It may still be snow-covered and cold here in the RVA, but this announcement got me thinking of spring. Hopefully, it’ll do the same for you.

The opening day of camping season in Virginia State Parks is changing. Campgrounds will open Friday, March 6.

Swift Creek spills over the dam at Pocahontas State Park.

“In years past, we opened campgrounds on March 1, regardless of the day of the week,” said State Parks Director Craig Seaver. “To better serve our visitors, we will open on the first Friday in March this year and in the future.”

Virginia State Parks offers more than 1,800 campsites, ranging from primitive camping to RV sites with electric and water hookups. But Richmond-area campers take note: Exceptions to the new schedule include Lake Anna, Pocahontas, Smith Mountain Lake, and Staunton River state parks, where camping will open on March 1 this year.

Campgrounds at Fairy Stone and Twin Lakes state parks are scheduled to reopen May 1 after bathhouse renovations in those parks.

Because of elevations of more than 5,000 feet, Grayson Highlands State Park opens primitive camping March 6 and full service camping May 1.

Full-service camping is available year-round at Douthat, Shenandoah River and Hungry Mother state parks.

Also new this year, site-specific reservations are available for some sites in six campgrounds. Campsites are normally available on a first-come basis. For more information about the pilot reservation program, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/site-specific.shtml.

Reservations are recommended and can be made 11 months in advance and until 2 p.m. on the day of arrival at nearly all locations by booking online at www.virginiastateparks.gov.

I admit, I’m of the age where this announcement carries a whiff of chuckle-inducing nostalgia. Channeling their inner Innsbrook After Hours, Sports Backers announced today the full list of music acts performing at this year’s Dominion Riverrock festival. On Friday, May 15th, Greensky Bluegrass will take the stage at 7:45 p.m. On Saturday, May 16th, Blues Traveler will be the headliner, taking the stage at 8 p.m. The seventh annual outdoor sports and music festival will be held on Brown’s Island and Historic Tredegar in Richmond on May 15-17. All concerts are free and open to the public.

This guy will be at Dominion Riverrock this May to give you the ‘Run Around.’ Credit: Wikipedia

That’s right, Richmond: You and John Popper get to sing “Run Around” together one more time live.

If you’re familiar with bluegrass music, then you’re tuned in to some of what Greensky Bluegrass does. They’re also known to throw a great party and rock out on stage while playing their full catalogue of entertaining, critically acclaimed songs. Perhaps best of all, they are unquestionably a team of friends that traverse the country making music they enjoy.

17 years after their breakthrough, Grammy Award-winning hit ‘Run-Around,’ Blues Traveler continues to excite fans around the world. On their instantly infectious, musically expansive 11th studio album, ‘Suzie Cracks the Whip,’ Blues Traveler remains creatively focused while dramatically expanding their musical horizons upon celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band.

Click here to see the entire lineup of shows at Dominion Riverrock.

Over the weekend, organizers announced the launch of the Fifth Annual RVA Environmental Film Festival, to be held on the first week of February (Feb. 2-8).

“The EnRichmond Foundation, Falls of the James Group – Sierra Club, Capital Region Land Conservancy, and EarthCraft Virginia have been working together to make sure this year’s festival is the best yet, with many insightful films designed to raise awareness of environmental issues relative to all residents of our planet – and to Richmond citizens in particular. As with last year, all of the festival’s events are free and open to the public.”

Although the full week’s schedule will not officially be released until later this week, here are a few highlights:

Continuing a tradition and by popular demand, the 2015 RVA EFF will include a children’s portion at the Byrd Theater, starting at 10 am on Saturday, February 7. It will begin with The Lorax, hopefully inspiring some new environmentalists and re-igniting the hope of older ones. At 10:30 am, there will be a screening of Disney’s Bears, a documentary that follows an Alaskan bear family as its young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Following Bears, there will be a short animated feature called “The Ballad of Holland Island House” and another short film entitled “Forest Man”, the story of Jadav Payeng, an Indian man who single-handedly planted nearly 1400 acres of forest to save his island, Majuli.

As part of the ongoing fundraising for the RVA EFF, on January 12, 2015, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Baker’s Crust in Carytown is having RVA Environmental Film Festival Fundraising Night. Mention to your waiter/waitress that you are there to support the RVA EFF and Baker’s Crust will donate 15% of the sales to the festival, dine in or take out. Baker’s Crust – Carytown is located at 3553 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221.

This year, festival organizers have extended the festival to a whole week and will include venues all over the area, including evenings at the University of Richmond, the VCU Grace Street Theater, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Science Museum of Virginia, as well as Richmond and Henrico public libraries. Many of the films are not only new but are area premieres.

