Virginia Working Landscapes

Home
United States
Front Royal, VA
Virginia Working Landscapes

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Virginia Working Landscapes, Nonprofit Organization, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA.

Virginia Working Landscapes, a program of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land use through research, education, & community engagement.

10/16/2026

The sixth annual Rappahannock River Symposium will feature two talks from VWL!

Program director Amy Johnson will deliver the keynote: “Cultivating Conservation through Collaboration.” And communications specialist Brooke McDonough will lead a session: “Communications & Conservation Storytelling.”

The event will also feature our colleagues at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Thomas Akre and Chris Polinski in a session titled “Building Capacity for Turtle Conservation Across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” Many other VWL partners will be speaking – it will be a fun and informative day!

The symposium will be on Wednesday, Oct. 21st in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Learn more and register here: https://www.rappahannockroundtable.org/rappahannock-river-symposium/

10/14/2026

What does it mean to co-design research with farmers?

At Chancellors Rock Farm, it means asking questions about soil, plants and grazing practices alongside the people who are managing the land.

Working farms are complex systems, and research conducted on them needs to account for the realities of farming. By working directly with farmers, researchers can better understand what is happening on the ground, ask questions that are relevant to working lands, and develop knowledge that can translate across farms and regions. This kind of collaboration helps make research more relevant to the people and places it is meant to serve.

10/13/2026

September was filled with events! Our team had a blast sharing our conservation efforts throughout the region.

Learn more about what we've been up to and other updates in conservation science from our newsletter! You can read the latest issue on our website.

10/09/2026

Being sustainable doesn't have to be scary!

Fall is one of our favorite times of year at Virginia Working Landscapes, and we love a good autumn or Halloween display. But many seasonal decorations are made to be used for just one season before ending up in the landfill.

Looking for more sustainable ways to decorate? Try these:

👻 Shop secondhand. Check out your local thrift store for seasonal décor, or get creative with everyday items like baskets, books, fabric and trinkets that can be used year after year.

🌾 Bring the outdoors in. Grasses, branches, dried flowers and other natural materials can make beautiful seasonal displays. Just be sure to harvest responsibly and avoid collecting anything that provides important habitat or food for wildlife.

🎃 Shop local. Pick up pumpkins, gourds and other fall decorations from local farmers and markets. You can also find handmade items from local craftspeople that are made to last.

🍂 Get creative with nature finds. Deer sheds, fallen branches, dried flowers and leaves can all add a little spooky flair without buying something new.

Whenever possible, consider the impact your decorations have on wildlife. Fake spiderwebs outdoors can trap birds, bats, and insects. Decorative lights left on all night can confuse wildlife, and painted pumpkins thrown into the garden can leach chemicals and microplastics. Mindful decorating is a Halloween treat for the whole community, wild and otherwise!

10/06/2026

Join us this fall for an afternoon exploring a working farm near Atoka, Virginia!

Virginia Working Landscapes and the OCH Conservation Foundation are hosting a guided nature walk led by VWL Biodiversity Technician Christopher Rademacher. We'll explore the farm, look for migrating birds and take in the changing landscape as autumn settles in.

This is a free event, but registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vwl-fall-nature-walk-tickets-1999542451298?aff=oddtdtcreator

Photo by Brooke McDonough

10/01/2026

We are thrilled to share a new resource highlighting Virginia’s vernal pool ecosystems!

Vernal pools are temporary freshwater wetlands that form in shallow depressions through precipitation, runoff and snowmelt during the fall and winter. Because they dry up in the summer, fish cannot survive in them, providing ideal habitat for an interesting host of wildlife and plants.

Often overlooked because of their small size, vernal pools have been lost to development, drainage, logging and pollution. Protecting and restoring vernal pools is critical to preserving the unique wildlife that depends on them.

Exploring a vernal pool is a magical experience, revealing countless plants and critters. This resource highlights a number of creatures that rely on these ecosystems. How many can you spot? Download your own free copy here:https://www.vaworkinglandscapes.org/wp-content/uploads/Virginias-Vernal-Pool-Ecosystem.pdf

Illustration and content by Nick Garnhart / Smithsonian

09/29/2026

Join us this fall for an afternoon exploring a working farm near Atoka, Virginia!

Virginia Working Landscapes and the OCH Conservation Foundation are hosting a guided nature walk led by VWL Biodiversity Technician Christopher Rademacher. We’ll explore the farm, look for migrating birds and take in the changing landscape as autumn settles in.

This is a free event, but registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vwl-fall-nature-walk-tickets-1999542451298?aff=oddtdtcreator

Photos by Brooke McDonough and Christopher Rademacher

09/24/2026

Swoosh! A flash of blue might be all you see as tree swallows dart through the sky. These species are beautiful, fascinating and full of surprises.

Tree swallows are highly social birds. Though they pair up to breed, they often have secret mating moments outside of their pair bond. They fly with acrobatic movements as they chase their prey through the air. Their presence even creates a "landscape of fear" for their prey, meaning insects change their behavior simply because tree swallows are nearby.

Tree swallows are cavity-nesters, relying on natural holes in trees, often made by woodpeckers, to raise their young. As people remove dead trees, also known as snags, suitable nesting sites become harder to find.

Adding nest boxes to the landscape can help support a variety of birds, including tree swallows, and gives us the chance to appreciate these remarkable birds right in our own backyards!

09/22/2026

Join Virginia Working Landscapes for a bird banding demonstration at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute! Get an up-close look at some of our native songbirds as researchers safely capture, band and release them. Learn how bird banding helps scientists track bird populations, migration patterns and long-term health trends, then join us for a short bird walk afterward.

The event is Friday, October 2 from 8:30–10:30 a.m.

This is a free event, but registration is required and space is limited. Please note, this event is limited to individuals 18 years and older.

Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2001013325723?aff=oddtdtcreator

(Note: All handling of wild birds for our studies are conducted by trained professionals under a federally authorized banding permit).

09/16/2026

August marks the end of summer field season! We soaked up those final days with field work and nature time.

Learn more about what we've been up to and other updates in conservation science from our newsletter! You can read the latest issue on our website.

Address

1500 Remount Road
Front Royal, VA
22630

Telephone

+15406350038

Website

http://www.vaworkinglandscapes.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Virginia Working Landscapes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Virginia Working Landscapes:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Front Royal?