With over 30 staff people, we often have an overwhelming amount of stories and highlights from each year. This year we decided to dedicate a space to these stories that had a big impact on a regular day-to-day basis. From advocating for clean water practices to restoring our shorelines and streams, or educating the next generation of river stewards, our staff makes the Rappahannock River a healthier, more beautiful place.
If you are impacted by these amazing tales of the work we are doing in the Rappahannock River Watershed, please consider investing financially in our organization.
Memorial Pollinator Garden
Submitted by:
Upper Rappahannock Programs Manager April Harper
In 2024, the project that brought me much joy was working with AG Richardson Elementary’s 4th graders to develop and plant a memorial pollinator garden dedicated to the loss of their teacher, Christin Funderburk. These students’ combination of empathy and environmental consideration spark one primary reaction: hope. Okay, maybe also giggles at the naming an earthworm, “Wormy.”
Living Shoreline Installation
Submitted by: Green Infrastructure Specialist Angela Nam
Since joining FOR in March 2024, I’ve had the chance to work on various projects. One particularly memorable project is a living shoreline project in Stafford County on Aquia Creek. This is because it’s the first project I’ve completed from start to finish, helping the landowner turn his eroding bank into a beautiful and effective living shoreline. We also had the chance to provide him with an additional $10,000, on top of the $30,000 VCAP cost-share to help cover the costs!
Images:
Before Installation: LEFT
During Installation: MIDDLE
After Installation: ABOVE
Environmental Education Professional Development
Submitted by:
Lower Rappahannock Education Manager Robin Didlake
During the summer, we provided seven professional learning opportunities for teachers and community environmental educators. Our goal was to give teachers the tools and resources needed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. The teachers conducted abiotic and biotic water quality tests and planned their outdoor field experiences with local community partners.
All Girls Summer Camp
Submitted by:
Environmental Educator Rachel Thomas
One program that stood out as a highlight from this year was the first FOR All Girls Summer Camp at Headquarters. The young ladies got to experience on-water activities, such as tubing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, hiking in Shenandoah National Park, art activities at Menokin, and an overnight camping experience at FOR. We had great discussions throughout the week. It was truly a great bonding week, learning about our great river from the mountains to the bay!
Leaving a Legacy
Submitted by
Upper Rappahannock River Steward Michael Shaw
Late in March Friends of the Rappahannock and some of its wonderful partners teamed up to help bring a landowners vision to life. The late James Behrens and his partner Pat Richardson took me to their beautiful property in Fauquier County. Jim and Pat were jumping joyfully when I told them FOR would be making their vision come to life. We talked for hours about conservation and how important the work Friends of the Rappahannock does is to them and the Watershed. With every word I could tell Jim and Pat truly loved conservation and wanted to preserve their property for generations to come. FOR and its partners then completed our organization’s largest volunteer planting in our history. Planting just over 1800 trees in just a few hours. Jim sadly passed away a few months later but his legacy to protect and preserve our great watershed will live on for generations to come.
Summer Camp Memories
Submitted by
Executive Assistant Amy Kilpatrick
My granddaughter spent a week at HQ Summer Camp this past summer, and she had the time of her life! She was able to be outside, on the water, stepping up to unfamiliar challenges, and making new friends while also learning about our beautiful Rappahannock River and ways to protect it…Thank you so much to all of the Camp Instructors–you have truly made a positive impact on the children in our community. She can’t wait to attend again this coming summer!
Headstart with Environmental Education
Our HQ education team has been working hard and reaching so many students this year. A large number of our Fall student encounters were with our Head Start program. We have a Grow Up Great grant from the PNC Foundation allowing us to offer programs at no cost to the schools.
Submitted by
Field Trip Manager Jennifer Gron
From Student to Educator
Submitted by
Environmental Educator Claire Wilmore
At the end of last school year, Robin and I went into 4th-grade classrooms at Tappahannock Elementary School for their Ag Day. Little did I know we would be in the same classroom I had in 4th grade! We brought in critters from our oyster cages and got to show them all of the critters that live in or around oyster reefs. They couldn’t believe it! It was so rewarding to be able to go back to my elementary school and show students what lives in their rivers!
Staff Member Applause
Submitted by: Environmental Educator Sofie Marino
This year, we were so excited to welcome Rachael to our Headwaters Education Team! In the short time since she has started working with us, she has already picked up the way we do things. In just a couple of weeks, she has even progressed to leading her own programs! We are very proud of her work and all that she does for us.
Submitted by: Environmental Educator Rachael Harrington
As a new addition to the Headwaters environmental educators team, I’ve had the chance to shadow Sofie and even lead a few lessons. One of the highlights so far from our field trip season has been our early start at Float on Farms, where we got to see a few Bald Eagles and different animal tracks along the river. I really appreciate Sofie’s patience in walking me through each lesson, and I admire how she creates an environment where every student feels comfortable asking questions and diving deeper into macro-invertebrate sampling. I’ve learned so much already from her and am excited for our programs in the spring.
Connecting the Partners with Student Education
Submitted by: Education Director Nancy Stalik
Meaningful Watershed Outdoor Field Experience funded by NOAA for the Fredericksburg City School District. Over four days in October, Friends of the Rappahannock partnered with Fredericksburg Area Museum, Fredericksburg Park and Rec, and the combined Swiftwater rescue teams of Fredericksburg PD, Fredericksburg FD, and Stafford FD. All 9th graders at James Monroe High School rotated through stations at Old Mill Park for kayaking, conducting water quality monitoring, and a history program focusing on 10,000 peoples’ path to freedom.
One Man Makes a Huge Difference
Submitted by: Volunteer and Outreach Manager Lis Heras
Three different staff members mentioned a man who was cleaning up along the river down the street two me in just two days. One just happened to run into him on the path cleaning up litter, and I couldn’t wait for our paths to cross next. Finally, I got to meet Jim, the volunteer so passionate about keeping his neighborhood and river clean, and the rest was history! Over the summer Jim ran a weekly cleanup, advocated for increased river protection with the city, and claimed this project as his new “job” while enjoying retirement.
Jim is the epitome of a dream volunteer! He recognizes how our river and community are OUR responsibility. Because of his drive, he has created a community of cleanup worriers and has picked up over 9,000 lbs of litter from July 2024 to today. We can’t wait to work with Jim to start up these community cleanups again in spring 2025.
A Community that Plants Together… Stays Together
Submitted by: Urban & Community Outreach Specialist Sarah Dishman
FOR partnered with the Backyard Wildlife Management Committee of Hopyard Farm in King George to plant over 300 trees within the community. Outpours of support from community members made this project so impactful. A wide range of ages and walks of life came out to plant trees together, creating not only a greener community but a cleaner Rappahannock River.