Organizers note that this free film festival would not be possible without the generosity of additional sponsors like the Carillon Civic Association, James River Association, Slow Food RVA, Sunflower Solar, Soulshift Journeys, Terrapin Beer Company, and Sierra Club Foundation.

More information about other films, guests and speakers, and specific schedules for each day will be made available as the event becomes nearer. For more information on the Festival, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit www.rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com.

The USA Cycling Team trains in Richmond, climbing the cobblestones to the top of Libby Hill. Credit: Phil Riggan

Last week Richmond.com’s Phil Riggan wrote up his “Best of the Richmond Outdoors in 2014.” Try as we might to resist, we here at RichmondOutside.com are suckers for year-end lists, rankings and best ofs, and Riggan’s reminds us what a year its been for outdoors lovers in the RVA — and what a year 2015 could be.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that Phil included RichmondOutside.com’s sister company, Terrain360.com, in his year-in-review:

In late April, Richmond-based Outside Ventures, LLC and the James River Association began work on a groundbreaking project to capture scenery along the entire 340-mile length of the James River through high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic images, which resulted in a 360^o Tour of the James (see photos of the Richmond test launch).

Click here to read the story and see the photo gallery that accompanies it.

Late last month, my 4-year-old son and I embarked on a now-annual journey to the George Washington National Forest. We were meeting friends not far from the West Virginia border for a fathers-and-their-first-born camping trip. There were eight of us: four dads and four kids (two boys, two girls). It was a cool but gorgeous October Saturday. The leaves were in absolute full-on, color-drenched fall splendor as we drove through Charlottesville, then over Afton Mountain, into the Shenandoah Valley and on past Staunton.

We arrived at the North River Campground in the afternoon, set up camp, got the fire roaring and generally did what you do when camping with 4-6 year olds. We threw the football around, played different versions of tag, caught up on each others lives and cracked a beer or two. That night we made s’mores, heaped more wood on the fire and settled in for a night of crappy sleep. Pretty standard, right?

The earthen dam offers beautiful views of Todd Lake in the GWNF. Credit: Andy Thompson

The next day we went on a hike to a pristine mountain lake where the kids found dozens of salamanders crawling across the bottom. It was a blast, just as it was the year before.

My mind went immediately to that trip — those memories — earlier this week when the news came down that the national forest’s new 10-15-year management plan would allow for the controversial kind of energy drilling called fracking on 177,000 acres. The plan was described as a compromise: A 2011 draft of the forest plan would have basically banned fracking on the GW. So industry types were happy to have access to a sizable portion of the forest. But environmentalists also were relieved because that portion was pared down from a possible 995,000 acres to those 177,000.

Critics say fracking, injecting water and chemicals underground to break up rocks that hold oil and gas, can pollute streams and groundwater, not to mention damage the scenic value of the national forest. Industry representatives argue the drilling is done safely all over the country.

As Rex Springston reported in the Times-Dispatch: The George Washington lies on the southeastern fringe of the Marcellus Shale, a region rich in underground natural gas. But federal officials said that part of the shale region that lies in the George Washington is not particularly productive, and while some companies have acquired drilling rights, no one has drilled.

“Nothing has ever come together on the GW for gas,” said Ken Landraf, the forest’s planning officer.

But let’s be honest, while the math may not make sense now, it will eventually. As the more productive sections of the Marcellus Shale go dry, those companies with mineral and drilling rights will start looking hungrily at the GW.

Elkhorn Lake in the GWNF. Credit: Panoramio

I’m not sure how much this issue is on the radar of many Richmonders, but it should be. The headwaters of the James River lies in the GW (and the Potomac, for that matter). I personally know people who travel regularly to the GW to hike, mountain bike, ride horses, bird watch and fish. On our camping trip last month, there was a huge group of Jeep drivers from the Hampton area who told us they regularly come to the forest to camp and pick up trash. They drive around all day picking up litter then come back to camp and have a good time.

I’m no pollyanna when it comes to issues like these. I get that we need fuel, fossil fuel, specifically, and that we will for a long time. I drive a car. I’m not blind to the nuances of this issue. But I couldn’t help thinking about my son and his friends running along the banks of that perfect mountain lake, with reds and oranges and yellows blazing on the hillsides above, pointing out with glee the salamanders they saw in the gin clear water. I saw fishermen in boats out there and trucks loaded with hunting gear in the gravel parking lot. I remembered the coyotes we heard the night before.

To risk all that, I thought, even if the risk is low, isn’t worth the reward.

