Staff is often on site at ICNA. Call for an appointment: 434-973-7772! Office closes for government holidays and Albemarle County snow/storm days.
Formed in May 1979, the Ivy Creek Foundation is a non-profit conservation management organization concerned with the both the cultural and natural stewardship of the properties under its care. Our primary location is the Ivy Creek Natural Area, a 216-acre preserve on the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir made of a mix of upland woods, pine stands, old fields, and streams. ICNA is jointly owned by Albemarle County and Charlottesville City. ICF built and maintains just under 8 miles of rustic footpaths at ICNA, designed to leave large tracts of wildlife habitat intact while being enjoyed year round by walkers, hikers, and observers of wildlife and nature.
Since its inception, ICF has recognized and celebrated the spectacular human history of the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Rising from slavery, the Carr family came to own more than 200 acres of prime farmland, keeping it in the family for over a century.
In 1997, the Ivy Creek Foundation facilitated the creation of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area (RMNA). Again, the Foundation built and now maintains more than seven miles of walking trails allowing access to one of the most spectacular wildlife areas in Albemarle County.
Habitat Management: The Ivy Creek Foundation works closely with local and state agencies to maintain a diverse representation of wildlife habitat with the intent to maintain the natural area’s biodiversity. This effort has included the conversion of 10 acres of fescue hayfield to warm season native grass prairies reminiscent of Virginia in the 1600s.
Free Public Programs: The Foundation organizes and offers – free to the public – more than 40 public walks and programs each year on a variety of topics related to the natural history of Virginia. These include monthly or seasonal walks on birds, trees, wildflowers, dragonflies and butterflies.
School Tour Program: Since 1980, the Foundation has hosted local schoolchildren for an interpretive nature walk with a trained volunteer guide at a 1:10 ratio. More than 2,000 children routinely come on these walks each year.
The Foundation also works with local schools to fulfill community service requirements, focusing on the environment. In 2008, local students will be coming to ICNA to help with invasive plant removal and learn about the value of native plants.
Guides to the Flora and Fauna of the Natural Areas: The Foundation maintains and, as available, updates biological inventories of the plants and animals of the Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain Natural Areas. These are made available to the general public through brochures, hand outs and on the ICF website.
Geothermal Education Building: In 1997, the Foundation secured funding to design and build an environmentally sustainable Education Center for use in ICF programming and office space. The Education Building is made available without charge to state and local environmental organizations for meetings and workshops.
Community Resource: The Foundation maintains a large natural history library for use by volunteers and the general public (by appointment). The Foundation is also a well-known and often-used resource for natural history inquiries from the community. Please see: List of Natural History Books (PDF, 59K).
Connecting people to our lands present and past.
