Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale is looking for volunteers to help with their fall migratory bird counts. The surveys occur every Saturday at 8am beginning on September 20th, running through and including November 22nd. Each will last an hour. The goal is to get a sense of what migratory birds stop by Hidden Oaks […]
The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native acorns, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. This year VDoF has again partnered with Potomac Conservancy’s Tomorrow Tree’s Program, Fairfax Tree […]
Written by FMN Katy Johnson The Fairfax County Park Authority has over 420 parks; 82 of those parks, comprising 13,341 acres, are designated/classified as resource-based parkland. Resourced-based parkland does not usually contain recreational facilities and is managed to protect the biological communities and cultural resources in environmentally sensitive and significant lands. The Landscape Legacy and […]
Under the leadership of FMN Jo Doumbia, FMN has supported the Culmore Teen Center and Second Story programs since 2023. The 2025 summer program just wrapped up and Jo would like to thank the ten FMN volunteers that directly supported their outdoor activities. This year FMN directly supported four rewarding outdoor nature programs: 1. A […]
The Fairfax Chapter (FMN) has one official Cooperative Agreement (CA). A mutual agreement between FMN and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) agreeing to provide mutually beneficial resources. The CA was originally signed in 2007 with a revised version of the CA was signed in 2022 by VCE Exec Dir. Micheal Cutter (for FMN) and FCPA […]
As announced by FCPA at its meeting on May 28, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a resolution honoring 20 individuals as 2025 Outstanding Volunteers. These peer-nominated individuals were recognized for their dedication to community and their invaluable service to the Fairfax County park system. Of the twenty, two Fairfax Chapter Master Naturalist volunteers […]
… FMN Kathryn Pasternak for the Outdoors Maryland segment titled “Ghost Rivers”. Ghost Rivers tells the story of Sumwalt Run, a stream that once flowed through Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood. In the early 20th century it was buried in a brick and concrete culvert up to 40 feet below street level. The same fate as natural […]
Announcing the ‘FMN only’ summer Kayak Tours at Mason Neck State Park! June Evening: Saturday, 6/28/25, 6:00-8:00 PM July Evening: Friday, 7/25/25, 6:00-8:00 PM August Morning: Sunday, 8/24/25, 9:00-11:00 AM September Afternoon: Sunday, 9/07/25, 1:00-3:00 PM The 2 hour tours guide paddlers out into Belmont Bay and up Kane’s Creek into the heart of the […]
As many readers already know, FMN has maintained a signed Cooperative Agreement (CA) with Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) since chapter inception in 2007. Annually, FMN contributes more collective volunteer hours towards FCPA Activity Codes than any other single partner organization. In turn, FCPA provides FMN with course instructors, meeting facilities, volunteer opportunities, and access […]
By: FMN Ana Ka’ahanui (Capital Nature) It was the day before Easter. I navigated the busy parking lot of the Springfield Costco in Newington, scanning the area for a group of outdoorsy looking people. I found them. With walking sticks, backpacks and water bottles, I saw a few dozen people assembled at the back of […]