May 22, 2010 will mark the first Occoquan River Conservation Day to celebrate the river and its resources.  The purpose of this event is to educate all who attend on the importance of the Occoquan watershed and the impact the river has on all our lives.

Sponsored by the Occoquan Watertrail League (OWL), Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), George Mason University Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center and REI, this free event will be held at Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, Virginia. 

The event opens at 8 am with registration and a community tent with over 30 recreation, conservation and history displays.  Starting at 9 am, there will be interactive talks on conservation, recreation and history of the river throughout Occoquan Regional Park until 11:45 am.

Here are the topics that will be discussed:

1. -Paddling the Occoquan with a Smile
   

2. -Trails of the Occoquan Region and Beyond
   

3. -Things to Do and Places to Go Along the Occoquan
   

4. -Water Ecology - The Living Water
   

5. -Water Quality - Is It Safe to Drink?
   

6. -Our Wonderful Wildlife
   

7. -A Prison...Why Occoquan?
   

8. -Earliest Peoples of the Occoquan Region
   

9. -John Smith and Beyond
   

Attendees are encouraged to grab lunch in the nearby town of Occoquan where local merchants will be offering special discounts for those who attend the event.  After lunch starting at 1:45 pm there will be many family activities to choose from taking place in locations all along the Occoquan Watershed in both Prince William and Fairfax Counties. 

Planned activities:

1. -Paddling with a Naturalist
   

2. -Paddling Bridges Between Counties: Lake Ridge to Fountainhead
   

3. -Jump Start Paddling Demo
   

4. -Family Fishing Fun
   

5. -Orienteering for Fun
   

6. -Fairfax Fire Dept Fire Truck Demo
   

7. -Hike the Historic Bull Run
   

8. -Volksmarch
   

9. -S’mores Family Geocaching
   

10. -Family Bonfire and Story Telling
    

11. -Family Nature Walk
    

12. -Wonderful World of Wildlife
    

13. -Belmont Bay Water Quality Testing
    

14. -Stream Life and Biomonitoring
    

15. -Walking with a Naturalist
    

16. -Ghost Tours of Occoquan
    

17. -A Glimpse Behind the Bars (Workhouse Museum tour)
    

Come out and join the fun!  Click here if you’re interested in helping plan or volunteer the day of the event.