Wild Lens, Local Legacy

We are honored to welcome Rodney Bursiel, 2017 National Geographic Photographer of the Year, as our keynote speaker at 6:00 pm on Friday, June 5th at Speckled Trout Outfitters in Boone, NC. Rodney, whose powerful imagery and global conservation work have inspired audiences around the world is brought to us by Antlers & Acorns Lodge, the team behind the Antlers & Acorns Songwriters Festival each year in September. His talk will be followed by a Q&A session where attendees can dive deeper into conservation themes, photography, storytelling, and the shared responsibility of protecting both our local waters and wild places around the globe. Please join us for this special First Friday event. Rodney will be joined by Hannah Woodburn, Upper New Riverkeeper, for an engaging conversation about the intersection of local and global environmental issues — and how protecting special places starts right here at home. In the week leading up to the event, Rodney will spend time on the New River with the Upper New Riverkeeper and the team at The Speckled Trout Outfitters, exploring and documenting what makes our river so remarkable. Together, they’ll reflect on the New River’s diverse aquatic life, water quality, and the vital role it plays in the High Country community. This event will be a fundraiser for MountainTrue to support the ongoing efforts to champion resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities across the Southern Blue Ridge.” Marking the occasion of Rodney’s visit, and the work of Upper New Riverkeepers, singer/songwriter Jess Klein and instrumentalist Charlie Richards will be performing a song they co-wrote in honor of the importance, beauty, and mystery of the New River