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Blue Ridge Discovery Center, Smyth, Grayson and Washington Counties

The Blue Ridge Discovery Center hosts immersive outdoor experiences out of its headquarters in the Historic Konnarock School building at the foot of Whitetop Mountain.
The Blue Ridge Discovery Center hosts immersive outdoor experiences out of its headquarters in the Historic Konnarock School building at the foot of Whitetop Mountain.

Founded in 2008, the Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC) used to spread the word about the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains by taking its educational programming on the road, holding events at various outdoors locations throughout southwest Virginia. That changed in 2017, when BRDC received the gift of the Konnarock Training School (KTS), a historic building on 5.21 acres at the foot of Whitetop Mountain. The gift changed everything, says Lisa Benish, BRDC’s executive director. “Now we’re a point on the map. When people get lost, they come to us to ask for directions.”

A 2022 grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Preservation Trust Fund “helped get the doors open,” she adds, by funding renovations to the old building, once listed by Preservation Virginia as one of the Commonwealth’s most endangered historic sites. Built by the Lutheran mission to the Appalachians in 1925, the boarding and day school taught children from isolated mountain families everything from reading, writing and mathematics to canning food. It also had a health clinic and hosted gatherings, becoming part of the social glue that held Konnarock together after the loss of the lumber industry. KTS closed in 1959, and the building remained underused, changing owners several times before being gifted to BRDC.

Blue Ridge Discovery Center, Smyth, Grayson and Washington Counties
KTS brought children from isolated mountain families together for classes, social gatherings, and health services.

Before tackling the building renovations, however, BRDC began its residency by rehabilitating the grounds and restoring many of the habitats on the property, including a wetland complex, riparian corridor, wildflower meadows, and a northern hardwood cove forest. They also installed a rain garden. A 2021 grant from VOF’s Get Outdoors Fund made these areas accessible by enabling the construction of an accessible interpretive trail that loops around the campus, giving visitors of all abilities the chance to explore these areas.

The two VOF grants have helped BRDC reestablish the campus as an educational center and community gathering point, with the historic building acting as an events venue and base camp for school and group field trips, a summer camp, immersive youth residential programs and the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rallies—seasonal events that feature speakers, programs and excursions to celebrate the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Work on the campus is ongoing, with a master plan that envisions a visitor center with ADA-compliant facilities for campers, a butterfly house, an amphitheater, and more trails. BRDC is currently raising funds for the visitor center. “We need more grant funding or an amazing donor,” she states. “But it will be a very quick build because the skeleton is already there. That will be huge for us because it will be right on the road, the gateway to our entire campus and to Mount Rogers.”

Blue Ridge Discovery Center, Smyth, Grayson and Washington Counties
The BRDC Master Plan envisions a visitors center, a butterfly house, an amphitheater, and more trails.

In the meantime, BRDC remains caretaker of the school’s history, says Benish, adding that they recently hosted the 89th birthday of a woman who had attended KTS as a girl. “She walked in, saw her whole family there and started crying,” Benish remembers. “It was such a great thing to see. We want to reach out to more alumni for reunions and other gatherings where they can relive old memories and make new ones.”

BRDC is also extending the school’s legacy, and creating its own, through its educational programs. “We’re especially focused on getting the local youth out on the trail so that they can see the assets that they have, right where they live,” Benish states. “If you take someone and show them that there are things out there worth protecting, they become stewards of the land. That’s how we meet our mission.”

Blue Ridge Discovery Center, Smyth, Grayson and Washington Counties
Summer camps directed toward regional youth are a big part of BRDC's programming.

14 projects awarded first grants from Coastal Resilience and Tree Fund

14 projects awarded first grants from Coastal Resilience and Tree Fund
The Friends of Dyke Marsh in Fairfax County received a CRTF grant to replace pumpkin ash trees being lost to invasive emerald ash borers, resulting in shoreline erosion.

Wetlands Watch and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation recently announced that $91,195 has been awarded to 14 projects from the first round of the Coastal Resilience and Tree Fund (CRTF).

CRTF grants support implementation of resilient practices and enhance the ability of organizations and government agencies to plan for future implementation of resiliency projects within the coastal zone. Project that are eligible for funding include those that:

  • Achieve increased resilience to flooding, sea level rise, and extreme weather events in Virginia’s coastal communities.
  • Increase tree canopy in the Coastal Zone and raise awareness of the value of trees as a best management practice and component of resiliency.
  • Raise public awareness about the role of nature-based solutions in improving community resilience.
  • Enhance the ability of organizations and government agencies to plan and implement resiliency projects within the Coastal Zone.

