This Week at Ivy Creek

Sunday, September 17 | 1:00pm
Annual Meeting and Ivy Talk
Please join us for our annual meeting on September 17! Both in-person and online options are available. In-person festivities start at 1:00 PM with an informal reception. The annual meeting starts at 1:30 PM and will be broadcast on Zoom as well. This will be followed by Dr. William Kurtz's Ivy Talk "Black Virginians in Blue: The Untold Stories of Albemarle County's US Colored Troops" around 2:00 PM, also available both in-person and online. This talk tells the story of more than 250 Black men from Albemarle County and Charlottesville, VA, who served in the Union army or navy during the American Civil War. The talk is the result of almost five years of research and writing conducted by a team of UVA students under Dr. Kurtz's direction. Dr. Kurtz will discuss the incredible sacrifices this group of men made to save the Union and end slavery.
Dr. William Kurtz was the former Managing Director and Digital Historian at the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History at UVA. He received his PhD in History at the UVA in 2012. He has published two books and many articles related to the American Civil War. A past employee of Virginia Humanities, he is a veteran of a number of digital history projects including "Black Virginians in Blue," "UVA Unionists," "Founders Online," and "People of the Founding Era."
Please register whether attending in person or via Zoom.
In-person: https://app.donorview.com/VyOMo
Virtual: https://app.donorview.com/DJDeV

Saturday, September 23 | 9:00am
Volunteer Work Day - Saturday
Have you been looking for a way to give back to your community? Do you love Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm? Do you love being outside and making a difference? Then join us for our monthly public work day! Projects such as invasive plant and debris removal or trail maintenance will be taking place from 9 AM - 12 PM on Saturday, September 23. Wear outdoor work clothes and close-toed shoes/boots. Please email Susie Farmer so we know you're coming.

Saturday, September 23 | 10:00am
Farm and Barn History Hours
Join us for the opening of the barn at Ivy Creek Natural Area! This was formerly the showpiece of the working farm known as River View Farm. It is also one of the reasons that River View Farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy the displays including natural history exhibits and farm equipment. Additionally, there are historical displays about the Carr/Greer family who built this barn and lived at River View Farm for over one hundred years.

Saturday, September 23 | 10:00am
Butterfly Program with Mike Scott
Join us on September 23 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm to learn about butterflies with Mike Scott. Mike has been volunteering at Ivy Creek since 2000, teaching people about our local butterfly and moth species. While not a “school trained” entomologist, the information he shares comes from 50 years of observing, reading, raising caterpillars, and enjoying nature.
The butterfly walks that Mike leads each summer are aimed at teaching people how to quickly identify the most common species in our area by size, color, and behavior. He also emphasizes the importance of planting both nectar plants and caterpillar food plants to encourage multiple generations of butterflies in your own yard. The session will begin with about 30 minutes of classroom time and then we hit the trails to see what we can find.
This event is free and open to the public but space is limited. Please sign up at https://app.donorview.com/nOVz1
Be in the Know!

Want to be up on the latest at ICF? Sign up for our mailing list here to receive our newsletters and updates.
About Ivy Creek
Scenically shadowed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Ivy Creek Natural Area (ICNA) is a 219-acre preserve bordering the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir in Charlottesville, Virginia.
With seven miles of trails traversing a mix of upland woods, pine stands, fields, streams, and shoreline, ICNA is an ideal site to learn about the rich natural history characteristic of Central Virginia.