Six exciting programs are coming up at The Clifton Institute:
Bugscaping: Regenerative Landscaping for the 21st Century
Colors of Clifton: Preserving the Palette of Autumn
Mindful Naturalists: Nature Yoga
Nature Journaling with Joyce Andrew
Some are free, some have a small fee, all require registration.
Photo by Ryan Dunn. Used with permission of Connection Newspapers.
Runnymede Park
195 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon VA
Sunday, 29 September 2019
1-5 pm
Friends of Runnymede Park is hosting this free, family-friendly event. There will be live animals, games, exhibits and hands-on activities at stations throughout the park. Participants include:
– Leslie Sturges, “Save Lucy the Bat” will bring live bats.
– Blue Ridge Wildlife Center with live mammals.
– Lois Auer with live raptors.
– Reptiles from Riverbend Park.
Plus Bees, Butterflies, Crafts, Games and Much More!
For more information, visit our website, frpweb.org, or email [email protected].
Volunteers needed! Please contact Carol Hadlock.
Join Hidden Oaks staff on Saturday, October 19, 11 am-4 pm to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the county’s first nature center. The event is free to the public and features musical groups as well as activities and learning stations.
The kick-off for the day is the unveiling of a carved tree at 11 am. Here’s the story:
Two electric bolts during a storm turned a 100-foot tulip poplar just outside the picture window at Hidden Oaks Nature center into an imminent danger to the building. The tree had been the focal point of the woodland view from the center. It was a feeding station for flying squirrels and many species of birds. Its loss was keenly felt by staff, park visitors, and the nature center’s wildlife neighbors.
But the lightning assault did not damage the tree’s base. That was the knock of opportunity. Staff arranged for a ten-foot stump to remain for chainsaw artist Andrew Mallon, who created a sculpture of critters that enjoyed the tree’s gifts over its 128-year life. The urban art will be the centerpiece of a learning station on natural woodland shelters, and the carving means the tree can be enjoyed for the next 20 years. Because it is near the nature center, the artwork is easily accessible to all visitors. Join the community as the tree is unveiled at the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Oct. 19, 2019.
Morven Park,17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg
(Enter via Old Waterford Rd. and proceed to the main parking lot.)
Saturday, 14 September 2019
9am – 3pm
Native Plant Sale sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy!
Three native plant nurseries will have a huge selection of fall blooming flowers, shrubs, trees, vines and ferns for sale. Along with native plants, they’ll have:
– Loudoun Audubon at Home program
– Loudoun Stream Monitoring program
– Unique yard art from Sunny Lane Forge
– Loudoun County Master Gardeners
– Virginia Master Naturalists
– Information about JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
– And much more!
For more information, visit: https://loudounwildlife.org/event/fall-native-plant-sale-3/
For questions, contact Kim Strader at [email protected].
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce St., Annandale VA
Saturday, 19 October 2019
11 am – 4 pm
Visit for a day of fun, music and special activities in honor of Hidden Oaks Nature Center’s 50th anniversary! Opened in 1969 as the first nature center in Fairfax County, Hidden Oaks now serves over 30,000 visitors a year. Enjoy a Reptiles Alive presentation, music from the School of Rock honoring Woodstock’s 50th year and other children’s music groups, go on a Hidden Treasures of Hidden Oaks hunt, see demonstrations of Monarch butterfly tagging and release and enjoy the new playground and chainsaw tree art. Fun for all ages! Parking in Annandale Community Park except for special permit parking. Free.
Have some natural knowledge and can assist with a learning station? To volunteer, contact Suzanne Holland, [email protected]. Master naturalists, record your hours as E110: FCPA Nature Programs.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce St., Annadale VA
Monday, 16 September 2019
7:30 – 9 pm
Our chapter will have a brief meeting, enjoy some food and drink, and learn from a presentation on recycling in Fairfax County by Erica Carter, Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, Recycling Coordinator.
There’s been a lot of talk about recycling these days – what can we recycle? Where does it go? Is China still buying? More importantly, what can you do to minimize the amount of waste that you and your family create? We’ll take a quick look at the current state of waste management in Fairfax County and answer everyone’s questions about what they can and cannot recycle.
Fairfax Master Naturalists earn one hour of continuing education credit for this event.
