We are extremely saddened by the termination of several other AmeriCorps programs in West Virginia and many more nationwide. These losses of funding have affected many partner organizations within our region. While our own AmeriCorps program has been unaffected and AFNHA remains fully operational, we mourn these losses and expect serious consequences for our communities.
Discovery Center Unveils New Exhibit Exploring Caves and Karst Landscapes
How do ancient seashells impact the water that you drink? How do bats save farmers billions of dollars a year? The answers lie underground. Discover them for yourself at the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center’s exciting new exhibit! The museum will celebrate the grand opening of its 2025 season on Saturday, May 17th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a special presentation at 1:00 p.m.
The immersive exhibit, “Beneath Our Feet: The Hidden World of Caves and Karst,” sheds light on the important role and multitude of caves within the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA). Expect to find a replica cave with a simulated crawl space for the daring, interpretive panels for the curious, and unique artifacts that reveal how karst landscapes and cave ecosystems support drinking water supplies, agriculture, and biodiversity.
Karst landscapes—formed by the dissolution of soluble rock—cover about 20% of the U.S. and provide nearly 40% of the nation’s drinking water. In the AFNHA region, those numbers are even higher. Caves, a signature feature of karst terrain, host fragile and unique ecosystems that support biodiversity, agriculture, and clean water far beyond their walls.
The Appalachian Forest Discovery Center is located in the Darden Mill at 101 Railroad Ave, Elkins, and is open to the public with free admission Thursdays through Sundays through the end of October.
New for the 2025 season, the Discovery Center will feature regular hands-on activities and educational programs. Watch the AFNHA website and AFDC Facebook page for updates on these “Discovery Time” programs. If your organization would like to schedule a Discovery Time activity for learners of all ages at the AF Discovery Center, please reach out to Jeffrey Pryor at jeffrey@afnha.org or 304-636-6182.
The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area conserves, interprets, and promotes forest heritage to enhance landscapes and communities in the highlands of West Virginia and Maryland. AFNHA works with partners to accomplish this through community development, conservation, celebrating cultural heritage, and creating opportunities for transformational experiences. To learn more, see www.appalachianforestnha.org. AFNHA is a member of the National Heritage Area System.
Free Screening of "O Pioneer"
AFNHA Remains Committed to Serving Our Community
Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) understands that recent news and rumors regarding funding cuts to AmeriCorps and other programs may be causing concern within our community. We want to assure our current and prospective participants, partners, and supporters that AFNHA remains fully operational and committed to its mission.
We are aware of some specific programs that have been cut in West Virginia. While changes are occurring at the state and national level, we want to be clear that our local operations have not been affected at this time. We are in regular communication with our funding agencies and are actively working to understand the implications for West Virginia organizations.
Our priority is the well-being and success of our participants. We understand that uncertainty can be unsettling, and we want to emphasize our unwavering dedication to providing full support to our Partner Sites and AmeriCorps members. Our track record of support to the central Appalachian forest - its history, culture, natural resources, and forest heritage - speaks to our stability and effectiveness. We will maintain our focus on cultural heritage, conservation, and tourism to support rural community development in western Maryland and the highlands of West Virginia.
We encourage individuals to rely on official communications from AFNHA for accurate information about our programs. We are committed to transparency and will communicate directly with our stakeholders should any changes occur that impact our local operations.
In the meantime, we are enthusiastically continuing our recruitment efforts and look forward to welcoming new Site Partners and AmeriCorps members who will benefit from the opportunities our programs provide. And we are currently exploring how we as an organization can support related projects within our region that have been disrupted. We believe in the power of partnerships and communication across geographic lines and interest areas, with diverse and open participation, and remain confident in our ability to deliver on our promises.
We appreciate the continued trust and support of our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at (304) 636-6182, or afnha@afnha.org.
Take Action:
Contact your Members of Congress by email or phone using the outreach tools provided by Voices for National Service, or contribute your service year story to help showcase why we need AmeriCorps.
Donate to the national emergency assistance fund for AmeriCorps members
Related Links:
Learn more about our individual AmeriCorps members and how they are serving their sites and communities. In our 2023-24 member service year, we supported 34 AmeriCorps members at 20 organizations whose sites, programs, and activities were visited by 39,860 individuals. These members delivered educational programs to an audience of over 5,000 individuals, treated and improved 1,052 acres of public land, and managed 1,501 hours of volunteer service.
