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Outdoors & Environmental Newsletter | April 2012 | VBgov.com/Parks 
Celebrate Earth Day This Sunday!
Sunday, April 22 | 11 am - 4 pm | Mount Trashmore Park

Earth DayCome celebrate Earth Day with us this Sunday at Mount Trashmore Park from 11 am to 4 pm. Our 50+ environmentally-friendly vendors will help you renew your commitment to making our world a better place.

 

Watch as Project Green Teens sort through park garbage to see just how good park-goers are at recycling. Join the Governor's School of the Arts as they paint a recycling bin to help raise awareness for recycling. Be part of the action by bringing your bike & helmet and participating in our News Channel 3 Bike Safety Ride around the lake. Or better yet, ride your bike to the event and use our free Bike Valet service. The first 100 people to use the bike valet will also receive a free gift!


The kids can participate in hands-on activities, crafts, bounce houses and even face painting (1:30 - 3:30 pm). All ages will enjoy live music from 4Shore (recently featured on NBC's "The X Factor"), School of Rock, and The Futuros. Yummy festival foods are available for purchase and be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle to take advantage of our free water station.
 

And don't forget to visit our AAA Recycling Zone! From 9 am to 3 pm, you can bring your unwanted home electronics, old car batteries and child safety seats to be recycled at no cost! You can also purchase a Rain Barrel or Composter made from recycled content, or pre-order now and pick up at the event.
 

Hope to see you there!

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Photography Exhibit at Central Library

 

ExhibitNow through the end of April, stop by the art gallery at Virginia Beach MEO Central Library to check out the "Birds of Virginia" display from award winning photographer, G. Michael Brown. 

 

Mike partnered with us during the 2012 Winter Wildlife Festival, and his Wildlife Photography session was a huge hit with participants! We've already invited him back for more sessions at the 2013 festival. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

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Ready for Some
Outdoor Fitness? 
Get outdoors and get in shape! Check out some of our upcoming fitness classes in the parks. Rec center membership is not needed.
 
Bootcamp in the Park
Fast paced boot camps will have you sweating it out at Mount Trashmore, Bayville Farms or Great Neck Park | 4 or 8 sessions

TRX� Cardio Circuit Outdoor
Alternates between TRX� suspension training and cardio drills at Bayville Farms Park | 8 sessions
 
High intensity workout includes muscle sculpting and fat blasting using TRX� suspension training & kettlebells at Great Neck Park | 4 sessions
 
Surf Clinic for Women 
Learn how to paddle, stand and surf at Little Island Park. Boards and wetsuits provided | Single session
Take the Local Food Challenge!

 

Farmer's MarketSpend just $10 per week on locally-grown foods and beverages and be a part of the 'local movement.' The Virginia Food System Council, along with other food and agriculture organizations, challenges all Virginia households to help grow Virginia's economy. According to research by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, spending just $10 a week on locally produced foods can generate over $1.65 billion dollars annually that stays in our state.

 

Top 3 reasons for eating and buying local
1. Buying locally creates jobs and keeps more money circulating within the local economy.
2. Locally grown foods don't have to endure long storage or travel resulting in more flavorful, fresher foods.
3. Shopping at farmer's markets, roadside stands or farms creates a sense of community with local farmers growing our food.

 

Are you up for the challenge?
* Take the pledge at VirginiaFood.org

* When shopping, look for store labels indicating locally-grown produce, fish, seafood and meats, as well as locally-produced milk, eggs, honey, cheese, and specialty items
* Choose restaurants that feature local products on their menus
Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and buy a subscription for weekly delivery of seasonal foods

Go Kayaking at Stumpy Lake Community Day

Saturday, May 5 | 2-5 pm | Stumpy Lake Natural Area (4797 Indian River Road)  

 

Join us for a Community Day at the new Stumpy Lake Canoe/Kayak Launch. Single and double kayaks will be available free of charge to paddle this beautiful 278-acre lake. Located just after the causeway from Indian River Road near the entrance to the Stumpy Lake Golf Course, the launch opened in November 2011 and provides first time-ever water access to Stumpy Lake. Kayaks will be accessible for 20-minute excursions; no experience necessary.
 
Also take the opportunity to explore the shared-use trail at Stumpy Lake Natural Area before or after hitting the water, or bring a lawn chair to relax and take in the scenery. This canoe/kayak launch is fully ADA compliant, and citizens of all abilities are invited to join the activities on the water.
Get to Know the Turkey Vulture

 

Turkey VultureWhat's up there in the sky, soaring in a circle? Is it a falcon or a hawk? Most likely what you are seeing is a turkey vulture. Turkey vultures are large birds that are dark brown in color with a red featherless head and small ivory beak. Adults have a wing span of about six feet, and males and females are nearly identical in appearance.

 

Turkey vultures are unique due to their highly developed sense of smell, which is atypical in birds. They use this heightened sense of smell to locate their primary food source, carrion (dead animals). Their highly acidic stomach is able to kill most of the bacteria on the deceased animals, helping to prevent the spread of disease. Also, having a bald head means that no meat can get stuck in their feathers, thus improving their hygiene. Turkey vultures very rarely prey on live animals and are very non-confrontational and unaggressive.

 

Learn more about these animals by visiting Wikipedia or the Turkey Vulture Society.

Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures 

 

All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers & Owl Creek Tennis Center will be closed on Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day. Parks remain open for your enjoyment.
 

The pool at Princess Anne Recreation Center will be closed May 19 through June 17 for maintenance.

 

Don't forget that your membership is good at all six Virginia Beach Recreation Centers! If your usual center is closed for maintenance, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one!

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If your child requires additional support, we can help.  Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.
We welcome your comments and questions.  Feel free to email us at [email protected].
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Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.