​ Families Flock to Hail to the Trail Event to Learn More about Nature

More than 100 people enjoyed a beautiful fall day in the woods exploring

nature and listening to live music by Willie White at the second annual Hail

to the Trail event at the Chapman DeMary Trail in Purcellville.

The November 6th event was co-hosted by The Nature Generation and the Town

of Purcellville. Many local organizations and businesses came out to the

trail to show the community how to connect with nature and how to protect

our natural resources.

Several activities focused on water. People got their feet wet and caught

and identified creatures in the South Fork Catoctin Creek with the Audubon

Naturalist Society and were amazed at the discovery of all the small

creatures that live unseen under water. Piedmont Environmental Council

showed how our actions can either help (planting trees) or harm (overusing

fertilizer) our watershed.

The Nature Generation table was crowded with people who tested their

knowledge about water with a trivia game and many others used its

"TreeTrek," "I Spy Trees," and "Find the Sign" scavenger hunt guides to

help them slow down to truly see and appreciate the beauty of our natural

environment.

Kids of all ages created works of art using nature; they used sticks to

paint masterpieces at the Purcellville Arts Council table and made pet rocks

with trail sponsor Jason Sengpeihl of Allstate.

The Purcellville Library mascot owls brought a sampling of the many

environmental books available at the library. Culbert Elementary School

Green Crocs environmental club displayed what they learned in the

environmental books donated to them by The Nature Generation and how through

their partnership they have been helping to keep the trail litter free.

People of all ages enjoyed learning ways to identify animals with molds of

tracks and scat from the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Wildlife Ambassadors

were a big draw with the snakes, lizards, turtles, ferrets and ducks

demonstration that allowed people to get close up observations of these

animals that live in the wild.

Keep Loudoun Beautiful ran a game to teach people the difference between

trash and recyclables, and handed out reusable bags to encourage everyone to

use them instead of plastic bags. Trail sponsor The Maid Brigade collected

several box loads of plastic bags to pass on to Trex, who will turn them

into outdoor benches. Trail sponsor Middleburg Bank once again showed their

support by handing out a variety of free giveaways to attendees.

The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship displayed samples of

plants and seeds that they are found on the Chapman DeMary Trail, and the

Loudoun County Tree Stewards showed the many ways trees benefit the

environment by cleaning water through filtration, and by cleaning air by

absorbing pollutants and providing oxygen, to name just a few.

Three guided hikes were led by Gina Faber, winner of McGranaghan Stewardship

Award; Carol Ivory of the Loudoun County Tree Stewards; and Paul Miller with

the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship.

Several individuals and businesses who support the trail were recognized.

The Nature Generation bestowed the McGranaghan Stewardship Award to Gina

Faber Gina for her dedication of time and talent to enhancing the trail and

educating others about this natural habitat. Two boy scouts whose trail

projects earned the rank of Eagle were praised: Joshua Eager (Troop 39)

built a beautiful arched foot bridge at the entrance to the nature park, and

Adam Broschkovetch (Troop 969) built a long boardwalk over part of the trail

path that was often too muddy to pass.

Trail sponsors were also recognized for their generous financial

contributions: The Dominion Foundation, Middleburg Bank, The Purcellville

Gazette, Jason Sengpiehl with Allstate, Maid Brigade, Bank of Clarke County,

Cabinet Showplace, Fieldstone Farm Bed and Breakfast, Purcellville Copy,

Purcellville Rotary Club, Wholesale Screening Solutions, Browning Equipment,

It's a Piece of Cake Catering, Hudimac and Company, The Jimmerson Family,

The Robic Family and Zicht and Associates

Another major announcement at the Hail to the Trail was The Dominion

Foundation presentation of a grant check for $10,000 for a project designed

to "Enhance Environmental Stewardship and Access to Nature" at the Chapman

DeMary Nature Trail. Tim Sargeant with Dominion, presented the certificate

to Amie Ware, Teach Green Program Director with The Nature Generation.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser of Purcellville was joined by children who planted three

red bud trees near the new bridge. He then read a Proclamation for 2016

Arbor Day. Jim McGlone with the Department of Forestry talked about the

value of trees, and congratulated the Town for keeping its Tree City USA

designation for the 9th year.

The Chapman DeMary Trail is part of a sustainable education partnership

among The Nature Generation, Loudoun Valley High School, the Piedmont

Environmental Council, and the Town of Purcellville. The Nature Generation

is a nonprofit that manages and implements projects at the trail to provide

environmental education and hands-on opportunities for students, scouts, and

residents. The organization relies on the support of individuals and

businesses in our community to bring these programs and opportunities at the

trail.