Westmoreland Church Social Hall
One Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, MD
Entrance to the Social Hall is from Massachusetts Ave.
You have given us so much, now it’s time to for us to celebrate YOU.

Program:

6:30 to 7:00: Food and Slide Show Highlighting our Activities in 2023.

7:00 to 8:00: Guest Speaker and Honorees

Special Honorees:

Jane Gomes, Green Acres Habitat Restoration Project

Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, Capital Crescent Trail Restoration Project

Guest Speaker:

Dan Rauch, DOEE Wildlife Biologist and Little Falls watershed resident, will talk on the birds and other wildlife in the watershed.

They don’t call Dan Rauch “Dan the Bird Man” for nothing. As a DC Department of Energy & Environment wildlife biologist, he’s one of the city’s most prominent animal experts, with a particular focus on the feathered. If you follow the creature beat, you’ve probably seen Rauch’s name in the news—he’s the go-to quote when it comes to viral animal stories that involve bald-eagle feuds or ultra-rare bobcat sightings. Washingtonian Magazine

8:00 - 8:30: Fireside Chat with Elected Officials

Parking:

In the Church Parking Lot or on Massachusetts Avenue. Entrance to the Social Hall is from Mass Ave. Do NOT use the main entrance to the church or you will wander around for hours looking for the social hall (which is downstairs). Look for signs if you are confused.

Capital Crescent Trail
Brookeway Drive Entrance
Bethesda, MD

Save our natural areas by pulling vines and non-native invasives that are killing our trees and choking out native bushes. We provide all the necessary tools and gloves.

The entrance to the Capital Crescent Trail is via a path at the end of the cul-de-sac of Brookeway Drive.  You can plug in 4900 Brookeway Drive, Bethesda, into your GPS.  Brookeway Drive intersects with Fort Sumner Drive.  There is parking on the street.  Walk up the path to the first bench; we will meet there.

If you are late, look for our sign and tools. Call 301-325-5301 if you can't find us.

Dress protectively. Bring water to drink. Please join us for any portion of 1-3pm.

Pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours. Children under 14 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Weather policy: We usually hold pulls as long as the weather is not too dangerous for outside work. We will post messages on the LFWA website by 9:00 that morning if we need to cancel.

Rescheduled to January 27 due to snowy conditions!

Capital Crescent Trail
Little Falls Parkway Intersection, Chevy Chase MD

Save our natural areas by pulling vines and non-native invasives that are killing our trees and choking out native bushes. We provide all the necessary tools and gloves.

Meet at the parking lot of the Bethesda Pool, 6300 Hillandale Rd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Look for us near the Trail crossing.

LFWA is partnering with the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail on this project to restore the native habitat of the Capital Crescent Trail.

Bring gloves or clippers or use ours. Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed toe shoes and bring water to drink.

Pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours. Students under 14 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Weather policy: We usually hold pulls as long as the weather is not too dangerous for outside work. We will post messages on the LFWA website by 9:00 that morning if we need to cancel.

Winter Stream Monitoring

Discover what Macro-organisms Live in the Little Falls Branch

LFWA monitors the Little Falls Branch four times a year - doing a biological census of the macroinvertebrates that live on the bottom of the creek. This count of organisms - numbers of individuals and diversity - gives us a picture of the health of our creek. By mapping the data over the years, we have good assessment of how well our stream is surviving in our dense urban area.

Our stream monitoring team members are trained by Nature Forward (nee Audubon Naturalist Society). If you are interested in taking the NF training and joining us, we have scholarships available. Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, for information about the NF courses and scholarships.

Learn more about our program at www.LFWA.org/macroinvertebrates

Little Falls Stream Valley Park
Massachusetts Avenue Entrance
Bethesda, MD

Every wonder where the Little Falls creek goes? Start the New Year with a LFWA lead hike to the mouth of the creek on the Potomac River. We will meet at the Park entrance on Massachusetts Ave and follow the creek to the river. You can park at the gravel parking lot (Mass Ave and Little Falls Parkway).

It’s an easy 5 miles round trip, almost all on hard surfaces. Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome. If you want to go all the way to the Potomac, there is about 100 yards of scrambling through the brush. You might want to have hiking boots if you’re going to do that.

RAIN DATE: In the event of inclement weather, we will reschedule for Saturday, January 6 , same time, same place.

Miss the HIKE? Start at the Park entrance at Mass. Ave in Bethesda and follow the QR codes. We will put them up New Years eve and leave them until January 17. And you can always find the route on our website at https://www.lfwa.org/hike-to-the-mouth-of-the-little-falls-branch.

Minnehaha Creek
Glen Echo National Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd
Glen Echo, MD 20812

We will be cleaning the Minnehaha creek starting in Glen Echo. Park in the main Glen Echo Park Parking lot (at the corner of Oxford and MacArthur Blvd). The gathering point is on the eastern most end of the lot at the bridge which crosses the creek. Look for a sign-in table. This site is hosted by the Town of Glen Echo.

We have gloves and bags. Dress to get muddy or wet. We’ll be cleaning the creek and banks.

Pre-approved for SSL hours for MCPS. Children under 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisor.