Outing Leader Training at Huntley Meadows Park

Would you like to help FBC DMV increase our capacity for bird outings throughout the year? If so, consider joining our training for bird outing leaders! We’ll spend two hours together at Huntley Meadows Park to 1) discuss the ins and outs of scouting and leading FBC DMV outings, and 2) demonstrate how to scout the route for our next chapter’s outing! We’ll also do some birding so bring whatever you need to bird! Binoculars are not required, but we will have a handful be available to loan for those interested.

All birding experience levels are welcome! The only requirement is we’d ask all attendees to commit to scouting or co-leading at least one outing in 2025. Registration is capped at 15 participants. 

Can’t make this date or is the registration full? Fear not - we’re hoping to make this a regular opportunity in the future, so this won’t be your only opportunity to get more involved with our chapter! 

Also, a note: the focus of this training will be how to scout a moving outing, and we hope to have training for anyone interested in leading bird sits or stationary outings later in 2025.

Important Note: We have built on the description from the last year's Huntley Meadows Outing. A goal of this outing leader training will be to make sure the info below is accurate and provide updates. There may be some variation in what is described below and actual park conditions/facilities. Please reach out if you have concerns or would like any accommodations--we want everyone to feel safe and welcome.

We will be meeting at the south end of the parking lot where the Cedar Trail starts. The address is 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22306 for the main entrance, after which you drive along a road and will come to a parking lot.

• There are about 75 parking spaces, including 3 van accessible spaces.
• Sometimes the parking lot does fill up, and then there is only room to park along the road leading up to the parking lot.
• There are two portapotties in the parking lot, one of which is wheel-chair accessible.

If you are taking the metro, the nearest metro stop is Huntington Metro on the Yellow Line. It is about a 10 minute drive from the metro, and carpooling is an option.

If you are driving, the park’s website recommends using the provided address in the meeting location description to ensure arriving in the right area.

Trip leaders are able to can provide rides from the metro and back. We have limited space in our vehicles and will do our best to meet everyone's needs!

We aim to take a loop that is about 2 miles and flat, but we epect we will not complete the whole loop due to moving at a leisurely slow pace.

• The first 100 ft of the trail are paved, after which it transitions to a very compact and level gravel-dirt path. Last time, the trail had no roots or bumpy parts, although there is a short section of the route (approximately 200 feet) that is narrower and has some roots.
• Part of the route involves a flat board walk over meadow and water. There was a railing at parts of the boardwalk, but the majority of the boardwalk had no railings.
• The boardwalk had a few inclines, with the steepest incline with a slope of 6.2 degrees. There were no steps.
• There were nine benches along the route that last time we were there. They were spaced out according to the map below.
• There are two copies of the map: 1) that has a legend and more information about the park as a whole and 2) that is marked with the path we will follow.

For this trip, Colleen Normile (pronouns: she/her), and Rachael Mady (pronouns: she/her) will be leading the training.

They are both on the leadership team and excited to share what they have learned with you all so more folks can help create FBC DMV spaces that are safe, welcoming, and fun.

If you need to get in contact with us day-of, please email [email protected]. We will also email you the outing leaders’ phone numbers once you register if you need to text/call.

Please read the FBC DMV Code of Conduct prior to the event if you haven't already. This Code of Conduct is meant to explicitly place those principles into practice, lay out what behavior is and is not acceptable from our members, participants, and our leaders, and detail how we will work to enforce those principles. Included in the code of conduct is a link that allows anyone to anonymously report if there is a Code of Conduct violation or concerns about past behavior of a member, event participant, or leader.

Please sign the liability waiver here and bring it with you to the event. If you aren't able to sign and bring it with you, no worries! We will also have copies.

Why a liability waiver? We are not a registered non-profit, and as such do not have liability insurance. This is our version of insurance for our outing leaders.

• Bring and drink water during the outing to stay hydrated, consider wearing sunscreen, and check the weather to make sure you have enough layers to stay warm. In the past, Huntley Meadows has been quite chilly in January.
• Bring your own binoculars and bird books if you'd like although not necessary. We'll have a handful of binoculars to lend outs.
• Masks are not required, but we encourage everyone to physically distance when possible and to wear a mask if they need or want to.
• If you are under 18 years old, you must be accompanied by an adult to partake in the event.

If you have any questions about the training, have any accessibility needs, or have any other thoughts, please reach out to us. We truly want to hear from you and want everyone to be able to feel bird joy to the fullest.

Host or Publisher Feminist Bird Club DMV Chapter