Join us for an evening of advocacy and community at our letter-writing party!
📅 March 13th, 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 The Perch, Harrisonburg (Across from Sage Bird Ciderworks)
💻 Virtual and in-person options available. Register here.
We’ll discuss the threats facing our public lands and how you can make your voice heard by writing to our Senators and Congresspeople. We’ll provide everything you need—including information, advocacy best practices, and materials for your letters. Bring your laptop if you’d prefer to type, and we’ll print your letter for you
This is a casual, drop-in event—snacks and drinks provided. Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually or write from home!
📝 Event Schedule (you can also drop in as you like):
- 10-Minute Introduction: Learn why protecting our public lands matters and how to write an effective letter.
- 30-Minute Writing Sprint: A bit of quiet time to draft your letters. You can stay until 8p and write your letter if you’d like
- 20-Minute Social Time: Head to Sage Bird for more conversation and connect with fellow outdoor advocates.
Why use your voice to advocate? Our public lands are vital to the outdoor community, local economy, and beyond. With increasing threats to federal funding, it’s critical to express our opposition and push for sustainable management. Many of our trails and roads face an ever-growing maintenance backlog. We need your voice to ensure these areas are properly cared for, staffed, and not over-exploited. Sharing your personal story and the facts is essential to inform our representatives on what matters most to constituents.
Recent federal layoffs have significantly impacted these beloved spaces, with 15 jobs cut at Shenandoah National Park and further resource challenges affecting George Washington National Forest. These public lands are not only vital to the region’s economy but also critical to the health and safety of our natural environments and communities.
Why Now?
- Impact on Staffing: Federal layoffs have led to thousands of job losses at the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. These include critical roles in Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest, where staff serve as the stewards of nearly 200,000 acres of public land.
- Resource Shortfalls: The George Washington National Forest, already facing an extensive backlog of trail and road maintenance, risks falling further behind. Adequate funding and staffing are essential to prevent safety hazards, manage wildfire risks, and maintain recreational access.
- Environmental and Economic Concerns: In 2023, tourism in Shenandoah National Park alone contributed $114 million to the local economy, supporting 1,351 jobs and delivering a $156 million benefit to the region. Without robust staffing and resources, the broader community, environment, and economy could suffer.
