Environmental Sustainability

We are teaming up with Mapillary to host the February GeoDC meetup at the Meta DC office. Whether you’re a local Washingtonian, a seasoned OSM contributor, or a GIS professional. Join us for an evening of lightning talks, networking, and amazing conversations about maps and geospatial technology with a focus on street-level imagery. Since this event is being held at the Meta office you must[ RSVP using this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe35JmapvZlryI3f-uZbpbA-zNFHUGlWO_-8N1yCyFQs00sNQ/viewform) by Friday February 6th. Space is limited so keep an eye out for the event update. Check out the lineup below for details and let us know if you've used Mapillary and would like to talk about your experience. ### The Lineup 18:00 \| Doors Open: Grab a slice\, a drink\, and catch up with fellow mappers\. 18:45 \| Welcome: Quick intros from the GeoDC crew and Mapillary\. 19:00 \| Lightning Talks: Rapid\-fire presentations on GIS\, cartography\, and the power of open imagery\. * Interested in speaking? Reach out! 19:45 \| The Spatial Social: Open networking and informal demos\.

## Details Hello everyone! We climb at Crystal City Movement every Monday. Please read rest of the description carefully. We mostly do tope rope climbing but we can arrange bouldering sessions as well. If you prefer lead climbing please post on the comments to find your belay partner. \#\# Requirements * If you are not a Movement member, you'll get a daily pass. If you don't have the equipments you can rent them in the gym. * Please sign the waiver through: [https://movementgyms.com/waiver/](https://movementgyms.com/waiver/) * You can get a discounted day pass and free rental gear if you say you are here for my meetup All skill levels are welcome! If you are totally new to climbing and want to do top rope, then you have to have a belay certificate. In order to do that; * You can check Movement gym Intro to Rope Climbing class : [https://movementgyms.com/crystal-city/climbing/classes/](https://movementgyms.com/crystal-city/climbing/classes/) * After the course, you should do the 'Belay Check' which can be done as soon as 24 hours after you take the class. The test takes around 15 mins so it can be done before the climbing session. Before your first visit you may want to check the related webpage: [https://movementgyms.com/first-visit/](https://movementgyms.com/first-visit/) \#\# Where to meet To find us go down the stairs in front of the front desk. We will meet around the benches next to climbing walls.

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Venezuela’s Future—and Ours,”** an analysis of how the Trump administration’s intervention in Venezuela will affect that nation, the U.S., and the rest of the world, with Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies and the Immigration Lab at American University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-venezuela-future](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-venezuela-future) .] On January 3rd, after a long military buildup, the United States used special forces to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence in Caracas, Venezuela to stand trial here on criminal charges. The development marked a major turning point in our relationship with Venezuela and the rest of Latin America and raised a host of complex questions, not just for Venezuelans living inside and outside that country but for American citizens and other nations of the world. Coming to the stage to break down what all of this means is Ernesto Castañeda, a scholar of Latin America who has given several excellent Profs and Pints talks on immigration policy and has given dozens of interviews to media outlets around the world in the wake of the U.S. raid. In a talk offering informed perspective on the latest news developments, Professor Castañeda will discuss various theories about why the U.S. conducted the operation to get Maduro out of Venezuela. He’s put our nation’s current plans for Venezuela into context by touching on previous U.S. military interventions in Latin America and beyond. Professor Castañeda will look at the implications of recent events for U.S. politics and U.S. citizens and what such developments tell us about the balance of power in the United States. He’ll examine the distance between decisions made by the White House and public priorities, touching on how it all relates to our immigration policies and our views about peaceful protest and democracy. He’ll consider how the Venezuela raid and our actions since have altered relations between the U.S. and other nations and provide scenarios about what the future might hold. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Beginner-friendly evening [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ) class [at OSMA in Herndon, VA](https://www.virginiabjj.com/): Learn escapes, submissions, and live strategy with expert instruction. **🔥** *No experience is required* -- **new students** and **first-timers** are genuinely welcome. Classes focus on **practical**, **real-world fundamentals** taught in a **safe**, **technical**, and **highly supportive environment**. You’ll learn how to **escape common holds**, **apply effective submissions**, and **understand live positional strategy** \-\- the same leverage\-based system used in modern BJJ and [Mixed Martial Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts) (MMA), adapted for everyday people. This **gi class** takes place every **Monday** and **Wednesday** and includes **one hour of guided instruction** followed by **one hour of optional open training** (live rounds, drilling, review, and research). Gis are available if you need one. **Drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20** and can be **paid on-site**. We are located in **Suite #130** \-\- let us know when you arrive and we’ll take care of the rest\.

