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Festival at Leopold’s Preserve Coming This Fall, September 23

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Saturday, September 23, 2023
11 am – 3 pm
16290 Thoroughfare Rd, Broad Run, VA 20137

See the schedule here.

Mark your calendars for the Fall Festival at Leopold’s Preserve on Saturday, September 23, from 11 am – 3 pm EST. Presented by the White House Farm Foundation and Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, this family-friendly celebration promises a delightful experience amidst the splendor of the fall season.

This exciting event will feature an array of activities and attractions for all ages. Enjoy the festivities with tables from nonprofit organizations, vendors offering unique goods, popular delights from food trucks, and local wine.

For nature enthusiasts, embark on guided nature hikes that will unveil the breathtaking beauty of Leopold’s Preserve, allowing you to explore its trails, meadows, and observation areas. Kids will have a blast with fun-filled activities like face painting, carnival-style games, and a raffle of nature-related products. Don’t miss out on this memorable event that brings together the community and champions for the environment.

It will be a great time, and they look forward to seeing you there!

NVCT’s Changemakers: Today’s Weather, Tomorrow’s Climate, July 28th

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Noon
Register here.

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust‘s Changemakers series returns with Jason Samenow of the Washington Posts’ Capital Weather Gang along with NVCT board member John Hopewell as they lead a discussion and Q & A on Today’s Weather, Tomorrow’s Climate. 
 
Join the webinar as these meteorological wizards discuss our region’s unpredictable and increasingly severe weather and how NVCT’s work protecting natural areas is critical to helping Northern Virginia adapt to our changing climate.Jason

NVCT Kayak Cleanup, June 13th

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Hunting Creek watershed adjacent to I-495
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Two sessions: 10am – Noon OR 11am – 1pm
Each participant must register.

Help Northern Virginia Conservation Trust clean up the Hunting Creek watershed adjacent to Interstate 495! The trash and debris that pile in from the Potomac River and Cameron Run harms the environment and hinders outdoor activity around the area. They hope you’ll jump in a kayak or canoe and join them for their annual cleanup. Kayak rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust Nearby Nature Bioblitz, October 14th – November 14th

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Click here to learn more and get started!

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust Nearby Nature Bioblitz, October 14th-November 14th

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust invites you to participate in their first ever BioBlitz! Become a Citizen Scientist by exploring nature and helping gather valuable data in your very own neighborhood.

How? They’ll be using iNaturalist to conduct NVCT’s first ever BioBlitz. With a fun, easy to use app and website, iNaturalist enables people to capture and share information that helps us all learn about nature.

Why? A BioBlitz helps people connect with the nature around them and every observation, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed, can contribute to our understanding of the world around us. All you have to do is observe and have fun.

What? A BioBlitz is an organized communal effort to record as many species as possible within a designated location and time period.

Where? Literally anywhere outdoors in Northern Virginia.

When? October 14 — November 14, 2020

NVCT Social Distancing Nature Photo Contest, entries accepted May 11th – June 15th

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During these tough times, nature is bringing much-needed peace and tranquility to us all as spring blooms throughout Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia Conservation Trust wants to celebrate this beauty with you by holding the first-ever Spring Edition of their annual photo contest. The rules are the same as usual with one new twist that all photos will be judged together. We welcome submissions from anyone – especially young people – that wish to participate and submit their photos using our guidelines

Categories for Spring 2020:
From My Window
Photos of the nature visible from your window. This can be everything from views to your own flower boxes. Great for folks who may not have their own yards and live in apartments or condominiums.
My Backyard
Photos of the natural world available in our yards to those who have them. Kids and dogs playing are welcome!
Spring is Here
Photos that show the beauty of the world waking up from its winter slumber. New buds on trees, fox kits, baby deer – basically anything that says spring to you.
Social Distancing in Nature
Photos depicting how you and yours are social distancing while being renewed by nature during these difficult times.

Learn more here.

Aldo Leopold Read-a-thon, Jan. 19th

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Busboys and Poets
4521 Campbell Ave., Arlington VA
Sunday, 19 January 2020
5-7 pm

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust will honor legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and celebrate what would have been his 133rd birthday. Listen to thought-provoking and inspiring passages from his published works led by invited guest speakers with some open slots for volunteer readers from the crowd! More information.

Calling all amateur photographers!

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Northern Virginia Conservation Trust’s Sixth Annual Nearby Nature Photography Contest is going on right now.

Categories for Adults

  • Awesome Animals
  • Beautiful Bugs
  • Fantastic Flowers
  • Tremendous Trees

Categories for Youth (under 18): Same categories listed above – but will be judged separately.

Parameters: 

  • Submitted photos must be taken within the Trust’s service area: Arlington, Caroline, Fairfax, Fauquier, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties; and nearby independent cities including Alexandria, City of Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
  • Each participant may enter up to 4 photos, taken any time of year. Please do note that each photographer is only eligible for only one award per year.

General Contest Information

  • The NVCT Nearby Nature Photography Competition is open to non-professional photographers of all ages. This contest hopes to promote awareness and appreciation for all the beautiful natural wonders that are found in the small, medium, and large outdoor spaces in our communities – including our backyards, local forests, and local working lands.
  • Photographers retain all rights to photographs submitted and agree to grant NVCT the right to publish the images with or without names. Even if your photos don’t make the final cut, you may still see your images used to help promote NVCT’s conservation work online or in print materials! This growing stock of imagery is a great asset to our organization, and we greatly appreciate your contribution!

How to Enter

  • Choose or go take some awesome nature photos!
  • Download and complete the entry form and photograph release, linked here: adult form; youth form
  • Email the forms and your photos to [email protected] by midnight, Wed., Oct. 31.
  • Please put your name, the category, and the title of your photo in the subject line of the email. If submitting more than one photo you may send one email – please just label the photos.
  • Look out for our announcement of the winners in November! Judges will review the submissions for creativity, content, composition, and originality, and award the top photographs by youth and adults in each category. Youth categories may be combined.
  • Come to the showcase on January 11, 2020 so that we can thank you for your participation (optional)!

Feel free to contact our communications coordinator, Leah, if you have any questions!

Canoe/Kayak clean up, Sept. 28th

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Belle Haven Marina
George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Alexandria, VA 22307
Saturday, 28 September 2019
10am – 3pm

Thanks to funding from TransUrban ExpressLanes Community Grant program Northern Virginia Conservation Trust will be holding a second Canoe/Kayak Cleanup this year!

This time they will be launching from Belle Haven Marina and will provide a free lunch for our volunteers at Belle Haven Park afterwards!

This will be a great time to both do your part to clean up our waterways and also to make some new friends!

Click here to register!

Hunting Creek clean-up with canoe & kayak, June 8th

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Hunting Creek, Hunting Creek, Virginia, USA
Saturday, 8 June 2019
11 am

Join the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust on June 8 for a canoe/kayak cleanup at Hunting Creek in Alexandria, VA! The goal is to remove debris and trash from Hunting Creek – a tidal wetland which flows directly into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. Help them support a healthy and thriving environment for all the plants and wildlife who rely on this habitat. If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP to Emily Bowman at [email protected] or 703-559-3620. Click here to learn more.

A free cookout will take place after the cleanup for all attendees.

NVCT Conservation Luncheon, 21 March 2019

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Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA  22209

Thursday, 21 March 2019

11:30 am Registration/Networking

12-2 pm Lunch and Program

Save the date for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) 2019 Conservation Luncheon! On March 21, 2019 NVCT will host their 25th Anniversary Luncheon at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA.  The speakers for the luncheon are going to include top business and political leaders from Northern Virginia, including Chairman of the Arlington County Board Christian Dorsey, about the impact of Amazon’s arrival in our region. The featured speakers will share their expertise and views on the balance we must find between open space and land conservation and the new development and infrastructure necessary to attract growing, innovative businesses.

Secure your seat now. Click here to purchase your ticket. If you’re interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, click here.