This is an updated version of the Watershed Calendar, listing the correct location for the Butterfly/Dragon Walk which is to be held at Dyke Marsh (NOT at Clifton Institute as originally listed). Please see below under Community Events & Webinars for details and registration information.

When: Thursday, July 7, 2:00pm

Where: Purcellville Library, Purcellville

Join Amy Ulland and meet some of the critters living in our streams up close and try your hand at identifying them, conduct a simulated stream survey, and design your own creek critter. This program is being jointly sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Loudoun County Public Library as part of LCPL’s Summer Reading Program, and is intended for elementary-aged students. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Sunday, July 17, 10:00am-12:30pm

Where: Hidden Pond Nature Center, Springfield

This is the workshop site of a recently-retired stream monitor and is currently up for adoption. Come join us at this beautiful county park! Space is limited, please register for the workshop here.

When: Saturday, July 23, 9:00-11:30am

Where: Holmes Run Stream Valley Park, Falls Church

This workshop site is an easily-accessible location just downstream of Lake Barcroft. Come explore this beautiful spot in the Cameron Run watershed! Space is limited, please register for the workshop here.

When: Sunday, August 21, 10:00am-12:30pm

Where: Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, Great Falls

This quiet site is known for numerous macros and a relatively high stream score. In spring we found a high number of midges - will we find the same this visit? Space is limited, please register for the workshop here.

When: Saturday, August 27, 9:00-11:30am

Where: Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon

This stream site parallels the park trail and is a favorite with local runners, bikers, and dog walkers! This site scored higher in the spring monitoring than it had in past years - join us to see if this positive trend continues! Space is limited, please register for the workshop here.

When: Sunday, August 28, 1:00pm

Where: Chapman DeMary Trail, Purcellville

Join the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy to get up close and personal with the creek critters living in the South Fork of the Catoctin Creek at the Chapman DeMary Trail. Loudoun Wildlife Stream Team members will discuss the natural history of these critters, help participants learn how to identify them, and explain how they can help us determine the health of a stream. Registration required through Purcellville Parks and Recreation website. Learn more here.

We're very excited to contribute our stream data to state and national datasets. If you'd like to see data from all the NVSWCD regional stream monitoring team's active sites, you can find our organization on the Clean Water Hub.

The 2022 Photo Contest theme is “Conservation Moments.”  A full list of contest rules can be found here: Photo Contest Rules or on the VASWCD website. You can submit up to 10 photos online here. All photographs must be taken within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Reach out to Maura Christian with any questions.

Calling all student artists! The 2022 Conservation Poster Contest theme is "Healthy Soil, Healthy Life." This contest is open to any K-12 student and participating scouts can earn a badge. We also have a new digital poster contest this year for students in grades 7-12. Learn more and contact Ashley Palmer with questions.

View the online Fairfax County Park Authority ParkTakes May Calendar of Events!

When: Thursday, July 7, 11:00am-12:30pm

Where: Morven Park, Leesburg

Join Nancy Morgan, Director Emeritus, Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, for this regular monthly (first Thursday) opportunity to enjoy the combined health benefits of time spent in nature and writing thoughts and feelings. Each session is a stand-alone event. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, July 7, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. In this webinar you can learn from Zach Carnegie, Maryland Forest Project Coordinator for the Alliance, how to plant, prune, and maintain your home’s trees. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, July 9,9:00am

Where: Dyke Marsh (Correct Location)

Join the Friends of Dyke Marsh on a butterfly/dragonfly walk with Larry Meade, President of the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Learn about Dyke Marsh’s great diversity of these insects and their host plants. So all can hear, we must limit this to 20 people. To register, send an email to info@fodm.com and put Butterfly Walk in the subject box. Meet at the Haul Road Trail entrance. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sun and insect protection. We kindly request that you not bring pets.

