Virginia Association for Parks

Virginia Association for Parks Supporting and preserving Virginia's national, state, and regional parks for all generations. Dues and contributions are fully tax deductible.

The Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) was launched in 1997 to strengthen park volunteer organizations. VAFP has grown to become the nonprofit umbrella for citizen support organizations (“Friends Groups”) and individual volunteers supporting Virginia's park system. This includes state parks, natural areas, national parks, monuments, forests, wildlife refuges, and historic sites across the Commo

nwealth. VAFP actively advocates park issues at the local, regional, state, and national levels and offers free technical advice to members. VAFP also conducts semi-annual conferences with training sessions and networking opportunities. VAFP’s mission is to support Virginia’s park system, and give voice to those who love our parks. The VAFP Board has identified two overarching strategic priorities:

1) Help the park system secure sustainable funding via advocacy and fundraising initiatives.
2) Build the capacity of park system volunteers and citizen support organizations ("Friends Groups"). VAFP is an all-volunteer effort and has been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.

A big warm welcome to our new Advocacy VP!Dr. Gregory Miller is a global leader in park management, biodiversity conserv...
05/31/2026

A big warm welcome to our new Advocacy VP!

Dr. Gregory Miller is a global leader in park management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation. Greg is an ecologist and conservation biologist who believes in working globally, acting locally (30+ years resident of Virginia), and protecting our precious natural and cultural resources.
For more than two decades, Greg has served on the Board of Directors (nine years as Board President, current) of the Between the Hills Conservancy, the official Virginia State Parks Friends Group for Sweet Run State Park (Hillsboro, Loudoun County, VA), formerly DBA the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. In May 2026, Greg was elected to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association for Parks, where he will serve as Vice President for Advocacy, supporting the protection and management of Virginia’s 44+ state parks.

Dr. Miller has 30+ years of experience and accomplishment as Vice President (South America) at The Nature Conservancy, President at the American Hiking Society, Executive Director of the global Center for Responsible Travel, and environmental advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at the US Agency for International Development. Greg is experienced across a broad spectrum of economic, social, cultural, and environmental challenges, and served on the boards of The Ecotourism Society and Biodiversity Support Program, and has held a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and exploring the outdoors responsibly.

A native of California, Greg is fluent in Spanish and English and earned a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in Botany from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition to his executive experience, Greg worked for several years as a naturalist guide in the Galápagos Islands, the Andes, and the Amazon regions. Dr. Miller is an environmental expert cited by the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, CNN, Bloomberg News, Condé Nast Traveler, TravelPulse, Globe and Mail, Expedia, Kiplinger, Skift, AFAR, Travel and Leisure, O Magazine, and Architectural Digest.

We are thrilled to have Greg join us! 👋

Happy Learn About Composting Day! 🌱🍂Composting is a simple way to reduce waste, enrich soil, and give food scraps and ya...
05/29/2026

Happy Learn About Composting Day! 🌱🍂

Composting is a simple way to reduce waste, enrich soil, and give food scraps and yard debris a second life. Healthy soil helps gardens, parks, and ecosystems thrive!

Today we celebrate the incredible variety of life that makes our world, and Virginia’s parks and natural areas, so speci...
05/22/2026

Today we celebrate the incredible variety of life that makes our world, and Virginia’s parks and natural areas, so special. 🌎🦋🌿

From native wildflowers and towering forests to wetlands, wildlife, and pollinators, biodiversity helps keep our ecosystems healthy and thriving for generations to come.

The Virginia parks community is built by people like you: hikers, campers, nature lovers, and supporters who care deeply...
05/18/2026

The Virginia parks community is built by people like you: hikers, campers, nature lovers, and supporters who care deeply about protecting these special places.

That’s why we want your input on something fun:

We’re creating new Virginia Association for Parks merchandise,including bumper stickers, hats, and tote bags, and we’d love your help choosing the final designs.

Vote on our website www.virginiaparks.org or click the link in our IG bio to vote!

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us celebrate the parks we all love.

Happy Bike to Work Day! 🚲Whether you biked to work, school, or just for fun, today is a great reminder to enjoy the outd...
05/15/2026

Happy Bike to Work Day! 🚲

Whether you biked to work, school, or just for fun, today is a great reminder to enjoy the outdoors and explore the trails, parks, and communities that connect us.

Where did you ride today?

