On October 7th-8th, 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 & VCN Board Members; and introduced keynote workshop speaker Ebony Walden, Founder & Principal of Ebony Walden Consulting.

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 practical tools & perspectives for long-term nonprofit work

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

• Influencing & Storytelling session with communications professionals across Virginia’s environmental movement
• Microplastics Workshop & Park Clean Up led by Environment Virginia and Clean Virginia Waterways
• At Home Bike Care Workshop on bike maintenance led by Blue Ridge Cyclery
• Climate Impact Survival session with Chief Resilience Officer Greg Steele, Groundwork USA, Viridiant, and SELC

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
• Friendly game of capture the flag between VCN’s workgroups

VCN also hosted its Conservation Awards at the annual Meeting & Partner Retreat, recognizing six environmental advocacy professionals working in Virginia’s partnership of 170+ organizations. See our past recipients below: