Dear River Friends,
Since 1985, Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) has been a cornerstone of our community, offering environmental education programs, restoring our watershed, and advocating for protecting the Rappahannock River. Our home on Fall Hill, the original land of the Fall Hill Plantation, has a rich and loving history. Constructed by Bill Micks, other members of the passionate paddling community, and eager Boy Scouts in 1984, our home was originally the Rappahannock Outdoor Recreation Center (known today as Virginia Outdoor Center/VOC) Canoe Livery.
FOR moved into the building in 1995, which has been the heart of our operations ever since. Throughout the years, 3 generations and over 150,000 Fredericksburg area children have learned, explored, and developed a deep love for the river and natural world on our 18 acres at the bottom of Fall Hill Ave. With this building as our anchor, we grew and expanded, stretching our roots to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay. As we have grown, so have our needs, and it’s now time to revitalize our beloved building to serve our mission and community better.
Over the last year, we’ve noted significant improvements needed to our almost 40-year-old building, including outdated and inefficient heating and cooling systems, exterior structural integrity concerns, and a lack of accessibility.
In addition, as we continue to grow, the demand for our environmental education programs does as well. We currently have a staff of 30 dedicated individuals, 18 of whom call the FXBG HQ home. Our educators oversee 6,000 students here annually but still have a waiting list of over 1,500 children seeking our programs in Fredericksburg.
As we move forward with our building renovation plans, our land conservation efforts continue. We are currently exploring the opportunity to purchase a 20 acre parcel that bisects or Fredericksburg FOR property. The availability of this land creates an opportunity for growth of our programs, but more importantly, provides us with a pathway to ensure that this vital tract of natural forested land remains undeveloped and conserved in perpetuity.
The confluence of these needs, pressures, and opportunities is clear – now is the time for us to act. Thus, we launch our interim capital campaign with hopes for a continuing sustainable future.
Our building revitalization project aims to address three primary goals: accessibility, sustainability, and expansion.
Accessibility
– Goal: To create a fully accessible building that welcomes everyone.
– Plan: We will install ramps, widen doorways, and add accessible restrooms to ensure our facility is inclusive for individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges.
Sustainability
– Goal: To reduce our environmental footprint and enhance energy efficiency.
– Plan: We will replace outdated HVAC systems, improve insulation, and install energy-efficient windows and lighting. These upgrades will lower operational costs and demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship.
– Plan: Acquiring the adjoining land parcel will enable us to conserve and protect it for generations to come.Expansion
– Goal: To expand our space to support our growing staff and program offerings.
– Plan: We will expand our first-floor indoor space to accommodate up to twice as many students at a time. Acquiring the adjoining land parcel will create an opportunity for additional outdoor classrooms, allowing us to increase our students served by 50%. It will increase storage for better space utilization across the property.
– Plan: Through thoughtful redesign, we will maximize our existing space to expand our first-floor classroom to accommodate more students and create additional office and meeting space on the second floor so our staff can work effectively and efficiently.
Expansion
– Goal: To expand our space to support our growing staff and program offerings.
– Plan: We will expand our first-floor indoor space to accommodate up to twice as many students at a time. Acquiring the adjoining land parcel will create an opportunity for additional outdoor classrooms, allowing us to increase our students served by 50%. It will increase storage for better space utilization across the property.
– Plan: Through thoughtful redesign, we will maximize our existing space to expand our first-floor classroom to accommodate more students and create additional office and meeting space on the second floor so our staff can work effectively and efficiently.