National Public Lands Day Volunteer Opportunity at Marine Corps Base Quantico, September 27th

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Photo: by Mike Fox, Monarch on milkweed

Saturday, September 27, 2025
9:00am to 4:00pm
In-person volunteer event
27175 Telegraph Rd
Stafford , VA 22554
United States

Registration and sign-up details: Check out: https://www.neefusa.org/npld/marine-corps-base-quantico/restoring-monarch-habitat-and-inspiring-conservation-mcb-quanticoA sign-up link is available here: https://shorturl.at/wnUGO. Note that the morning shift (9:00am-12:00n) is behind the gate, and at least two weeks advance notice is necessary to secure a base pass. The afternoon shift (1:00pm-4:00pm) is not behind a gate, and anyone can join up until the day.  For more information, please contact Alex Antram, Marine Corps Base Quantico, at aantram@vt.edu or 210-410-2394.

Join a hands-on community conservation project to transform underused land into vibrant meadows that support Monarch butterflies and other vital pollinators. At Marine Corps Base Quantico, you will be restoring critical habitat by planting two high-visibility meadows filled with milkweed and native wildflowers — essential stopover sites for migrating Monarchs, a species recently proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. This is more than just a planting project — it’s a chance to build something lasting. Volunteers will dig in on a variety of activities, including planting, harvesting and propagating seeds, constructing a rainwater catchment system with storage, and helping create a living classroom with interpretive signs. These signs will show how military and urban spaces can be reimagined as thriving biodiversity hotspots. The big kickoff is September 27, marking the start of a long-term, self-sustaining effort that protects an important indicator species while educating the public and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship across the installation.

Habitat Installation — September 27, 2025 — Join us for one or both sessions
Be part of something big! Installing two new 1,200 ft² pollinator meadows:

  1. Mainside Pollinator Garden (Expansion), 9am-12pm
    Near family housing and in collaboration with the Quantico Spouses’ Garden Club, this site is part of a long-term vision to convert 2–3 acres of invasive-dominated hillside into vibrant, native habitat for butterflies, bees, and more.
  2. Westside Meadow Plot, 1-4pm
    Right next to Quantico’s Natural Resources offices and game check station, this highly visible site will replace a monoculture lawn with a beautiful native wildscape, fully accessible to the public!

At both locations, volunteers will:
Clear brush
Till the soil
Plant native milkweed (Common and Butterfly Weed)
Add a colorful mix of supporting wildflowers.
Seeds will come from both purchased stock and on-base collections from last year’s NPLD.

Infrastructure Support — September 27, 2025, 9am-12pm
Volunteers are building more than just gardens—they are building community infrastructure. Volunteers will help construct a tool storage shed with a built-in rainwater catchment system at the Main side Pollinator Garden. Right now, there’s no water access or on-site storage, adding over 30 minutes of transport time to every volunteer session. Your help here will:

Reduce future volunteer workload
Model water conservation
Ensure the garden thrives long-term

Seed Collection & Propagation — Fall 2025 through Spring 2026

Want to keep the momentum going? After NPLD, volunteers will collect milkweed seeds from 12 known wild patches across MCB Quantico (September 28–October 4). Then in March 2026, volunteers will then stratify and start growing them indoors for spring planting.

This hands-on work ensures future plantings succeed—and that volunteers don’t have to rely solely on purchased seed. It’s a huge step toward sustainability and ecological resilience.

Whether you’re planting flowers, swinging a hammer, or collecting seeds—there’s a role for everyone. Come make a lasting difference for pollinators, the environment, and the Quantico community!

Volunteers Needed for Reston Bioblitz – Saturday September 13th

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Image: Courtesy of the Reston Association Environmental Team

On Saturday, September 13, join us for the Reston Bioblitz 2025 – a biodiversity survey to find and identify as many plant and animal species as possible in a 24 hour period. 

Why: Reston has more than 1,300 acres of open space, home to a large number of species. Reston is also undergoing great change with redevelopment and densification. Help us document Reston’s biodiversity so we can improve baseline data to help in future conservation decision-making and action.

 Who: Scientists, naturalists and volunteers of all experience levels

Adults (16 & older) can participate in this citizen science challenge. An iNaturalist training will be provided. We are looking for:

  • Experienced iNaturalist app users.
  • Digital photographers (cell phone or DSLR).
  • Locals with familiarity of Reston’s natural areas and trails.
  • Adults (16 & older) with an interest in citizen science.