PLEASE CHECK THE ONLINE MEDITATION CALENDAR FOR DETAILS OF THESE MORE THAN 50 SERVICES A WEEK- https://onlinemeditation.yogananda.org/calendar/

Come play some casual Commander at Crystal City! Bring your favorite decks for some pickup games, and feel free to bring your trade binders if you'd like! **We play at 2100 Crystal Drive** in Arlington, VA, 22202, which is a seating area that is right next to We, the Pizza in Crystal City. Detailed directions on how to get there: **Directions from the Metro:** If you're taking the Metro, exit at Crystal City. When you come up the first set of escalators, turn left to enter the underground shops and then turn left again after a brief walk. Cross the street, enter the next building, and the seating area will be on the left after passing the Minuteman Press Printing and Marketing shop. **Parking:** If you're driving, garage parking is free after 4 pm. Enter the garage on 2144 Crystal Drive. There will be elevators that take you up to the main level. If you have any questions, please join our Discord for the most up-to-date information: https://discord.gg/fBUWvrAVMv

Easy hike through woods, neighborhood streets and alleyways Meet at Alcova Heights Park bathrooms building and take a loop through neighborhood with stairs, woods, alleyways and sidewalks. Walking at medium to slow pace to look for birds and nature but a good walk!

Join the rest of the Grove in creating your own 2026 bingo cards. Then in 2027 we can see who did the best! There will be glue and glitter\~\~ Also, the first drink is on me!

It's supposed to warm up a little heading into the Valentine's Day weekend so it's perfect weather to weed a park. We are NPS Weed Warriors and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists and you should volunteer with us on Sunday, February 15 to learn about nature and remove invasive plants from everyone's favorite urban island. Meet us at the entrance to the bridge (on the parking lot side, look for the sign) at 10:00 and bring your garden gloves and loppers/pruners if you have them. If not, we can provide gloves and tools. Wear long sleeves and pants and don't forget a water bottle. We will have tasks ranging from easy (cutting English ivy and honeysuckle vines from trees) to hard (sawing down bush honeysuckle). Parking at TRI can be tight if it's a pretty day. When the parking lot is full, you can park in Rosslyn and take the trail down. If you can bike or walk or take public transit, that's wonderful. We'll see you there! Erica, Stephanie, and Heidi P.S. If you can't wait until then to RIP (Remove Invasive Plants!), go here to find more volunteer opportunities in Arlington parks: [Volunteer to Restore Native Habitat – Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (armn.org)](https://armn.org/volunteer-opportunities/)

Put aside your train specifications and population estimates: it's time to enjoy the lighter side of transit! Come watch curated video clips about the joys of public transportation, and play trivia games on our favorite subject. Also hear an update on our plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Metrorail, coming up in late March, including the chance to order your own commemorative t-shirt! Hope you all can make it!

Guest Speaker: Haven King-Nobles, Executive Director of Fish Welfare Initiative Post-PAM Animal Action: TBD Please be sure to RSVP here! https://stampede.proanimal.org/events Join your fellow animal lovers and DC Animal Protection to discuss what’s happening in the animal advocacy scene in DC! This series is a weekly meetup, with guest speakers from all of the major animals rights orgs. We’ll host non-profits such as Pro-Animal Future, International Council for Animal Welfare, DC Voters for Animals, The Humane League, Mercy for Animals and Direct Action Everywhere as well as local grassroots groups like the DC Coalition Against Foie Gras and sanctuaries. We’ll also have special sessions related to health, nutrition and mindfulness! We encourage anyone who is interested in helping animals to attend- no need to be vegan! Come learn about our rich variety of local activism. With protests, outreach, wheat-pasting, signature collecting, leafletting, lobbying, tabling etc. there’s something to match everyone’s comfort level and skill set. Coffee, bagels and community will be provided! Feel free to bring any extra treats to share (no animal products please.) Hope to see you soon! :) Note: Unfortunately, animals are not allowed at our venue. Please leave your furry friends at home.

Swing by DC Vegan after work for dinner and board games with other veg singles! We will be upstairs in the deli, at the tables along the wall on the left side (across from the counter where you order). The host will supply various board and card games, so we can play in a few groups. The event is free to attend, but please plan to buy food while you are there. DC Vegan is a VSDC Green Rewards Member, so if you are a member, bring your membership card for 10% off! We will be hanging out until the restaurant closes at 9, so feel free to arrive after 6. If your plans change and you will not be able to make it, please update your RSVP to “no” so that we can give the restaurant an accurate headcount beforehand. **As a VSDC singles event, this event is for vegan and vegan-aspiring adults who do not currently have a romantic partner.** People of any sexual orientation may join as long as they are single. Anyone 21 or older is welcome. You do not need to be looking to date; you can just come socialize with other singles. **Transportation** The nearest Metro station is Dupont Circle on the red line. There is street parking, but it is very hard to find, so we recommend using public transportation. **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are so glad to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we enjoy seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits? With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. The VSDC membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Become a member of VSDC](https://vsdc.org/membership/). **Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct** When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC's Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/).

*Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy registration requested at* [The Disappearance and Persistence of Bees (Virtual) - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/persistent-native-bees/) The demise and disappearance of bees is well documented, yet bees still persist. Wildlife biologist Sam Droege shares a more nuanced look at the current state of native bees based on his research. This presentation is co-sponsored by the Loudoun County Public Library and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

We get together to rescue trees from invasive plants twice a month, moving from place to place around Greater Clifton, wherever we spot a problem and have the landowners' permission. RSVP using [this sign-up form.](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeasjEcOQm5v8afwJdriU65Wj8-Q0DetQy4HRKiFNwgwFPy7Q/viewform?usp%3Ddialog&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1cfet73DRGhpOU4ltw9MoF) This time we will work in the Clifton Betterment Association property in the floodplain of Pope's Head Creek. (Set GPS for 7137 Main Streeet but cross the creek and turn into the big parking lot)

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

The [Simplicity Living Study Circle of Northern Virginia](https://www.coachingwithdanijk.com/study-circle) meets on the first Saturday of each month from 4:00 to 5:30 PM at Lacey Woods Park in Arlington, Virginia.\* **This is a rain or shine outdoor event.** This free community group offers a unique and empowering space for individuals seeking to live a simpler, more intentional life. Led by participant-driven discussions, our circle is designed to foster connection and support as members share their experiences, wisdom, and insights on simplifying their lives. Hosted by members of the Simplicity Living Circle of Northern Virginia, we aim to bring together like-minded people who are passionate about mindful living and environmental care. Whether you're new to the journey of simplicity or looking to deepen your practice, we invite you to join us in this nurturing and inclusive environment. \*This month's gathering was rescheduled due to hazardous conditions from the snowstorm in January. All other meetings will be held at the described time of month unless otherwise specified!

Rockville Vegans will be picking up trash on the outside of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary as part of their adopt-a-highway program. Poplar will provide all the supplies - gloves, bags, and visibility vests. We will be parking just inside the gate as you enter the farm property.

Join us for February's Reboot Hour—a feel-good evening celebrating community, connection, and our shared love for the planet. This month, we're embracing the spirit of Valentine's Day by spreading love to the tech that connects us all. What's Reboot Hour? A monthly gathering where anyone and everyone from the DMV can come together—whether you're a DMV professional, startup founder, sustainability advocate, tech community member, or simply someone who wants to meet people and chill. No judgment, no pressure, just genuine connection with people who want to make the world a better place. This Month's Theme: Love Your Tech We're celebrating how the devices we use every day connect us to the people we love and the planet we protect. Learn why electronics circularity matters for people, planet, and country—and discover how you can make an impact by donating just one device (or a whole box!). What to Expect: ✨ Casual, fun atmosphere with real people who care 🛡️ Learn why electronics circularity is so important ♻️ Discover how donating an unused device creates real impact 💪 Meet DMV professionals, founders, advocates, and community members 🎁 Easy lift: bring one device to donate—or bring a box! Event Details: 📍 Carpool, Ballston 📅 Tuesday, February 24th ⏰ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm 🍺 Drinks & snacks available at a cash bar! We Meet Every Month! Reboot Hour happens monthly, and we also hold collection events with community partners all over the DMV—like at the upcoming DC Tech Meetup in March and during DC Climate Week in April. Learn More & Get Involved: Visit www.eWasteWarriors.org to learn more about our mission, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities. You can help make an impact in your community—no experience necessary! We are Guardians of technology, protectors of the planet. Relove your tech with us! 🛡️♻️

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy registration required at [Birding Algonkian - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-algonkian-feb/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at Loudoun’s top birding hotspot, ***[Algonkian Regional Park](https://loudounwildlife.org/2016/11/algonkian-park/)*** in eastern Loudoun, for the monthly bird walk. Combining extensive frontage along the Potomac River, rich bottomland forests, wetlands, and extensive grassy areas, this can be a very productive place to bird. Bring binoculars if you have them. We’ll meet at the boat ramp next to the parking lot. ([Boat ramp location.](https://goo.gl/maps/Pz1S69mqSuX1z3FW8)) ***Registration required.*** ***Questions:*** *Contact [bhenson@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:bhenson@loudounwildlife.org).*