Scenic Virginia Inc

AT SCENIC VIRGINIA, THIS COVID-CENTRIC YEAR WAS -- STRANGELY ENOUGH - INCREDIBLY UPLIFTING. THAT IS BECAUSE VIRGINIANS EXPRESSED TO US ON A NEAR-DAILY BASIS THAT THE COMMONWEALTH'S SCENIC BEAUTY WAS SAFEGUARDING THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. MANY ADDED A NOTE COMMENDING US FOR OUR LONG-TIME WORK TO PRESERVE THESE INCREDIBLE SCENIC RESOURCES THAT ARE SUCH A TONIC FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL. WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DESPITE THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON US BY THE PANDEMIC, WE MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH QUITE A BIT. BELOW ARE A HANDFUL OF HIGHLIGHTS: VIRGINIA SCENIC RIVERS. DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE SUCCEEDED IN PASSING TWO BILLS DESIGNATING TWO NEW STRETCHES OF VIRGINIA SCENIC RIVERS: THE LOWER RAPPAHANNOCK AND THE SOUTH RIVERS. VIBRANT VIRGINIA. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK ON THIS VIRGINIA TECH PUBLICATION THAT EXAMINES THE RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE IN THE COMMONWEALTH ACROSS A NUMBER OF TOPICS. THE BOOK IS SCHEDULED TO BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY 2022. VIRGINIA VISTAS PHOTO CONTEST. THE ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST IS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PROJECTS, AND WE ARE INDEBTED TO THE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WILLING TO SHARE THEIR TALENT AND PASSION FOR SCENIC BEAUTY WITH US. OUR ESTEEMED PANEL OF JUDGES MADE THEIR DELIBERATIONS, AND THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH REVEALED THE WINNERS IN ITS SUNDAY CULTURE SECTION ON DECEMBER 12, 2021. VIEWSHED PROJECT. WE CONTINUED TO MAKE GREAT PROGRESS ON THIS FIRST-OF- ITS-KIND-IN-THE-U.S., AND WE ARE WORKING TOWARD A STATEWIDE ROLLOUT IN 2022. AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE BEGAN ASKING VIRGINIANS TO GIVE SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT TO WHAT ARE THEIR FAVORITE VISTAS, VIEWSHEDS, AND SCENIC AREAS IN THEIR OWN LOCALITIES. OUR HOPE IS THAT THEY CAN START MAKING A LIST AND BE PREPARED TO SHARE IT WHEN SCENIC VIRGINIA VISITS.