Richmond, Go Wild 🐾Exploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 304 / Go Wild
Meet this week’s guest editor, Krista Weatherford, Maymont’s Director of Programming and Curator of Natural Resources. Krista exudes a lifelong passion for wildlife and natural resources and shares it enthusiastically with everyone she meets. As a leader of both education programs and animal care at Maymont, she infuses everything she does with a sense of fun and a deep respect for people and animals.
In addition to planning educational programs for more than 18,000 students who visit Maymont each year, as well as summer camps, night hikes, citizen science programs, and more, Krista supervises a dedicated team of animal care specialists who care for more than 300 animals at Maymont — from tiny seahorses to North America’s largest land animal, the bison.
Even when she’s not at Maymont, Krista is an advocate for the environment as a facilitator in Project WET, Project WILD, and Project Learning Tree. She is a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Pocahontas Chapter and a Certified Interpretive Guide. Her hobbies also reflect her love of the natural world, as she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and observing wildlife.
Krista has been with Maymont for 11 years and in the field of environmental education for a total of 25 years, including teaching and managing several programs in Virginia State Parks and at Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education. She took time out of her busy schedule this week to offer her tips for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home.
Take it away, Krista ...
Virginia Wildlife Trail Grrrrand Reopening at Maymont
After two years of major enhancements, celebrate the reopening of Maymont’s beloved Virginia Wildlife Trail, a forever home for rescued and rehabilitated native wildlife nestled in the heart of Richmond. On May 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, enjoy free entertainment, games, and activities while you explore the new and remodeled habitats, with more accessible pathways, new interpretive signs, and more ways to view our wildlife residents — including old friends Big Bear and Little Bear, and our newest residents: two porcupines and a coyote!
Learn about the importance of pollinators in the environment, planting native plants, and how to care for beehives, presented by the Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association and the Bumblebee Jamboree at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds. From 10 am to 3 pm, enjoy live music by the Bee Flats, plus children’s activities, local honey and beekeeping supplies for sale, bee-friendly plants, educational talks, face painting, food trucks, and more.
Vitals: 15th annual Chesterfield Bee Festival / Saturday, May 2, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. / Free, children welcome / Chesterfield County Fair Grounds, 10300 Courthouse Road
Clean the Bay Day at Pocohontas State Park
Each year, Virginia State Parks participates in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, an event dedicated to protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Park visitors are invited to join a clean-up to help remove litter, debris, and pollution from rivers, streams, and shorelines that feed into the Bay, contributing to the health of the Bay’s ecosystem and ensuring cleaner water and safer habitats for wildlife. Volunteers will work alongside park staff to keep our natural areas beautiful for everyone to enjoy. This event is a great opportunity for individuals, families, scout groups, and community organizations to give back while spending time outdoors. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather. Bring water, sunscreen, and work gloves; trash bags and additional supplies will be provided.
Vitals: Clean the Bay Day / Saturday, May 2, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / Free, children welcome / Advance reservations required / Pocahontas State Park, CCC Field, 10301 State Park Rd., Chesterfield
More from Krista.
The newly enhanced Virginia Wildlife Trail is included in Maymont’s free general admission, open from 10 am to 7 pm during daylight saving time and from 10 am to 5 pm when days are shorter. Additional guided experiences and up-close programs with some of Maymont’s wildlife are available for advance reservation at Maymont.org/tours. All program fees help support the operations of the nonprofit Maymont Foundation, which cares for the historic collections, gardens, and animals, and provides educational programs.
Don’t miss the visiting wildlife that stop in at Maymont as part of the James River wildlife corridor. Wildlife photographer Bill Draper frequently documents some of the deer, foxes, groundhogs, birds, and butterflies that use Maymont as a temporary or permanent home.
