Pawpaw Patrol: Foraging at Powhatan State Park!

OVERVIEW

I have been DYING to go foraging, but I know nothing about it and don’t want to spend money on a class. Not sure if y’all are in the same boat, but if so, you’ve come to the right place.

Virginia State Parks have a ton of cool outdoors programming that they offer year-round, including a free, guided foraging outing at Powhatan State Park this Friday (September 5th)! We’ll be joining a ranger (and maybe some friendly strangers) on a 2 mile walk/hike to search for PAWPAWS! It’s about to be peak pawpaw season in Virginia, and I have never eaten one before, so I am VERY excited. They’re supposedly like a mix of a banana, a pineapple, and a mango? Consider me interested.

According to the website (linked here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2025-07-22-15-26-06-857294-1xt), the walk will be less than 2 miles on an easy trail, though I don’t have an AllTrails link to share with you all because I, too, do not know what trail we will be on yet.

The Plan:
8:45am – Meet at the corner of Echols Dorm
9am (at the latest) – Leave for Powhatan State Park (approx. 1 hour drive)
10am-11:30am – Pawpaw hike!
11:45am – Head back to Cville

What you should bring:
– Comfortable footwear (sturdy sneakers or hiking boots)
– Water
– Snacks if you wish!
– Maybe a bag to collect your fruity finds

*Note that right now the trip is for 4 people because that’s all I can fit in my car, but if there’s sufficient interest, I’ll expand the trip! Drivers, of course, get priority & are eligible for gas reimbursement!*