Protecting local streams through care, conservation and education is a priority of ACE. In 2003, ACE continued to achieve outstanding results in each of these areas.

Through care, ACE:

ACE volunteers pick up trash from four mile run stream in Barcroft Park during an ACE cleanup.

• engaged 350 members and volunteers in conservation projects to improve Arlington's environment
• coordinated two invasive plant removals that resulted in dozens of exotic invasive plants removed
• led two groups in projects to mark storm drains in areas throughout the county with "Don't Dump" message
• trained forty Arlingtonians to serve as stewards of ACE watershed and wildlife habitat programs in the Arlington community

• removed 365 bags of garbage from Arlington's streams and rivers
• oversaw the certification of 32 new National Wildlife Federation certified habitats in Arlington County, the most new habitats in one year since the program started in 1973

Participants test their environmental knowledge with the wheel of fortune game at an ACE exhibit.

• reached 1600 students at County schools through over 50 hands-on environmental education programs
• exhibited at 11 community festivals providing information about local conservation and stewardship
• published the "Rediscovering the Schoolyard" newsletter, which provides teachers and parents with resources, lesson ideas, and news from Arlington schools related to creating and enhancing outdoor learning areas for Arlington schoolyards
• sponsored a photography contest in Arlington schools and sold and distributed a thousand Arlington Environment calendars featuring the students' prize-winning photographs of Arlington's most beautiful natural features