VOF provides funding for CRTF and Wetlands Watch administers the grants. Learn more at https://wetlandswatch.org/coastal-resilience-trees-fund.

Project titles, descriptions, and award amounts are detailed below.

CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS

Bamboo Harvest, Eradication and Replacement with Keystone Native Plants – $2,500

Project Summary: This project aims to develop and document a three-fold plan to clear a mature bamboo patch, to use cut bamboo to weave a privacy screen as an alternative to the screening between neighbors the bamboo now provides, and to plant in its place a mix of keystone native shrubs, trees, and perennials that benefit native insects and birds. Small, low bamboo fences across the drainage to slow run-off on the sloping site are also a potential use of this time-honored raw material.

SHORELINE PROTECTION PROJECTS

Elizabeth River Project Resilience Lab Living Shoreline – $10,000

Project Summary: The project, known as the Ryan Resilience Lab, will consist of the redevelopment of the property at 4610 Colley Avenue, an innovative facility on Norfolk’s Knitting Mill Creek, which will demonstrate sustainable and flood-resilient building and landscaping practices. The Lab’s Learning Park will include a living shoreline, demonstrating how to hold off erosion while restoring oyster and wetland habitats.

Knitting Mill Creek Mayflower Road Riparian Buffer Phase 1 – $10,000

Project Summary: This proposal hopes to raise awareness for Knitting Mill Creek and address stormwater and tidal flooding on the West side by adding plant diversity and stormwater filtration with native grasses and flowering plants. By adding rich habitat for wildlife, it will also serve as an interpretive planting to showcase native plants. The goal is to display the beauty of native vegetation and help motivate residents and business owners to enhance habitat and improve community resilience.

Living Shoreline Williamsburg – $10,000

Project Summary: To build a living shoreline to protect the shore and minimize sediment running into the Chickahominy/James Rivers.

Reichenbacker Shoreline Protection – $10,000

Project Summary: 3,600 SF of upland wetland riparian buffer to be installed upland 100′ of natural shoreline at Buchanan Creek, a tributary of the Lynnhaven River feeding into the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach. The planting will replace turf and bare soil where erosion is actively occurring, decreasing stormwater runoff with the deeply rooted plants, native to our area’s coastal plant communities. These 23 species may host at least 445 species of butterflies and moths in our area.

Replacing a Decaying Bulkhead with a Living Shoreline – $10,000

Project Summary: The project will replace rotting bulkhead with a Living Shoreline, both dynamic and resilient, unlike a hardened solution. The project will use an oyster reef sill to create viable habitat. Behind the reefs, sand with marsh grass plants, protected by an Envirolok growth bag system, will create erosion control in the upper tidal and storm surge zone. The combination will prevent marine waters from contacting soluble clays at the shoreline and provide a path for living organism migration as conditions change.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

LRNOW Green Infrastructure – $5,000

Project Summary: The Lynnhaven River NOW office is located just South of the Windsor Woods neighborhood in an area that is well known for stormwater flooding. The location has a back lot that floods during heavy rains. This project will install a rain garden to catch and infiltrate stormwater, reducing runoff and flooding. The project will be designed and installed by a new environmentally friendly landscape firm with a CBLP Level I member under the supervision of a CBLP Level II LRNOW staff member. It will also serve as a demonstration rain garden for Virginia Beach residents that are interested in this type of best management practice.

McKendree Green Infrastructure – $6,700

Project Summary: The McKendree property is on a low lying peninsula surrounded by wetlands in the Back Bay watershed. The property has a low bulkhead that is frequently topped by windblown tides and a vegetated berm behind that to protect the homesite. Increased storm intensity has resulted in a combination of wind driven tides and heavy rainfall threatening the home with stormwater and windblown flooding. This project will install a 125 gallon rain barrel to capture roof runoff in a low lying area at the back of the house, a 4×20 foot rain garden to capture runoff from the roof and patio, and enhance the buffers along the shoreline.

STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS

Invasive Plant Management & Natural Area Restoration Along Appomattox River Blueway-Greenway Corridor – $3,900

Project Summary: Friends of the Lower Appomattox River will continue the development and implementation of a strategic, sustainable, and comprehensive invasive species management program, that will improve forest health and resilience, including plant diversity and habitat and natural areas and educate and empower community members to become actively involved in volunteer stewardship. This program will also increase the accessibility of parks, trails, and natural areas for the community.

Restoration Area in the James River Park System – $5,000

Project Summary: The approximately two-acre wooded Rapids Restoration Area in the Pony Pasture unit of the James River Park System has been a focus of invasive management for eight years, primarily removal of dense wintercreeper ground cover and Amur honeysuckle shrubs. Though there has been a healthy rebound of many native plant species, the understory continues to suffer from a paucity of native species diversity and requires restoration support.

