West Virginia - Wild and Wonderful

About West Virginia

West Virginia is noted for its mountains and diverse topography, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its political and labor history. It is one of the most densely karstic areas in the world, making it a choice area for recreational caving and scientific research.

Business

West Virginia is full of opportunity for any business with a growing economy and a highly dedicated workforce. Whether you are running an existing business or thinking of starting a new business you can find all of the information you need throughout this business section.

Education

West Virginia is fortunate to have a tremendous education system with a high standard of excellence. Please use the information provided here to learn more about the wealth of educational opportunities in our great state.

Employment

West Virginia is home to one of the finest workforces in the country based on our hard work and commitment to quality. Whether you are looking for new job opportunities, enhancing your job skills or researching future employment trends you can find all of the information you need throughout this employment section.

Family

West Virginia offers the perfect balance of a rural and urban setting that suits a variety of lifestyles. This is a state where you can go whitewater rafting in the morning, go to an art exhibit in the afternoon and attend a concert in the evening. Whether you just moved to the Mountain State or your family has been here since it was founded, you are part of our community.

Health

Maintaining proper health is vital to ensuring the highest quality of life possible. West Virginia strives to provide one of the best health care systems in the country that is affordable and available to all residents of the state. This section contains numerous resources to assist you in accessing the health care services provided in the state.

Tourism

Exhilarate in the lasting beauty and natural wonder scattered throughout West Virginia. From unmatched outdoor recreation to world-class resorts, breathtaking scenery and a variety of cultural and historic attractions, West Virginia is an ideal spot to plan your next adventure. Discover for yourself what makes West Virginia wild and wonderful.

 Kanawha State Forest Finds Families Flocking to Nature-based Activities July 29 - 31 

7/27/2011 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kanawha State Forest is best known for hiking and mountain biking than it is for scheduled nature-based activities, but this summer is an exception. “It’s not huge numbers of people, but it is families taking advantage of the ‘cool’ at the forest,” said Sara Miller, seasonal naturalist. “The cooler temperatures in the shade are encouraging folks to come outside and recall or learn something new about nature.”

Activities at Kanawha State Forest the weekend of July 29 are:

Friday, July 29 – Light up Your Photography!
Learn some tips and tricks for capturing the evening light and other lighting situations. Also, explore photograph composition, depth of field, and approach. Meet at the forest office at 5:30 p.m. The program duration will be about 30 minutes to an hour and it is open to the public.

Saturday, July 30 – Speaking with the Birds
Seasonal naturalist Sara Miller invites attendees to sit down and enjoy some fresh iced tea on Saturday morning and chat a little with the birds. “We'll listen to audio recordings of bird songs and sounds to help us identify the birds around us, and then listen and learn birds that are nearby.” The event is open to the curious, the birder and the beginner and meets at Shelter #2 at 8:30 a.m. This program is repeated on Sunday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m., at Shelter #3.

Sunday, July 31 – Turkey Tag!
Learn how turkeys communicate with putts, peeps, and gobbles. Sara Miller shares information that is part of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s educational series. “Part of this afternoon program is a turkey talk test with an interesting game of turkey tag.” Meet at Shelter #3 at 2 p.m. Open to the public with the program lasting up to an hour.

For more information about Kanawha State Forest, call 304-558-3500 or visit the website, www.kanawhastateforest.com

Contact Information

Kanawha State Forest 
304-558-3500 
kanawhasf@wv.gov