enjoy doing crafts, watching sporting events, playing games, and fellowshipping with E&H students.
We always welcome new volunteers who would like to participate in the planning or implementing of these events. If you would like to get involved in this project, email Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
Make a difference in the lives of elementary and middle school aged children in your region.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Together, we are developing a one-on-one mentorship program with local elementary and (eventually) middle schools students. We hope to expand the program to include on campus events involving our students and theirs.
If you are interested in becoming a one-on-one mentor or helping plan the larger events, reach out to Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu
Based out of Damascus, VA, the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club is responsible for maintaining a 60 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
In addition to trail maintenance, the group also does work with preserving native species, removing invasive species, and repairing structures along the trail.
This organization is run solely by volunteers, including some E&H students. Our partnership is new and one we are hoping to grow. All are welcome to join.
If you are interested in getting involved with MRATC, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
BRHA has Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers. In these two programs, people are able to be stably housed.
E&H students are working alongside BRHA in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, creating marketing materials, conducting surveys, and analyzing data.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Civic Leader Scholars
Apply to join Civic Leader Scholars
Connect with us:
Do you have an idea for a different project? All ideas are welcome! Contact Leah Wilson, Coordinator of Civic Life - lmwilson@ehc.edu
Top Story
- <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2720-emory-henry-college-celebrates-grand-opening"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg" alt="Students who created the E&H Thrift Store cutting the ribbon Hermella Legesse, Feker Fetene, Paige Halcrow, Hayley Ritter, Tilly Crad..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/51/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/13266_EH-Thrift-Store-Opening_022.rev.1675530004.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2720-emory-henry-college-celebrates-grand-opening">Emory & Henry College Celebrates Grand Opening of Thrift Store on Campus</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emory & Henry College is excited to announce the grand opening of its first on-campus thrift store located on the lower level of the Memorial Chapel on February 1, 2023. The Emory & Henry community celebrated the new E&H Thrift Store with a ribbon cutting and students in attendance had the opportunity to shop after. The store was made possible by the</span> <a href="https://www.ehc.edu/appalachian-center-for-civic-life/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Appalachian Center for Civic Life</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">and will be primarily managed by</span> <a href="https://www.ehc.edu/appalachian-center-for-civic-life/scholarships/bonner-scholars-program/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bonner Scholars</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">and</span> <a href="https://www.ehc.edu/appalachian-center-for-civic-life/scholarships/civic-leader-scholars/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Civic Leader Scholars</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p><a href="/live/news/2720-emory-henry-college-celebrates-grand-opening" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
- <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2707-emory-henry-college-receives-25000-grant-from"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 2x"/> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 2x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png" alt="Visitors gather for graduation on the College grounds in front of the main college building, ca. 1905. Photo published in Legacy and Visi..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/159,0,1085,927/13143_graduation.ca1905_1.rev.1673966150.png 2x" data-max-w="926" data-max-h="927" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2707-emory-henry-college-receives-25000-grant-from">Emory & Henry College Receives $25,000 Grant from Roller Bottimore Foundation for Preservation of Historical Material with Public Accessibility</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry College got a boost to support local and regional history preservation in Southwest Virginia thanks to recent funding from the Roller Bottimore Foundation. “<em>The Watershed Project: Civic Memory for a Citizenship of Place</em>” has a two-fold purpose - to preserve, index, and archive a wide range of historical material related to the history and operation of Emory & Henry College, the oldest institution of higher learning in Southwest Virginia, and to utilize these materials to create an engaging, dynamic, born-digital, open-source history of the region of Southwest Virginia and, more specifically, the college’s role as an institutional citizen of that place.</p><a href="/live/news/2707-emory-henry-college-receives-25000-grant-from" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>