Support the Next Gen Creekkeepers Program

Every young person remembers the first time they truly connected with the natural world—when a forest trail felt alive, when a stream revealed hidden creatures beneath the surface, or when restoring a piece of land made them feel part of something bigger than themselves.

At Goose Creek Association, we believe moments like these shape the next generation of conservation leaders.

And that is exactly why we created:

Next Gen Creekkeepers

A youth conservation program transforming students into hands-on stewards of the Goose Creek watershed.

The 2026 session of this program is set to be our most immersive and impactful yet. Developed in partnership with the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA) and NOVA Parks, the program brings 15–20 high school students directly into the heart of ecological restoration work at the beautiful and historic Goose Creek Historic Park in Upperville, Virginia.

Through a generous $5,000 grant from the Van Huyck Chockley Family Foundation of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, we are able to get this project up and running for the 2026 session - but we need your support to help us secure its sustainability for years to come.

Why We Need This Program — and Why Now

The Goose Creek watershed is facing unprecedented pressures—development, invasive species, water quality challenges, and loss of biodiversity. At the same time, local students are eager for meaningful, hands-on environmental experiences.

The 2026 Next Gen Creekkeepers Session bridges that gap by giving students the tools, training, and mentorship they need to protect the land and waters they call home.

Over several months, students will take part in real restoration work including:

Invasive species identification and removal
Stream monitoring and benthic macroinvertebrate study
Designing and installing a native pollinator garden
Mapping habitat changes and learning stewardship skills
Collaborating with experts from GCA, Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA), and NOVA Parks

Every other Saturday from March–June 2026, participants will be out in the field learning how ecosystems function, how invasive plants threaten our biodiversity, and how restoration directly improves water quality for the entire region.

What the 2026 Session Will Accomplish

By the end of the program, students will have:

Restored approximately 1,000 square feet of degraded habitat
Designed and installed a permanent native pollinator garden and interpretive signage
Identified and helped remove 5–7 key invasive species
Participated in stream monitoring that connects land health to water quality
Joined a community of young people invested in conservation leadership

Goose Creek Association Next Ge…

The session concludes with a Community Showcase, where students present their work, give guided garden tours, and reflect on how this experience has shaped their understanding of environmental stewardship.

Why Your Support Matters on Giving Tuesday

To ensure that subsequent sessions are safe, educational, and accessible to all, we need support from our community.

Your Giving Tuesday gift will directly fund essential program needs, including:

Field gear for students (gloves, tools, safety equipment)
Educational materials and curriculum support
Restoration supplies: native plants, mulch, signage, removal tools
Professional support for hazardous invasive species removal
Program coordination and student outreach
Community showcase and celebration supplies

This program is free to participating students, ensuring that any young person in Loudoun and Fauquier with a passion for the environment can take part—regardless of financial circumstance.

Your donation ensures that cost is never a barrier to opportunity.

Invest in the Future of Conservation

When you support Next Gen Creekkeepers, you are not just funding a youth program.
You are:

Restoring the Goose Creek watershed
Empowering the next generation of environmental leaders
Strengthening partnerships across our region
Cultivating lifelong stewardship
Ensuring that Goose Creek—and the communities connected to it—remain healthy, beautiful, and resilient

This Giving Tuesday, help us launch the 2026 Next Gen Creekkeepers program with strength, enthusiasm, and full funding.

Give today, and invest in the young people who will carry Goose Creek’s mission far into the future.

Together, we can grow the next generation of Creekkeepers.

Donate $50 or More and Receive the Creekkeepers Supporter Magnet

Support the Launch of Next Gen Creekkeepers

Where Tomorrow’s Conservation Leaders Take Root.

Team Members