Public Engagement – Friends of Live Oaks

December 13, 2025 Tim Calendar, Local live oaks, Meeting, Public Engagement

FOLO meeting December 15th ‘25 415pm at ESP on PHP. Join us!

If you receive this email and haven’t yet been to one of our meetings, we welcome you to join us “regular attenders” as we pursue our mission to promote, protect, preserve and plant live oaks in our area. We really need your ideas, energy and help!

Attached is the draft agenda for our next meeting on December 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM (PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME AS WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO COME A LITTLE LATER SO THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM CAN COMPLETE THEIR WORK DAY). Also attached to the agenda is a calendar of coming events. Please email any suggested additions or changes for the agenda or calendar to me.

FOLO-MEETING-AGENDA-DEC-15-25.pdf Download

At this month’s meeting we will be discussing how the events since our last meeting have been going, upcoming January events, reviewing our adopted goals for 2026 and making plans on how to start accomplishing them, and how we can step up our efforts to increase public awareness of FOLO and our mission. Come join us and get involved with us on these and other efforts! We welcome your ideas and input and hope you will join us in person or virtually.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us as a new member or renew your membership for 2026! Remember dues and donations are tax deductible – a receipt will be provided. Details on how to make payment are at our website: https://friendsofliveoaks.org/join-us/

This month we are meeting in person at our regular location – the Environmental Studies Program Classroom (the far east stairs at the Brock Environmental Center, 3663 Marlin Bay Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455).

*Quercus virginiana* changes on First Landing Stare Park on Live Oak Trail.

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 Tim Public Engagement, Resources, Teacher Resources

“I always encourage my students to conduct their own research and share the information they discover as a way to inspire them to become informed and engaged environmental stewards.”

Kind words from our new friends at GenEarth where we teach k-12 students about environmental awareness. Right now, we’re focusing on forestry, plants, and tree identification. While looking for classroom materials, I came across the FOLO education page and just wanted to say thank you for putting this together. The students have really enjoyed learning how to identify different plants and trees and understanding the important role forests play in a healthy ecosystem. It’s been so rewarding to see them excitedly pointing out tree species in their neighborhoods and sharing what they’ve learned with their families. It’s wonderful to give them practical tools to engage with and care for the natural world, even at a young age!

As a thank you, one of my students helping me compile resources, Cassidy, suggested I pass along an article she found herself, “Tree Classification Guide & Glossary of Terms.” I’ll link it below. I always encourage my students to conduct their own research and share the information they discover as a way to inspire them to become informed and engaged environmental stewards. We used the glossary to make flashcards for a class game and she thought it might be a helpful addition to your materials here friendsofliveoaks.org/education/. If you are able to include it, would you mind letting me know? I know she would be thrilled and I’d love to show her she made a positive contribution.

All the best,

Janice and Cassidy

Cassidy’s Suggestion: “Tree Classification Guide & Glossary of Terms” www.avasflowers.net/tree-classification-guide-and-glossary-of-plant-terms

November 12, 2025 Tim Calendar, Local live oaks, Meeting, Public Engagement

FOLO meeting November 17th ‘25 4pm at ESP on PHP. Join us!

Attached is the draft agenda for our next meeting on November 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM – and attached calendar of coming events. Please email any suggested additions or changes for the agenda or calendar to me.

At this month’s meeting we will be discussing how the events since our last meeting have been going, upcoming fall events, finalizing our goals for 2026, and how we can step up our efforts to increase public awareness of FOLO and our mission. Come join us and get involved with us on these and other efforts! We welcome your ideas and input and hope you will join us in person or virtually.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us as a new member or renew your membership for 2026! Remember dues and donations are tax deductible – a receipt will be provided. Details on how to make payment are at our website: https://friendsofliveoaks.org/join-us/

PLEASE NOTE

FOLO-Meeting-Agenda-Nov-17-25.pdf Download

Saplings being planted at Pleasure House Point in Wetlands Mitigation Bank area. Hope every sapling planted is successful!

November 8, 2025 Tim Local live oaks, Plant !, Public Engagement

FOLO is hosting a live oak tree adoption event on Saturday, November 15th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Join us!

Adopt a free Live Oak sapling with purchase of a $25 FOLO Membership for 2026 & completed Adoption Agreement.

AdoptALiveOakNov-25.pdf Download

Additional trees are available for adoption at a $25 price per tree as well (typically live oak saplings cost $50-$75 when available from local nurseries). All saplings for adoption have been grown locally.

Live oak saplings will be available for pickup at VA Tech AREC (Agricultural Research and Extension Center), 1444 Diamond Springs Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Meet us north side of classroom behind garages on your right/east.

Saplings ready for adoption December’24.

You can help us with this event in several ways:

1- If you are interested in adopting a tree, please print and complete the attached form, scan or take a photo and send it back to me, and we will add you to the list for adopting a tree! Payment can be made at time of pickup by cash, check made payable to Friends of Live Oaks, or by PayPal ( we can walk you through the PayPal payment process at the event).

2- Feel free to share this info on your social media accounts, or by forwarding this email to any friends or folks in your circle that you think may be interested in adopting a live oak.

3- If you would like to help us at the event, please email me and advise what time frame you can plan to be there to help.