Preserved by Quakers for “perpetual spiritual use,” Friends Wilderness Center (FWC) offers restorative peace and tranquility. Since 1974, FWC has provided access to the 1,500-acre Rolling Ridge wilderness area in West Virginia.
FWC hosts the China Folk House Retreat (CFHR): a project to promote empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and experiential learning by rebuilding a Tibetan-style farmhouse saved from inundation in the village of Cizhong in Yunnan Province, China. The project is building an ADA compliant bathroom to expand access to restoration in nature.
Work to update and expand the center’s facilities is ongoing; recent projects include restoring the treehouse, improving accommodations in the geodesic dome, furnishing and heating a 16-foot-diameter glamping tent for four-season use, and renovating Niles Cabin with the intention of hosting overnight guests.
FWC offers monthly programs and guided hikes exploring the miles of trails that meander around mountain streams and waterfalls between the Appalachian Trail and the Shenandoah River. This year, FWC has offered monthly yoga hikes (Hike-Asana) and drop-in viewing for meteor showers throughout the year.
Learn more: Friends Wilderness Center
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