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Upcoming events

    • September 08, 2010
    • 10:30 AM - 01:30 PM
    • pavilion @ Demory Field (20)

    Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students.  10:30am - 1:30pm

    • September 11, 2010
    • September 12, 2010
    • Trails
    Sept 11-12, USTR Trail clearing
    • September 12, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM
    • BRCES Visitors Center
    Instructor - Devin Lamma

    This course will celebrate the bounty of the garden and will offer ideas, techniques, and creative solutions to using a gardener's bounty.  You'll learn about cooking with the freshest foods and how to use those beloved garden favorites in new and wonderful ways.  The course will offer a soup, salad, entree and dessert. And don't worry, enough will be prepared so that everyone gets to eat!  The program will begin with a tour of Mountain View Farm, our on-site organic farm, where participants will learn about the techniques of organic farming and the benefits they provide to our health and our environment.

    Devin Lamma is a 22-year veteran of the food service industry with a passion for food, education, and travel.  Influenced by the rich food traditions of his native Virginia, Devin is in constant pursuit of knowledge relating to food history, nutrition, agriculture and culinary preparation techniques.  He is currently employed by Whole Foods Market where he has worked as sous chef, catering manager and purchaser of specialty products.  Food and travel are two continuous themes in Devin's life.  In 2001 he traveled to Antarctica where he worked as a chef, preparing daily meals for the 1200 residents of McMurdo Station.  In 2009 he traveled to Italy where he worked for Tenuta di Spannocchia, an organic farm and "agriturismo" in Tuscany.  While at Spannocchia, he studied the traditional skills and techniques of butchering and curing meats. Devin recently returned to Europe in March 2010 where he explored food traditions and took a self-guided "gastro tour" of Germany, France, and Italy.

    Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org
    • September 15, 2010
    • 10:30 AM - 01:30 PM
    • pavilion @ Demory Field (20)

    Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students.  10:30am - 1:30pm

    • September 17, 2010
    • September 17, 2010
    • USTR Trails

    Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

    Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

    Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

    • September 18, 2010
    • September 18, 2010
    • USTR Trails

    Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

    Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

    Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

    • September 19, 2010
    • September 19, 2010
    • USTR Trails

    Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

    Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

    Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

    • September 22, 2010
    • 10:30 AM - 01:30 PM
    • pavilion @ Demory Field (20)

    Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students.  10:30am - 1:30pm

    • September 25, 2010
    • 08:00 AM
    • meet @ BRCES Visitor Center

    BIRDING the BLUE RIDGE CENTER.  On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC)  leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. We’ll meet at the BRCES Visitor Center at 8:00am the morning of the walk.  For more information, please contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

    • September 25, 2010
    • 09:00 AM
    • Pre-Registration Required, BRC Visitor Center
     

    National Public Lands Day – Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 9:00am

    The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES) has registered (for its 3rd year) to be a part of the National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event on September 25, 2010 (www.publiclandsday.org).  NPLD is a national day of caring for the land, a coast-to-coast effort to improve and enhance our treasured lands.  We are currently seeking volunteers for this event to help with repairing/maintaining trails, building/repairing bridges; planting trees, clearing brush, collecting seed, etc., (anything that will "beautify" the land).  All projects start at 9:00 a.m.  There is no time commitment required.  You can decide what you want to do, and how much time you want to volunteer.  Pre-registration is required.  Please contact Darlene Lamoureux, DLamoureux@blueridgecenter.org, 540-668-7640.

    • September 26, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 03:30 PM
    • BRCES Visitors Center
    Instructor - Rob Moutoux

    Soil fertility is a complex subject involving three main aspects- physical, chemical, and biological.  In this workshop, we'll cover those aspects and their interactions.  Primarily, we'll learn the importance of soil testing, how to read soil tests, and what to do to properly balance your soil.  Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Phosphorous, and trace elements all need to be there in the right ratios, and biology needs to be working to cycle the nutrients to plant availability.  Following this program will lead to high quality, healthy plants that produce nutrient-dense, health-promoting foods in your gardens!

    Rob Moutoux is the owner of Moutoux Orchards in Loudoun County.  Moutoux Orchards is committed to low-impact, environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture and uses organic and biological methods to ensure that their trees reach their full genetic potential.

    Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org
    • September 29, 2010
    • 10:30 AM - 01:30 PM
    • pavilion @ Demory Field (20)

    Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students.  10:30am - 1:30pm

    • October 03, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
    • BRCES Visitors Center
    Instructor - Cliff Fairweather

    Rapid urbanization in our region and the consequent conversion of native vegetation to turf grass and other exotic plants has left dwindling resources for local wildlife. Learn how you can help restore wildlife habitat by growing native plants and providing other resources around your home, school, place of worship or other open spaces. We’ll explore this topic through a lecture and nature walk with naturalist Cliff Fairweather, manager of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s Audubon at Home program.

    Cliff Fairweather has worked as a naturalist in Northern Virginia for 14 years, with a focus on natural history and conservation in urban and urbanizing areas.

    Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org
    • October 09, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
    • BRCES Visitors Center
    Instructor - John Wasiutynski

    This hands-on course is designed to teach you the art and science of compost and equip participants with the necessary knowledge to start their own compost pile.   The class, while covering the basics, will also delve into various composting techniques and provide insight into more advanced composting operations.  The workshop will consist of a classroom lecture, a hands-on composting tour of Mountain View Farm, and group and individual visioning exercises that will lay the foundation for the participants own composting projects. 

    John Wasiutynski learned to compost while working in community gardens in New York City.  He has since been honing the craft of decomposition in his backyard in Washington DC, and works for the District of Columbia Department of the Environment as a Watershed Planner.  John is a master composter and received his certification from the Lower East Side Ecology Center, New York City's premier compost organization.

    Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org
    • October 22, 2010
    • 05:00 PM
    • October 23, 2010
    • 07:00 PM
    • Demory Field
    Oct 22-23, private group camping in Demory Field
    • October 23, 2010
    • 08:00 AM
    • meet @ BRCES Visitor Center

    BIRDING the BLUE RIDGE CENTER.  On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC)  leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. We’ll meet at the BRCES Visitor Center at 8:00am the morning of the walk.  For more information, please contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

    • October 31, 2010
    • 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • BRC Resource Center
    Oct 31, 9am - 12noon, Cliff Fairweather, Audubon Lecture, approx. 16 people using BRCES Resource Center
    • November 06, 2010
    • 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM
    • barn during day, Demory pavilion & firering 4pm-7pm
    Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church (Vienna, VA) Church Family Spiritual Retreat - 9am - 7pm.  Using barn during day for activities & group meetings; explore nature during afternoon; campfire to toast marshmallows @ Demory firering 4pm-7pm (may also use pavilion at Demory Field)
    • November 06, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
    • BRCES' Demory-Wortman House

    Instructor - Michael Judd

    Join us for a hands-on course in designing and creating a food forest on a typical residential landscape. Imagine a yard where trees are dripping with fresh fruits and ripening nuts, shrubs are packed with delicious berries, and every other plant is a medicinal herb, culinary spice, or beautiful edible flower. Tubers and root crops are abundant underfoot, gourmet mushrooms sprout in the shade, and hardy kiwi vines climb back up through the layers of this multi-functional forest of foodBeginning with just a few strawbales, newspaper and cardboard we will move through the easy steps to begin transforming your yard into a thriving edible landscape.

    Michael Judd has worked with agro-ecological systems and landscapes throughout the Americas for the last 16 years focusing on applying permaculture and ecological design to increase local food security and community health in both tropical and temperate growing regions.  The founder of both Ecologia LLC, edible and ecological landscape design and Project Bona Fide, an international non-profit supporting agro-ecology research. While he continues to raise awareness and funds for his project in Nicaragua in the U.S., Michael currently offers design consultation and implementation services specializing in edible landscapes through Ecologia, LLC.

    Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org


    • November 07, 2010
    • 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
    • Resource Center
    Phil Daley, LWC, will be conducting a training session entitled "Sharing Your Enthusiasm for Nature" for potential walk leaders.  Class will begin at 1pm, followed by a walk starting around 2:30pm - discovering Fall, seasonal changes.  To register, contact Phil Daley, pedaley@verizon.net, LWC.  Registration is limited to 15.
    • November 27, 2010
    • 08:00 AM
    • meet @ BRCES Visitor Center

    BIRDING the BLUE RIDGE CENTER.  On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC)  leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. We’ll meet at the BRCES Visitor Center at 8:00am the morning of the walk.  For more information, please contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

    • December 17, 2010
    • 05:00 PM
    • December 18, 2010
    • 05:00 PM
    • Demory Field
    BSA Troop camping December 18-19 in Demory Field.  Approximately 15 campers.