 When: Saturday, September 13, 2025

 Where: Reston-wide

Teams will be sent to designated natural areas. Individuals can report species anywhere in Reston, even your own backyard! Download the iNaturalist app and join the Reston BioBlitz 2025 project at Reston Bioblitz 2025 · iNaturalist.

Turtles, Snakes + A Reptile Discovery Walk & Learn @Wolf Trap National Park, September 7th

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Photo: By Ron Grimes, Common Ribbon snake, March 2025

 

Sunday, September 7, 2025
10:00AM – 11:30AM EDT

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
1551 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182

Event is FREE but Registration is required.

Registration: Please RSVP only if you plan to attend. If your plans change, PLEASE cancel your tickets 2 days in advance so others can participate.

Join a Park Ranger who will introduce you to some “animal ambassadors” plus lead an adventure through the trails of Wolf Trap National Park to discover the reptiles & and more- hiding in plain sight!

What to expect:

  • Meet several “animal ambassadors” including male and female box turtles, a small snapping turtle, and Eastern Gartner snake, Eastern Rat Snake
  • A gentle hike along the trails at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
  • Identification tips and cool facts about native species
  • How to become a wildlife watcher in your own backyard
  • Fun for all ages—no science background needed!

LOUDOUN WILDLIFE’S NATIVE PLANT SALE AT MORVEN, September 13th

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Photo: Courtesy of LOUDOUN WILDLIFE’S NATIVE PLANT SALE AT MORVEN

September 13, 2025
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

Did you know that fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and other perennials? A huge selection of native plants will be available at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Fall

Native Plant Sale from five native plant nurseries: 

Nature By Design 
Hill House Farm Nursery
Seven Bends Nursery
Watermark Woods
Yellow House Natives 

The sale takes place at the Morven Park visitor parking lot in Leesburg (access via main entrance on Old Waterford Road) from 9am to 2pm.
Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to help you choose plants suited to your space and goals. Be sure to visit the Native Plant Information Center for expert talks offered throughout the day on topics like native plants for beginners, transitioning to a native garden and managing invasive species.
Enjoy a cup of coffee from a local vendor while you explore tables hosted by nonprofit partners working to protect and restore native ecosystems. You can also learn about the programs and how to get involved in local conservation efforts. For more information about Loudoun Wildlife’s Native Plant Sale, please
contact nativeplantsale@loudounwildlife.org.

Ask Experts About Native Plants!

Transform your yard into a thriving haven for local wildlife and discover the beauty of sustainable gardening with the lineup of native plant talks at Loudoun Wildlife’s Native Plant Sale, September 13th at Morven Park in Leesburg. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting your green journey, the expert talks offer valuable insights to help you nurture a healthier planet, one plant at a time.

Visit the LWC Native Plant Sale Info Tent from 9 to 1 to for displays and talks:

9:00–10:00 AM.   “Native plant “Right Plant, Right Place” display and Q&A

10:00 AM.              “Native Plants for Northern Virginia,” Jim Knowles / Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouse & Garden Center

10:30 AM.              “Native Plantings in Our Communities,” a panel discussion including Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance and others.

11:00 AM.               “Native Plant Garden Design,” John Magee / Magee Design

11:30 AM.                “Invasive Plant Identification & Removal,” Natali Walker / Blue Ridge PRISM

12:00–1:00 PM.      Native plant Q&A, featuring LWC’s Wildlife Sanctuary Program

 

Culmore Summer Adventures

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Under the leadership of FMN Jo Doumbia, FMN has supported the Culmore Teen Center and Second Story programs since 2023.
The 2025 summer program just wrapped up and Jo would like to thank the ten FMN volunteers that directly supported their outdoor activities.

Huntley Meadows view from Observation Tower – photo Jerry Nissley

This year FMN directly supported four rewarding outdoor nature programs: 1. A guided tour at Huntley Meadows Park teaching the composition and benefits of wetland environments with Sarah Mayhew, Donna Stauffer, Brian Kiviat, and Jerry Nissley. 2. A day of fishing and fun at Lake Fairfax with Rob Shapiro. 3. An always wild and exciting kayak river adventure at Riverbend Park guided by Kim Munshower, Jonathan Eskew, and Rob Warren. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn about our region’s geology, history, and river systems. 4. And last but not least, a relaxing morning of Forest Bathing at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts led by our free agent for nature, Ana Ka’ahanui, assisted by Wendy Cohen. Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku) is the practice of spending time in nature, immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere through all sensory engagement.

