Upcoming Events
An Evening At River Farm: Celebrating Conservation Heroes
NVCT is excited to announce the return of our annual gala to celebrate conservation successes and the local heroes who make it possible. As COVID-19 has prevented us from bringing you this event for the last two years, we can't wait to see your friendly faces as we enjoy fantastic music and delicious food and drink together on June 3, 2022, from 6 pm to 9 pm.
It is only fitting that our return to public events will happen at River Farm, the site of one of NVCT's proudest accomplishments, where we will honor the community members, volunteers, elected officials, and so many others who made this story possible. River Farm is safe, and we want to introduce you to it and to the new energy that's breathing life into the historical landmark formerly owned by our nation's first president, George Washington.
If you have yet to experience River Farm or haven't since the gates have been reopened, this is your chance to do so with incredible food, drink, and great company among friends who value the natural, cultural, and historical legacy of Northern Virginia.
See you there!
Past Events
Changemakers: Safeguarding Our Trees
Please join us on Thursday, March 24, 2022, for our Changemakers: Safeguarding Our Trees Webinar, a virtual discussion with leaders in forest protection. Learn from dedicated champions of Virginia's tree preservation and regeneration organizations, why safeguarding our trees is vital to land conservation, and what you can do to help.
Guest speakers will include:
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Melody Starya Mobley, Retired USDA Forest Service Forester, EcoAction Arlington Board Member, Commissioner Forestry and Natural Resources Commission
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Ann Jurczyk, Virginia Director of Outreach and Advocacy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
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Margaret Fisher, Plant NOVA Natives
Register below!
Your backyard land trust recently added our 125th and 126th conservation easement. Proudly executing our mission to conserve land that has natural, historical, and cultural value to our communities. To read more about these newly protected lands, click the buttons above.
NVCT's Annual Great Blue Heron Nest Count
On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, NVCT partnered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Stafford County for our Annual Great Blue Heron Nest Count on the Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve Heron Rookery. We take the time to do this every year, never losing its significance or purpose as protecting wildlife habitat is a crucial part of our conservation strategy. Click here to read the full story!
NVCT's Partners Devils Backbone for Invasive Pull in Loudon County
On December 14, we partnered with Devils Backbone Brewing Company for an invasive species pull of an NVCT owned property in Loudon. Invasive species removals are vital as invasive plants outcompete native plants, creating "monocultures" that take the place of the biodiversity that once was.
Thanks, Devils Backbone, for supporting our mission of Saving Nearby Nature.
Halloween Day Nearby Nature BioBlitz
To coincide with our month-long virtual Nearby Nature BioBlitz, NVCT will host a Halloween Day-themed nature walk for kids at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale from 12-2 pm on 10/31! Come dressed in costume and explore the woodland trails, gardens, and play areas with us! All kids in attendance will get a goody bag and have the chance to see many of the plant and animal species that the park has to offer. See you there!
NVCT Nearby Nature Bioblitz begins October 1!
Join our second NVCT Nearby Nature BioBlitz! Using the fun, easy-to-use @iNaturalist app, you'll become a citizen scientist by exploring nature and helping gather valuable data in your backyard. From October 1 - 31, your wildlife plant observations in Northern Virginia contributing to our understanding of the world around us.
NVCT's Fall Canoe/Kayak Cleanup 2021
Our fall NVCT Canoe/Kayak Cleanup was a huge success! On Sunday, September 26, 2021, staff and volunteers worked together to clean Hunting Creek, retrieving bags of trash from the tidal wetland that flows directly into the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.
We are grateful for all the support we received from our community members in helping to remove the trash and debris along the shoreline, including Transurban, who provided a grant for the canoe and kayak rentals. Thank you, Transurban, for supporting our mission of Saving Nearby Nature.
The Porto Vecchio Condominiums were also vital, providing an access point for our supporters and us to launch the successful cleanup. The overwhelming support and collective effort of multiple entities and dedicated community members have ensured that we continue to hold canoe/kayak cleanups to keep our natural open lands and waters healthy as ever!
NVCT's Changemakers: Today's Weather, Tomorrow's Climate
On Wednesday, July 28 at noon, NVCT's Changemakers series returned with Jason Samenow and John Hopewell as guest speakers of "Today's Weather, Tomorrow's Climate." Samenow is the founder of the Washington Posts' Capital Weather Gang with a BA in environmental science and an MS in atmospheric science. John Hopewell is also a contributor to Capital Weather Gang and has a Master's degree concentrated on the environment and development and a Bachelor's in physical geography.
Click the link to watch the full video of this thought-provoking webinar!
NVCT's Canoe/Kayak Cleanup
The NVCT Canoe/Kayak Cleanup on June 13th was a huge success! Our staff and volunteers pulled dozens of bags of trash and debris from Dyke Marsh in Fairfax County, helping protect the ecosystems, water quality, and plants and animals that inhabit the water bodies in our region. Thank you to all the volunteers for helping us protect NOVA.