NAPS Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship

Litter on our roads and highways creates more than just an eyesore. It harms wildlife, pollutes waterways, and increases cleanup costs for communities. One simple way to reduce roadside litter is to keep trash inside your vehicle until you can dispose of it properly. To support this effort, the Northumberland County Anti-Litter Committee is hosting a special event this Saturday, June 6, 2026. They will be giving away free removable, hanging, waterproof car trash bags at the t

NAPS' Vice President and Ghost Pot Program Leader Andy Sitison was awarded the Robert M. Freeman Volunteer of the Year Award by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS held their annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 1. The event honors students, faculty and staff for years of service to the institution, professional achievements and outstanding student-led research, with trivia and raffle prizes interspersed throughout. "Through

The NAPS Spring Highway Cleanup crew (from left): Mike Ahart, Estrella Cruz, Don Imbur, Alice Imbur, Jeff Kuver, Martha Tallent, Kathleen Ennen, LaToya Bunns-Bea, Jen Sagan, Thom Ennen, Victoria Jett, Sadie Wirt, John Scherbenske, Michelle Scherbenske, Larkin Rea, Sharon Flick, James Scripture, Lee Flick, Denez Yancey, and Bob Yancey, and Claudia St. John (not shown). A crew of 21 volunteers cleared the roadsides and gullies during the Northumberland Association for Progressi

NAPS awarded $4,500 in scholarships to three college-bound Northumberland High School seniors: (from left) Madison Jones, Amiya Lee, Ann Rice, and NAPS president Mike Ahart. Three college-bound Northumberland High School seniors received scholarships from the Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship (NAPS) during the Senior Recognition ceremony at the school auditorium, April 27, 2026. In recognition of their academic achievement and service to the community, Am

A beautiful day greeted hundreds of visitors to the 11th Annual Earth Day Festival in Heathsville, Saturday, April 25, 2025, with dozens of exhibits, demonstrations, displays and activities. The event was free and open to the public. Hosted by NAPS (Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship) and The Northern Neck Heritage Arts Center in conjunction with the first Heathsville Farmers Market of the season, the eco-friendly event celebrated the Northern Neck’s natur

Congratulations to NAPS' Andy Sitison and Mike Ahart for being named Volunteer River Counties "Volunteers of the Month!" Many thanks to Chris Wright of 101.7 BAY FM and Bill Michaels of 104.9 WIGO Country for the on-air interviews Monday morning! Watch the video of the 101.7 BAY FM interview here or on Facebook. On a related note, Andy was also named VIMS "Volunteer of the Year!" Read Mike Ahart and Andy Sitison's Stories of Service on the Volunteer River Counties website.

Madeleine Green of Potomac Riverkeeper Network explaining health risks of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” at NAPS Special Program, Annual Meeting &Ice Cream Social PFAS (“forever chemicals”), the Potomac River sewage spill, and NAPS’ Ghost Pot Program were featured topics at Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship’s (NAPS) Special Program & Annual Meeting, Sunday, March 29 in Heathsville. Madeleine Green, Virginia Campaign Coordinator for Potomac Riverkeeper Network (

The latest PFAS ("forever chemicals") legislation is working its way through Virginia legislation this session. HB 1072 is on the docket for the Chesapeake subcommittee of the Virginia House today at 4pm . This bill would clarify that local governments have the right to test sewage sludge applications for any toxic contaminant, including PFAS. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality hasn’t been allowing testing for PFAS, which Potomac Riverkeepers Network (PRK) and

Join Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) on Feb. 11, 2026 at noon for an in-depth discussion on the catastrophic sewage spill that occurred on January 19 in Montgomery County, Maryland. Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks will share the latest updates, walk through PRKN’s rapid response efforts, and explain what this spill means for the health of the Potomac River and downstream communities. More than two weeks into this crisis, the work is far from over. PRKN has been on the gro

Our intrepid crew has logged in five outings in January before the ice storm, recovering dozens of ghost pots. Here's a video montage of the project: If you love being on the water and are not afraid of cold weather and hard, dirty work, you may be perfect to join our crew! Sign up through the Volunteer River Counties portal or email us at stewardship@napsva.org today! A few disturbing facts: Derelict crab pots can remain in the water for many years There are an estimated 1