Calendar of Upcoming Events
Updated: 01Apr09
Unless otherwise noted, all events start at the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy (BRMC) Mountain House (See the Area Map for directions.)
Call (703) 753-2631 for more information about the events listed below.
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MONTHLY PUBLIC PROGRAMS
HIKE WITH A NATURALIST
1st Wednesday of Every Month
9 a.m.–noon
Our first Wednesday of the month hike (except January), for those members and
non-members that don't like to hike alone. Come and discover
some of the flora and fauna of the Bull Run Mountains.
This program is free; all are welcome.
TEA OF THE MONTH CLUB
2nd Wednesday of Every Month
2p.m.—4 p.m.
Each second Wednesday we enjoy a
woodland tea party with freshly brewed
herbal tea and light fare. We take a short
hike in which we learn about a new variety
of local flora and its medicinal values. We
will then brew and drink tea made from the
plants we collect.
Pre-registration required.
Members: $10/Non-members: $15
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
NEW YEAR'S DAY HIKE
January 1st
Thursday 9 a.m.
BRMC invites you to join us for our annual New Year's Day hike. We will meet at 9 a.m.
at the Mountain House. This event
substitutes for our “Hike with a Naturalist”
in January.
This program is free; all are welcome.
DYKE MARSH BIRD WATCHING FIELD TRIP
February 7th
Saturday 8a.m.—noon
Join a BRMC naturalist on a bird watching
field trip along the Potomac River at Dyke
Marsh in Alexandria, Virginia. Covering
380 acres, Dyke Marsh represents the
largest remaining piece of freshwater tidal
wetlands in the Washington Metropolitan
area. Nearly 300 species of birds have been
observed at the marsh. Meet at the
Mountain House at 8a.m to carpool to
Dyke Marsh. At 9a.m. our bird walk will
begin at the Haul Road, led by a Friends of
Dyke Marsh volunteer. The walk is
approximately 1.5 miles.
Pre-registration is required.
Suggested Donation: $30
(Your donation will be split between
Friends of Dyke Marsh and BRMC. For
more information about Friends of Dyke
Marsh, please visit www.fodm.org).
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
February 10th
Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Be part of our annual fundraising event at Grace Episcopal
Church in The Plains. Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and
lively conversation as we celebrate another progressive year as
stewards of the Bull Run Mountains. Please contact us at
703-753-2631
or mk@brmconservancy.org for more details.
Cost: $50/person.
NATURE DAY
February 16th
Monday 9 a.m.—4 p.m.
Looking for a fun-filled educational
experience on President’s Day? Then join
BRMC for a nature-filled day of activities. We
will spend the day exploring and investigating
our preserve for the first signs of spring.
Ages 7-12. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $50/ Non-members: $75.
WOODCOCK WALK and LECTURE
February 28th
Saturday 6—9p.m.
Join BRMC and Environmental Studies for an evening lecture and walk to enjoy
the American woodcocks’ spring territorial
and courtship flights. We will meet at the
Mountain House at 6p.m. and then drive to
Clifton Farm to watch American woodcocks perform flight displays that would amaze any
world traveling birder.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $10/ Non-members: $15.
AMPHIBIANS OF SPRING
March 4th
Wednesday 7–9 p.m.
Last year we found hundreds of spring peepers, upland chorus
frogs, wood frogs, and spotted salamanders along with lots of
egg masses. Grab your red lights and boots. Let’s see what we
can find this year!
Pre-registration required.
BRMC Members: $10/ Non-members: $15.
BUILD YOUR OWN WORM BIN COMPOSTER
April 4th
Saturday 10a.m.—noon
Come learn everything you ever wanted to
know about worms! Observe a working
worm bin and discuss how these creatures
create compost that can be used around
your yard and garden. Construct your very
own worm bin to take home with you! Start
harvesting compost from your worm bin in
several months, just in time for your
summer garden. Building materials and
worms will be supplied.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $75/ Non-members: $90.
OLD HOME SITES
April 18th
Saturday 8:30–11 a.m.
BRMC is thrilled to continue our exploration of old home sites
with an extra treat. Go beyond the trails as we explore
cemetaries, foundations, and clearings that mark past
residences. Then sit back and enjoy a hot breakfast in the
woods as Marcia Markey, a local historian, performs a historical
re-enactment based on diaries, letters, and other primary
sources. Space is limited and spots fill early.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $25/ Non-members: $30.
ADULT EDUCATION:
May 1, May 15, June 5
CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED WORKSHOP
Friday 9a.m.-2p.m.
Participate in the conservation of rivers and
streams that flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
Expand your understanding of the magnitude
of the issues. On day one we will enjoy the
beauty of pristine headwater streams in the
mountains, on day two, just 3 miles downstream,
we will analyze the impacts of golf
courses and development on Little Bull Run,
and on day three we will end at Turkey Run
National Park contemplating the journey the
water has had to make.
Limited to 10 participants.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $150/ Non-members: $225.
ADULT EDUCATION:
June 13th,
HERPETOLOGY DAY
Saturday 9a.m.-4p.m.
Amphibians are the most underappreciated
terrestrial vertebrates and the “villainous”
reptiles are the most misunderstood. Not
anymore, join BRMC staff and expert Marty
Martin (51 years of experience studying the
reptiles in the Bull Run Mountains) to debunk
the myths. The natural history and behavior of
these classes of animals are truly astounding.
Ask anyone who has been on our Amphibian
Night hike (a.k.a. sex in the dark).
Limited to 10 participants.
Pre-registration is required.
BRMC Members: $50/ Non-members: $75.
CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED WORKSHOP
June 22nd—24th and August 10th—12th,
9a.m.-4p.m.
Bull Run Mountains Conservancy (BRMC) will
offer 16 scholarships for youth ages 13-18 to
attend an educational workshop focused on the
conservation of the rivers and streams that flow
into the Chesapeake Bay. Funding for this
Scholarship Program has been provided by the
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. The
three-day workshop will begin with an exploration of headwater streams in the Bull
Run Mountains. Day two will be spent
downstream along Little Bull Run, and day
three will be spent in Turkey Run National Park
along the banks of the Potomac River. At each
location students will perform stream
monitoring, vegetation analyses, and stream
habitat and riparian buffer evaluations.
Scholarship application deadline has
been extended to April 18, 2009.
HERPETOLOGY CAMP
Session I: Thursday and Friday, June 25th-26th
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Session II: Monday and Tuesday, June 29th-June 30th
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. BRMC invites your child to spend two days hiking and handling, searching, and observing salamanders, frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles on our preserve. As we discover more about these unique creatures, your child will add to his or her understanding of nature.
Herpetology Camp Activities (Activities may be changed to accommodate weather)
Day One
- 9 a.m. Sign-in and orientation at the Mountain House on Beverley Mill Drive
- Intro to reptiles and amphibians
- Herp Hike
- Lunch
- Herpetology Games
- Classroom discussion with live animals
- 4:00 p.m. End of day one
- 9 a.m. Arrive at the Mountain House
- Mountain ramble with Marty Martin — pre-eminent rattlesnake expert in the east
- Snack & lunch in the field
- Return to Mountain House
- Herpetology Games
- Stream walk
- 4:00 p.m. Camp closing
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Ages 7-12. Each session will be limited to 15 participants.
Full payment is required to hold your spot.
Pre-registration required.
Download brochure (.pdf).
BRMC Members: $100/ Non-members: $125.
BRMC Tee-shirt & hat available for purchase
Program Fee Includes:
Nature Notebook
Snake Bag
PRE-SCHOOL NATURE CAMP
July 13th-17th
Monday to Friday
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Bull Run Mountains Conservancy invites your preschool child to spend a nature-filled week as he or she interacts with the natural world and with other children in developing an appreciation of nature. Campers will explore the life on the Bull Run Mountains through a series of discovery hikes, nature crafts, and games.
Pre-School Camp Activities
Activities begin promptly at 10 a.m. each day at the Mountain House, located on Beverly Mill Drive
Monday
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Discovery hike
- Games
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Reptile and Amphibian hike
- Herp handling
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Stream discovery
- Life under a microscope
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Bugs and slugs
- Spiders and friends
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Butterflies and Moths
- Animal handling and release
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For Children ages 4-6. The session will be limited to 10 participants.
Full payment is required to hold your spot.
Pre-registration required.
Download brochure (.pdf).
BRMC Members: $125/ Non-members: $150.
BRMC Tee-shirt & hat available for purchase
SUMMER NATURE CAMP
Session I: July 27th-31st
Session II: August 3rd-7th
Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Bull Run Mountains Conservancy invites your child to spend a nature-filled week as he or she interacts with the natural world and with other children that share a common appreciation of nature. Each day we will focus on different animals and plants and that make their home in the Bull Run Mountains. Campers will add to their understanding of nature through a combination of hikes, stream walks, animal handling, games, and eco-dramas.
Summer Nature Camp Activities
Activities begin promptly at 9 a.m. each day at the Mountain House, located on Beverly Mill Drive
Monday
- Sign-in and orientation at the Mountain House
- Nature tool box
- Ravine ramble
- Games
- Spiders and friends
- Begin Eco-dramas
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Herp day—Reptiles and Amphibians
- Learn to handle specimens inside and out in the field
- Games
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Morning birding as we observe bird boxes
- Eco-dramas
- Stream walk
- Games
- Macroinvertebrates & Microscopes
- Meet at the Mountain House
- High Point deep woods mountain hike
- Lunch with a view
- Games
- Meet at the Mountain House
- Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, Spiders and more
- Handle then release animals
- Games
- Closing ceremonies
- Present Eco-dramas
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Ages 7-12. Each session will be limited to 15 participants.
Full payment is required to hold your spot.
Pre-registration required.
Download brochure (.pdf).
BRMC Members: $250/ Non-members: $300.
BRMC Tee-shirt & hat available for purchase
Program Fee Includes:
Nature Notebook
Nature Study Tool Box
Wood Cookie Name Tag
Attention all members:
Refer two new members to BRMC and we will waive the fee for one
program of your choice!
You may use the registration form or have them contact us directly.
Make sure they know to tell us who referred them! (Sorry, camps and day-long programs excluded.)
