Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
NOTES 2024 Spring
Jason Brashear, Executive Director 

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TAGS: NOTES 2024 Spring, Executive Director Jason Brashear, wildflowers, statistics, school groups, environmental education, art and culture programs, agriculture and food programs, community arts programs, Kiristen Webb, Roy Hawthorn, Jen Noble

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 NOTES – 2024

“Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School”
Spring

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GALLERY: NOTES – 2024 Spring

This spring, may you embrace the beauty of the natural world, we will work tirelessly to educate, inspire, and immerse folks in nature, culture, craft and food.  –Jason Brashear

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TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 2024 Spring

P. 1

NOTES FROM THE
PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN * HARLAN COUNTY * KENTUCKY

Spring       Jason Brashear, Executive Director     2024

[Cover photograph: Trillium (See page 3). “Enriching People and Enhancing Lives through Appalachian Place-Based Education for All Ages”]

P. 2

From our Director

[Photograph of Jason Brashear]

As the warmth of spring unfurls across the mountains, we at Pine Mountain Settlement School are filled with an invigorating sense of renewal and gratitude. We share the wonders of this season with great joy in our beloved Appalachian home.

Amidst the hills and hollows, springtime paints a breathtaking landscape of vibrant colors and fragrant blooms. The forest floor comes alive with the delicate petals of trilliums, violets, and wildflowers. The melody of birdsong fills the air, echoing through the dense woodland and infusing the atmosphere with a sense of harmony.

At Pine Mountain, spring heralds a season of growth and connection. Students eagerly venture outdoors, their faces illuminated with the excitement of exploration. They embark on nature hikes, learning about the rich biodiversity of our region and forging a deep bond with the land that surrounds us. Through hands-on activities and immersive experiences, they cultivate an appreciation for the natural world and the importance of their own actions.

As the seasons shift and the days grow longer, we are filled with hope for the future of Pine Mountain and the communities we serve. Together, we stand as guardians of this hallowed ground, preserving its natural wonders and nurturing the seeds of possibility that flourish in its soil.

Thank you for your continued generosity and belief in the mission of Pine Mountain Settlement School. This spring, may you embrace the beauty of the natural world, we will work tirelessly to educate, inspire, and immerse folks in nature, culture, craft and food.

In The Spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed] Jason Brashear
Jason Brashear
Executive Director

P. 3

BY THE NUMBERS

15 VISITING SCHOOLS GROUPS WITH 1,178 STUDENTS SERVED
24 COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH 1,077 PARTICIPANTS
2 EXPERIENCE WEEKENDS WITH 88 PARTICIPANTS

[Photograph: Four purple wildflowers.]

On the Cover

Trillium, with its enchanting three-petaled blossoms, epitomizes the delicate beauty of spring in the mountains. As the forest floor awakens from its winter slumber, these elegant flowers emerge, casting a spell of enchantment with their soft hues of white, pink, and purple. Their presence signals not only the arrival of warmer days but also the intricate interconnectedness of the woodland ecosystem. Trillium serves as a vital food source for pollinators and a beacon of hope for nature enthusiasts, reminding us of the resilience and grace that abound in the natural world.

P. 4

SCHOOL GROUPS

Since October 2023, 1178 students have been immersed in the rich tapestry of environmental education, Appalachian art, culture, and craft, and agriculture and sustainable food systems. With our place-based, experiential approach, students gain hands-on experience that undoubtedly deepens the impact of the lesson. Though most interactions happen here on campus, recently, we have taken programming out to the local schools and extended the reach and shared the spirit of Pine Mountain.

[Photograph: “Watching this group of students connect with a simple artform was pretty special, but hearing their excitement on finishing a pillow is completely priceless.”]

[Photograph: “While hiking into Greenbrier Cave, students were met with views of Black Mountain, the taste of fresh Wintergreen, and even a recent mark of a black bear.”]

[Photograph: “Two students learn about avian adaptations and craft beaks and talons out of clay to share with the class.”]

P. 5

COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS

Thanks to our friends at the Berea College Appalachian Fund and Southarts, we serve as a vibrant hub where locals and visitors come together to explore traditional arts. Recently, we have hosted classes in quilting, wood carving, blacksmithing, wreath making, jewelry, and basketry. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, students delve into the region’s cultural heritage while embracing traditional techniques and innovative perspectives. Through workshops and community events, the program not only nurtures individual artistic growth but also fosters a sense of belonging and interconnectedness.

[Four photographs: Student working on a project, student in woodworking class, gentleman presenting a muffin, an adult class working on fir branches at a table.]

P. 6

Meet Kiristen Webb

Kiristen believes in the power of human connection, education, and resourcefulness. She holds a master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Florida and completed her M.A.T at Morehead State University. She taught for eight years before pursuing local food system development with Northfork Local Food

in 2021. As the market coordinator for Northfork Local Food, she worked to expand nutrition education programming by developing and supervising the first FoodCorps program in Kentucky. Furthermore, she has connected stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of regional food systems and created a regional farmers market model. As the program director for Pine Mountain Settlement School, she is working to expand the presence of environmental education, Appalachian heritage, and sustainable agriculture is regional school systems. Kiristen lives in Leslie County, KY with her three children. She enjoys gardening, foraging, knitting, and cooking.

Meet Roy Hawthorn

Roy is originally from Mississippi. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi and then started working for various environmental organizations. He has worked with the U.S. Forest Service as a Forestry Technician with the De Soto National Forest, served as an AmeriCorps member devoted to environmental protection in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a wildlife rehabilitator in Alabama, and an environmental educator with the Great Basin Institute in Nevada.

After his time in Nevada, he worked for several organizations as a seasonal outdoor educator. His most adventurous position was in Paraguay, where he taught his students about the natural world in the local language Guarani. Now he is working with the Pine Mountain Settlement School where he is excited to learn about the area and continue to be an environmental educator.

P. 7

SAVE THE DATES

JUNE 18-19         CAMP CULTURE: DRAMA, STORYTELLING, & DANCE
JUNE 21-23         FLY FISHING WORKSHOP
JUNE 25-27         FARM CAMP
AUGUST 10         PMSS SCHOOL REUNION
SEPTEMBER 21   PINE MOUNTAIN FAIR DAY
OCTOBER 25-26 FALL ARTS WEEKEND
DECEMBER 8      NATIVITY PLAY

LEARN MORE AT
PINEMTN.ORG

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Meet Jenn Noble

Jenn was born and raised in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, where the rugged landscapes and vibrant culture inspired her from an early age. Growing up surrounded by the natural beauty of the region, she developed a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of colors, textures, and stories woven into the fabric of Appalachian life. Jenn finds inspiration from living in and exploring the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains, which has influenced her creative style and process. She has a deep passion for helping preserve traditional folk arts and crafts from years ago. She specializes in mixed-media painting but enjoys weaving, basketmaking, quilting, pottery, and wood carving. Jenn has over ten years of experience teaching various mediums in the classroom and her community, and she has been creating art for most of her life. She decided to be an artist at the age of seven and, on her journey since, has yet to get off the path. Her work has been shown at the Mountain Arts Center, Appalachian Artisan Center, Appalshop, Lexington Public Library, McCall Gallery and is on the cover of three published books. Jenn is most passionate about sparking inspiration and awe from the rich Appalachian landscapes and its people, and when people see her work, she hopes that they remember the region is full of magic and that it’s essential to make sure heritage continues to live through art.

P. 8 [MISSING IMAGE]

[Back page with logo; used for mailing address.]

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NOTES – 2023 Fall

See Also:
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Guide 

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NOTES Index