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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 1pm

Friends of the Occoquan

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Woodbridge, VA
Friends of the Occoquan

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Promoting the awareness of our region's natural resources.

Vision of the Friends

To energize individuals, community and business groups to take on the challenge of keeping Northern Virginia’s Reservoirs clean, by controlling excessive sedimentation and pollution. This message will be brought to schools, civic groups and community organizations, as well as local and federal government agencies.

10/26/2026

FOTO participated in the Prince William Water Trick-or-Treat Community event. Exhibitors gave 500 happy children goodies.

10/18/2026

Fun event for the whole family! Come visit us at the FOTO table.

10/05/2026

Rain or Shine, River Heroes Answer the Call

WOODBRIDGE, VA—October 3, 2026— Rain, mud, and wind could not dampen the dedication of 157 volunteers who participated in Friends of the Occoquan’s (FOTO) fall cleanup event. From 9 a.m. to noon, they worked by boat and along the shoreline at five locations across the Occoquan watershed, demonstrating an inspiring commitment to protecting the waterway that supplies drinking water to many Northern Virginia residents.

Together, they removed 120 bags of trash, along with four tires, a tire iron, a car door, six buckets, three broken plastic lawn chairs, a cooler, three metal poles, and two metal signs. Volunteers also collected Styrofoam pieces, numerous fishing poles, and large wooden boards, including several 2x4s. One volunteer will clean the recovered soccer and tennis balls for recycling. In the Town of Occoquan, volunteers recovered a set of keys, which was turned over to the police station’s lost and found. A bag containing razor blades and syringes was also turned over to police, and the needles will be properly disposed of.

FOTO extends its heartfelt thanks to participants from VA American Water, Fairfax Water, Prince William Water, Ullman Schutte, Garney Construction, the Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association, and Nova Go. Their time, energy, and teamwork made a meaningful difference despite the challenging weather.

Special appreciation also goes to our devoted volunteers, some of whom have been supporting FOTO’s cleanup efforts since 2000. Boy Scout Troops 1396 and 295, Troop 1369, Girl Scout Troop 80169, American Heritage Girls, Trail Life volunteers and their leaders, and the National Junior Honor Society students of Graham Park Middle School. These young volunteers and the adults who support them exemplify the community spirit that sustains FOTO’s work.

This cleanup would not have been possible without the generous support of NOVA park managers and staff, Town of Occoquan, FOTO site captains, sponsors, partners, Clean Virginia Waterways and the many dedicated helpers working behind the scenes. FOTO is deeply grateful to everyone whose planning, time spent, and hands-on assistance helped make the event a success.

Above all, the volunteers and participants help to strengthen the community’s commitment to a cleaner and healthier watershed, the source for millions of Northern Virginia’s residents.
Town of Occoquan-GovernmentBoy Scout Troop 1369Clean Virginia WaterwaysVirginia American WaterFairfax WaterPrince William WaterNOVA ParksFountainhead Regional ParkOccoquan Regional ParkVirginia Search and Rescue Dog Association

10/03/2026

FOTO CLEANUP IS STILL ON!
Despite the light rain this morning, our cleanup is still taking place as scheduled.
If you choose to join us, please dress for the weather—a raincoat and sturdy, appropriate shoes are recommended, we will be doing land-based cleanup.
Thank you to everyone coming out to help keep the Occoquan watershed clean! 💚

09/17/2026

A GENTLE REMINDER!
It's not too late to preregister for FOTO's Occoquan River cleanup event.

08/18/2026

Come out and join Sheba and her best friend Poppy for the FOTO Fall 2026 River Clean Up!

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9 AM to 12 PM
At one of these 5 locations:

Lake Ridge Marina
Contact: Renate Vanegas 703-674-6659

Town of Occoquan
Contact: Tammy Hassett 571-427-2562

Occoquan Regional Park
Contact: Alex Vanegas 703-674-7847

Fountainhead Regional Park
Contact: Sonia Monson 703-581-5487

Bull Run Marina
Contact: Steve Hunter 571-263-5367

Preregistration Recommended
How do I sign up?

Select a location from above and email the required information to [email protected]

1. Location/Time Slot you plan to sign in
2. First and last names of the volunteers in your group
3. Contact number and email address
4. Do you need a community service letter? Please include your name and mailing address.

Refreshments provided
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own filled water bottles as FOTO aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.

In case of inclement weather please check the FOTO website or page for updates.

Website: www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org

Get out with your family or friends and do your part in keeping the source of our drinking water pristine.

Plan Ahead- Next FOTO Clean Up Saturday, April 3, 2027

07/03/2026

To all our amazing volunteers and staff, we wish a Happy Independence Day, and a happy 250th birthday to America.

06/29/2026

What a wonderful morning spent with the amazing 2nd grade class at Minneville Elementary School in Prince William County!

In late May, Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) had the pleasure of leading a Rain Barrel Workshop with 18 enthusiastic students. Their classroom teacher, Ms. Kelly Fields, and gifted teacher, Bridgitte Goins, work alongside the students to maintain the school's garden, where the newly built rain barrel will soon help provide water for their plants.

During the workshop, FOTO members Sonia Monson and Steve Hunter talked with the students about what rain barrels are, where they come from, how they collect rainwater, and the many benefits they provide for conserving water and protecting our environment. The students were engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and did an outstanding job building their rain barrel together!

One of the highlights of the day came before the workshop even began. As we arrived at the school, we were warmly welcomed by a group of students, including classroom ambassador Alex, who proudly escorted us to the classroom. Their kindness and hospitality made us feel right at home and set the tone for a wonderful experience.

Thank you to the students, teachers, and staff at Minneville Elementary for making us feel so welcome. It is always inspiring to see young people excited about protecting our natural resources and making a difference in their community.

Together, we're growing the next generation of environmental stewards—one rain barrel at a time! 💧🌱🌎

06/22/2026

May 2026 🌧️🌱 Rain Barrel Workshop at Rockledge Elementary School 🌱🌧️

Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) recently partnered with the Rockledge Elementary School Eco Club for a hands-on rain barrel workshop. Together, students helped build two rain barrels that will provide a sustainable source of water for the school's outdoor raised-bed gardens.

A special thank you to Eco Club teacher and 5th-grade educator Linda Swiggums for her dedication to environmental education and for inspiring students to become good stewards of our natural resources.

The students were curious, enthusiastic, and full of great questions as they learned how rain barrels help conserve water, reduce stormwater runoff, and support healthy gardens.

Thank you to FOTO volunteers Sonia Monson, Steve Hunter, and Betty Vanegas for sharing their time and expertise to make this project possible.

We look forward to seeing the Eco Club use the harvested rainwater to help their gardens grow and thrive! 💧🌻🌿

05/15/2026

The Prince William Scouting America leadership program was held last night at Osbourne High School in Manassas. Attended by leaders and scouts from Cub Scouts, Troops, Sea Scouts, and Venturing crews, the event brought together dedicated young people and community leaders committed to service and leadership development.
We were delighted to represent the Friends of the Occoquan and share information about our environmental programs and watershed cleanup efforts. Andy Tainter of the Prince William District Committee explained that the purpose of this leadership program is to support fundraising initiatives benefiting a variety of community organizations throughout the area.

Address

P. O. Box 1452
Woodbridge, VA
22195

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 1pm

Telephone

+17036247124

Website

http://www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org/

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