Next Gen Creekkeepers

A hands-on conservation and leadership program for high school students (Grades 9–12), hosted by the Goose Creek Association in partnership with the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA) and NOVA Parks.

Program Overview

The Next Gen Creekkeepers Program is an immersive, field-based environmental stewardship experience designed for students in Grades 9–12 attending public and private schools or are homeschooled in Loudoun County and Fauquier County.

Through guided outdoor sessions, students learn how invasive plants impact streams and watersheds—and take direct action to restore native habitat and improve water quality at Goose Creek Historic Park, a treasured natural and cultural landscape along Goose Creek.

Participants work alongside conservation professionals to remove invasive species, design and install a native pollinator garden, explore stream science, and connect land restoration to long-term watershed health.

What Students Gain

Real-world conservation and restoration experience
Training in invasive species identification and habitat management
Exposure to environmental science and conservation careers
Leadership development and community service hours
A lasting, visible impact on Goose Creek and its watershed

Program Eligibility

Open to students in Grades 9–12 attending public and private schools or are homeschooled in Loudoun County and Fauquier County. Participation is competitive and requires an application. Out of all applicants, 15-20 students will be selected for this cohort.

Program Support & Acknowledgment

This program was made possible in part by a generous grant from the
Van Huyck–Chockley Family Foundation of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, the Mars Foundation, and our generous Next Gen Creekkeepers supporters.

The Next Generation of Watershed Stewards Starts Here.

Hands-on conservation. Real-world environmental science. Lasting impact.

In spring 2026, Goose Creek Association welcomed the inaugural class of Next Gen Creekkeepers—six high school students from across the Goose Creek watershed who spent the season learning, working, and leading alongside local conservation professionals.

They didn’t just learn about environmental stewardship.

They became environmental stewards.

2027 REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 2027

Next Gen Creekkeepers will return in spring 2027! High school students interested in conservation, environmental science, wildlife, water quality, native plants, or simply spending more time outside are encouraged to apply.

Celebrating the 2026 Creekkeepers

Over eight hands-on sessions, our first Next Gen Creekkeepers cohort explored the connection between healthy land, clean water, and thriving wildlife while making a visible difference at Goose Creek Historic Park in Upperville, Virginia.

Working alongside conservation professionals, students moved beyond the classroom and into the field.

BY THE NUMBERS

6
Students completed the inaugural cohort

8
Hands-on conservation and leadership sessions

30′ × 12′
Native pollinator garden designed and installed by students

15+
Large bags of invasive vegetation removed

Countless hours
Spent learning, restoring habitat, asking questions, and getting their hands dirty for Goose Creek

They Learned It. Then They Did It.

Throughout the spring, Creekkeepers explored some of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—facing the Goose Creek watershed.

Students:

Designed and installed a native pollinator garden
Learned to identify native and invasive plant species
Mapped invasive vegetation at Goose Creek Historic Park
Removed invasive plants and helped restore native habitat
Conducted hands-on benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring
Investigated how land use directly affects water quality
Explored careers in conservation and environmental science
Worked alongside scientists, naturalists, landscape professionals, nonprofit leaders, and land managers
Presented their own conservation capstone projects to the community

By the end of the program, students weren’t simply learning how a watershed works—they were helping take care of one.

SEE THEIR IMPACT

Explore photos, projects, accomplishments, and highlights from our inaugural cohort in the 2026 Next Gen Creekkeepers Impact Report.

VIEW THE 2026 IMPACT REPORT

Learning From the People Doing the Work

One of the things that makes Next Gen Creekkeepers different is the opportunity for students to learn directly from professionals working in conservation throughout our region.

Our 2026 Creekkeepers worked with experts from organizations including:

Goose Creek Association • NOVA Parks • Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance • Watermark Woods Native Plant Nursery • Piedmont Environmental Council • Magee Design • Wetland Studies and Solutions

These partnerships give students the chance to ask questions, discover environmental careers, and see how scientists, nonprofits, businesses, landowners, and community organizations work together to protect our natural resources.

Could You Be a 2027 Creekkeeper?

We’re already looking forward to welcoming the next class.

Next Gen Creekkeepers is designed for high school students in Grades 9–12 in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, including public school, private school, and homeschool students.

No previous environmental experience is required.

We are looking for students who are curious, willing to get their hands dirty, interested in the natural world, and ready to make a difference.

Participants can expect: