Every year, Virginia Conservation Network staff visit a new region of Virginia for a staff retreat. While bonding and relaxing in a beautiful area of Virginia is certainly a highlight, we visit these regions intentionally to learn about the area’s local environmental issues and to connect with regional partners on their turf.

We headed west last year to visit the beautiful vistas of Shenandoah County and east the year prior to explore the Eastern Shore. It only felt natural to head south this year to enjoy some outdoor recreation in Danville and learn about plans for smart growth and outdoor recreation development in the area! See the fun (and learning experiences!) below.

Our first outing started at the TrailHead Collective Bike Shop in La Crosse, Va. We learned about how the only bike shop in the tri-city area transformed into a nonprofit to promote cycling as an effective, affordable, and sustainable form of transportation. VCN staff then hopped on a few bicycle rentals to cruise on the Tobacco Heritage Trail.

The Tobacco Heritage Trail connects 25 miles of off-road trails and 29 miles of on-road routes through former railroad right-of-way throughout southern Virginia. The current Tobacco Heritage Trail connects the counties of Brunswick, Halifax, Luxenburg, and Mecklenburg, and future plans will connect over 150 miles of recreation trails throughout Southside Virginia.

While our staff retreat’s ultimate destination was Danville, our team took the scenic route as we explored Southside. In a healthy balance of planned outings and spontaneous stops, our staff enjoyed shopping at a South Hill thrift store, sipping wine at a La Crosse winery, and discovering the local treats in Danville.

VCN met for lunch with our friends at the Dan River Basin Association to learn more about the city of Danville’s history and future. With presentations by Danville’s Office of Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, and Office of Planning, staff learned about smart growth projects, outdoor recreation development, and community engagement in the city. Afterward, VCN staff joined Danville Parks and Recreation for a kayak paddle down the Dan River.

Staff set sail on the Kerr Reservoir off of Occoneechee State Park on our last day. Led by Captain Pat and Captain Lillian, we enjoyed some fresh air and sunshine while we cruised on the water. Staff didn’t miss the opportunity to identify native species in the area, and we had fun spotting Cormorants, Bald Eagles, and an Osprey (actively hunting!).