Since its founding in 1979, the Ivy Creek Foundation has managed the Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA), founded in 1978, for education and enjoyment. The unique qualities of the Natural Area include a 215-acre preserve bordering the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir made up of a mix of upland woods, pine stands, old fields and streams. The local citizens valued the area for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. ICNA has been set aside in perpetuity for free public use and is jointly owned by Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville. The Foundation built and now maintains about seven miles of rustic footpaths designed to leave large tracts of wildlife habitat intact, enjoyed year round by individuals seeking peace and quiet, walking and hiking, or observing and studying wildlife and nature.

Since its inception, the Ivy Creek Foundation has recognized and celebrated the spectacular human history of the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Rising from slavery, the Carr family came to own more than 200 acres of prime farmland, keeping it in the family for nearly a century.

In 1997, the Ivy Creek Foundation facilitated the creation of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area (RMNA). Again, the Foundation built and now maintains more than seven miles of walking trails allowing access to one of the most spectacular wildlife areas in Albemarle County.

Habitat Management: The Ivy Creek Foundation works closely with local and state agencies to maintain a diverse representation of wildlife habitat with the intent to maintain the natural area’s biodiversity. This effort has included the conversion of 10 acres of fescue hayfield to warm season native grass prairies reminiscent of Virginia in the 1600s.

Free Public Programs: The Foundation organizes and offers – free to the public – more than 40 public walks and programs each year on a variety of topics related to the natural history of Virginia. These include monthly or seasonal walks on birds, trees, wildflowers, and butterflies.

School Tour Program: Since 1980, the Foundation has hosted local schoolchildren for an interpretive nature walk with a trained volunteer guide at a 1:10 ratio. More than 2,000 children routinely come on these walks each year.

The Foundation also works with local schools to fulfill community service requirements, focusing on the environment. In 2008, local students will be coming to ICNA to help with invasive plant removal and learn about the value of native plants.

Guides to the Flora and Fauna of the Natural Areas: The Foundation maintains and, as available, updates biological inventories of the plants and animals of the Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain Natural Areas. These are made available to the general public through brochures, hand outs and on the ICF website.

Geothermal Education Building: In 1997, the Foundation secured funding to design and build an environmentally sustainable Education Center for use in ICF programming and office space. The Education Building is made available without charge to state and local environmental organizations for meetings and workshops.

Community Resource: The Foundation maintains a large natural history library for use by volunteers and the general public (by appointment). The Foundation is also a well-known and often-used resource for natural history inquiries from the community. Please see: List of Natural History Books (PDF, 59K).