On September 17th-18th, Virginia Conservation Network Partners returned to Pocahontas State Park for the Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat. We took a much-needed break from our screens to enjoy classic camp experiences, such as hikes, camp games, and stories by the fire.

Check out some of our favorite moments from this year’s Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat in the pictures below!

For our Annual Meeting, our Executive Director, Mary Rafferty, recapped our program’s highlights over the past year; announced and introduced our new Partners; shared updates on our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice plan; and introduced guest speaker Nicole Thompson-Martin, President of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP.

Partners got together to enjoy the splendors of Virginia’s outdoors! Field trips included:

• An Invasive Plant Species hike and invasive plant showcase
• An e-bike showcase and park joyride with Blue Ridge Cyclery
• A Wetlands Migration hike to Beaver Lake

Partners got together for workshops on how to advance our Network goals and strengthen collaboration. Workshops included:

• Exploring how to turn policy ideas into enactment
• Learning how to better work with cross-organizational teams

Our Partners took part in a mix of sessions. Sessions included:

• Trailblazing Further Together: a BIPOC Connection Session led by Choose Clean Water Coalition and Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
• Communications Crossover session with communications professionals from Virginia state agencies
• Environmental Education Workshop led by Wetlands Watch and James River Association
• Connecting With Spanish Speaking Communities session led by Defensores de la Cuenca and Nature Forward

Our Network also strengthened our relationships to better speak as one coordinated conservation voice through fun and relaxing activities:

• Playing in teams for our trivia night
• Participating in our Conservation Speed Dating activity
• Enjoying our Happy Hour
• Shucking and enjoying oysters