Stewardship of the Bellemeade Green Street Project – $5,000

Project Summary: The James River Association and Groundwork RVA are working together to maintain the Bellemeade Green Street on the southside of the City of Richmond. Project stewardship activities include adding soil and mulch to stormwater best management practices installed along Minefee Street in 2021 and replacing trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that have died since they were planted.

TREE PLANTING PROJECTS

Nichols Park Tree Planting – $5,000

Project Summary: The Nichols Park neighborhood is a densely populated area of town homes with a small landscaped filter strip between the sidewalk and the street. Large trees (mostly red maples) were originally planted in the filter strip and they have grown too large, causing damage to the sidewalks and poor health of the trees. A total of 33 native redbud and 33 native fringe trees will be planted in the filter strips and ten additional large native trees will be planted in the wet turf grass area to reforest the area. The project will improve stormwater management through filtration and transportation, decrease surface temperatures with shading, and sequester carbon through carbon uptake.

Tree Funding Proposal from the Friends of Dyke Marsh – $3,250

Project Summary: Dyke Marsh is a freshwater tidal marsh on the Potomac River in Fairfax County. Dredging from 1940 to 1972 destabilized the marsh, impairing its natural protection from tidal and storm surges. The emerald ash borer is destroying 1,000 to 1,200 dead pumpkin ash trees, the primary tree species in the intertidal zone. It is unlikely that dead tree roots can stabilize the marsh sediments. We propose to plant appropriate trees in stages to preserve the tidal marsh and its ecological functions.

Tree Planting in Oceana West Neighborhood of Virginia Beach – $4,845

Project Summary: The City of Virginia Beach has a goal of achieving a 45% tree canopy by 2045. As of 2018, the city was at 40.3% canopy, showing a net loss of 1.34% from 2012. Current funding accounts for replacing trees removed, but not enough to overcome the tree loss on private property. This grant money will be used to plant trees in Oceana Gardens West, which is an environmental justice area and in proximity to the Hilltop Area of the city, which is a heat island.

VOF announces $2.2 million for 22 open-space projects across Virginia

VOF announces $2.2 million for 22 open-space projects across Virginia
Friends of Southwest Virginia have received a grant that will help pay for a boat ramp, dock and ADA fishing pier at Big Cherry Lake in Wise County.

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) today announced $2,275,154 in grants for projects that protect open space for public benefit in 21 counties and cities.

The 22 grants were awarded from VOF’s Preservation Trust Fund and Get Outdoors Fund grant programs. The Preservation Trust Fund program provides grants for acquisitions, easements, rights of way, and other methods of protecting open space for farming, forestry, recreation, wildlife, water quality, and more. The Get Outdoors Fund provides grants for projects that increase safe access to open space in communities.

To learn more about VOF’s grant programs, visit https://www.vof.org/protect/grants/.

Grant Recipient Summaries

Preservation Trust Fund

 

Grantee: Capital Region Land Conservancy

Locality: Chesterfield County

Grant Amount: $360,000

Project Title: Burton Family Farm: Brown Parcel

Description: Phase 2 of the Burton Farm consists of 1 parcel, in Chesterfield County, owned by Bernard Brown. The land for this Black Century Farm was first purchased in 1896. CRLC is working to assemble various parcels that have been divided off to preserve a fraction of the original farm to continue its agricultural uses and allow for historical interpretation of the emancipation of enslaved people along the Richmond/Petersburg turnpike in 1865. This second phase would add to this goal.

 

Grantee: City of Norfolk

Locality: City of Norfolk

Grant Amount: $404,625

Project Title: Elizabeth River Trail Larchmont Trailhead

Description: This project focuses on establishing the Larchmont Trailhead for the Elizabeth River Trail. The trailhead will include asphalt trail improvements, accessibility improvements, new signage, and a kayak launch.

 

Grantee: City of Suffolk

Locality: City of Suffolk

Grant Amount: $44,550

Project Title: Hobson Park Project

Description: The City of Suffolk would like to purchase a 0.32-acre parcel in the Hobson neighborhood of Suffolk in order to provide a community space for playing, relaxing, and recreating. There is currently no playground or public park in this community.

 

Grantee: Franklin Parks Foundation

Locality: City of Franklin

Grant Amount: $100,000

Project Title: Deer Creek Addition to Blackwater Park, Pt 2

Description: The Franklin Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, will acquire these 96 acres of prime river frontage on the State Scenic Blackwater River for the creation of additional parkland and a primitive camp site. This property contains old growth hardwood bottomlands and contains forestlands categorized as FCV 4 & 5 (60 acres). The tract sits at the intersection of two Natural Heritage sites, the Blackwater River Main Stem Conservation site, and the Antioch SCU.

 

Grantee: Friends of Southwest Virginia

Locality: Wise County

Grant Amount: $150,000

Project Title: Big Cherry Lake, Big Stone Gap, VA

Description: An outdoor development initiative at Big Cherry Lake is underway to create a day and overnight destination that will enhance the High Knob area experience. The Town of Big Stone Gap owns the 250-acre lake; with support from the federal and state government, the Town has secured funds to create walking trails around the lake and develop 18 campsites at Big Cherry Lake. The next phase, and the purpose of this funding request to VOF, is to install a concrete boat ramp, courtesy pier, dock and ADA fishing pier.

 

Grantee: Little Creek Kung Fu

Locality: City of Petersburg

Grant Amount: $177,184

Project Title: Little Creek Native Free Food Forest

Description: We currently own 117, 115, 113, 109, & 105 N. Burch St. where we have already dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort to the establishment of a Native Free Food Forest; aside from adding one more shed/building & a border fence (+ lots of watering, weeding, clearing, & planting), the remainder of the more substantial construction is nearing completion. Natives planted are: plum, persimmon, hazelnut, serviceberry, chokeberry, beautyberry, pawpaw, blueberry, + many other herbs & pollinators.

 

Grantee: Shenandoah County

Locality: Shenandoah County

Grant Amount: $300,000

Project Title: Shenandoah County Conservation and Public River Access Along the North Fork of the Shenandoah

Description: This project would enable Shenandoah County to purchase a 14-acre parcel located along a portion of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River that recently received its scenic river designation. We plan to grant VDOT an easement to build a new road and provide better transportation access to 7 Bends State Park, a 1,066-acre park located on the opposite side of the river and to grant DWR an easement for public river access boat ramps and parking then place the parcel under conservation easement.

 

Grantee: Town of Dungannon

Locality: Scott County

Grant Amount: $150,000

Project Title: On the Clinch to Learn, Discover, Enjoy

Description: The Town of Dungannon is creating a community-owned river research and learning center by (1) purchasing private property adjacent to and overlooking the local community river park (doubling the size of the existing park), (2) converting it to a public green space and environmental education center, and (3) building an outdoor classroom, greenhouse and walking trail at a nearby school that will connect to the Center. The Center is partnering with local high schools, colleges and civic groups.

 

Grantee: Town of Honaker

Locality: Russell County

Grant Amount: $148,000

Project Title: Town of Honaker Outdoor Recreation Expansion

Description: Our goal is to purchase the property at 100 Fairmont St. that joins Lewis Creek. We have permission from the current owners to use the trails and the Creek for our Annual Kids Fishing Day (stream is stocked with trout free of charge for children aged 15 and under). The property is now for sale, and we are at risk of losing access to the trails and stream. If successful, we plan to build a bridge across the stream to connect trails on both sides of the stream for people of all abilities.

 

Grantee: Town of Vinton

Locality: Roanoke County

Grant Amount: $218,295

Project Title: Vinton’s Multi-Generational Park

Description: Vinton, Virginia is building its first multi-generational park to promote healthy living and community engagement. The park’s mission aligns with the Town’s branding slogan, Are you IN?, aiming to encourage locals to participate in outdoor activities and connect with their hometown and neighbors. The 5-acre park will be centrally located and boast a stunning view of the Roanoke Valley. The Town is the landowner of the park site, and it will be developed in different phases.

 

Get Outdoors

 

Grantee: Autism Sanctuary, Inc.

Locality: Albemarle County

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: Weekly Respite at Autism Sanctuary

Description: Autism Sanctuary is a nonprofit respite space in Central Virginia created to serve the local autistic population. Through our walking trails and farm, we provide an engaging outdoor environment for all individuals regardless of their needs. We are seeking support to implement a weekly outdoor enrichment and education program for autistic individuals with high support needs who may receive fewer community services. Funding will allow our program to thrive and support many local families.

 

Grantee: Botanical Garden of the Piedmont

Locality: Albemarle County

Grant Amount: $15,000

Project Title: Equitable Access to World Water Week Programming

Description: This collaborative project will transport disadvantaged children in Charlottesville summer programs (YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Abundant Life Ministries, City of Promise) to outdoor water-themed educational programming in Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (BGP) and Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA) in anticipation of World Water Week. Age-appropriate activities will include water quality testing, ecological hikes, water bird identification, nature literacy and nature-themed art programs.

