Appalachian Habitat Association

04/12/2026

AHA AGAIN OFFERING 7 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $30,000

Local high school seniors and college students interested in or studying wildlife conservation and forestry related fields are eligible to apply for one the Appalachian Habitat Association scholarships (AHA) being offered this spring.

The non-profit AHA is offering up to seven scholarships that will be awarded to students who will or are planning to pursue an education that will lead to a two-year or higher degree in a course of study associated with Forestry, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Habitat Management, Conservation Resources, Conservation Criminal Justice or a similar field associated with improving wildlife habitat and/or protecting wildlife.

Students from the Virginia Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge, and the Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro are eligible for the scholarships.

The non-profit AHA will accept applications from 2026 graduating high school seniors and post-secondary students currently enrolled in programs at an institution with an accredited program as identified above.

Scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 will be awarded to the top seven applicants. Awards will total $30,000.

Application requirements and the application are accessed at

https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/AHAScholarship2026

or by emailing [email protected] for a link to apply.

For more information, contact Ed McCoy at [email protected] or by calling 540-339-0622.

Fully completed applications must be completed by May 31, 2026.

The AHA awarded 7 scholarships to students from 5 different counties during the current academic year. Those awards totaled $30,000.

Our annual banquet is a major fundraiser for the organization, and it helps fund these scholarships. The 2026 banquet returns to Augusta Expo on SATURDAY, AUGUST 22.
For tickets, contact Jim McCoy at 540-570-6070.

Kaleidoscope

12/12/2025

Healthy forests don’t happen by accident -- they happen by management.

This month we’re excited to launch the Appalachian Habitat Association’s new forest management awareness campaign. Our goal is simple: educate the public on why active management -- thinning, cutting, creating young forest, and improving stand diversity -- is essential for wildlife across Appalachia.

This effort was brought to life in partnership with the Give for Grouse Initiative, whose mission aligns with our own. While ruffed grouse is a focal species, the work absolutely benefits deer, turkey, songbirds, bears, pollinators -- truly the entire ecosystem.

Our billboard is now live, the link to the campaign is below and we hope they spark conversations about what real conservation looks like in our region. If you care about healthy forests and thriving wildlife, help us spread the word.

HabitatVA.org

12/02/2025

Order yours today!

Annual Conservation Banquet Help us advocate for ruffed grouse and healthy forests while supporting our local logging community with the purchase of a t-shirt! Every shirt sold helps fund conservation efforts, supports sustainable forestry, and keeps dollars right here at home. These high-quality te...

11/28/2025

‼️Calling all NOVA and Northern Shenandoah Valley landowners!‼️

The Piedmont Environmental Council has announced the application for the 2026 Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative incentives program is open now until November 30th:

"Grassland bird species across North America have suffered steep population declines due to habitat loss by agricultural conversion, succession into forests and development.

To combat this decline, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is now offering financial incentives to farmers willing to participate in grassland bird-friendly land management practices during the 2026 haying season. These practices help create habitat for nesting, foraging and raising young – and can fit into farmers’ production goals.

The program is open to 16 counties across the northern Virginia Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Shenandoah Valley, and a minimum 20-acre commitment is required. Since 2021, 57 farmers have enrolled over 3,600 acres in our incentives program, so we’re really excited to keep the good work going!

VGBI is offering $35/acre in monetary payments to farmers willing to adopt delayed haying (delaying the first cut of hay until July 1 or later) and/or summer pasture stockpiling (rotating livestock out of select fields between April 15 and July 1 or later).

The deadline to fill out this upcoming year's interest form closes Nov. 30. Please visit vagrasslandbirds.org/incentives to learn more. 🌾🐦"

Make sure to apply today before space runs out!

05/12/2025

Accepting 2025 Scholarship Applications; $30,000 available across 7 awards

High school seniors and college students from our seven-county focus area who are interested in or are currently studying wildlife conservation and forestry related fields are eligible to apply for one the Appalachian Habitat Association scholarships (AHA) being offered this spring.

The non-profit AHA is offering up to seven scholarships that will be awarded to students who will or are planning to pursue an education that will lead to a two-year or higher degree in a course of study associated with Forestry, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Habitat Management, Conservation Resources, Conservation Criminal Justice or a similar field associated with improving wildlife habitat and/or protecting wildlife.

Students from the Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge, and the Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro are eligible for the scholarships.

The non-profit AHA will accept applications from 2025 graduating high school seniors and post-secondary students currently enrolled in programs at an institution with an accredited program as identified above.

Scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 will be awarded to the top seven applicants. Awards will total $30,000.

Application requirements and the application are accessed at:
https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/AHAScholarship2025

Applications may also be accessed from the AHA website at https://appalachianhabitat.org/scholarships.

Fully completed applications must be completed by May 31, 2025.

For more information, contact Ed McCoy at [email protected] or by calling 540-339-0622.

02/10/2025

Congratulations to AHA board member Jon Cooper! Well deserved recognition for the tremendous work he does and his support for science-based habitat work.

Our Deer Manager of the Year award goes to a person or persons who demonstrate outstanding commitment to sound management of deer habitat and populations. Jon Cooper of Virginia fits that description well, and we are pleased to name him as the 2024 recipient.

Jon actively manages his family’s 10,000-acre contiguous tract of land in the mountains of Botetourt County, Virginia with one guiding principle: habitat. Since the 1980s, Jon and his family have worked tirelessly developing a plan and implementing management strategies that have truly transformed the land. Despite the poor soil, rocky landscapes, and older forests, Jon began improving the land for deer and turkey by managing 100-acre blocks at a time. Through prescribed fire, forest stand improvement, invasive species control and food plots, each block provides everything a deer would need throughout the year including different timber stands and multiple vegetation types for fawning cover, forage and bedding cover. It's such a great habitat showcase, we even held a Deer Steward Level 2 course there last year.

To learn more about Jon and his award: https://deerassociation.com/jon-cooper-of-virginia-wins-ndas-deer-manager-of-the-year-award/

02/04/2025

02/02/2025

12/11/2024

Supporting conservation education is one of the AHA's primary missions. Thanks AHA board chair Nolan Nicely for sharing his time with these MGCC students!

08/27/2024

It was another great Conservation Banquet at Augusta Expo Saturday evening. We had one of our largest crowds and as always, great help from the AHA Banquet Committee. A special thank you to Matt and Phillip Howell of Howell Sales, LLC for handling the auctioneering duties!
And thanks to all who attended and supported this organization!
We'll have more report as we finalize the banquet activities.

08/22/2024

There are two great overnight accommodations that will be available during Saturday evening's AHA Conservation Banquet. River's Bend Cabin on the Upper James River near Eagle Rock offers a secluded getaway in a wonderful log cabin overlooking the river with easy river access, fishing, kayaking, hiking and good ole front porch sitting. Or, there's the escape to The Inn at Warm Springs and The Tavern at the Inn in the iconic town where you can enjoy the grandeur of Bath County.
They'll be available on the live auction!