The Friends of Roan Mountain is gearing up for its annual Xtreme Roan Adventures set to begin at the Roan Mountain State Park Amphitheatre Friday and Saturday.

The free Friday event starts at 8:15 p.m. and will include the following attractions. Pollinators in Action by Dr. Gerardo Acero-Gomez from E.T.S.U.; Moth Party presented by Naturalist Larry McDaniel; Salamanders at Night with Roan Mountain Interpretive Park Ranger Tyler Wicks; and Master Naturalist Cade Campbell will be presenting a Lightning Bug Adventure.

The big event will start the very next day at 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for welcomes and registration. The cost is $8 for parent and kids, who will be able to choose from several adventures such as the Nature Hike Bingo Adventure with Ranger Philip of Roan Mountain State Park; a Wet Rocks Geology Adventure with Jeremy Stout from Steele Creek Park; and Dale Ledford will be heading the first salamander adventure.

It is requested that attendees bring creek shoes and a change of shoes and socks.

A full list of adventures that are being offered Saturday can be seen by going to the event website www.xtremeroanadventures.org.

Ken Turner is a member of The Friends of Roan. He is also codirector of the Xtreme Roan Adventures. Turner says that the idea of the event was to get kids outdoors, exploring nature, especially on Roan Mountain.

“It’s amazing that the kids that come from around here have never been in a creek before,” said Turner. “It is astounding to me that the concept of actually getting in the creek is forgotten in two generations.”

Turner said that there would be several adventures where kids will be getting in the creek.

One such adventure is called Wet Rocks Geology.

“[It] is an adventure in the creek finding rocks that have washed down the mountain. We will have a geologist there that will identify where on the mountain these rocks came from,” said Turner.

Turner said the goal is to have the attendees develop a deeper understanding of how changing just one thing about the natural landscape, such as cutting down a tree and allowing sunlight to get at a place where it never was, could have on the creek life in a hundred years versus what would have happen if it were never changed.

Turner also said that if people could not make the current weekend adventure; there will be another rally that is currently slated for the end of August.

Persons wanting more information can reach out to Turner at ken@xtremeroanadventures.org or by calling him at 423-538-3419. Those interested in learning more about The Friends of Roan Mountain can view their website at www.friendsofroanmtn.org.