The first Gift Shop opened on Earth Day, April 22, at the Visitor Center at Philpott Lake. The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and Army Corps of Engineers announced the opening. The Gift Shop will sell Philpott Lake souvenir items and profits from sales will support DRBA’s environmental education programs for youth and adults. The starting capital for the Gift Shop was funded by the Eco Ambassador Council (EAC).
“The EAC was thrilled to provide start-up funding to start the first Gift Shop at Philpott Lake that will multiply our impact over time,” said Heather Francis, Marketing Manager, Hooker Furnishings and EAC chairman. “This project is just one of more than a dozen projects the EAC has supported in the region.”
The EAC is a coalition of regional businesses that combine their investment to protect, promote and preserve the environment in the Dan River Basin. Current EAC members include Blair Construction, Carter Bank & Trust, Clark Gas & Oil, Frith Construction, The Lester Group, Hooker Furnishings, Jones & DeShon Orthodontics and Pickle & Ash. Each business pledges an annual donation and a commitment to encourage their employees to participate in EAC projects. The EAC started in 2020 and is open to all businesses in the Dan River Basin that want to make a visible impact in the region.
“Visitors to Philpott Lake can now take home a souvenir commemorating their visit,” said Dillon Brown, Interpretive Ranger at Philpott Lake. “There’s something for every age and budget – stuffed animal, keychain, water bottle, dry bag and more. We are so pleased to be able to support environmental education programming in the region with this retail enterprise.”
The Gift Shop was conceived as a solution to DRBA’s challenge of having a waiting-list of teachers wanting DRBA’s environmental education programs, but not having funding to provide them. With over 500,000 visitors annually to Philpott Lake, the Gift Shop has potential to support educational programs for thousands of youngsters.
“I get several calls and emails weekly from teachers asking for DRBA programs in their classrooms, but I have to turn down more than half of them because there isn’t enough funding,” said Krista Hodges, DRBA’s Environmental Education Outreach Manager. “It’s difficult to find funding for programs that reach students of all ages and can be flexible about when and how it’s used. My hope is that this Gift Shop will provide a dependable and consistent funding stream to support educational programs in the region.”
The Philpott Lake Visitor Center is located at Philpott Dam Road, Bassett, and will be open during Visitor Center hours.
The Dan River Basin Association is an environmental non-profit that protects the region’s natural assets such as the Dan River and its tributaries. DRBA is working to promote tourism as well as healthy lifestyles. DRBA assists localities in creating community parks, trails and access to local rivers and streams. Our mission is to protect and promote the Dan River Basin through recreation, education and stewardship.
Visit www.danriver.org to learn more about protecting and conserving our local natural resources and how you can get involved in your community.
