• One year in: What’s up with Fairfax County’s plastic bag fee?

    One year after Fairfax County implemented a 5¢ per plastic bag fee, how is it going? Learn about how much money is being collected and how the revenue generated is being used.


  • Speak up for Equity and Stewardship in Fairfax County Parks!

    We need your help again this year to ask our Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to better fund equity and stewardship programs in our Park Authority!


  • I270, I495 Widening Hits Roadblock; Developer Ends Involvement

    Several governmental officials and environmental groups, including Nature Forward, cheered Thursday’s announcement from Transurban that it “has decided not to proceed with the Maryland Express Lanes Project” that includes the widening of the I270 and I495.


  • Woodend Stream Restoration Project Overview

    Nature Forward worked with the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) to design a step pool system along 1,500 feet of what had been a perennial, spring-fed stream into the 1970s, but over time had become a deeply eroded ephemeral channel at Woodend Nature Sanctuary. After the restoration implemented by Stormwater Maintenance, LLC (SMC), 44 step…


  • Ward 8 Water Watchers 2022

    Learn about the second year of the Great Ward 8 watershed stewardship education program in the Congress Heights community. In 2022, the program expanded to include the recruitment and training of a W8WW Ambassadors cohort.


  • Nature Forward Opposes DC Gas Rate Increase

    On February 7th, 2023, I attended and delivered comments to the Public Service Commission at their 1169 Formal Case Hearing where Washington Gas requested a rate increase. Nature Forward opposed Washington Gas’ request for rate increases as the District needs to invest in electrification to meet its climate commitments which include ending fossil fuel combustion by…


  • Environmental Empowerment in Historically-Excluded Communities in the Washington, DC Region: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Replication

    Nature Forward works to reach families in their communities—near where people live, work, and go to school—and connect them to nearby nature through engaging, hands-on activities and trainings. We work with community leaders, partner organizations, and of course, empowered community members. Since 2019, we have been building these programs in partnership with community-based organizations and…


  • Montgomery County Students Support a Bill to Reduce Food Waste

    Back row: Erica, Joe, Bavan, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, Gov. Wes Moore’s Director of Political Engagement Saif Ratul, Sanjana, Delegate Jared Solomon, Thomas, Khalila; Front row: Advika, Angelina, Pragna, Shrusti, Sophie This post written by Erica Weiss, member of the Coalition to Reimagine School Waste Students from around the state of Maryland are speaking up about the benefits…


  • In a lather: What were those sudsy bubbles I saw on trees last week?

    “It’s not insect eggs,” said Alison Pearce, deputy director for programs at Nature Forward, formerly the Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase, Md.


  • 2023 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Priorities

    Nature Forward staff, volunteers, and our partners in Annapolis are tracking and testifying on several key environmental legislation ranging from forest protection, to banning PFAS, to creating more green spaces for people and pollinators.  We have listed our top Maryland General Assembly legislative priorities bellow. We will continue to update this page as bills move…