In 2024, AmeriCorps programs produced federal funding and local project support totalling $31,089,477 in Maryland and $20,808,549 in West Virginia.
Follow America’s Service Commissions and Service Year for the latest news and updates on AmeriCorps.
Find Updates & FAQs for Executive Actions Impacting Nonprofits from WV Nonprofit Association.
See interactive maps with data on policy, funding, and workforce changes and their localized effect from The Impact Project and CAP.
Call to Action: Show Your Support for AmeriCorps
Dear friends and supporters,
Many of you have already read the news that National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) AmeriCorps Members were exited early in mid-April. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently began meetings with the AmeriCorps Agency (Corporation for National and Community Service) and is beginning to review their various programs, oversight, and grants management systems. NCCC is just one of several National Service programs administered by CNCS including AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and AmeriCorps Seniors. More recently, it’s been reported that most CNCS staff have been laid off and some VISTA and State & National programs have received grant cancellation notices.
AFNHA AmeriCorps is partially funded with a grant from AmeriCorps federal through their State and National program. It is a public-private partnership that has to date provided over 700,000 hours of professional development to its participating members, and the same number of hours to our AFNHA partners for boots on the ground projects in areas such as historic preservation, nature conservation and monitoring, cultural preservation, storytelling, trail building, and education.
Our current understanding is that while AmeriCorps funding remains in place for the current fiscal year, staffing is being cut all across the federal program endangering the viability of this federally legislated and appropriated program. It is now more important than ever that our elected officials and members of the public understand the value of AmeriCorps and its impact in our communities.
We call on you to share how AmeriCorps has impacted you, your community, and our region, and to express your support for National Service.
Take Action:
Contact your Members of Congress by email or phone using the outreach tools provided by Voices for National Service, or contribute your service year story to help showcase why we need AmeriCorps.
Donate to the national emergency assistance fund for AmeriCorps members
Related Links:
Learn more about our individual AmeriCorps members and how they are serving their sites and communities. In our 2023-24 member service year, we supported 34 AmeriCorps members at 20 organizations whose sites, programs, and activities were visited by 39,860 individuals. These members delivered educational programs to an audience of over 5,000 individuals, treated and improved 1,052 acres of public land, and managed 1,501 hours of volunteer service.
In 2024, AmeriCorps programs produced federal funding and local project support totalling $31,089,477 in Maryland and $20,808,549 in West Virginia.
Follow America’s Service Commissions and Service Year for the latest news and updates.
Oral History Workshop
We will host a free introductory Oral History workshop with Jennie Williams. This will be held in-person at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center (10 11th Street, Elkins, WV 26241). Email ben@afnha.org to RSVP (limited space). All are welcome to attend.
This workshop will offer an overview of oral history interview techniques, tips, ethics, and best practices. It will also include a demonstration of how to use basic audio recording equipment.
Jennie Williams is the West Virginia State Folklorist and directs West Virginia Folklife, a statewide program based at the West Virginia Humanities Council in Charleston. She is experienced in oral history interviewing, documentation, writing, grants administration, and facilitation of folk and traditional arts public programs. Jennie holds an M.A. in folklore and ethnomusicology from Indiana University. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at IU, and her dissertation centers oral history methods.
AFNHA AmeriCorps Members Support Local Organizations
AmeriCorps members serving with Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) recently presented a donation to the Augusta Heritage Center to support their scholarship fund. AmeriCorps members raised funds for this project by organizing a square dance. This was one of several organizations supported by AFNHA AmeriCorps members through their annual community service projects.
2024 at a Glance
AFNHA to Host Volunteer Management Training
Call for Educational Materials
Does your organization provide educational programs for local school groups or the general public? Do you have lesson plans related to local history or environmental stewardship? Are you a content expert in these matters and want to share your learning?
We are compiling a collection of “ready-made” educational programs, activities, and other resources related to conservation and heritage topics by organizations throughout our region that we will make publicly available. Please contact us about any existing materials related to our themes that we may share. You may also fill out the form linked HERE to let us know what you have to contribute.
Examples include traveling trunks, instructions for hands-on activities, handbooks or lesson plans, presentation scripts, walking tours, etc.