When: Saturday, July 9,10:00am-12:00pm

Where: The Clifton Institute, Warrenton

Come and learn about butterfly biology and identification. Dr. Bert Harris will give a short presentation followed by a guided walk around the field station to look for butterflies (and perhaps some dragonflies as well). All skill levels welcome! More more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, July 14, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Did you know bats benefit greatly from forest cover? Join James Kauffman, Pennsylvania Forests Project Coordinator for the Alliance, to learn more about bats and how we benefit from them. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, July 14, 7:00-8:00pm

Where: Online

Only one ticket needed per viewing device - you are welcome to watch with family or friends! $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Learn more and register here.

When: Tuesday, July 19, 6:30-8:00pm

Where: Arlington Public Library, Arlington

Join the Arlington Public Library to learn why native trees and seeds are so important to our environment and waterways. Alexis Dickerson, Director of Seed and Tree Programs at Potomac Conservancy, will present in the Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Wednesday, July 20, 7:00-9:00pm

Where: Online

The flower patch is abuzz with pollinators but also predators looking for a meal. Learn about the good guys vs. the bad guys with “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” camouflaged “crabs,” and zombie bees. You will never look at your flowers the same way after visiting this “Serengeti” in miniature. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, July 21, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. What can you plant at home that will increase habitat and require less yard work? Native plants! Join Tyler Walston, Maryland Agriculture Projects Coordinator for the Alliance, as he shares more about how he is transforming his yard. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, July 23, 9:30-11:30am

Where: Willowsford Farm, Ashburn

Many different habitats at Willowsford Conservancy make this an ideal place to find a wide variety of butterflies. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Michael Myers and Anne Ellis for a walk along the Farm Loop trail in search of Monarchs, Tiger Swallowtails, Summer Azures, and many other native beauties. for more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, July 23, 9:00am-3:00pm

Where: The Clifton Institute, Warrenton

Every year, community scientists help count the butterflies in 15-mile-diameter circles all around the country and contribute their data to the North American Butterfly Association. Butterfly enthusiasts of all levels of experience are welcome! For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, July 28, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Curious what birds are flying around your local landscapes? Emily Broich, Pennsylvania Green Projects Coordinator for the Alliance, will share how you can spot and identify birds in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, August 4, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Bees are all the buzz. Join Savannah Lightcap, Green Infrastructure Projects Assistant for the Alliance, as she shares how you can identify bees, plant bee habitats, and rehome unwanted bees. Then, Brittany Smith, Pennsylvania Agriculture Projects Manager, will share her very own bee colony. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, August 4, 11:00am-12:30pm

Where: Morven Park, Leesburg

Join Nancy Morgan, Director Emeritus, Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, for this regular monthly (first Thursday) opportunity to enjoy the combined health benefits of time spent in nature and writing thoughts and feelings. Each session is a stand-alone event. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, August 6, 9:00am

Where: Loudoun County

Each year the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) asks volunteers around the nation to count all the butterflies they see within specified count circles. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's circle stretches from Leesburg to the Blue Ridge and from Lovettsville to Lincoln. All ages and experience levels are welcome — you’ll be teamed up with experienced leaders. There is a $3 fee per adult; Loudoun Wildlife members and children under 18 participate for free. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, August 6, 8:00-10:00pm

Where: Izaak Walton League Chapter House, Leesburg

Join Dr. Adamski, PhD, member of the Department of Entomology for the National Museum of Natural History, for his presentation on these most abundant of all animals. Learn why they are so successful in all types of environments. From camouflage, warning coloration, and mimicry to sound production, predation, cannibalism, and metamorphosis; all will be explained in family-friendly language. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, August 11, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Rain washes chemicals and fertilizers into our streams, rivers, and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. Learn from Carly Starobin, D.C. Projects Coordinator for the Alliance, as she shares foolproof ways you can manage your stormwater. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturday, August 13, 7:30-9:30pm

Where: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Purcellville

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is excited to present Bat Night led by The Bat Lady, Dr. Susanne Sterbing, world-renowned bat expert and research professor at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Sterbing will present a fascinating audio-visual presentation followed by a question-and-answer period. You don’t want to miss Dr. Sterbing’s description of the strange feeding rituals of vampire bats! The lecture will be followed by a live bat viewing (hopefully) down at the pond. Family friendly; wear good walking shoes and bring flashlights and bug repellant. Registration required. Learn more and register here.

