Sandy Schenck- Green River Preserve

Partial Transcript: Sandy talks about the memories of the Green River Preserve. He has fond memories from his childhood of fly fishing on the river. He mentions the many fish that are in the river.
Sandy talks about the changes in the area. Otters have become a problem. The drought has dried up the river and killed fish. There are so many factors influencing the trout stream.

Partial Transcript: The Green River Preserve is Sandy’s passion. The mountains had a great influence on Sandy as a child and he wants to give that back to kids and families.
Sandy talks about the mission of the Green River Preserve. The camp was started in 1988. Their hope was to work with gifted children, very bright children, to help them connect with nature. Sandy describes a day at camp and what the camper will experience. Sandy mentions biophilia, a love of life or living things. He feels most children have no connection to nature and he feels that he can give them this experience.
Sandy explains the philosophy of the Green River Preserve. They teach respect for the valley and the community. He learned respect from the valley people and his family. First campers are taught to respect themselves, respect each other, and respect all living things. What they are teaching at the camp is to be better stewards of the land.
Sandy talks about when the camp was built. They used local valley people to build the camp it was the first step to sustainability. Many of the building are built from local timber; much of the food is grow on site.

Partial Transcript: Sandy talks about the fact that the ecosystem in the mountains is fairly fragile. He says that development can be both beneficial or have a negative impact on the environment. New development done wrong can cause a very negative impact on the whole valley. All changes and improvements to the camp are done with sustaining the valley in mind.
Sandy mentions the soul of the Green River Valley, it is the Green River. He talks about the river and all the beauty surrounding it. He talks about everything that can affect the health of the river.

Keywords: green river; green river valley; ecosystem

Partial Transcript: Sandy talks the affect the timber industry had in the 1950s. The ecosystem is slowing recovering but there are still some threats. There are natural threats, pests, and threats from the outside. For the most part the forest and rivers are pretty healthy. Sandy shares what he thinks is the biggest threat to the valley. He feels it is road work and impermeable surfaces. The run off from a heavy rain can cause dangerous situations as the water rises. The sediment flowing into the rivers and streams causes much damage. The impermeable surfaces take a huge toll on everyone downstream. Sandy expands on the problems occurring downstream after heavy rains. It only takes a small change to cause a negative effect. The insects in the rivers are the best early warning signs for problems in the river. The Brookie, the Rainbow, and the Brown trout all depend on the insects. We all need to work together to keep the valley healthy. People who do damage sometime don’t realize it. Farmers can pollute the land; developers can cause problems by doing things incorrectly as they develop the property. We all need to work together.

Keywords: ecosystem; logging; sedimentation; timber industry; timber

Partial Transcript: One of the lessons of Green River Preserve teaches is that the small ecosystem they have created benefits the economy of the area. People realize the beauty of the camp and want to share it with their children. They make a great effort to get here and share the ecosystem with their kids. The ecosystem is a very important part of the overall experience at Green River Preserve. Sandy talks about the camps in Western North Carolina and the impact they have on local economy. They are an important part the local economy. Camping is a big part of the business in WNC. It is due in part to the beauty of the area. We have unspoiled ecosystems which bring in the families which help support the economy. Tourists are a huge part of the downtown health. We are all connected and that is what the camp tries to teach the kids.

Keywords: ecosystem; tourism; economy

Partial Transcript: Sandy talks about what influences there are on the ecosystem. The farmers, the camp directors, the tourists renting homes, and the churches building in the area all have an impact on the ecosystem. Sandy mentions the Chief Seattle letter to President Pierce written in 1855. Chief Seattle says we should treat the rivers like we would treat any brothers. The Native Americans depended on the rivers and streams for food we depend on them for a healthy economy. Sandy talks about the interesting similarities and differences between the Green River and the Linville River. Sandy’s dad loved trout fishing. He was wise enough to purchase the headwaters of the Green River and a spectacular section of the Linville River. The Linville River was famous for Brown Trout. Sandy has fond memories of fishing in the river. Today the Linville River has been flooded by run off from impermeable surfaces upstream. The beauty of the river has been ruined and the economy has been eroded due to the condition of the river. We need to ensure that doesn't happen here.

Partial Transcript: Sandy shares what is most meaningful to him about Green River Preserve. He loves what it does for him and kids today. The kids today have no idea what impact the area has on the valley. Sandy learned all about the ecosystem from the mountain folks. They taught him about the plants and how to track and what made this area so special. This is what he hopes the campers will learn and they will develop a lifelong love of the land.

Keywords: green river preserve

Partial Transcript: Sandy goes on a walkabout in the valley. Starts at the beginning of the Green River and describes the surrounding area. The guide points out some of the plants in the area. There are also an abundance of insects which indicates the health of the area. There are many trees living in the area.

Keywords: ecosystem; insects; green river