Greetings, Friends of RLEP!

2023 was another growth year for RLEP, and we look forward to even more in 2024 and beyond.

RappFLOW merged into RLEP, bringing their stream and river monitoring and water protection programs to RLEP. We could not be more pleased to have Jeannette Murry and Bob Hurley of RappFLOW join our Board of Directors.

RappTrails is also merging into RLEP with their program of family friendly hikes and walks to explore nature and our beautiful county.

Spotlight on RLEP Programs and Activities:

• An RLEP Scholarship, newly established in 2022 and administered by the Headwaters Foundation, will again be awarded to one or more Rappahannock County high school graduates with an interest in pursuing a career or advanced study in environmental protection.
• The Nature of Rappahannock ~ a stroll for the soul continues to be a wildly popular program that provides fascinating and educational small tours of local ecological treasures on private properties.
• Rappahannock Nature Camp, the ever-popular local day camp, receives financial support from RLEP.
• Scholarships are also available for Rappahannock students to attend fun-filled two week courses in Nature Studies at Nature Camp in Vesuvius, VA
• Homegrown National Park ® is a national program that challenges landowners to help restore ecosystems by removing invasive species and planting natives. RLEP’s efforts to support the program include partnering with the town of Sperryville to organize and participate in volunteer workdays along the Sperryville trail network.
• VDOT Adopt-a-Highway program was expanded when RLEP adopted a section along Route 211 from Amissville to the Fauquier County line for semi-annual litter pickups.
• The Saving Dark Skies is an amazing RLEP program team. Here is a sampling of our efforts: discussions with StoneHaven’s developers on dark-sky compliant lighting options; ongoing dialogue, in concert with the Town of Washington, with Rush River Commons’ developers on the lighting plan for the project; free replacement of private as well as commercial outdoor pole, barn, and building lights (a professional electric company does the installation); and support of the county’s Dark Sky Park events throughout the year.
• Public Forums are in the planning stage on important natural resource issues.

Please remember RLEP in your annual giving and consider volunteering to help grow our programs.

YOU can help conserve the nature of Rappahannock.

All the best,
-Rick Kohler
RLEP President