New Trail & Interpretive Signs at CKBY!
This spring, visitors to Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center will find our trails transformed by a new system of trailhead signs and kid‑friendly interpretive panels: an exciting step forward in making our woods easier to explore and richer in learning for children, families, and school groups. This project has been made possible through the generosity of three wonderful partners: the Garden Club of Virginia, Hillside Garden Club, and the Tess Majors Foundation. Their shared commitment to conservation, education, and access to nature has brought a long‑imagined vision to life.
The 1.2 mile Cosby Trail, which circles our 42‑acre property and connects directly to nearby neighborhoods and Bedford Hills Elementary School, has quickly become a beloved community resource. Yet many first‑time hikers, especially families with young children, have needed clearer guidance to feel confident exploring the woods. Thanks to the Garden Club of Virginia’s Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award, secured by Hillside Garden Club, we are now able to install a comprehensive trail‑marking system that includes a new color‑coded map, directional signage, and QR‑linked digital maps that can be updated as our trail system evolves. Hillside Garden Club, founded in 1935 and long dedicated to conservation and civic planting in Lynchburg, has been a natural partner in this work, and we are grateful for their leadership in bringing this project forward.
The Tess Majors Foundation has also played a meaningful role in supporting both trailhead and interpretive signs that will appear across the CKBY campus. The foundation, which honors Tess’s love of music, nature, and creativity, supports programs that expand access to outdoor learning and the arts for young people. Their volunteer‑run model ensures that nearly every donated dollar goes directly to community projects, and Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah is honored to have a trail dedicated in Tess’s memory. The new educational panels in these wooded spaces will help children connect with the forest in ways that are joyful, curious, and grounded in care for the natural world.
The interpretive content itself was created with young learners in mind. Dr. Erin Heller of Randolph College wrote the educational text for each panel, introducing children to amphibians, macroinvertebrates, forest birds, mammals, and backyard birds through fun facts, simple explanations, and “Can you spot?” challenges designed to spark curiosity. The content was then edited by Dr. Sarah Sojka, CKBY board president, camp mom, and fellow Randolph College professor, ensuring that each sign is both scientifically accurate and developmentally accessible. These panels invite children to slow down, look closely, and discover the hidden life of the forest.
We are also deeply grateful to Dr. David Perault, CKBY board member, camp dad, and University of Lynchburg professor, for creating the new trail map featured on the trailhead signage and on our website. His work provides the clear, intuitive orientation that makes the entire system easy to navigate for families and school groups alike.
Together, these contributions create a trail experience that is more welcoming, more educational, and more accessible to all. As the signs go up this spring, we look forward to seeing children follow the color‑coded paths, families pause to learn about the creatures that share our woods, and community members explore the Cosby Trail with confidence and curiosity. We are grateful to the Garden Club of Virginia, Hillside Garden Club, and the Tess Majors Foundation for helping us deepen our mission of connecting people to nature, one trail marker, one sign, and one young explorer at a time.
