James River Soil and Water Conservation District

10/30/2026

We are delighted to share James River SWCD's spook-tacular October Newsletter!

As we transition to the autumn season, our team remains committed to promoting conservation in our District. We are excited to share our recent initiatives and provide opportunities for you to get involved in the future.

October Newlsetter:

Email from James River Soil and Water Conservation District Stay up to date on the exciting plans we have coming up!     THE SOIL & WATER SCOOP October Newsletter   Welcome to our Spook-tacular Octobe

10/23/2026

Happy Halloween Season!

Instead of decorating pumpkins, the third-grade students of Hopkins Elementary in Chesterfield County Public Schools are decorating their very own water cycle key chains! Students investigated water cycle processes by traveling through interactive stations to track a water drop's path. At each stop, they added different colored beads to their key chains representing stages like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation! By the end of our lesson, student created a personalized, hands-on keepsake that maps out their unique water cycle journey.

If your school, scout troop, or community group would like to request a free environmental education program, fill out our request form: https://forms.gle/eAWTKP49w8SmCGHT7 Participants must reside in Chesterfield or Prince George County to be eligible.

10/15/2026

Introducing Toddler Tuesdays! 🌿

We are so excited to partner with Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation at Rockwood Nature Center this Fall to bring hands-on, tactile programs for our littlest explorers!

Join us October 20th for our Animal Pose Yoga program! Little ones will unleash their inner animal as they discover unique wildlife attributes, explore real wildlife furs, and participate in a fun, guided yoga activity. Plus, every participant gets exclusive access to the Rockwood Nature Center gallery!

We have Toddler Tuesday programs in October, November, and December, so make sure to check out all of the great programs below!

Sign up for October: https://www.activekids.com/north-chesterfield-va/yoga/classes/tuesday-toddlers-animal-pose-yoga-2026

Explore Future Toddler Tuesday Programs: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/chesterfieldparksrec/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&activity_keyword=Toddler%20Tuesday&viewMode=list

10/08/2026

You're invited! Join us on Zoom Thurs. October 29th 4:00-5:00 PM to kickoff the start of the 2026-2027 Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Program year.

Information on the Envirothon Program will be shared along with the unveiling of the 2027 Oral Presentation Scenario.

This event will be recorded and shared if you are unable to attend live. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Register online here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o5c1JnFORGKifxWdfHEgfg

09/28/2026

Calling All Prince George and Chesterfield County Farmers! Our Annual Farmer's Breakfast is December 11th at 8:00AM in Chesterfield Central Library's Community Room. Chesterfield County Public Library

Join us to learn about our agricultural cost-share program and hear updates from our partners while enjoying a meal! An optional personal pesticide applicator recertification for categories 90 and 91 is also available. We hope to see you there!

Admission is free with registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2000262503995?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/08/2026

Congratulations Ms. Colleen Irby, a teacher at Chesterfield Career & Technical Center (Hull Campus) for being our nominee for the VASWCD Conservation Education Teacher of the Year!

Ms. Colleen Irby consistently raises the bar for conservation education in her classroom. Through integrating natural resource education, lab skills, and student leadership development, Ms. Irby plays an active role in uplifting young environmental stewards in our District!

Curious about our education programs? Click this link: https://jamesriverswcd.org/?page_id=64

Chesterfield County Public Schools

08/28/2026

08/26/2026

Are you or do you know a high school student interested in environmental stewardship? Youth Conservation Leadership Institute (YCLI) Applications are NOW OPEN! Visit vaswcd.org/ycli for more information and application information.

08/14/2026

Thank you to the over 70 community members who came to celebrate local producers, learn about conservation practices, and enjoy a delicious barbeque meal at our annual Farmers Cookout. Seeing so many familiar and new faces eager to connect was deeply encouraging for the future of cost-share programs in our District. We are also grateful for our partners from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and VSU College of Agriculture for sharing their expertise with our community.

If you are a Prince George or Chesterfield citizen interested in the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program, visit our website:
https://jamesriverswcd.org/?page_id=63