Volunteers Show up for the Community and Environment!

We had two events this past month that allowed us to support the community and get people out into nature! Our annual Clifton Haunted Trail was a successful night of fun and fright! This event is one of our favorite Halloween traditions and supports the Clifton community. A portion of the proceeds from the night went toward the upkeep of our nature preserve in the town.

Volunteers also helped us tackle something even scarier than haunted trails: invasive plant species! We held an English ivy removal event at our Terborgh Terrace garden in North Arlington with our partners at Friends of Urban Agriculture and Subaru. English ivy spreads rapidly and prevents other plants from reaching sunlight or accessing nutrients, and with our group of volunteers, we were able to remove a large amount of ivy from the garden!   

Welcome Celena to the NVCT Team!

Welcome the newest addition to the NVCT team, Celena Romero! Celena came to us all the way from Dallas, Texas.  Having always been passionate about wildlife protection, Celena obtained her bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries. Throughout the past 3 years, Celena has worked in animal care positions at several zoos and aquariums. During that time, she felt she could do more to preserve the environment and wanted to create a more significant impact. This led her to attain a master’s degree in non-profit management at Colorado State University. During her graduate studies, Celena interned at Butterfly Pavilion, first on their animal care team and then their marketing team. She was also the head of the marketing committee for her graduate program. As an avid film fan, Celena also ran the Biology Department Film Club (featured screenings: The Fly (1986), The Fire of Love (2022), Princess Mononoke (1997).

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Celena has assured us that she brought those big ideas to Northern Virginia. She finds communications work within conservation-focused non-profits rewarding because she can use her creativity, enthusiasm, and knowledge to create content that helps others feel as passionate as she does about environmental preservation. Celena is eager to learn about the local community and its residents (both humans and wildlife!). 

Events

Conservationists of Color

Our Conservationists of Color read-a-thon returns this winter! During our read-a-thon, we celebrate the significant contributions of conservationists from diverse backgrounds by sharing their words, listening, and learning about their perspectives on the great outdoors!

January 26

5pm - 7pm

Busboys& Poets

4251 Campbell Ave

Arlington, VA 22206

Species Spotlight

Freshwater Turtle



Our lands team evaluates the properties we protect to ensure the ecosystem is thriving and meeting our conservation standards. While doing so, they often stumble upon wonderful examples of nearby nature! This month’s featured fauna is a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)



Not so fun fact: red-eared sliders are an invasive species! These turtles are commonly sold as pets and infiltrate environments when owners release them into the wild.

Saving Nearby Nature

Tank Creek Preserve

Tank Creek Preserve is a beautiful 20-acre hardwood grove in Stafford that plays a crucial role in supporting local wildlife, offering natural benefits to our community, and providing future recreational opportunities for all Virginians. We have until December 31st to raise the funds to safeguard this precious area forever!

But what makes Tank Creek so special and why should you be a part of preserving it? Read more to find out and donate to save it!

NVCT Story

Children are the Future

Each year, classrooms at Colin Powell Elementary choose a charity to raise money for, and this year, NVCT was chosen! Fueled by the promise of a pajama day for the class that raised the most money, students enthusiastically embarked on a three-week-long campaign to save nearby nature.

Read more to find out what inspired the land stewards of the future and how much they raised!