Virginia Association for Parks

10/03/2026

Celebrate the wonder of migration at World Migratory Bird Day at Kiptopeke State Park on Saturday, October 17! This free, family-friendly event offers a full day of birding, learning, and outdoor fun while celebrating 50 seasons of Hawk Watch.

Visitors can enjoy bird walks and tours, educational workshops, children’s activities, and more—all while experiencing one of Virginia’s premier locations for observing migratory birds.

Learn more and register at friendsofkiptopekestatepark.org/bird-day.

10/01/2026

Governor Spanberger Announces First-Ever Dedicated Director of Outdoor Recreation

Abigail D. Spanberger, Commonwealth, Governor of Virginia, governor, virginia, VA

09/26/2026

happy National Public Lands Day!

Across Virginia, public lands give us places to hike, paddle, camp, learn, and connect with nature. They also protect wildlife habitat, historic resources, forests, waterways, and landscapes that belong to all of us.

Behind every trail, overlook, visitor center, cleanup, restoration project, and community program are dedicated park professionals, Friends groups, volunteers, and supporters who give their time and energy to help these places thrive.

Today, we recognize everyone who helps care for and protect Virginia’s public lands. Thank you for all that you do!

09/21/2026

A little VAFP Conference souvenir turned into something spectacular!

Mike Bedwell of Friends of Hayfields State Park put the zinnia seeds from the Henry County Chamber of Commerce hospitality packets to very good use. The result? This gorgeous burst of late-summer color!

We love seeing how connections and little takeaways from the VAFP Conference continue to bloom long after everyone heads home. By the way, Mike is standing up back there!

08/28/2026

Meet our board members! 👋⛰️

Lynn was one of VAFP’s founders in 1997 and has served as VAFP’s chair for national parks. She helped found Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1989 and is its last living founder. Wilderness Road State Park/Martin’s Station near the Cumberland Gap honors her fourth great-grandfather, Brigadier General Joseph Martin, who helped General George Washington win the Revolutionary War and make peace with the Cherokees. Lynn retired from Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources with the university’s 2018 Staff Career Achievement Award for her work as communications director. To honor her many years mentoring student interns and her numerous contributions to conservation, including getting the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy and Virginia’s Greenways Program started in the 1990s, Friends of the Blue Ridge established the Lynn Davis Scholarship Program and now gives 30 students in the Blue Ridge corridor each year a scholarship to pursue course work in natural resources or Appalachian studies.

08/19/2026

Today is World Photography day! 📸

Today we are taking a moment to appreciate the photos that help tell the story of our public lands and the people who explore, protect, and love them.

What’s your favorite photo you’ve taken in a Virginia park? Share it with us for a chance to be featured!

08/18/2026

Let’s meet another board member- Robert Williams 👋

Robert was a founding Co-Chair of the Virginia Association For Parks (VAFP) and hosted the organizing state-wide conference to create VAFP in November 1997. Robert founded Friends of Caledon (State Park), two national park Friends groups, and assisted with the founding of Friends groups for other national parks, state parks, and Phelps Wildlife Management Area. In 2025 Robert retired from a 21-year career at US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) headquarters, having served in the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, the Division of Natural Resources, the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Division of Budget, and the Infrastructure Management Division.

Robert served in several Acting leadership roles including Chief of the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, Chief of FWS Budget Formulation and Policy, Deputy Chief of the NWRS Office of Budget, Chief of Wildlife Resources, and Deputy Manager of Great Dismal Swamp and Nansemond National Wildlife Refuges in Virginia. During the George W. Bush Administration, Robert served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, the office that oversees national policy for the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Robert has served in an advisory capacity on boards and commissions for local, state, and national governments, and served on numerous nonprofit boards primarily in the areas of public lands management, cultural, historic, and natural resources management, performing arts, public safety, recreation, and transportation.

08/15/2026

Happy National Honey Bee Day! 🐝 Today we are celebrating the tiny pollinators that make a big difference in our parks, gardens, farms, and natural spaces. Honey bees help to pollinate many of the plants that we depend on, and they are an important reminder of just how connected our ecosystems are. Here’s to protecting the places that keep Virginia buzzing! 🍯🌼

08/13/2026

Virginia Association for Parks is seeking a treasurer!
If this could be you, please read through the description below and email [email protected].

Help us by sharing this post with those in your network who may be or know a perfect fit.

Thank you all for your support!

Virginia Association for Parks is seeking a Treasurer to join our Board of Directors!



Description:

The Treasurer shall serve as custodian of all funds, maintain the financial records, deposit all funds in a financial institution approved by the Executive Committee, disburse funds as required by the annual budget and/or as approved by the Executive Committee, and present financial reports at each meeting and/or at the request of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall also maintain membership records with the assistance of the Program Coordinator.



Expectations

- Serve as a volunteer

- Pass a criminal background check

- Possess professional qualities of integrity and strong work ethic

- Attend Board meetings monthly

- Interact timely with the Executive Administrator and Board members

Experience

- Minimum 2 years as full-charge bookkeeper or accountant with banking, payables, general ledger and purchasing responsibilities, OR

- Equivalent work experience as a financial auditor

- Prefer work with a nonprofit organization

- Production of standard financial reports including profit and loss, balance sheet and budget status

Skills

- Proficiency with personal computer and common office software

- Working knowledge of comprehensive general accounting software

- Working knowledge of spreadsheet software

- Working knowledge of internal controls and records management

- Good communication abilities

If you are interested in joining VAFP in the vital role of treasurer, please email your resume and letter of interest to [email protected].

06/23/2026

Please welcome Darlene Griffis to the board!

“As a dedicated outdoor enthusiast and lifelong volunteer, I have spent my years fostering a deep connection with the natural world—a bond rooted in my Native American heritage.

Today, I am proud to serve as the President of the Friends of Widewater State Park, where I channel my passion for conservation and community into protecting the landscapes that keep us grounded. My philosophy is simple: wellness begins with nature.

As a Proper Human Diet advocate and doTERRA Wellness Consultant, I empower others to embrace a chemical-free lifestyle through intentional nutrition and holistic living. When I’m not teaching or volunteering, I’m often behind the lens as a freelance photographer, capturing the quiet beauty of the earth. Above all, my heart belongs to my family. As a single mother and a proud “Nana” to two grandsons, they are the “why” behind everything I do. Whether I’m exploring a trail or sharing a healthy meal, I am driven by a mission to leave a vibrant, healthy legacy for the generations to follow.”