Events
Spring 2026 Outings
Protecting the Legendary Shenandoah Valley
Connect with the community this spring by joining Shenandoah Valley Conservancy for outings in places we are working to protect.
April 11
Pitch In!
9:00 AM –12:30 PM
Farmers Market Pavilion, Harrisonburg
Join the Conservancy team to help clean up Blacks Run in Purcell Park and learn how a conservation easement protects this stretch of stream in Harrisonburg.
Difficulty: Easy
Max Participants: 10
Kid Friendly!
April 25
Celebrate Earth Day!
11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand, Staunton
Swing by the Conservancy table at this free event to learn about our landscape-scale conservation efforts. Kid Friendly!
May 2
Explore the North River
11:00 AM–1:30 PM
Launch: Mount Crawford, Take-out: Timber Ridge
Join us for a paddle along the North River with North River Friends as our guide and learn about our efforts to create new public river access while helping clean up the river along the way. Bring your own boat or rent one for $50.
Difficulty: Medium (participants must be able to swim and are required to wear a Personal Flotation Device)
Max Participants: 15 (ages 15+)
May 9
Transforming Bradford Pear Trees
10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Bells Lane, Staunton
Learn how grafting can transform invasive Bradford pear trees into beneficial, productive trees for a healthier Virginia landscape through a hands-on demonstration with the Shenandoah Permaculture Institute.
Difficulty: Easy (participants will use a grafting knife under guidance)
Max Participants: 20
Thank you to our sponsor, Shenandoah Permaculture Institute
May 23
Birdsong in a Noisy World
9:00 AM –11:30 AM
Hone Quarry, Dayton
Join Dr. Dana Moseley of James Madison University for a guided birding hike while learning about her research on how human-made (anthropogenic) noise affects birdsong and behavior.
Difficulty: Medium (some inclines; trail not ADA accessible)
Max Participants: 15
June 6
Deep Listening
10:00 AM–12:30 PM
Private Conservation Easement, Middlebrook
Join the Conservancy’s Communications Manager, Amanda Gookin, for an immersive soundwalk exploring the landscape through listening on one of the Conservancy’s conservation easement properties.
Difficulty: Easy (some gentle inclines)
Max Participants: 20
Past Events
River Paddle
Shenandoah River, South Fork
Nature Hike
Washington National Forest
Tree Planting Day
Black’s Run
“Thanks for making this hike happen. It was a beautiful spot, and I loved walking in those woods. And the cumulative knowledge of the naturalists in our bunch was truly impressive!”
— ELLEN BROCK
“Absolutely lovely, lush spot to walk through the woods with the rushing creek and birds serenading us the whole time.”
— Melody Tennant
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