Jo also sends out a hearty thank you to FCPA for generously providing access and resources at Huntley Meadows, Riverbend, and Lake Fairfax.

Please read more about the summer program, Culmore Teen Center, and efforts in Fairfax County by Second Story in the article by Annandale Today.

Cover photo – Clear wing hummingbird moth on milkweed in Huntley Meadows wetland – photo Jerry Nissley

Celebrating a FMN 2025 Spring Basic Training Graduates

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Photo: FMN Mary Ann Bush, FMN Spring Grads – June162025

On Monday June 16, we proudly celebrated the graduation of a passionate and dedicated group of students from our Master Naturalist Basic training program. What began as a shared curiosity about the natural world has transformed into a community of informed and enthusiastic stewards of our local environment.

Over the past several months, these individuals immersed themselves in both classroom learning, and field trips which facilitated hands-on, experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom. They learned not only about native ecosystems and species, but also how to be a part of natural resource conservation in the community

Graduation is more than a milestone—it’s a beginning. These new graduates are now equipped and eager to take on a wide range of volunteer opportunities: leading nature hikes, restoring habitats, monitoring wildlife, educating the public, and much more. Each graduate brings a unique voice and skillset, and together they form a force for good in our natural communities.

To our newest graduates, we can’t wait to see where your curiosity, compassion, and commitment take you next!

Here are the 2025 Spring FMN Basic Training Graduates:
Alsegaf, Kathy
Baucom, Celeste
Borghi, Aurora
Bretz, Kevin
Colby, Charles
Curley, Christina
De Nardi, Mia
Edwards, Eren
Grass, Nancy
Gravatt, Peyton
Newberry, Tucker
Racine, “Anna Virginia “”Hope”””
Racine, James
Smyth, Trish
Zavala, Andy
Malcolm Macniel
Elliff, Rachel
Conway Dodge
A special acknowledgement goes out to three students who have achieved their initial certification by their graduation date:
Mia De Nardi, Aurora Borghi and Andy Zavala

Congratulations, and welcome to a lifelong journey of learning, service, and connection to the natural world!

 

Mason Neck Kayak Adventures – 2025

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Announcing the ‘FMN only’ summer Kayak Tours at Mason Neck State Park!

June Evening: Saturday, 6/28/25, 6:00-8:00 PM
July Evening: Friday, 7/25/25, 6:00-8:00 PM
August Morning: Sunday, 8/24/25, 9:00-11:00 AM
September Afternoon: Sunday, 9/07/25, 1:00-3:00 PM

The 2 hour tours guide paddlers out into Belmont Bay and up Kane’s Creek into the heart of the park that can only be seen via the water. Explore the plants and animals found along the way; discuss the importance of wetlands; learn the history of Manson Neck peninsula; and enjoy the beauty and serenity of floating among the lilly pads, surrounded by forest.

*Guests please arrive 30 minutes prior to start time to gear up*

These are FMN only tours. Limit 10 per tour.
Registration is free and must be done via BI calendar.
Once the tour fills, registration auto-locks and it disappears from the Opportunities Calendar but remains on the Opportunities List.

All guests are required to use park provided kayaks and paddles.
PFDs are provided but you may bring your own. Personal PFDs must be Coast Guard approved/labeled Type III or better.

Appropriate clothing for the weather, activity level, and closed-toe shoes are encouraged. Below is a park provided link to a guide for recommended kayak-clothing. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/kayaking-what-to-wear.html

To register:
1. Login to BI and click on your ‘Opportunities’ tab.
2. Select ‘Opportunity Calendar’ from the pull-down menu.
3. Find event in the displayed calendar; Click it to see event details.
4. To sign up, Click the ‘Sign Up’ box in the lower right. This automatically signs you up and puts the event on your personal calendar.
5. To claim 2.5 CE hours: please use All Continuing Education -> FMN All other Chapter Training, as the Approved Org.

Mason Neck Kayak – photo JaneEllen Saums

A thought provoking prose to encourage this tour is Charles Dickens’ luminous writing about the beauty of the natural world – “The freshness of the day, the singing of the birds, the beauty of the waving grass, the deep green leaves, the wild flowers, and the thousand exquisite scents and sounds that floated in the air— deep joys to most of us, but even more so to those whose life is in a crowd or who live solitarily in great cities as in the bucket of a human well—sunk into their breasts and made them very glad.”

