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Woodlands Stewardship Education Center

Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3 (EIN: 2679837) is a conservation nonprofit, celebrating nature-based climate solutions to boost biodiversity, improve soil health and water infiltration rates, cool temperatures, purify the air and maximize carbon drawdown!
We educate the public on environmental and nature-based climate solutions through FREE <a href="https://climateactionnow.solutions/can-film-festival/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">monthly film screenings</a>, followed by a discussion with expert panelists, at Cinema Arts Theatres in Fairfax, Virginia, hosting more than 3.1K attendees since December 2023. Additionally, we promote and educate the public about native plants, invasive removal, mini meadows in our yards and the need for mega meadows on data center campuses.
To support our work, we are hosting our inaugural fundraiser, Sunday afternoon, October 25, 2026 and we'd love to see you there! Historically, program expenses — including film licensing fees, and theatre rental— have been covered personally by our volunteers. To continue providing highquality, accessible programming, we are seeking the support of those who share our commitment to environmental resilience.
MAGNIFICENT MEADOWS FUNDRAISER Wilding Data Centers &amp; Our&nbsp;Communities Afternoon Gala
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein
DATE: Sunday, October 25, 2026 TIME: 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM LOCATION: Woodlands Stewardship Education Center, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5301 Walney Rd, Chantilly, VA 20120 <a href="https://null" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"></a>
<a href="https://null" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">JOIN THE PARTY</a>! LIMITED CAPACITY, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnificent-meadows-green-carpet-fundraiser-join-the-party-tickets-1995604520842?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">book NOW</a>!
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION of $49 to attend. Can't attend but still care? We eagerly and graciously accept <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnificent-meadows-green-carpet-fundraiser-join-the-party-tickets-1995604520842?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">any donations</a> to support our mission and help meet our fundraising goal.EVENT SPONSORS: <a href="https://www.meadowsfarms.com/hours-locations/chantilly-south-riding/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Meadows Farms</a>, <a href="https://www.tracezerowaste.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Trace</a>, <a href="https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/reston/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Founding Famers</a>, Total Wine &amp; More, Silver Diner, First Watch, Trader Joes, Wegmans, Ruth's Chris, and more!
— 🌱 Rethinking the American Lawn: An Exciting Shift to No-Mow Landscapes Monoculture lawns dominate 40 million acres across the U.S. demanding billions of gallons of water every day while offering nothing in return for our local ecosystems. It is time to trade the resource-heavy, monoculture grass for a living solution: biodiverse, low-grow, no-mow landscapes along with sections of mini pocket meadows. This event tackles the urgent necessity of removing traditional lawns to combat rising temperatures and ecological collapse. Discover how replacing turf grass with native, low-maintenance alternatives can:
<ul><li>Slash water use drastically, easing the strain on our shared resources.</li><li>Boost water infiltration rates to prevent runoff, erosion, and urban flooding.</li><li>Supercharge carbon drawdown by building deep, healthy root systems that store carbon in the soil.</li><li>Helps purify the air and reduce noise.</li><li>Lowers the heat.</li><li>Beautifies, which improves quality of life and increases property values.</li></ul>
Join us to learn how converting our lawns into a thriving, biodiverse habitat can reverse the horrific ecological devastation that surrounds us. States out West have begun mandating this much-needed pivot. Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural resources has a <a href="https://www.pa.gov/services/dcnr/request-help-converting-your-lawn-to-a-meadow" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Lawn-to-Habitat</a> Program!
—
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnificent-meadows-green-carpet-fundraiser-join-the-party-tickets-1995604520842?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">BOOK TCKETS NOW</a>! Limited capacity for this exclusive event!
<h4>GREEN CARPET GATHERING TIMELINE (tasty bites, beer &amp; wine)</h4>
3:00-4:00 PM Networking with the experts, with various elected officials stopping by to say "Hi" and speak for a few minutes, across the hour. <a href="https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S124" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Senator Stella Pekarsky</a>, <a href="https://house.vga.virginia.gov/members/H0294" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Delegate Karrie Delaney</a>, <a href="https://walkinshaw.house.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Congressman James Walkinshaw</a>'s District Aide <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/myieshajones" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Myiesha Jones</a>, and Fairfax County's Eric Campbell, (Green Stormwater Infrastructure Manager Fairfax County Stormwater Facilities Branch). Stay tuned!
4:00-5:00 PM&nbsp;Panel discussion with the experts in the amphitheater about HOW TO remove sections of our monoculture lawns and replace with biodiverse natives of various heights, under trees for example, along the driveway, low-grow no-mow meadows (under 12″), as well as taller mini meadows in strategic locations. Lots of audience questions.
5:00-5:30 PM Continued discussion about removing monoculture lawns and replacing with low-growing, biodiverse no-mow and follow-up networking / one-on-one conversations with experts. 

