By Makayla Hamlin Surrounded by lush green trees and brush illuminated with bright beams of sun, you hear birds and insects chirping, rushes of water beside you. It’s a beautiful scene, and the more you look around, the more it calms you. Did you know that what you’re doing has a name? It’s called “forest…
FOLAR is hosting our 2025 Community Service Awards and Fundraiser on Thursday, May 1 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and you best be there! Hosted at the Appomattox River Center in Petersburg, you’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres served alongside a cash bar and many exciting opportunities to secure a unique Appomattox River Trail Experience and special…
Friends, We’re reaching out with an urgent request—one that directly impacts our Appomattox River community. Recent federal funding pauses have created an urgent crisis for nonprofits like ours, putting vital programs at risk. FOLAR now faces a critical financial shortfall, threatening our work to protect the Appomattox River – our drinking water source –…
By Makayla Hamlin The Appomattox River is home to many of Virginia’s native species of plants, birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals. Yet, they are put at risk almost every day due to the spread of invasive species. National Invasive Species Awareness Week, held in the last week of February, was created to raise awareness on…
State of the Trail 2025 – an annual program dedicated to discussing progress towards building the Appomattox River Trail – will take place on Thursday, February 27 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.! State of the Trail is a virtual program for folks to gather and learn about what’s in store for the Appomattox River Trail.…
FOLAR is a proud member of the Our Virginia Outdoors coalition, which is working with legislators in the General Assembly to pass Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act (VGOA) that would increase funding to protect Virginia’s lands and water and invest in more parks, trails, and public lands. VGOA would help: Protect vulnerable natural lands and waters,…
– EVENT CANCELED DUE TO DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES – If you’re looking for a way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy, join FOLAR for our MLK Day of Service! We are eager to join forces with the local community to enhance the riverfront and increase access to the river in the…
By Makayla Hamlin Whether it’s the sorrowful coo of the mourning dove after dawn or the shrill whistles of the Nothern Cardinal, you’re likely to hear birdsong on the trail. Did you know that it may provide more to you than just beautiful sound? Birds sing for all sorts of reasons. These complex vocalizations can…
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re looking forward to 2025! This year was truly jam-packed for us. From Stewardship Saturdays to Paddle Battle, FOLAR continued to unite people around the Appomattox River. This shared resource and scenic feature is important for us to steward so that future generations can continue to enjoy all that…
We need YOU to give hope for the Appomattox River! In 2024, we witnessed some of the most catastrophic natural disasters around the world. In the face of these challenges, it’s easy to feel that making an impact as an individual is impossible. That’s precisely why coming together — as community members, friends, colleagues, and…