As you push off from the shore, inhale deeply, relax, immerse yourself in the natural world, and become “very glad”.

Registration Is Now Open for The Northern Virginia Urban Forest Roundtable on July 31!

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Logo: Courtesy Virginia’s Urban Forest Council

Thursday, July 31, 2025
9:00AM – 4:00PM

Registration Fee: $55.00 (Registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch.)

Registration and additional conference information.

The Woodlands at Algonkian
47001 Fairway Drive
Sterling VA  20165

Rooted in Retention – Sustaining the Present, Planting the Future

Complete Agenda

Highlights from the agenda:

*12:00 – 1:00 Combining Aesthetics & Ecology in Urban Forests: How Native Ecoregions Inform Process
Keith Tomlinson, Interpretive Naturalist, Smithsonian Associates Study Leader
The regional native forests we see today tell a compelling story that informs what trees we plant and conserve in urban environments.
We’ll look at our native trees through the holistic lens of ecoregions as related to urban forest. This approach illustrates the foundational
role of native trees and forests in urbanized environments. Fostering the aesthetic and ecological impact of urban forests is more
important than ever as we work in a continuum of environmental change.

 

*Station 1: Under the Forest Canopy: A Journey with Fungi
Mycological Association of Washington, DC – Learn to identify different species, understand their vital role in the ecosystem, and
discover the incredible diversity of shapes, colors, and textures that fungi offer. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned
mushroom hunter, this walk will deepen your appreciation for nature’s quiet decomposers and mysterious organisms.

  • FMN Jim McGlone has identified these two sessions as CE opportunities for sessions of the upcoming Northern Virginia Urban Forest Roundtable on July 31. These two sessions would be 2 hours of FMN CE using ‘Virginia Urban Forest Council’ as the CE provider.

Latino Outdoors DMV | Birding Juntos @ Neabsco Regional Park, June 28th

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Graphic: Courtesy of Latino Outdoors DMV

Saturday, June 28, 2025
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Latino Outdoors activities are free and in service to their communities

REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Neabsco Regional Park,
15125 Blackburn Road,
Woodbridge, VA 22191

CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH VERSION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Join participants 9am Saturday June 28th to go bird watching and go on a nature walk in Neabsco Regional Park led by Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) and Latino Outdoors DMV.

Beginner birders and families are welcome!

A few things to remember:

  • Don’t forget to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, sunblock, and a water bottle.

  • There will be binoculars for participants to share.

  • Snacks will be provided.

  • RSVP is required to ensure a safe and attentive leader to participant ratio.

Latino Outdoors activities are free and in service to their communities. The volunteer leaders donate time and energy to plan these experiences, paying close attention to the number of people each event can accommodate. Please honor your reservation, and if you are unable to attend an event that you signed up for, take a moment to cancel your reservation, preferably one week prior to the event, so that another community member may participate and volunteer organizers can plan accordingly. The organizers greatly appreciate it!

Any questions about the event? Contact diana.ramos@latinooutdoors.org. If you are concerned about attending an event that is publicized, please contact info@latinooutdoors.org.

Manassas Bee Festival Saturday, 6/21/25

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Photo: Courtesy of Jane E. Ogilvie

Saturday June 21, 2025
10:00am – 2:00pm

FREE annual event!

Location: Liberia House and Grounds
8601 Portner Avenue
Manassas City

Join thousands of visitors and buzz on by to have fun and learn about honeybees, native pollinators, and planting native plants at this FREE annual event!

Look at the fun and educational activities that are planned in the City of Manassas!

Sign-up to join as a vendor, sponsor, speaker, or volunteer:

. Dress like a pollinator and join the costume parade
. Learn the waggle dance and try the spelling bee for prizes
. Local honey
. Community apiary of honeybee hives plus native bee houses
. Vendors galore
. Farm animals
. Food trucks
. Mead garden
. Bounce house, games, crafts
. Live music
. Bee, pollinator, healthy living, and native plant experts
. Plenty of parking with tractor and wagon rides
. Historic Liberia House with large trees, native gardens, park trails
. NEW 2K Honey Hike starting at Manassas Museum Lawn. Donate $20 to hike, local honey, and Adopt-a-Bee. Or just join for a walk (No sign-up required)!

Thank you to the City of Manassas, Liberia House and Grounds, and Sponsors, Supporters, Partners and Friends for their support!  Bee City USA!