 

Grantee: Dungannon Elementary School

Locality: Scott County

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: Get Up & Go Playground Project

Description: Our playground project would include the purchase and installation of a playground structure with climbing walls, slides, and other fun, outdoor recreational pieces such as seesaws and balance beams for ages 2-12. There will be benches placed around the playground structure for children to rest and for teachers/parents to be able to supervise. We would also like to purchase a shade structure to provide protection from the sun. Playground borders and mulch will be used for safety purposes.

 

Grantee: Friends of Fonticello Park

Locality: City of Richmond

Grant Amount: $20,000

Project Title: The Native Meadow Project: Creating Equitable Access to Natural Urban Educational Spaces in Fonticello Park

Description: The native meadow will be an educational natural space, where children and community members can learn about native, local ecosystem plants, how they support wildlife and pollinators, increase soil health, and contribute to cleaner waterways. We will facilitate work with neighborhood schools and organizations to have kids part of the project, including plant selection, design of the space, prepping the land, planting, and participating in future maintenance and educational programming.

 

Grantee: Greater Richmond Fit4Kids

Locality: City of Richmond

Grant Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Fit4Kids Game On, Girl! Field Trips

Description: Fit4Kids Game On, Girl! program empowers adolescent girls to be physically active and nutritionally fit, through a 10-week, after-school program. Coaches introduce girls to a variety of individual and team sports. The nature of after-school programs pose limitations to the activities students can participate in. This project would allow Fit4Kids program staff to lead girls on active, outdoor field trips where they can enjoy the open spaces surrounding them to increase access to nature.

 

Grantee: Ivanhoe Civic League

Locality: Carroll County

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: Ivanhoe Civic League Park & Horse Show Grounds

Description: The League has owned and operated Jubilee Park and Horse Show Grounds for more than 20 years. All the facilities are in need of rehabilitation and improvement. Plans include placing new gravel surface on existing roads and creating a new entrance road, renovation of the existing music stage, concession and bathroom facilities, and horseshow ring, as well as improving camping sites, including adding (water, electric and septic hookup) sites, and adding a new fitness trail and playground area.

 

Grantee: Keep Prince William Beautiful

Locality: Prince William County

Grant Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Dale City Elementary Trail & Outdoor Classroom Improvement

Description: Dale City Elementary School currently has a trail that runs from the school to a section of the Neabsco Creek. This trail has been used by teachers to access the creek to teach students about water quality, conduct Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) activities on site and in the outdoor classroom located along the trail. Erosion and weather event impacts have made the trail impassable. Keep Prince William Beautiful will implement a trail and outdoor classroom renovation.

 

Grantee: Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

Locality: Gloucester County

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: MP-PAA Trail Blazer Initiative

Description: The MP-PAA is proposing a trail creation project at publicly owned Captain Sinclair’s Recreational Area (CSRA) to provide underserved citizens better access to public property. CSRA recently doubled in size from 100 to 200 acres. Knott Alone-Hold Fast Inc, a nonprofit organization providing hands on nature-based therapy to veterans battling effects from military service, will contract with the PAA for veterans to plan and build an estimated 3-5 mi of unimproved trails as integrative therapy.

 

Grantee: Sperryville Community Alliance

Locality: Rappahannock County

Grant Amount: $15,000

Project Title: Sperryville Trail Forest Canopy Restoration

Description: Expand existing project scope by removing invasive species from new areas along the Thornton River and planting them with native trees to complete the restoration of the tree canopy. Add interpretive signs describing the riparian enhancements. Project will encourage residents and visitors of all ages to relax and enjoy the river’s natural surroundings while accessing the village’s many amenities in a safe walking environment. Increases safe access by users to new areas of the trail.

 

Grantee: White House Farm Foundation

Locality: Prince William County

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: Accessible Bird Watching at Leopold’s Preserve

Description: Enhance accessibility of key birding locations at Leopold’s Preserve, with particular focus on access for underserved visitors who face mobility challenges. Redesign elements of the wetland observation platform to ensure that visitors who use wheelchairs have unobstructed views of the landscape and can easily read the interpretive signage. Add seating around the platform’s edge. Extend the length of paved trail to add a second accessible viewing location, including a bench.

 

Grantee: Wildrock

Locality: City of Charlottesville

Grant Amount: $2,500

Project Title: Wildrock’s Outdoor Explorers Program

Description: Wildrock’s Outdoor Explorers Program will bring children from a Title 1 elementary school to a local park where staff will facilitate nature play. The curriculum will incorporate environmental science and social and emotional learning. Children will be invited based on needs identified by school mental health professionals.

 

Grantee: Youth Sailing Virginia Inc.

Locality: City of Hampton

Grant Amount: $25,000

Project Title: Start Sailing Early at Youth Sailing Virginia!

