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Concept Analysis- Roots- Finding home in the New River Appalachia.

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- Main Building:
--------- Porch/ communal gathering space hosts live music on Friday Nights
--------- Caterers kitchen for events on site.
---------- Bathroom
---------- Welcome center desk with information about site.

Parking
---------11 bus
---------- 2 (12 person) passenger vans
------------15 cars (5 permanent, 10 temporary or special event)
-------------3 handicapped accessible spaces

Water Management practices
- Expanded and repaired riparian buffer
- Vegetated swales with the integration of weirs to convey and slow down storm water
- 'Filtration planting' to help clean water that is entering streams and wetland.

Trash Collection
----------- Accessable trash collection

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- Stream Salamander Observatory:
---------------- Up close observation and education on salamanders that live in stream.
-----------------Outdoor lecturing space situated under willow oak tree. In flood plane so classroom might flood. Seating will be boulders so it is flood resistant. Education of salamanders as indicator species and how it relates to stream health. Lecture type area needed: not covered. Exhibition of salamanders as well as other indicator species to understand how we can preserve these interesting native species and keep our streams clean for them. (3rd- 8th activity)
--------------- Signage on riparian buffer for stream health. (all ages)
Criteria: near stream

- Wooded Wetland Salamander Observatory
----------------- Guided salamander scavenger hunts. Field trip opportunity, kids can venture off into the board walk exploratory area and check off how many different salamander species they can find.
---------------- Signage on the specific salamanders found in this region ways to identify them so people can identify the salamanders they found. (3rd- 8th activity)
----------------- Interactive style learning center. area to convene and look at findings but most activities will be exploration.

Criteria: In a place that could be good for salamanders
- needs ponding so not well draining soils

Native Meadow Walk and Education Center
------------ Interactive signage that shows what native plants and native species are on this site. (All ages)
------------------ Covered center for arts and crafts. Can make butterfly and bird feeders to educate about  bringing these native animals to your own home. (K- 3rd activity)

Criteria: along a edge
- in meadow garden
- close to paths

Successional Grassland and Education Center
------------- Educational opportunity on meadow management and the use of fire to get rid of non-native invasive species. Education on how this was used by Indigenous people of this region in history to clear land for agriculture. Education on succession and how this land has changed throughout the years and history.
------------Small fire burning demonstration for field trips. Can look throughout the different areas of burning to observe primary secession first hand.
----------------- Lecture style sitting area to reconvene after fire burning takes place or to show graphics, if weather does not permit.

Criteria:
- on top of hill so dramatic effect when burning is occuring.
- Not too close to buildings.

Main building:
-------------- Exhibits to talk about the different species found on the site and where to find them. Exhibit on how this site changes seasonally and the history of the site.
--------------- Acts as welcome center. Has maps and information on the new River Appalachias mission and what types of events and places are found here.

Criteria:
- Great view
relatly fla spot to minimise grading

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- Have opportunities for communal engagement and education about endemic species to the region and the land. 
- Repair and protect the stream health and water quality and improve the riparian buffer 
- Work to get rid of invasive and monocultural species on the land and introduce more native and biodiverse species. 
- Cultivate a sense of land stewardship in  the visitors that use this land 
- Preserve/ enhance Huckleberry trail so that that land keeps those connectivity routes alive. 

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NRAEC seeks to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the New River Appalachia ecology by educating visitors with an interactive and immersive approach.

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The New River Appalachia Educational Center is a living landscape that has evolved over time, reflecting the relationship between the human and natural worlds- from the Southern Appalachia Broadleaf forests to the new river valley pastures. It is all ecompassing of these regional ecology's and endemic species.