By Jeff Wright
The spring paddle season was a success and volunteer members made good progress on stewardship management plans, conducted maintenance activities on four FODR properties, and made plans for more member activities as well as future paddle trips. EVER SAVE A DRAGON? We’re looking for volunteers to help answer that question. Here are some of the things we do to protect and preserve the Dragon and educate others about this rare ecosystem. Please join us!
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By Carol Kauffman, FODR Vice President
Day 1 splash, Day 2 splash, Day 3 splash! Starting off the spring season with three tip-overs wasn’t exactly what we had planned for 2022. The three guests who took a drink in the Dragon were unharmed and quite refreshed. Our exceptional crew, from then on, stressed the importance of not leaning sideways in a kayak. Thirtyone paddles later, we can proudly say no one else took a dip in the swamp! FODR members are invited to submit articles and pictures pertaining to Dragon Run and related topics. Share your knowledge about and experiences on Dragon Run. Written submissions should be three or four paragraphs. Images should be in JPG format. We look forward to including you in The Dragon’s Tale.
By Kevin Howe
Swamps, like Dragon Run, have a summer publicity problem; that is, unless you have been there. Talk to most people about swamps and they visualize muddy, murky, dark places, steamy and sweaty, a place full of snakes, mosquitos, flies, gnats, with “stuff” hanging off trees. And, in the case of Dragon Run swamp, maybe even Dragons live there. By Carol Kauffman
If you're looking for a simple, automatic way to support Friends of Dragon Run, shop at Smile.Amazon.com. It’s the same Amazon you’ve always known; however, AmazonSmile makes it easy to contribute to your favorite charity. No extra clicks, no extra cost, no extra set up. Just put your items in your shopping cart and checkout! Amazon takes care of the details. The Local Scoop, an attractive magazine that highlights locations and events for visitors as well as full-time residents of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, devoted most of the spring issue to describing Dragon Run through articles and stunning photos by Cory Booker. Suzanne McFadden, Editor, commissioned Irvington Artist, Christian Johnson, to create a colorful drawing of the Dragon that captures many of its unique features. She generously donated 200 signed copies to Friends of Dragon Run to use for fundraising.
By Jack Kauffman
Paddlemaster This year’s summer paddle season begins July 21st and ends August 2nd, with signups opening June 15th at 9:00 AM. We will conduct paddles every day during the season. We are happy this summer to welcome 4H groups to the Dragon (July 19th and 20th). By Molly Broderson and Carol Kauffman
Forty-five students from Aylett Country Day School (ACDS), Peasley Middle School, Middlesex High School, and local homeschoolers kayaked Dragon Run with FODR volunteers during the week of May 16 - May 20, 2022. By Adrienne Frank and Anne Atkins
Because of the Dragon’s unique and pristine ecosystem, researchers sometimes ask for help with accessing the Dragon to support a research project. Teta Kain has escorted many of these researchers. One of her favorite researchers was Dr. Ollie Flint who came with his wife several times over the years to study the caddisflies in the Dragon. FODR is looking for volunteers to assist with paddle trips! All volunteers must be FODR members and attend a one-day training event on the Dragon. Paddle crew members should be able to kayak well and get in and out of the kayak to open beaver gates while on the water.
Logistics volunteers are needed to set-up equipment and provide support to the crew while they are paddling. Volunteers are also needed to sell merchandise at the end of the paddle trips. Please contact our Paddle Masters at PaddleMasterDragonRun@gmail.com to join our crew. |
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