Carl Schenck established the Biltmore Forest School on a portion of the Biltmore Estate as the first school for forestry education in the US — using abandoned farm buildings as classrooms, offices, and “dorms.” Many graduates of the Biltmore Forest School went on to become the first generation of American professional foresters. The schoolhouse on the current Cradle of Forestry grounds is a replica of this original structure.
A large portion of the Biltmore Estate had been sold to the US Government after the death of George Vanderbilt, and in 1916 it was officially designated as Pisgah National Forest. Part of the stone posts from this photo can still be seen near the FIND Outdoors headquarters in Pisgah Forest, NC (near Brevard).
In 1972, our organization, the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association (CFAIA) was established to help the US Forest Service with operations at the Cradle of Forestry Visitor Center, specifically retail.
An addendum was made to the original mission statement of the CFAIA: “and to offer educational, recreational, and interpretive opportunities about forest and water resources.” With that addition, CFAIA added educational programs to help educate site visitors on the importance of our public lands, and the significance of these sites.
Shortly after 2010, the organization was awarded the bid to manage campgrounds and visitor centers in North Georgia, including the scenic Anna Ruby Falls and Brasstown Bald. With those additions to our portfolio, by the late 2010s CFAIA was operating 20+ sites in three different states.
As CFAIA had grown tremendously in reach and purpose, it had also outgrown the original name. The Cradle of Forestry in America would always be the foundation of our story, but it was no longer the only focus of our mission. It was time to redefine ourselves.
We partnered with a branding agency, Creative+, who helped us redefine our identity. In 2020 our new brand was launched: FIND Outdoors, Forest-Inspired Nature Discovery — it is both who we are and what we do. Watch the full brand launch video below.
In August 2025, FIND Outdoors’ Board of Directors, headquarters staff, field managers, and employees came together for a strategic planning retreat to ask the big questions about where the organization had been and where it was headed. The conversations affirmed what had never changed: a purpose rooted in connecting people with public lands through experiences that inspire learning and stewardship. From that retreat came a renewed mission, to center forest education and stewardship as an outdoor recreation nonprofit, and a vision of creating a lasting community of appreciation for the outdoors. Guiding both are five core values: education, intentionality, joy, community, and stewardship, built to carry FIND Outdoors into its next chapter.
We help people FIND Outdoors. Today, we maintain and operate outdoor recreation, education, and camping facilities across the Southeast and beyond, connecting visitors with nature at every site we manage. Through that connection, we work to inspire curiosity, encourage stewardship, and build a lasting community of appreciation for the outdoors, so that the forests and public lands we care for today remain here for generations to come.
Our story is rooted in education about the forest. Our passion is to help people become inspired. Our goal is to help people connect with nature. Our drive is to help people learn through discovery. Through forest-inspired nature discovery, we help people FIND Outdoors.
