June 2020
Watershed Calendar
Hello ,
Many traditional events hosted by NVSWCD and other environmental organizations have been cancelled or postponed due to rising concerns regarding COVID-19 and in efforts to best protect our volunteers. We hope that you'll use this time to take advantage of virtual learning opportunities and citizen science volunteer events.

Because we've got you covered! June is our month of sustainable gardens, so check out the Virtual Sustainable Garden Tour! We're still running our other programs, like the scout patch program, conservation poster contest, and VASWCD photo contest. We're even announcing a soil citizen science campaign to bury your underpants! (Yep, you read that right!)

So read on and see all the cool things happening in your community this month, because we're happy to share them with you!

As you've heard many times before, wash your hands, stay home, and take care of yourself. Keep in touch with NVSWCD on our Facebook and Instagram . Your friendly neighborhood stream monitors will be very happy to welcome you back when we can!

Ashley Palmer
Conservation Education Specialist
ashley.palmer@fairfaxcounty.gov
703-324-1423
NVSWCD/VASWCD Opportunities
VASWCDEF Student Patches: Soil Expert & Living in Your Watershed Patch
When: now through June 30, 2020
Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is offering students the opportunity to earn patches even while social distancing. Students in 3 rd  grade and above will be able to earn the Soil Expert Patch , and students in 4 th  grade and above will be able to earn the Living in Your Watershed Patch . Check out their website to see how you can earn these special edition patches! (while supplies last)
NVSWCD "Soil" Your Undies Challenge
Participate July-September 2020
 Have you ever wondered how healthy your soil is?  Take the  Soil Your Undies Challenge  and find out!  NVSWCD is challenging farmers and ranchers across Fairfax County to bury a pair of cotton underwear as part of a campaign to promote soil health awareness. Find out more on our website !  
VASWCD Photo Contest
Due: July 31
The VASWCD is committed to conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs and we want to see it through your eyes. In celebration of Earth’s Day 50th Anniversary, our 2020 Photo Contest theme is “Earth Day Everyday.” Capture those vibrant moments and express what earth day everyday looks like to you! Check out how you can enter on their website !
Conservation Poster Contest
Where would we BEE without pollinators?
Submit by : August 14, 2020
Calling all K12 students! The Conservation Poster Contest for 2020 is now open with the theme "Where would we BEE without pollinators?" The contest is open to all students! All scouts who enter receive a Conservation Poster Contest Patch. Visit our website to see the contest rules and learn how to submit your poster.
Virtual Sustainable Garden Tour
Join us throughout the month to celebrate Fairfax County's gardens. Check out the schedule below! Click on the calendar to be taken to the website with more details!
Virtual Community Opportunities,Events & Webinars
Start a Sit Spot Routine
As more and more folks are quarantining themselves at home, especially with kids, things can get a little stir crazy. Living Earth wants to provide something to help you stay grounded and connected to nature. They have created a sit spot routine that you can add to your everyday routine to help things settle, and to feel real and grounded in these uncertain times. Subscribe on their website to receive one email with a powerful sit spot practice every morning for the next 14 days.
Virtual Master Gardener Helpdesk
Join Virgnia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Summer 2020 for Virtual Plant Clinics! The once in person clinics are now on a virtual online platform with current social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19. Master Gardener volunteers at these clinics offer free, unbiased, and research- based advice on selecting and caring for your ornamental plants, vegetables, and lawn. This is a FREE service. Clinics will be offered three times a week at varying times. Check out this link for more details!
Izaak Walton League Stream Monitoring Training
Want to become a certified Save Our Streams monitor? Now you can start the certification process from the comfort of home with our online interactive webinars! Simply watch the video versions of in-person training lectures: Introduction to Water Quality and Introduction to Macroinvertebrates . Miss the live sessions? You can still watch the recordings! See all the info you need here !
Conservation Advocacy 101 for HOAs and Condo Association
When: June 17, 7pm-8:30pm
Do you live in an HOA or Condo Association? Have you been thinking about how you can better our natural world through work in your community and/or on the common property of your association? Join Renee Grebe through the  Audubon Naturalist Society  (ANS) and attend their Conservation Advocacy 101 Workshop. They will cover some key introductory advocacy skills like identifying issues and ideas for solutions, researching and communicating ideas, developing an action plan, talking to decision-makers, and building community partnerships to broaden support for your issue. See how you can sign up on their website !
Observe Locally - Help Globally: Socially Distant BioBlitzes
When: June 14 - July 5
It’s tough on those of us who thrive on getting with a group of friends to hike, bike, kayak or otherwise just get outside and observe nature, to feel locked out of doing that. However, it is still possible to find ways to stay safe and enjoy the outdoors. Take part in advancing a group goal in support of the environment while doing socially distanced nature observations! Find out how your species observations can help the local environment here !
Community News
Garden centers are open and brimming with native plants!
Most of the garden centers have posted their steps to ensure social distancing. Let's make this the best year ever for planting native plants!
Native-only sellers
  • Nature by Design has curbside pickup, and plenty of same-day browsing appointments are always available. Just give them a ring.
  • Earth Sangha is offering free delivery.
  • Watermark Woods offers curbside pickup as well as browsing.
Conventional nurseries
  • Each garden center has its own arrangement - check their websites. Plant NoVa Native volunteers have been able to put their Northern Virginia Native stickers on the native plants at many of them.
Information courtesy of Plant NoVa Natives