By: Morgan Glup
Serving with the Elkins Welcome Depot and Elkins-Randolph CVB
I moved to Elkins at the end of August. Why would I, a recent college graduate from Minnesota, decide to move to Elkins, West Virginia? I was looking at post-graduation opportunities through AmeriCorps and came across positions with Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area that interested me. I am currently serving with the Elkins Depot Welcome Center.
Still unsure of what exactly I wanted to go into, I recognized the opportunity to explore a potential career that AFNHA AmeriCorps provided. I had been interested in tourism since my semester abroad, which led me to write my thesis on how tourism can impact local populations. My position with the Welcome Center has given me the opportunity to see the important role and impact tourism can have on a community like Elkins. This year has looked very different for the Welcome Center due to COVID-19 and people refraining from traveling. While I may not be having the same experience previous AmeriCorps did, it has been a valuable and interesting experience none the less.
My day-to-day activities vary. The Welcome Center is currently operating out of a window in order to continue to provide service and information to visitors in a safe manner. Some days I am at the welcome window and providing visitor services. I am involved in virtual community development meetings where I learn about what is happening in the community and discuss potential projects to enhance our community and how to move these projects forward. I also write blogs for the website, work with my supervisors on marketing projects, and I get to explore the area to learn about area attractions. A big project I am currently working on is updating the Welcome Center’s website, making sure all information is up-to date and modernizing its appearance.
Photo by: Mon Forest Towns
Being an AFNHA AmeriCorps and serving with the Welcome Center has been a great experience and I look forward to the rest of my service! I have been in Elkins for over 4 months now and am still happy to be here! I thought I’d share some of my impressions of the area:
Beautiful setting and winding roads
Elkins is nestled in the mountains and everywhere you go is a scenic drive. While the tree-covered mountains are beautiful, especially in the autumn, at first it can feel somewhat closed in for someone accustomed to a landscape of lakes and flat, open farmland. The winding roads I expected. Miles aren’t very helpful here, I have learned to ask how long it will take to get somewhere, not how far, then I enjoy the drive.
Busy for a “small” town
In my first couple weeks here, I learned that Elkins is a hub for Randolph County. As the largest town in the county and the county seat, it is full of activity. Elkins is also a perfect “base camp” for taking advantage of the nearby outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Recreation
Speaking of outdoor recreation, I enjoy hiking, canoeing, camping and generally being outside in pretty places. The Elkins’ region provides endless opportunities for outdoor activities for all seasons. there is no shortage of hiking trails. Hiking isn’t your thing? The area offers bike trails, train excursions, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing, hunting and fishing. You can’t go wrong with any of them. It all depends on what type of experience you’re looking for.
Friendly People
“Minnesota Nice” extends to West Virginia. One of the first things I noticed when I arrived was the friendliness of the people. People would ask where I was from and what brought me to Elkins. When I said I was moving here, they welcomed me to the area. I have since met more people through my service and it’s the same story. It is a welcoming and friendly community.