Past events

September 04, 2010 private group camping
September 01, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
August 28, 2010 BIRD WALK-BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER
August 27, 2010 Scouts camping in Demory Field
August 25, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
August 21, 2010 ACOUSTIC BURGOO CONCERT, 7pm
August 21, 2010 private group camping in Demory Field
August 18, 2010 private Loudoun County group hike, service project, lunch
August 18, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
August 12, 2010 Private group camping in Demory Field
August 11, 2010 Private Loudoun County group hike, service project, lunch
August 11, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
August 07, 2010 Private group camping in Demory Field
August 07, 2010 Private group camping in Sawmill Field
August 07, 2010 LWC Annual Butterfly Count
July 26, 2010 USFWS Macroinvertibrate Ecology & ID course
July 24, 2010 Gray Tree Frogs - Enjoying the Chorus
July 24, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
July 10, 2010 Field trip for pollinator class, Audubon Society of NoVA
June 27, 2010 USTR picnic
June 26, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
June 26, 2010 Sierra Club Picnic, Bird Walk, Farm Tour
June 05, 2010 Troop 1577 camping & wilderness training
May 22, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
May 17, 2010 US Fish & Wildlife Service, River Assessment & Monitoring
May 16, 2010 Millsaps College, Field Geology Course
May 14, 2010 Cub Scout Pack 1250 Camping
May 05, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
May 05, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
May 01, 2010 Cubscout Den 7, Pack 39 camping
May 01, 2010 Boy Scout Leader Training/Camping
April 28, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
April 24, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
April 24, 2010 Cub Scout Pack 1162 Camping
April 23, 2010 Mike Toner camping group (30)
April 21, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group (private event)
April 17, 2010 Troop 525 camping (40)
April 16, 2010 Camping (private event), approx. 30 campers
March 27, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
March 27, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 10am, 2pm, & 4pm
March 24, 2010 CubScout Pack 1162 Camping
March 24, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
March 22, 2010 USFWS Stream Habitat Course
March 20, 2010 Hillsboro Elementary Bird Walk & Hike
March 20, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 10am, 2pm, & 4pm
March 17, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
March 13, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 10am, 2pm, & 4pm
March 10, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
March 06, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 10am, 2pm, & 4pm
March 03, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
February 27, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
February 27, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
February 24, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
February 20, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
February 17, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
February 13, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
February 10, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
February 07, 2010 LWC, Woods & Fields in the Coldest Month
February 06, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
February 03, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
January 30, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
January 29, 2010 Troop 1577 camping in Demory Field (15)
January 27, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
January 24, 2010 Amtgard - Live Action Role Playing Game
January 23, 2010 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
January 23, 2010 Historical & Archaeological Hikes @ 2pm & 4pm
January 20, 2010 Wednesday Home School Group
January 10, 2010 Amtgard - Live Action Role Playing Game
January 09, 2010 BRCES Historical & Archaeological Hikes
January 02, 2010 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 31, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 30, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
December 29, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 23, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
December 21, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 19, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 17, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 16, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
December 15, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 12, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Closed All Day
December 10, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 09, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
December 08, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 05, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 03, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
December 02, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
December 01, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 28, 2009 Bird Walk-Birding the Blue Ridge Center
November 28, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open until 3pm only
November 26, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 25, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
November 24, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 21, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Closed All Day
November 19, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 18, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
November 17, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 14, 2009 BSA Troop 15 camping
November 14, 2009 BSA Troop 2 camping
November 11, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
November 09, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Open 10am until 3pm only
November 07, 2009 Wildlife Mgmt Program-Trails Closed All Day
November 06, 2009 Private group camping in Demory Field
November 04, 2009 Wednesday Home School Group
October 29, 2009 Demory-Wortman House Open
June 23, 2009 Demory-Wortman House Open