News & Press Releases

Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation Awarded Grants from Dominion Power

Fairfax, VA (April 15, 2010) – The Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation is excited to announce that it has been awarded two grants from Dominion Resources to help fund the development of energy education exhibits at Potomac Overlook Regional Park and an Environmental Summer Camp at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Dominion Power’s grant recipients were announced Tuesday at a Dominion volunteer event to make rain barrels, commemorating the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. 

The Energy education project will be located at Potomac Overlook, a 70-acre park in Arlington County. It will serve as an energy park focused on creative energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of clean and renewable energy. Working models and lessons, engaging, hands-on displays and activities along with real, renewable energy and energy conservation measures, will encourage visitors of all ages to become a part of energy solutions.

Potomac Overlook currently features The James I. Mayer Center for Environmental Education, home to the Energerium, offering visitors a fun and accessible way to learn energy basics as well as ways they can help create sustainable energy solutions at the individual, community and national levels.  The displays blend lessons from ecology, earth science, physics, chemistry and other topics in clear, understandable ways.

“We are delighted to have the support of Dominion Power for our Energerium education effort at Potomac Overlook Park and in support of our environmental education programs at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.  Dominion’s active role in the community is very much appreciated,” said Robert Hartwell, President of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation.

The second grant from Dominion Power will support the success of the Environmental Summer Camp held at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. The camp offers the opportunity for 8^th-11^th graders to experience a hands-on program studying the environment of Northern Virginia through observation, collection, journaling and facilitated discussion. The camp gives participants the chance to interact with professionals in the fields of conservation, wildlife, botany, geology and geography.

For more information on the Foundation and its projects, please visit www.novaparks.org.