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FEATURED GUESTS &amp; EXPERTS: JANE PITTMAN, award winning director, cinematographer and editor based in Washington DC. 
RUSSELL BAILEY,&nbsp;prominent conservationist in Alexandria, Virginia, honored as the 2026 recipient of the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. 
ELAINE MILLS, trained as a Master Gardener with the Arlington/Alexandria unit of Virginia Cooperative Extension in 2012 and quickly discovered a special interest in sustainable landscaping with a focus on native plants. 
LIZ TRAIN is the Co-Coordinator of the Audubon at Home Program for Fairfax County and an Audubon at Home Ambassador. 
REKHA DOLAS is a dedicated member of the Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance (FIRA).
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnificent-meadows-green-carpet-fundraiser-join-the-party-tickets-1995604520842?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">BOOK&nbsp;TICKETS&nbsp;NOW</a>! Limited capacity for this exclusive event!
See your&nbsp;there!

Local Event: WILDING Our Communities & Data Centers Fundraiser | MAGNIFICENT MEADOWS Afternoon GALA!

WILDING Our Communities & Data Centers...

Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3 (EIN: 2679837) is a conservation nonprofit, celebrating nature-based climate solutions to boost...

WILDING Our Communities & Data Centers Fundraiser | MAGNIFICENT MEADOWS Afternoon GALA!

Burke Lake

Lace up your running shoes for a meaningful cause at this charity fun run raising funds for roof repairs to support The Brain Foundation, a nonprofit that houses people living with brain diseases. Participants are encouraged to wear a costume for a chance to win a prize while helping support 9 houses and 33 tenants.

Local Event: The Brain Foundation Fun Run 5k & 10k

The Brain Foundation Fun Run 5k & 10k

Lace up your running shoes for a meaningful cause at this charity fun run raising funds for roof repairs to support The Brain...

National Academy of Sciences

This premier event honors and celebrates the prestigious incoming cohort of 22 ARCS MWC Scholars pursuing significant research in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at our five partner universities (identified below). 
The event underscores the importance of ARCS MWC funding in today’s changing financial landscape for scientists and engineers. Moreover, the sustained technical leadership of our keynote speaker, an ARCS MWC Scholar Alum, illustrates the impact that ARCS support has on U.S. innovation, competitiveness, and national security. Attend this event to learn more about ARCS MWC and STEM philanthropy! 
A reception highlighted by a poster session showcasing each Scholar’s cutting-edge research will open the event. ARCS MWC is extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo as the 2026 SAR keynote speaker. Dr. Sandhoo is the Director of the Space Development Agency and the Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Missile Warning and Tracking. A renowned national security and technology leader across the private and public sectors, he is a veteran of more than 36 years in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Dr. Sandhoo was an ARCS MWC Scholar during 1995-97 while he was earning his DSc at The George Washington University. In his keynote presentation, he will discuss his career and how ARCS made a difference, both while he was a scholar and now. Co-Presidents Julie Hohl and Jane Riddle say “Dr. Sandhoo’s career reflects the heights our Scholar Alums reach as leaders advancing U.S. competitiveness and national security, emphasizing the continuing importance of the ARCS MWC mission, particularly now given reduced U.S. funding for science and engineering.”
More information about the event and registration can be found at <a href="https://www.RSVPtoARCS-MWC.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.RSVPtoARCS-MWC.org</a>.ARCS MWC, chartered in 1968, has donated $9.3 million through 825 Scholar awards at its five local partner universities, forwarding 100% of corporate, foundation, and individual donations each year to chapter Scholars. ARCS MWC enables innovative STEM inventions in areas such as biomedical research, space exploration, and computing complexity (among others), advancing U.S. competitiveness.&nbsp;Contact: Co-Presidents Julie Hohl and Jane Riddle, <a href="mailto:mwcpresident@arcsfoundation.org">mwcpresident@arcsfoundation.org</a>

Local Event: ARCS Foundation® Metropolitan Washington Chapter 2026 Scholar Awards Reception 

Burke

ARCS Foundation® Metropolitan Washington...

This premier event honors and celebrates the prestigious incoming cohort of 22 ARCS MWC Scholars pursuing significant research...

ARCS Foundation® Metropolitan Washington Chapter 2026 Scholar Awards Reception 

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

FIT KIDS, Neighbor

Posting Activity

WILDING Our Communities & Data Centers Fundraiser | MAGNIFICENT MEADOWS Afternoon GALA!

The Brain Foundation Fun Run 5k & 10k

ARCS Foundation® Metropolitan Washington Chapter 2026 Scholar Awards Reception