Description: The shovel-ready project expands programs to elementary school-age kids by buying 6 Sail Cube beginner boats and 6 sets of tier 1 sails. The infrastructure upgrades increase access to open public outdoor water spaces and bring us within reach of upgrading 100% of our fleet of 18. It expands water safety and sailing instruction to underserved youth at all skill levels. The project builds diversity and maximizes access to outdoor sailing for all socioeconomic backgrounds, teaching life skills.

The Appomattox River Trail-Petersburg Gap Connection, City of Petersburg

FOLAR's stewardship program helps community members--like a class from the Appomattox Regional Governor's School--take ownership of the trail.

Protecting land is just the first move in the long game of trail accessibility, says Heather Barrar, Regional Trails Program Director for Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR). FOLAR is the lead organization working with many partners to put together the pieces of the Appomattox River Trail & Park system, which will eventually extend 25 miles, from Lake Chesdin in Chesterfield to Hopewell City Point at the convergence with the James River.

“First you need to build the foundation by protecting and securing public access to the natural assets,” Barrar explains. Funding from VOF’s Preservation Trust Fund in 2021 helped FOLAR with those first steps, assisting with the purchase of a riverfront parcel in Petersburg and protecting it with an open-space easement. By allowing for public access, the easement opens a crucial connector segment of the trail.

But there’s more to accessibility than just a flat surface, Barrar states. The new segment was overgrown with invasive plants, which narrowed the trail corridor and made it difficult for people of all abilities to maneuver. “Accessibility is also about keeping these spaces as welcoming as possible to get more people to use them.”

That’s where Elise Neuscheler comes in. A self-professed plant nerd, Neuscheler was hired as FOLAR’s first Environmental Stewardship Coordinator. The role was created in 2022 to scale up the organization’s ability to host volunteer cleanups and invasive plant removal along the trail. A 2022 grant from VOF’s Get Outdoors Fund and a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) helped jumpstart the position in its first year.

Neuscheler says part of her job is to break down the “green wall” for people who are new to working with plants. “Some people arrive with the passion and the knowledge,” she explains. “Others arrive a little nervous about plants and just see a green wall.  I use volunteer events to introduce people to a few plants at a time, explaining why we care about native species and how to spot and eradicate invasive ones.

Some volunteers prefer eradicating invasive plants...
Some volunteers prefer eradicating invasive plants...
...others are happier with trash clean up.
...others are happier with trash clean up.
Volunteers have also installed benches along the trail.
Volunteers have also installed benches along the trail.
FOLAR’s monthly Stewardship Saturdays, which Neuscheler developed and coordinates, have been successful at building a core group of repeat volunteers and in attracting new participants, thanks to the fact that people can choose their stewardship task, says Neuscheler. “People love to do different things. We have people who happily go off with a garbage bag and picker; others would rather help remove the invasive plants.” DOF funding has ensured her position for a second year, growing it to full time and supporting the development of a comprehensive invasive plant inventory and removal plan, while VOF is working with multiple partners to protect more property that will close gaps in the trail system and protect the riverfront. Neuscheler is aiming to grow the volunteer base by establishing partnerships with corporate and school groups.

The results of this work are visible in the wildlife that has returned to this highly urbanized segment of the river. Along with the renewed presence of raptors and songbirds, Neuscheler says, other water-loving critters are showing up. “On a recent Stewardship Saturday, we saw a river otter squiggling down the Appomattox, right past VSU’s waterfront.” The animals are testaments to improved water quality since FOLAR has ramped up its outreach, and proof that what’s good for the river is good for everyone.

For more information about FOLAR’s Stewardship Saturdays and to sign up, visit the events page on their website.

Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve doubles in size

Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve doubles in size
Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserved is named after the American chestnut, which formerly made up a significant component of this forest.

(The following announcement comes from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.)

A Virginia natural area preserve near the West Virginia border featuring old-growth forests has doubled in size with funding support from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has expanded Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve by purchasing 775 acres of land, bringing the size of this preserve in Giles and Bland counties to 1,596 acres.

“With this expansion of Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve, we are protecting core forest habitat for native plants, natural communities and animals in the Central Appalachian region,” said DCR Director Matthew Wells. “This addition also protects a ConserveVirginia land conservation priority, including a scenic corridor and 1.5 miles of riparian forest along Dry Fork, a native trout stream.”

Virginia’s natural area preserve system was established to protect habitats for rare plants and animals as well as the state’s best examples of natural communities. A natural community is an assemblage of native plants and animals that occurs repeatedly on the landscape under similar ecological conditions.

