This year marks the first time FOR has had a dedicated Volunteer and Outreach Manager position. As I enthusiastically jumped into this new role, one of the first challenges I faced was that we had TOO many people interested in volunteering, but we were still working on fine tuning an efficient and effective management volunteer pipeline system. How lucky are we to have such an overwhelming amount of support and dedication from our watershed community? Once I found my footing, I was surrounded by some of the most passionate volunteers I could ask for. And once they got going, they never stopped!

So far this year we have had 1,647 volunteers across the watershed who’ve rolled up their sleeves, tried something new, and committed their time to Friends of the Rappahannock and I’m excited to brag about them!

Our volunteers’ commitment to preserving and protecting the Rappahannock River and its surrounding ecosystems. This has made a profound impact on our watershed, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. Whether they joined us for a single day or have been a regular volunteer, their contributions are invaluable.

Celebrating Our Volunteer Achievements

In spring and summer alone, we have achieved remarkable milestones together:

  • Keeping Our River Clean: Thanks to volunteers’ hard work, we removed approx 12,964 lbs of debris from the riverbanks and communities, making our waterways cleaner and safer for wildlife and visitors alike.
  • Inspiring Future River Stewards: Community events, summer camps, education programs, and fundraising for our mission takes a village! 779 volunteer hours built the village that helped us, spreading awareness about our mission and our local riverways while connecting with future river stewards.
  • Restoring Our Reefs: Having bagged recycled oyster shells is a necessity for our oyster restoration program to be successful. Without the 1,800 bags of oyster shells volunteers bagged and prepared this spring and summer, we would not have baby oysters making their way into and populating our river this fall!
  • Protecting Our River With Trees: The 6,375 trees that 831 volunteers of all ages planted this spring help prevent pollution and sediment runoff in our river while also helping grow our wildlife habitat, increase shade and air quality. Thanks to them, our river and air is cleaner across the watershed!

Let the Programs and Thank You’s Continue! 

We also had volunteers monitoring our water quality, taking air temperature in 90-degree heat for a heat island study and helping manage our nursery in the Upper Rappahannock. This group is truly unstoppable. An additional thank you to the volunteers behind the scenes who support things like necessary clerical work and property/trail maintenance year round. No task is too small! All of these help our organization keep going. 

Join Us Moving Forward

As we look ahead, we invite YOU to continue this journey with us or join us. There are many opportunities to get involved and for all skills levels and interests. Whether it’s your first time volunteering with us or you’ve known FOR for years, join us this fall. Your passion makes all the difference! Check out current opportunities at riverfriends.org/events/

Final Thanks

We are inspired by our volunteers’ passion and dedication, which fuels our mission and drives positive change throughout our watershed. To each and every volunteer, thank you for being the heart and soul of Friends of the Rappahannock. We can’t wait to see what fall brings us!

With gratitude,

Lis Heras
Volunteer and Outreach Manager

 

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