Entries by vmnfairfax

Review of Wonderful Life, by Stephen Jay Gould

Reviewed by Marilyn Kupetz There’s an element of determinism in our master naturalist studies: if we are good stewards of the land and water, if we respect our fellow creatures and organisms, we all stand a better chance of surviving. It’s true, of course, but in Wonderful Life (1989, 323 pp) Stephen Jay Gould guides us through […]

Plant NOVA Natives requests all hands on deck!  

Plant NOVA Natives is a joint marketing campaign of more than 40 private, public, and non-profit organizations, including Master Naturalists, and hundreds of individuals. Their mission is to educate the community and to promote the benefits to water quality and natural habitat of planting Northern Virginia natives. Committed volunteers help make this possible by using […]

Swanfall Celebration at Mason Neck, 3 December

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park will hold their annual Swanfall celebration this Sunday, December 3, from 2 to 4. There will be a light buffet, followed by a talk by Paul Bacich on the intriguing Winter Waterfowl of Mason Neck.  Paul is the co-author of the just-published The Crossley ID Guide: Waterfowl and […]

Sign Up the 36th Annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count!

Sign Up the 36th Annual Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count! Sunday, December 17, 2017 7:00 AM  11:30 AM The Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count will be on Sunday, December 17th.  The count circle is around Centreville and includes Manassas Battlefield, parts of Bull Run Regional Park, undeveloped areas south of Dulles Airport, and many stream […]

Stream Monitoring Events: Serve and Learn

Saturday, December 9 Stream Monitoring: Lake Accotink 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Assess ecological conditions in Lake Accotink, based on the presence and abundance of bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Where to Meet: Parking lot behind Lake Accotink Park Administrative building. Call or email for directions. See Friends of Accotink Creek for additional stream monitoring information: http://www.accotink.org/StreamMonitoring.htm RSVP/Questions

Call for content!

The FMN Strategic Communications and Marketing committee members welcome your news and event notices, learning and service opportunities, stories, resource reviews, (and other ideas–we are open to creative thinking). We curate our content, so, yes, you’ll work with an editor, but the exchange will simply polish your pearl. Send your content or requests to Marilyn […]

Biodiversity and Global Change: Science & Action online class starts December 4

Coursera’s eight-week course, “Biodiversity and Global Change: Science & Action,” is taught by scientists at the University of Zurich. Registration begins Nov. 27, and the first session is on Dec. 4. Here’s the course description: “In this course, featuring many researchers at the University of Zurich, you will learn about the amazing diversity of biological […]

World Wildlife Fund hosts The Nature of Change: The Science of Influencing Behavior

Behavior change has not yet been extensively incorporated into conservation practice planning, design, or overall thinking. This year’s Fuller Symposium, December 4, brings together a diverse array of experts from the behavior sciences to tackle how we can better integrate behavioral strategies and interventions into conservation practice to produce more effective outcomes for nature. Attend […]

From the Ground Up: Managing and Preserving Our Terrestrial Ecosystems: Free, approved, online course starts November 27

From the Ground Up: Managing and Preserving our Terrestrial Ecosystems is a new 7-week online course from the SDG Academy about sustainable use of our terrestrial ecosystems.You will learn about the impacts of deforestation, climate change, and more, with a particular focus on the human activities that affect these ecosystems. In studying the interplay of […]

Stream Monitoring Events: Serve and Learn

Certified Monitors Networking and Team Building Workshop Saturday, November 18 Time: 11am – 1pm Location: Manassas National Battlefield, Administrative HQ Building The Northern Virginia and Prince William Soil and Water Conservation Districts are proud to announce the first networking and team building event for certified volunteer stream monitors! Meet fellow certified monitors, discuss best practices […]