This past weekend, Ryan Abrahamsen and I drove out to Natural Bridge to give a presentation to the James River Association’s River Rats on our summer efforts to create a 360-degree, surface-level map of the James River. We had a lot of fun, and it was amazing to note the temperature difference between when we left Richmond and when we got to Natural Bridge. It was downright cold out in the mountains!

Credit: innvirginia.org

On the way home, we noticed that hints of yellow, orange and red had begun creeping across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains on both sides of the I-81 corridor. It reminded me that we’re on the cusp of leaf peepage season here in the Commonwealth.

If you’re the kind of person looking for a fall foliage road trip, you’re in luck. The Department of Forestry maintains a cool resource on their site. Fall Foliage in Virginia offers a map of when leaves should change by region, a chart of which trees turn which colors, and a list of other leaf-peeping resources. For the first time last year the DOF tasked its foresters with producing a number of off-the-beaten-path fall foliage driving tours.

Each of these tours – designed by a local VDOF forester – is sure to fill your eyes with wide swatches of vibrant yellows, reds and oranges. And, because these recommended drives are “off the beaten path,” you’ll be able to enjoy a leisurely trip without the hassles of a lot of traffic on the road or large crowds at stops along  the way.

Scenic driving tours are listed for the following areas:

• Charlottesville and Culpeper Area: counties of Greene and Madison
• Harrisonburg area: counties of Rockingham and Shenandoah
• Lexington area: Bath County
• Roanoke area: counties of Bedford, Craig and Franklin
• Staunton area: Highland County

Maybe you’ve followed the story of Richmond Cycling Corps over the past few years. RCC is a local non-profit who’s stated purpose is “to change the lives of youth who live Richmond’s public housing projects. We use cycling as our platform for change.”

The way RCC has delivered on that promise constantly changes, morphing as challenges and opportunities arise to meet kids’ needs.

Some of the Richmond Cycling Corps kids practice on the then-unfinished trail. Credit: RCC

Last year, for instance, RCC started a high school mountain biking team at Armstrong High. The team has started showing promise, but RCC founder Craig Dodson said that as they’ve identified and nurtured riders with growing talent and drive he began to worry that others were being left behind.

He tells the story of a girl from Fairfield Court who showed an interest in the program. He brought her out to Dogwood Dell to watch the team do time-trial laps. “I don’t think she had ever been in the woods,” he said. And when she saw how fast the other kids were riding, “she just freaked out. She said, ‘I’m out of here.'”

Dodson realized that they needed a way to bridge the gap from that girl to the experienced riders they had already produced.

On Saturday that bridge will be unveiled in a field behind Armstrong High. For months, RCC, volunteers and many of the kids who will eventually benefit from it, have been building a bike skills park.

“It’s a gateway drug,” Dodson said. “It’s hard to get kids in the inner city into mountain biking. It’s damn near impossible. So we thought if we build a park in that neighborhood and we provide the bikes, then we’ve got  point of entry that you can’t beat. Now kids can walk out their front door, go to the park and they’re mountain biking in the middle of the housing projects.”

They raised $12,500 from private donations, which Bon Secours matched, giving RCC $25,000 to put to use building walls, big dirt  and wood berms, skinnys, giant rollers and other structures that help riders develop and hone their skills. $10,000 went toward what Dodson calls Phase 1, which will be unveiled Saturday. The remaining $15,00 will pay to build more trails and for a shipping container to be brought in that will hold 16 bikes available for kids to use.

RCC founder Craig Dodson at work on the Armstrong Bike Skills Park. Credit: RCC

“There’s an elementary and high school that share the property so it’s a resource for both of them and also a resource for youth in the East End, especially the housing projects,” Dodson said. “We’ll have certain days and times, and just like you go to the roller skating rink and check out skates, you’ll be able to walk right up check out a bike and helmet and go rip on the course. And if they want some instruction, we’ll absolutely help them out.”

Dodson see this as the missing link “in terms of broadening our outreach base. The thing is, the kids that were staying with us from year to year were getting so good on the bikes that every time we get a new kid, the disparity was huge.

“What we’ve got now is basically a farm system, where we get the kids out there and get them through that learning curve a lot easier…and get that entry a lot more seamless. Then we can identify kids who can make the jump into the travel program.”

Mayor Dwight Jones, City Councilperson Cynthia Newbille and other dignitaries will be on hand for Saturday’s grand opening at 11 a.m. at Armstrong High School (near the running track). Dodson said that he’d love to see Richmond’s mountain biking community come to the opening, and he added that whoever did would get a chance to ride the nearly mile-long course.

“I promise you this,” he said. “We’re going to have a great time and their mind is going to be blown.”