The original Chestnut Ridge preserve has an outstanding example of a Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak-Northern Red Oak forest with old-growth characteristics including individual trees over 300 years old. Two additional natural communities have been documented on the newly acquired portions of the Chestnut Ridge preserve, both of which are among the best of their types in Virginia. These include Central Appalachian Montane Oak-Hickory Forest Central and a globally and state imperiled Central Appalachian Mountain Pond.

“Our protection work to expand the amount of forest land and natural communities in and around Chestnut Ridge will go a long way to ensuring that the existing old-growth forests in the heart of the natural area preserve remain undisturbed and resilient,” said Jason Bulluck, director of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at DCR, which manages the state’s 66 natural area preserves. “The entire area is classified as an ‘outstanding’ ecological core – the highest possible ranking in the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment.”

The preserve, originally 233 acres, was established in 2006 with an open space easement and natural area deed of dedication recorded by the former landowners through a grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. In 2020, the first preserve expansion occurred through DCR’s purchase of additional forested areas lying to the north and the south.

The name of the preserve is a nod to the American chestnut, a formerly significant component of the forest here. Once an integral part of forests throughout the Appalachian region, this species has been decimated everywhere by the chestnut blight fungus, but, with the development of novel genotypes, may someday be restored across its native range.

As DCR’s ownership began only in 2020, resources have not been made available for public access facilities, parking areas nor established trails on the property.

Funds for the latest acquisition were awarded through VOF’s Forest Community Opportunities for Restoration and Enhancement (CORE) Fund, which was established to mitigate for forest fragmentation caused by the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

2022 Community Impact report available

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation has released the 2022 Community Impact report showcasing its work at the Bull Run Mountains Preserve. You may download a PDF copy of the report here.

The report features events, research, fellowships, partnerships and more from last year, such as our interpretive hikes, bio-blitzes, and work with local schools on trout reintroduction and other projects.

VOF is grateful to all of the partners, volunteers, donors, and other supporters who make our programs at the preserve a success.

 

VOF hosts Girl Scouts at Bull Run Mountains Preserve

VOF hosts Girl Scouts at Bull Run Mountains Preserve
Girls Scouts Nation's Capital enjoyed their packed lunches as they learned the principles of Leave no Trace at the Preserve.

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation recently helped 135 members from Girls Scouts Nation’s Capital (GSNC) earn outdoors-related badges at VOF’s Bull Run Mountains Preserve. In four April events, scouts explored the preserve on guided hikes with VOF conservation assistant Deneith Reif and GSNC program specialist Courtney Bigbee. The girls (and a few parents) saw spring wildflowers, native trees in first leaf, and the flight of juvenile winged ants on their way to starting new colonies.

GSNC program specialist Courtney Bigbee reached out to the Preserve’s Deneith Reif to arrange the merit badge events.

Badges are a record of scouts’ progress as they build areas of expertise. There is an “Outdoors” category for badges, with individual badges geared toward different age groups, from younger Daisies and Brownies (K-3rd grade) to older Juniors and Cadettes (4th – 8th grade).

To earn their Eco Learner and Outdoor Adventurer badges, Daisies and Brownies learned how to protect the environment as they explored the outdoors, including the principles of Leave No Trace. During the guided hike, the girls practiced eating their snack on the trail, making sure to pack up all garbage and take it with them. “In many cases the scouts were actually better than the adults,” Reif says. “It was very cute and funny to see them giving reminders to their parents about how to do that.”

Different age groups attended each of the four events, which we designed to give the scouts age-appropriate learning opportunities.

Juniors and Cadettes earned badges that showed they understand the structure of flowers and trees and can identify native species. “Deneith did an amazing job with our older scouts who were interested in the science of it all,” says Bigbee. Reith adds that some of the older girls were also interested in the cultural assets present on the preserve. “There were a couple of girls who were drawn to a Victorian headstone in the Dawson cemetery. There was something for everyone.”

Reif and Bigbee are looking forward to developing more opportunities for the scouts to come out to the preserve. “We will list volunteer opportunities for our scouts to be able to earn hours that can be used towards different projects,” Bigbee says. “The Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Experiencing and volunteering at the preserve is one of the best ways we can think of to achieve those things.” Troop leaders interested in bringing a group out to the preserve can reach out to Reif (dreif@vof.org) or preserve manager Joe Villari (jvillari@vof.org) to set up an event.

IRS issues guidance on “faulty” language in certain easements

A notice recently published by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may affect conservation easements that contain boundary line adjustment provisions and/or extinguishment provisions if the easements were used to claim federal tax deductions.

