IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter

Conservation of natural flora and fauna and support of local civic activities in their enjoyment - maintain a 123-1cre natural park-like property having wooded, grassy, and water spaces along with service buildings for equipment and recreational pursuits. During the active growing season, this entails using organizational volunteers to mow the grassy areas, remove weed growth, and trim the overgrowth near fences and wood lines. The property serves as an ecological sanctuary inside a growing suburban community that supports a variety of wildlife including bear, deer, beaver, otter, fish, waterfowl, hawks, eagles, and reptiles such as turtles and snakes. Maintenance of the property requires the purchase of equipment like mowers, trimmers, and chainsaws accompanied by fuel, battery, and repair costs. The property hosts a variety of civic activities including active support for scouts (boy, girl, cub, etc.) and 4_H youth. Training is provided in archery and shooting sports.

Maintain an Apiary - The chapter maintains an apiary (honeybee colonies) to aid in the pollination of flowers and fruit trees in the local geographic area. The apiary consists of normally 10 hives which are used for the pollination of local flowering fruit trees and flowers in the local vicinity. The bees produce honey and beeswax products used for revenue through the purchase of the beeswax and donations towards the honey. Bees have been believed to be in general decline and this effort serves to provide a degree of necessary support for the production of food and produce in an assumed small measure.