News & Press Releases

Nature Nuts Donors Are Recognized at Camp Grow!

 Enthusiastic Camp Grow campers helped recognize Nature Nuts donors at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens on Monday, June 25^th, the first day of camp this summer. Dominion Foundation, Envirosolutions, Inc. and the Venable Foundation were all recognized as generous supporters to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s Nature Nuts program. Collectively, $40,000 was contributed by the three donors; $20,000 from the Dominion Foundation, $15,000 from Envirosolutions, Inc. and $5,000 from the Venable Foundation.

“We’ve always looked at the relationship between NVRPA and Dominion as a perfect fit. The Park Authority - because of the jurisdictions it is affiliated with and the amount of parks it owns and operates – touches so many lives. To work with NVRPA and [the Nature Nuts Program] is a great way for us to give back to the community,” said Tim Sargeant, Manager, State and Local Affairs at Dominion.

Nature Nuts is a program of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority that seeks to provide a meaningful outdoor experience to half a million children over the next five years throughout Northern Virginia. The mission of Nature Nuts is to expand and improve programs and facilities that help children recreate in a natural environment.

“We’ve been able to partner with NVRPA for a couple of years now by supporting [Pirate’s Cove at Pohick Bay], along with a couple of other venues. We also see it as a natural fit. When we heard about the Nature Nuts program, we were drawn to it simply because of its message – we think [getting kids outside] is a serious need, and Nature Nuts provides a real benefit in giving children outdoor classrooms and backdrops,” said Conrad Mehan of Envirosolutions, Inc.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation has set up the Nature Nuts fund, a fund that will support activities that further the goals of the program, including:

·   Grants to help elementary schools defray the costs of field trips to Hemlock Overlook;

·   Grants to help send kids to camps like the Junior Naturalist Camp at Potomac Overlook or

·   Camp Grow at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens;

·   Expansion of NVRPA’s Roving Naturalist Program;

·   Facility improvements at youth camping sites;

·   Expansion of rental kayak and canoe operations;

·   Promotional materials and efforts to get children involved in Nature Nuts.

“The Nature Nuts program is something we’re extremely excited about and supportive of. It’s a real need for children everywhere – turning around this trend of children spending so much time indoors, Nature Deficit Disorder, if you will. We think this program is really important, and it’s great to have the wonderful support of organizations like Dominion and Envirosolutions, Inc.,” said Michael Nardolilli, NVRPA Board member.

For more information on the Nature Nuts program visit www.nvrpa.org or contact Jenny Friedman at jfriedman@nvrpa.org or by calling 703-352-5900.