In its notice, the IRS is providing “Safe Harbor” language that can be used to substitute what it considers “faulty” language that may trigger an audit. The substitution process must be done by amendment, which must be recorded on or before Monday, July 24, 2023.

Most easements recorded by VOF within the past six years don’t contain a boundary line adjustment provision. Furthermore, most easements recorded by VOF within the past six years contain extinguishment provisions that are functionally, but not word for word, equivalent to the IRS Safe Harbor language.

VOF easement donors who claimed federal deductions and have any questions about whether such Safe Harbor language should be substituted for any boundary line adjustment provision or extinguishment provision in their easements should contact their attorneys to discuss this matter.

VOF’s Board of Trustees will consider a resolution at its June 1 meeting authorizing staff to assist with any desired amendments. VOF is unable to provide legal advice.  

The Land Trust Alliance (LTA), a national conservation organization that supports hundreds of land trusts across the nation and follows easement-related tax policy matters closely, has created a document entitled “Integrity Act’s Safe Harbor Provisions; Frequently Asked Questions” that provides landowners with further information about how the Safe Harbor provisions may safeguard their federal tax deductions. This document may be found at https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/learn/explore/integrity-act-s-safe-harbor-provisions-frequently-asked-questions.

The IRS notice, which that sets forth the Safe Harbor language and spells out how to substitute such language for “faulty” language in an easement, may be found at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-23-30.pdf.

Camp Under the Stars, Prince William County

Camp Under the Stars, Prince William County
With funding from VOF's Get Outdoors Fund in 2022, Camp Under the Stars, Inc., provided kids from the D.C. area with summer-camp experiences while building an inclusive and supportive camp community.

At Camp Under the Stars, every camper is different, and those differences help to “make camp magical,” says Jacque Yue, executive director and co-founder of Under the Stars, Inc., a nonprofit overnight summer “micro” camp that serves kids from the greater Washington, D.C. area. Micro camps are small by design, limiting the number of campers so that camp staff know them all by name and can provide individualized support when needed.

With a 12:2 camper-to-staff ratio, kids at Camp Under the Stars get individualized support.

Taking place in Prince William National Forest Park in July and August, sessions are capped at 40 campers each, ages 5-17, with a camper-to-staff ratio of 12 to 2. A 2022 grant from VOF’s Get Outdoors Fund helped to cover the park rental fees, as well as a portion of attendance fees for campers who received financial aid.

Camp Under the Stars’ mission is to create “a supportive, inclusive camp community that values each child’s uniqueness, celebrates our differences, and respects nature and the planet,” says Yue. That’s where the magic starts. With such a diverse group of attendees, “We focus on empathy and kindness and inclusion,” she states. “Our campers really take that in and run with it. I’m so impressed with their ability to include each other and root their interactions in equity and consideration for others’ feelings.”

A no-screen policy means that campers get a chance to notice their surroundings.

Camp activities include art, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, waterfall walks, campfire meals, and outdoor play. Outdoor science and reading activities are also part of the experience. Yue says that the reading activity is popular with attendees because they get to make their own choices. “You’d be surprised how much kids like to read if they have options,” she states. “They get to choose any book from the library, take it out to the hammock village and read. Some campers want to get through as many books as fast as they can in the time they have; others prefer to be read to. Some kids decide not to read; they’d rather lay in a hammock and just look at the sky, and that’s great, too.”

Camp Under the Stars is screen free, Yue adds. “It can be hard to give

Some campers load up on books for the daily reading period in the hammock village.

that up, both for kids and adults,” but she notes that the no-screen policy really frees campers to take time to notice small things. “I’ve seen them fascinated by a puddle full of tadpoles, or turtles sunning themselves in the lake while we’re kayaking.”

Yue says another magical part of camp is departure day, when kids reunite with their parents after the session is over. “It’s beautiful to watch campers introduce their parents to all their new friends and to watch parents exchange contact information and plan playdates. We know that many of these friendships wouldn’t be possible without the opportunity to meet a diverse group in this space.”

For more information about Camp Under the Stars and opportunities to sign up for summer 2023’s week-long and two-night sessions, go to their website.

 

Wetlands Watch & VOF announce second round for Coastal Resilience & Trees Fund

Wetlands Watch and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation have announced a second round of funding available through the Coastal Resilience & Trees Fund (CRTF). $90,000 is available this grant round for capacity building, implementation, stewardship, and tree-planting projects in Virginia’s Coastal Zone. All eligibility requirements remain the same from the first round of funding, the details of which may be found here. Applications are due on July 7th at 11:59 p.m.

Application resources:

Please note that there are extensive resources available on the CRTF webpage to assist you in completing a grant proposal. Reach out to this grants@wetlandswatch.org if you have any questions.