I thought I’d pass along this news from our friends at the James River Association because it combines two of my favorite words: “free” and “trees.” The statewide conservation group is offering free trees to Richmond city residents during the fall planting season. Homeowners can receive up to a $200 reimbursement per home for trees planted on their property. That’s a pretty sweet deal.

Tree-lined Seminary Avenue on Richmond’s Northside. Credit: Phil Riggan

As the JRA writes in a press release: Trees are an important feature for any property because they reduce stormwater runoff and provide aesthetic value. Tree canopies capture and store rainfall and reduce soil erosion. They take up a large amount of water from the soil and provide important habitat for wildlife. Their shade can also help homeowners reduce the cost of cooling their home.

The free tree program is only open to City of Richmond residents and reimbursements are available September through November of this year. Homeowners must be an existing River Hero Home or submit an application to become a new River Hero Home to qualify. That may sound like a catch, but if you’re the kind of homeowner who likes the idea of free trees, you probably would be interested in the River Hero Home program, too. It’s not a difficult process, and it’s well worth it for $200 of free trees.

River Hero Homes is JRA’s certification program that recognizes homeowners who are successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution leaving their property. To become certified, JRA requires homeowners to install a river-friendly practice, such as planting trees or installing a rain barrel, as well as following some simple everyday actions to reduce pollution. These actions, which include picking up after your pet or planting native plants, may seem small, but when adopted on a wide scale, can have a significant impact on local water quality.

Tree reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be available until funding runs out.

The GreenLife tent at Dominion Riverrock.

After months of preparation, GreenLife Adventure Sports will open the doors to its first Richmond store tomorrow at 10 a.m. The outdoor recreation gear retailer also has a store in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk that’s been open less than two years.

Maybe you’ve seen GreenLife’s ad running for the past couple of days on our site. We’re excited to have then on board as a sponsor, and the RichmondOutside.com team will definitely be heading out to 9691 W. Broad St. tomorrow for the soft opening.

When I spoke with Richmond store manager Matt Hayden earlier in the week, he was busy unpacking gear and setting up displays.

“We’ll be working some kinks out, and then we’ll have our grand opening August 23rd,” Hayden said. “For that we’re hoping to have a lot of our vendors here; we’re gonna try to have tents and stuff set up in the parking lot. There’ll be food and beer, and we’ll be doing some giveaways, so it’ll be a nice party atmosphere.”

GreenLife had a booth at Dominion Riverrock, and Hayden said they gave away about 250 $10-off cards there, so he expects cardholders will begin trickling in over the next couple of weeks.

Things like the store sign and some of the posters that will decorate the walls haven’t come in yet, so the store doesn’t look exactly like it will for the grand opening in August, he added.

As for what the shop will carry, Hayden said, “We won’t have any fall stuff in for the soft opening. We’ll have a mixture of summer and fall for the grand opening.”

GreenLife — open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-5 — joins Carytown’s Walkabout Outfitter and REI in Short Pump in a suddenly-crowded field of outdoor gear retailers in Central Virginia.

‘River Heroes’ Ralph White (left) and Rich Young. Credit: Friends of JRP

Every year the Friends of the James River Park recognize a couple of ‘River Heroes.’ As they say on their website, “With this annual contest, we hope to bring attention to the magnificent, scenic river that runs through Richmond and to those who have worked to make the James River a better place for both people and wildlife.”

This year two very deserving candidates were chosen for the award, one you’ve likely heard of, the other whose name you may not know but whose face you probably recognize if you spend much time in the JRP. Here’s what the Friends had to say in honoring each. (Click here to read about past winners.)

A classic Richmond rafting shot by ‘River Hero’ Rich Young.

Most of you know one of the winners, Ralph White, former superintendent of JRPS, who was chosen for his ceaseless devotion to the park, a devotion which has been largely responsible for the wonderful amenity we enjoy today. His more than 30 years of work with JRPS have helped to create a national model for urban wilderness parks, and he has been recognized by both The Garden Club of America and the Sierra Club for his conservation efforts.

If a picture paints a thousand words, Rich Young has said millions. If you are one of his 500 Facebook friends, you are familiar with Rich’s photos of river scenes, activities, people, flora and fauna. What many do not know about Rich is that he has been involved as a volunteer at JRP for over 20 years and has participated in innumerable projects. Whether it’s building a structure, promoting an event, or helping to educate park users about an issue, Rich has quietly lent a hand to vastly improve, enhance, and champion James River Park. Rich also teaches paddling. His classes have helped hundreds of people learn to safely enjoy the river in canoes or kayaks.