Stone Mountain State Park
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OUR CHANGING LAND Stone Mountain State Park An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grades 4-8 “The face of places, and their forms decay; And what is solid earth, that once was sea; Seas, in their turn, retreating from the shore, Make solid land, what ocean was before.” - Ovid Metamorphoses, XV “The earth is not finished, but is now being, and will forevermore be remade.” - C.R. Van Hise Renowned geologist, 1898 i Funding for the second edition of this Environmental Education Learning Experience was contributed by: N.C. Division of Land Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the N.C. Mining Commission ii This Environmental Education Learning Experience was developed by Larry Trivette Lead Interpretation and Education Ranger Stone Mountain State Park; and Lea J. Beazley, Interpretation and Education Specialist North Carolina State Parks N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Department of Environment and Natural Resources Michael F. Easley William G. Ross, Jr. Governor Secretary iii Other Contributors . Park volunteers; Carl Merschat, Mark Carter and Tyler Clark, N.C. Geological Survey, Division of Land Resources; Tracy Davis, N.C. Division of Land Resources; The N.C. Department of Public Instruction; The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the many individuals and agencies who assisted in the review of this publication. 385 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $2,483.25 or $6.45 per copy Printed on recycled paper. 10-02 iv Table of Contents 1. Introduction • Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System.......................................... 1.1 • Introduction to Stone Mountain State Park ............................................................ 1.2 • Introduction to the Activity Packet for Stone Mountain State Park ....................... 1.6 •A Brief Geologic History of Stone Mountain State Park ....................................... 1.7 2. Activity Summary ................................................................................................... 2.1 • Correlation Chart .................................................................................................... 2.2 3. Pre-Visit Activities • #1 The Pressure’s On .............................................................................................. 3.1 • #2 Let’s Do the Time Warp ..................................................................................... 3.2 • #3 Mineral Study..................................................................................................... 3.3 4. On-Site Activities • #1 Igneous Intruder ................................................................................................. 4.1 Part I: Igneous Intruder ................................................................................... 4.1.2 Part II: Rock Walk .......................................................................................... 4.1.5 • #2 Mineral Detectives............................................................................................. 4.2 • #3 Exploration to the Falls ..................................................................................... 4.3 5. Post-Visit Activities • #1 Minerals in Our Lives ........................................................................................ 5.1 • #2 Do You Mine? .................................................................................................... 5.2 • #3 Mining in a Nutshell........................................................................................... 5.3 6. Vocabulary ............................................................................................................... 6.1 7. References ................................................................................................................ 7.1 8. Forms ....................................................................................................................... 8.1 9. Notes ......................................................................................................................... 9.1 v Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System reserving and protecting The North Carolina State As one of North Carolina’s North Carolina’s natural Parks System has now been principal conservation resourcesP is actually a established for more than agencies, the Division of relatively new idea. The three quarters of a century. Parks and Recreation is seeds of the conservation What started out as one small responsible for the more than movement were planted plot of public land has grown 168,000 acres that make up early in the 20th century into 61 properties across the our state parks system. The when citizens were alerted state, including parks, division manages these to the devastation of Mount resources for the safe Mitchell. Logging was enjoyment of the public and destroying a well-known protects and preserves them landmark — the highest as a part of the heritage we peak east of the will pass on to generations to Mississippi. As the come. magnificent forests of this An important component mile-high peak fell to of our stewardship of these the lumbermen’s axe, lands is education. Through alarmed citizens began our interpretation and to voice their objections. environmental education Governor Locke Craig services, the Division of joined them in their efforts Parks and Recreation strives to save Mount Mitchell. to offer enlightening Together they convinced programs that lead to an the legislature to pass a bill recreation areas, trails, rivers, understanding and establishing Mount Mitchell lakes and natural areas. This appreciation of our natural as the first state park of vast network of land boasts resources. The goal of our North Carolina. That was in some of the most beautiful environmental education 1915. scenery in the world and program is to generate an offers endless recreation awareness in all individuals opportunities. But our state that cultivates responsible parks system offers much stewardship of the earth. more than scenery and recreation. Our lands and waters contain unique and valuable archaeological, geological and biological resources that are important For more information contact: parts of our natural heritage. N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation 1615 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1615 919/ 733-4181 www.ncsparks.net Stone Mountain State Park, NC1.1 October 2002 Introduction to Stone Mountain State Park tone Mountain State Park in the park, is a cascade of literature of nature writers Sis located on the eastern over 200 feet. There are other such as Thoreau, Emerson, edge of the Blue Ridge Moun- granodiorite outcrops and wa- Leopold and Muir. At the tains in North Carolina. The terfalls that are accessible via park, students can learn on a park lies in the extreme north- the park’s 15 miles of hiking hands-on basis. ern portion of Wilkes County trails. At Stone Mountain Groups are encouraged and extends into the southeast- State Park, students can see to visit the park during all ern part of Alleghany County. and learn about some of the seasons of the year for hikes, Stone Mountain is the second geologic processes that con- exploration, nature study and largest state park in North tinue to shape our land. other activities. Leaders may Carolina, consisting of ap- The Park as an Outdoor choose to design and conduct proximately 14,000 acres. Classroom: their own activities or make The most prominent feature use of the park’s environmen- State parks are not only of the park is Stone Mountain tal education activity packets. wonderful places for recre- itself. This large outcrop of A park ranger would be happy ation, but also for studying granodiorite rock is a unique to meet with your group to an- earth science, ecology, envi- geological feature and is the swer any questions the stu- ronmental issues, biology, con- largest exfoliation dome in dents may have, or welcome servation, social studies, litera- North Carolina. Stone Moun- the group and present a short ture and mathematics. Al- tain rises more than 2,200 feet talk. Every effort will be though the primary interpre- above sea level. Its crest is al- made to accommodate persons tive theme for Stone Mountain most 700 feet above the sur- with physical disabilities. State Park involves geology, rounding terrain of old fields, Please contact the park office other topics can be explored mixed forests, clear streams at least two weeks in advance here as well. These include and waterfalls. Stone Moun- to make arrangements for a plant communities, water qual- tain Falls, the largest waterfall group visit. ity, mountain culture, and the ou never conquer a mountain, Yyou stand on the summit a few moments; then the wind blows your footprints away. – Arlene Blum, b. 1945 Stone Mountain State Park, NC 1.2 October 2002 Park Facilities: should park at the Stone Group Camping: Four Restrooms: Restrooms are Mountain parking area and primitive campsites are avail- available at the park visitor hike a 1/2-mile trail to the site. able for organized groups. A center, the picnic area and the Garden Creek Church: small fee is charged for these parking area for Stone Moun- This old church is located on sites, which are available by tain. the bank of the East Prong of reservation only. Each site has a grill and picnic table. Picnic Area: A 75-site pic- the Roaring River. The Dumpsters are located nearby. nic area with tables, grills, church, established in 1897, is A pit toilet is also available.