Nature Connections Calendar
Climate Collaborative Annual Symposium
Climate Collaborative Annual Symposium
The Climate Collaborative Annual Symposium, a gathering focused on advancing community-engaged climate research and fostering meaningful partnerships and cross-team collaboration, will convene on May 1, 2026. The symposium is designed to gather all climate collaborative teams and create space for connection, shared learning, and practical skill-building.
Throughout the day, participants will:
• Learn about the innovative projects led by EI’s Climate Collaborative teams
• Strengthen approaches to community-engaged research and building trust-based partnerships through peer exchange and lessons-learned
• Build skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and team science through a facilitated workshop
The goal of the Symposium is to strengthen both individual projects and the Collaborative as a whole while deepening collective capacity to advance community-engaged climate research.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please register here by Wednesday, April 8th.
(Please note: location and full agenda will be sent to registrants closer to the date of the Symposium.)
Spring Awakening: Where The Blue Ridge Comes Alive Weekend- May1-3, 2026
Date: May 1, 2026 - May 3, 2026 Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Venue: The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen
Formerly the Spring Wildflower Symposium, is an immersive weekend event celebrating the region’s remarkable flora and mountain ecosystems. Designed for nature enthusiasts, scientists, educators, students, and outdoor adventurers, the event features guided natural history walks, field trips, workshops, expert-led presentations in botany, ecology, geology, ornithology, and more! Registration includes event access and Saturday Boxed lunches; it does not include lodging. View brochure for more information. Sign ups for walks will be online this year!
Plant Walk with The Elderberry
Saturday, May 2nd 10am - 12pm | Ivy Creek Natural Area | By Donation + Registration Required
Join herbalist Meg Madden for a monthly educational journey onto the land.
These in-person events are a casual way to connect with each other in person while learning about the native and medicinal plants of our region! Sites will vary each month as we explore the surrounding flora discussing ecology, microclimates, and anything else we want to chat about while we meet the plant beings with whom we share home.
These events will be rain or shine unless the weather is particularly bad. Dress appropriately for outdoor adventuring (hats, sun protection, weather protection, bug protection, comfort, etc.) and bring what you'll need to keep yourself hydrated and nourished (snacks, water, etc.). Other things you may want to bring are loupes to look closely at things, field guides, cameras, and notebooks.
We will meet on site and begin walking no later than 10:05. See you there!
This Month's Location: Ivy Creek Natural Area
We will meet in the parking lot at 1780 Earlysville Rd, Charlottesville, 22903.
Registration is required. Suggested donation $5-$15 to support gas and time, sent by venmo to @Meg-Madden1 or paid in cash on site.
Family Bike Day: Pedal into the Wild West
The Annual Charlottesville Family Bike Day is BACK!
What: We will have a helmet/bike decoration station, traffic garden, pump track, food trucks, DJ and much more, including guided ride over to the Triangle Trails. Helmets and event waiver are required. We will also have a safety check tent so parents can have their bikes looked over by train professionals while the kids explore the bike playground.
This is a great opportunity for families to come out and let their kids build skills and confidence in a positive environment. There will be bikes and helmets to use on site, but we encourage you all to bring your own. That way they can get checked out before we head into the summer.
Registration is not required and everyone is welcome! We will have the waivers on site the day of the event.
When: Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 PM
Where: McIntire Skate Park
Natural Heritage Committee
Natural Heritage Committee
The Natural Heritage Committee (NHC) is a public body appointed by the Board of Supervisors and is charged with maintaining the County’s Biodiversity Assessment, advising the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and County staff on applying biodiversity information in land-use decision-making, and supports biodiversity education in the County. The mission of the NHC is to maintain and restore the County's native biological diversity and provide a healthy environment for the citizens of Albemarle County. Members include local landowners and citizens with interests in biodiversity conservation, farming and forestry, and conservation-oriented rural and urban development.
Meetings
The NHC meets on the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm. Meetings are typically held in Room 235 of the Albemarle County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road, but may occasionally need to be held in other rooms.
Rivanna RiverFest
Rivanna RiverFest is Saturday, May 9th, 2026 from 2:30pm-9pm at the Rivanna River Company!
Rivanna RiverFest brings our community together to celebrate the Rivanna River and other environmental aspects of our region. Our planning team works hard to cultivate an event focused around family-friendly activities that interact with the river, inspire conservation, and help more people experience the river.
Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee
The Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee (SWAAC) was established in Spring on 2016 as a standing advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors. The creation of this Committee is consistent with the Long Range Solid Waste Solutions Advisory Committee's 2015 Final Committee Report, the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the organizational vision of Albemarle County, and the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan facilitated by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
The Committee provides general information to the Board in a semi-annual update, including a summary of sustainable materials management (SMM) issues being considered by the Committee. The Committee can provide review and input on actions proposed by the County that contain a solid waste/SMM component; can submit specific policy recommendations to the Board as they are developed, and will support these recommendations with thorough budgetary and relevant impact analyses. The Committee's policy development will focus on longer range planning that considers the role of climate change actions, including greenhouse gas reductions; public education strategies for SMM activities that are current or are planned for future implementation; equitable access to SMM services in the County; evaluation of regional opportunities for programs; and metrics for evaluating and validating the effectiveness of the County's SMM activities and programs.
Meetings
The full committee meets the second Thursday of each month, 4 – 5:30 pm; subcommittees meet on an ad hoc basis, see the County Calendar for dates and times.
Protecting Our Oldest Forests
An interactive session for makers and thinkers to collaborate, connect, and spark new ideas.
Cville Tree Week!
ReLeaf Cville is sponsoring the first Charlottesville Tree Week! Taking place November 1st through November 7th, 2026, this will be a citywide celebration of trees and urban forestry. Tree Week will bring together community organizations, residents, educators, and youth through a coordinated series of workshops, hands-on activities, and public events focused on planting trees, caring for existing trees, and helping the community learn more about the value of the urban forest. The initiative supports ReLeaf Cville’s mission by encouraging tree planting, supporting the care and protection of existing trees, and expanding public education about urban forestry.
Charlottesville Tree Week is envisioned as a lasting community tradition that strengthens partnerships while supporting the city’s goal of becoming a biophilic city that nurtures meaningful connections between people and the natural world. By working together, community partners can help grow a celebration that highlights the value of trees and encourages long-term stewardship of Charlottesville’s urban forest.