Hail to the Trail

Bring your family and friends to the Chapman DeMary Trail from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 15 for the 12th annual Hail to the Trail, Purcellville's Green Expo. This event is free and fun for all. Come explore this 10-acre area which is considered to be the last stand of old-growth forest in the Town. While you're there, participate in the hands-on activities, see live animals, learn about native plants and wildlife, get supplies to start your own nature journal, help plant trees as part of the Town's annual Arbor Day Celebration, celebrate the town's Tree City USA designation, and more.

In addition to all the fun nature activities, get stickers in the passport from the different organizations at the event to win a prize. You can also get your face painted, listen to live music by Willie White, and get a free slice of pizza from Papa John's. Before coming to Hail to the Trail, gather acorns and nuts to give to the Virginia Department of Forestry using the instructions on the event page on the Town website. Get more information at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov/Hail-to-the-Trail and follow Hail to the Trail on Facebook.

Below is a list of the organizations participating in this year's Hail to the Trail with the activities they will have.
- Loudoun County Public Library - make art with items from nature
- Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy - identify wildlife through scat and tracks
- Purcellville Arts Council - get supplies to start your own natural journal
- Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board - learn about nature at the trail with a nature memory game
- Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee - decorate and fill a bag with milkweed seeds and play a nature trivia game to win a prize
- Purcellville Water Division - take a taste test to compare Purcellville's water to brand name bottled water
- Secret Garden Birds and Bees - see live raptors such as owls, hawks and kestrels
- Sweet Run State Park - learn about incredible insects and bugs
- VCE Loudoun Master Gardener Tree Stewards - learn how to identify tree seeds
- Virginia Department of Forestry - learn about trees and turn in acorns and tree nuts you collected to help VDOF build their nursery of native trees; details about what to collect are available on the Town's Hail to the Trail webpage at www.purcellvilleva.gov/Hail-to-the-Trail
- Virginia Master Naturalists, Banshee Reeks Chapter - find out about the interactive lifecycle of bugs and see animal footprints and furs

The Chapman DeMary Trail officially opened in 2009. This 10-acre area is considered to be the last stand of old growth forest in the Town. The trail runs along the South Fork Catoctin Creek which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The trail is named after John Chapman who offered to open his property to the public to be used as an outdoor classroom and nature trail, and retired Loudoun Valley High School teacher John DeMary who encouraged his students to present their vision for this area to the Purcellville Town Council.

The Chapman DeMary Trail is open to the public for environmental exploration, education, and recreation. Trail projects encourage environmental stewardship and have engaged students, scouts, and members of the community in learning about and protecting this habitat. The Town of Purcellville holds the conservation easement for this privately-owned property. The entrance and parking for the Chapman DeMary Trail is behind the building at 205 East Hirst Road in Purcellville.

Hail to the Trail is hosted by the Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee, a standing committee of the Town of Purcellville that focuses on environmental programs, sustainability, enhancement of the tree canopy, and continuation of the Town's Tree City USA designation. Get more information at www.PurcellvilleVa.gov/Hail-to-the-Trail and follow Hail to the Trail on Facebook.

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Category: Lifestyle | Nature / Outdoors