Just about an hour away from the heart of Northern Virginia, you’ll find the robust land of the Shenandoah Valley, home to Shenandoah National Park. And no matter the season, there’s something to do in the nature-filled site, ranging from park ranger-led hikes to field trips for local students to discover something new.
This year, the park is offering several updated and new programs to NoVA residents and visitors alike, thanks to a donation of nearly $1 million from the Shenandoah National Park Trust, which invests in initiatives to ensure the national park remains an essential landmark of the National Park Service.
Announced in December through a press release, the 13 additions include youth-centered programs hosted at the park; increased care toward exotic plant and trail maintenance; more opportunities for research using the park’s natural and cultural resources; and much more.
Among the updates includes internship opportunities for young adults. Positions offered this year are from the Education and Interpretation Division, as well as the Cultural Resources and Maintenance Division, giving teens the chance to curate public programming and work toward increasing diversity and inclusion at the site, respectively.
Another big change expected to come in the near future surrounds the Boulder Cabin, a 1911 historic cabin on the property. The Shenandoah National Park Trust will work toward raising funds this year for the renovation and maintenance of the building, which will eventually be used as a residence and studio space for participants of the Artist-in-Residence program. The program will provide local artists with the opportunity to live and work on the grounds of the park, with various dates available from May 2020 through October 2020.
For more information on the programs offered at Shenandoah National Park this year, click here.
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