When: Thursday, August 18, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Join Ryan Davis, Senior Forests Project Manager for the Alliance, to learn how to identify numerous tree species in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Thursday, August 25, 12:00pm

Where: Online

This webinar is part of the Ask the Alliance series hosted by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Learn from Lauren Sauder, Stewardship coordinator for the Alliance, how to prevent thousands of pounds of trash from entering your waterways. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Wednesdays, July 6 and August 3, 10:00am-1:00pm

Where: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria

Plant NOVA Natives is hosts a native plant sale on the first Wednesday of each month. Find a variety of plants to add to your garden to aid pollinators and native birds and add natural beauty. For more information, click here.

When: Mondays, July 18 - August 15, 6:00-8:00pm

Where: Zoom lectures + 3 field trips

Gain an appreciation of the varied summer wildflowers of our region from dazzling orchids to roadside “weeds” and from distinctive milkweeds to the complicated asters. Explore methods of field identification to give you tools to go outside and hunt for flowers! The cost is $260 for Fairfax Master Naturalist Members and $310 for non members. For more information and to register, click here.

As community associations around Northern Virginia ramp up their native tree planting efforts, they are looking around to find ways to make it affordable. Burke Centre resident Craig Willett has solved that problem for his neighbors: all they have to do is fill out a simple form to get a free tree. For more information, click here.

You can download it for free from our website or see this page for purchasing information for print copies. Our updated version has an expanded section on trees as well as a few additional plant species.

Stream Cleanups

There are dozens of calls for community action and volunteering, particularly for stream cleanups across the county and region, but here are a few we think you might be interested in.

When: Ongoing

Where: Loudoun County

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has limited openings on trails in Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg and Middleburg. Trails are organized so that each person monitors one time a month. Positions filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up here if you are interested in becoming a Bluebird Monitor on one of the LWC trails.

When: Every Friday, April-October, 8:30am-12:00pm

Where: Various locations

Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out in temperate months (April-October), normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association's Annual Count. Registration is required, to learn more and to register, click here.

When: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays in July

Where: Lake Accotink, Springfield

Did you know that invasive plants are a huge threat to local wildlife, including migrating birds? Help out these creatures by volunteering to remove exotic invasive plants at Lake Accotink Park! For more information and to sign up, click here.

When: Saturdays July 2, 16, and 23

Where: Eakin Park

Help with habitat restoration by removing exotic invasive species from the trees and ground within this neighborhood park. Help with habitat restoration by removing exotic invasive species from the trees and ground within this neighborhood park. For more information and to sign up click here.

When: Saturday, July 2, 8:00-11:00am

Where: JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary, Lucketts

Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for habitat restoration projects that include invasive plant removal and trail maintenance. Please be aware that you may encounter poison ivy and ticks at the work site. Long sleeves and insect repellant are recommended. For more information and to register, click here.

When: Saturdays, July 16 and 30, August 13 and 27, 9:00-11:00am

Where: Dyke Marsh, Alexandria

Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. FODM will train volunteers to identify the five or so target plants. Sign up by sending an email to info@fodm.org. Put "invasive plants" in the subject box Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants. For more events and information click here.

When: Saturday, August 6, 8:00-11:00am

Where: JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary, Lucketts

Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for habitat restoration projects that include invasive plant removal and trail maintenance. Please be aware that you may encounter poison ivy and ticks at the work site. Long sleeves and insect repellant are recommended. For more information and to register, click here.