Next Gen Creekkeepers
Invasive Plant Removal & Pollinator Habitat Restoration
March 7 – June 13, 2026 | Goose Creek Historic Park, Upperville, VA
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 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 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.