Friday, Sept 27-Sunday, Sept 29, 2019
Hikes, lectures, and classes are scheduled for all day Saturday and half day Sunday, with check-in, dinner, and speaker on Friday night.
One price for the whole weekend, to include meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. This year, it is based in Front Royal.
Go to the VNPS website here for everything you want to know, and to register.
Questions? Contact:
Email [email protected]
Phone: 540-837-1600
Webinar Details
Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 12:00 pm
Meeting Number: 306-718-517
Link to Join: Join Webinar
Link for recordings of this and past webinars: VMN Continuing Education Webinar page
Description
As wildlife move across the landscape or through our waterways, they increasingly find their habitat shrinking or carved up by human development and infrastructure. The road network was built with a focus on providing safe and efficient transport, with little regard for ecology. Roads not only threaten the viability of certain species’ populations, but also pose a substantial risk to driver safety. Virginia is consistently among the 10 states with the highest number of deer-vehicle collisions, with more than 60,000 reported each year.
Today, the transportation and scientific communities increasingly seek to reconnect fragmented habitat and avoid further disruption to wildlife movement. It is now more widely recognized that prioritizing wildlife corridor protection and helping wildlife move safely through the landscape is a benefit to both wildlife populations and drivers.
This webinar focuses on three road ecology efforts underway in the Commonwealth:
Presenters
Misty Boos received a Master of Environmental Planning degree from the University of Tasmania in 2006 and a BS in Sociology with emphasis on Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University. She has extensive experience in the non-profit sector working on research projects and in the field for many environmental organizations. She has been an active participant and leader for Wild Virginia outings and completed training as a Virginia Master Naturalist.
Bridget Donaldson is an associate principal research scientist at the Virginia Transportation Research Council. She holds a BS in Ecological and Populational Biology from the University of Colorado and an MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee. While her research covers a variety of environmental topics, ranging from climate change to roadkill composting, she has been involved in the research and implementation of measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions for over 15 years.
Windy Knoll Farm
11602 Kettle Run Rd, Nokesville, VA 20181
Saturday, 24 August 2019
3-7 pm
The Prince William Environmental Excellence Foundation will be hosting their 4th annual Farm to Table fundraiser dinner to support environmental education. Windy Knoll Farm is a working farm in addition to being an event center that hosts a variety of the education programs that the Foundation funds for county residents. The event will run from 3 – 7 p.m. The meal will be served from 4:00-5:30 with the ability to eat anytime within that time frame. Tickets for the meal are; $35 for adults, $15 for children ages 13 – 18, and free for children 12 and under. Following meal time, a live auction and speaker on rural development, Chris Price PWC Planning Director, will commence. In addition to the meal and live auction, there will also be a silent auction, photo sessions, opportunities to meet local artisan & farm sponsors, view vendor displays, farm hayride tours, and antique equipment displays.
All proceeds from the event go towards the implementation of beyond the walls of the classroom environmental and agricultural education for the Prince William County Community. This mission is achieved through educational programs: Farm Field Days, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE’s), Arbor Day activities, Water Quality Monitoring, and Adopt-A-Stream, to name a few. Your support of the Foundation and the community enable them to provide these outreach programs.
Purchase your tickets early and bring a friend or neighbor to a dinner that highlights the wonderful agricultural products produced in Prince William County. All ticket sales for this event are final. If you are unable to attend this wonderful event we ask that you consider making a tax exempt donation through this site to help us expand the learning environment of Prince William County youth. Register for the event here.
For the event menu or more information about the event, visit their website.
September 11, 9:00-2:00pm
Virginia Department of Forestry Training Room
900 Natural Resources Drive Suite 800
Charlottesville, VA 22903
.
This training is being offered to
Master Naturalists and Tree Stewards.
There is no cost to you and lunch is included.
Learn from professionals with years of experience
The desired outcomes of the training are:
There will be Master Naturalists and Tree Stewards willing to select planting sites, recruit groups of citizens to help with plantings, and shepherd planting projects from start to finish. You will have the assistance and support of those who have the experience to produce sustainable tree planting projects in riparian areas. All trees, and needed supplies will be supplied and available for plantings.
**Continuing education credits will be made available