On Sunday, October 5th, we gathered under the rafters of the historic Valle Crucis Apple Barn for one of our favorite nights of the year, our annual Fall BBQ Fundraiser! The evening was filled with laughter, music, delicious food, and the kind of community connection that reminds us exactly why we do what we do.
Early in the evening, Nathan, Emery, Patrick, and François offered several hands-on skill demonstrations and lessons, giving everyone a glimpse of the craft, creativity, and care that shape our outdoor education programs. We enjoyed a mouthwatering BBQ dinner and delicious sides from Sweetwater Kitchen, refreshing local libations, and the toe-tapping tunes of Mason Jar Confessions.
Patrick demos fire by friction.
Mason Jar Confessions working up an appetite for some BBQ ;)
Emery breaks down the basics of cooking over fire.
Nathan teaches the 10 Essentials of survival.
Buffalo Cove’s very first Honor Camper from waaaay back in 2000, the legendary Ruth Rios, joined us from Miami and shared her moving story. Jeffrey (and Berta) made a rousing case for the need for a new building in Base Camp, and the community stepped up to answer the call, exceeding our wildest expectations!
Thanks to the generosity of our community and donors, this year’s silent auction was a huge success! Bidders competed for everything from vacation getaways and spa treatments to locally made wine and handcrafted goods made by our own BCOEC community. Every bid, big or small, helped move us closer to our mission of making outdoor education accessible to all.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who came out, donated, volunteered, or helped spread the word. Events like this remind us how special our community is, full of people who believe in the power of learning, connection, and time spent outdoors. We can’t wait to see you again next year for another evening of music, good food, and shared purpose. Until then, thank you for helping us keep the spirit of outdoor education alive and thriving.
A special thanks to our sponsors❤️
We could not have done this without the incredible support of our event sponsors. Sponsors, your generosity fuels our mission and helps keep programs running strong.