As we continue working together to strengthen Virginia’s parks, we are excited to welcome new leadership to the Virginia...
05/12/2026

As we continue working together to strengthen Virginia’s parks, we are excited to welcome new leadership to the Virginia Association for Parks. We are proud to introduce our new President, Kevin Divins, whose passion for community, stewardship, and collaboration will help guide VAFP into its next chapter. Please join us in welcoming Kevin and hear more about him below!

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our Past President Tim Kennell for more than a decade of dedicated leadership and service to VAFP. Tim’s commitment and vision helped shape VAFP in countless ways, and his impact on Virginia’s parks will be felt for years to come.

Kevin grew up in Florida and has called Virginia home for the past 20 years. A longtime champion of parks and conservation, his journey began with visits to local parks and evolved into a deep commitment to Virginia’s state parks—he has explored all but one.

Kevin is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a role that has only deepened his appreciation for the Commonwealth’s natural landscapes. He has served for nine years on the board of the Pocahontas Chapter of the Master Naturalists and is also a board member of the Friends of Powhatan State Park.

His dedication extends to broader environmental advocacy through involvement with organizations such as the James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He has also participated in advocacy efforts at the General Assembly on behalf of these groups and the Virginia Conservation Network.

Kevin’s love for Virginia and its natural beauty is at the heart of his work. He is deeply committed to preserving and protecting the landscapes that make the state so special.

It’s , and we’re celebrating the trails, views, wildlife, and people that make Virginia’s state parks so special! Tag ...
05/11/2026

It’s , and we’re celebrating the trails, views, wildlife, and people that make Virginia’s state parks so special! Tag us in your favorite memory or photo from a Virginia park and let’s show our parks some love!

This Mother’s Day, we’re thinking about the women who taught us to slow down, step outside, and find meaning in the quie...
05/11/2026

This Mother’s Day, we’re thinking about the women who taught us to slow down, step outside, and find meaning in the quiet, steady beauty of the world around us.

If you’re looking for a way to honor a mother, grandmother, or someone who’s held that role in your life, a gift in her name can be something that lasts far beyond the day itself.

A donation made in honor or memory of a loved one helps support the natural beauty and lasting impact of Virginia State Parks—places where families gather, traditions are made, and moments of reflection take root.

It’s a simple, meaningful way to celebrate a life while giving back to spaces that continue to care for others.

For those looking to create a visible and lasting legacy, we also offer the Honor and Memorial Park Bench Program.

Each tribute bench is a 6-foot structure made from recycled materials, thoughtfully placed within a Virginia State Park. A personalized plaque shares your message of remembrance or recognition. Whether honoring a loved one’s favorite trail or commemorating years of park service, these benches become a lasting part of Virginia’s landscape.

Whether you choose a general donation or a tribute bench, your gift honors someone special while helping to protect and enrich Virginia’s beloved state parks.

Visit www.virginiaparks.org to donate or learn more 🌸

05/01/2026

Help Shape the Future of Occoneechee State Park! 🌲✨

The Lions Club and the Friends of Occoneechee State Park (FOOSP) are teaming up to make our local park more inclusive and accessible for everyone. We are exploring exciting new projects, and we need your input to make them a reality!

Imagine new park features like:
🌲 Sensory Trails designed to engage all the senses.
🌲 Inclusive Playgrounds where children of all abilities can play together.
🌲 Guided Nature Walks tailored for accessibility.

Whether you’re a frequent visitor or haven't been in a while, we want to know what would entice you to enjoy our beautiful lakeside backyard even more.

📝 Take the Survey Here: https://tinyurl.com/FOOSP-SAC-Survey Click here to share your thoughts! We are collecting your feedback through May 31, 2026.

Let’s work together to ensure everyone in our community can share in a joyful outdoor experience.

The EARLY BIRD DEADLINE for the 2026 Virginia Association for Parks Annual Conference is coming up! We don’t want you to...
02/09/2026

The EARLY BIRD DEADLINE for the 2026 Virginia Association for Parks Annual Conference is coming up! We don’t want you to miss this opportunity to gather with park professionals, advocates, partners, and friends who care about our green spaces and outdoor communities.

You can save on your registration until February 15th!

Register now: https://www.virginiaparks.org/2026-vafp-conference-sign-up

📅 Date: Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26, 2026
📍 Location: Fairy Stone State Park, 967 Fairystone Lake Drive, Stuart, VA, 24171

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Virginia Beach, VA

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