Upcoming Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) webinars for September and October

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Photo courtesy of Nina Fisher – English ivy on a forest floor

 

These events is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. By signing up on the presentation’s Zoom link, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the live stream. SERC seeks to showcase a wide variety of topics and perspectives for its evening science talks. Views expressed during these talks belong to the individual speakers and not the Smithsonian.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

  • Rare Bees of Maryland and How You (and Your Property) Can Help Them by Sam Droege
    7:00pm – 8:30pm

    Speaker: Sam Droege, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

    Maryland has about 450 species of bees. Like birds, some are common and some are rare and may need help from people to flourish.  It turns out that many of the rare bees are highly specialized, meaning they gather pollen from only a one genus of plant, or sometimes from just one species of plant. If those plants are absent, then the bees are absent too.  In this webinar, wildlife biologist Sam Droege will highlight some of the successes of bringing those bees back via plantings in yards and properties—including things local residents can do in their own backyards.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

  • Protecting Our Tree Canopy from Invasive Vines by Nina Fisher and Ginger Woolringe
    7:00pm – 8:30pm

    Speakers Nina Fisher and Ginger Woolridge, Save Our Trees

    Invasive vines—such as English ivy, bittersweet, wisteria, and Japanese honeysuckle–can stress and ultimately kill ​ trees, causing serious ecosystem disruption. In our October webinar, Nina Fisher and Ginger Woolridge, two of the five co-founders of Save Our Trees in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, will discuss the most prevalent invasive vines in Maryland. They’ll outline the harm they cause, how to remove them correctly and how to prevent them from returning, along with a discussion of some native species you can plant instead. They will also cover proper mulching technique, creation of “soft landings” for beneficial insects, and preparation of your yard for autumn and winter.

Raptor Rapture, September 12th

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Photo: Courtesy of the Friends of Dyke Marsh

September 12
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Fort Hunt Park, Pavilion A
8999 Fort Hunt Rd
Alexandria, VA 22308

Bring your family and friends to see live hawks, owls and other raptors up close. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the National Park Service and Secret Gardens Birds. Registration is not required. Please spread the word.

Additional details can be found on the Friends of Dyke Marsh website.

 

Jerry Nissley

Fungi and Friends, September 11th

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Photo credit: Jerry Nissley

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Burke Lake Park Location
7315 Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Cost: $9.00
4-Adult

Join a Naturalist to scavenge parks nooks and crannies for some fungi and friends to observe and hear about all the roles they play in our great outdoors. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

Additional details can be found on the Fairfax County website.

 

 

Insect Conservation, a Zoom Presentation with Amanda Whispel, Ph.D., September 24th

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Photo credit: FMN

Thursday, September 24, 2026
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Amanda Whispel will explore the status of insect populations, evidence for widespread declines and the threats driving these trends, including habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and invasive species. Participants will learn why insects are vital to ecosystems and human well-being and discover practical ways to support insect biodiversity in their communities.

Additional details can be found on the Virginia Native Plant Society website.

 

The Problem with Plastic and the Realities of Recycling – Recording of July Virtual Green Breakfast Is Available (Sponsored by the NoVa Soil & Water Conservation District) 

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Photo: by FMN Mike Walker

 

The Problem with Plastic and the Realities of Recycling
with Jen Cole, Executive Director, Clean Fairfax

Also, below are compiled links to some of the resources shared either by our presenter or by attendees:

  • Reston Strong’s The Remakery provides shelter and meals for the unhoused. They take plastic containers and utensils, as well as clothing, furniture, bedding, and mattresses to supply to people who are on the waitlist for subsidized housing.
  • Fairfax County Libraries host Repair Cafes with volunteer repair experts. Repair Cafes occur once a month at a library in Northern Virginia and offer repairs and advice for a variety of things including clothing, small appliances, toys, computers, and jewelry. Check the FCPL events calendar for dates and locations.

Past Green Breakfast topics and speakers (click on title to view recording)

Butterfly Walk & Learn at Wolf Trap National Park, August 2

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Photo: Sam Schaen – Monarch Butterfly

 

Sunday, August 2, 2026
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Free event

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Meet – In front of the Wolf Trap Filene Center Box Office
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Vienna, VA

Join Dr. Elise Larsen at Wolf Trap National Park for our August 2nd Butterfly Walk and Learn!

Immerse yourself in the world of butterflies at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Dr. Elise Larsen, ecologist and post-doctoral associate at the Ries Lab of Butterfly Informatics at Georgetown University, assisted by the Friends of Wolf Trap National Park and the Fairfax County Master Naturalists, will take you on a guided tour through the park’s native gardens and grounds to discover beautiful butterflies, including brightly colored brushfoots and soaring swallowtails. This relaxed stroll along walking paths will delight nature lovers, gardeners, and photographers of all ages. Learn about the local butterflies, tips for spotting and identifying some of the common butterflies of our region, and the plants they rely on. Learn how to help butterflies in your own backyard. Bring your camera and binoculars as we observe and admire butterflies around the Park.

Please Note: Participants will spend time on narrower paths and uneven ground as well as wide walkways. We recommend dressing appropriately for the weather and bringing a water bottle. The guided tour will be approximately 90 minutes.

Event Details:

  • Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Meeting Point: In front of the Wolf Trap Filene Center Box Office
  • Parking: Free parking available in the east or west lots as you enter Wolf Trap National Park.
  • Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
  • Heavy Rain: Event will be rescheduled
  • Safety Notice: Participants are responsible for their own safety and well-being. By attending, you agree to accept any risks associated with outdoor activities and consent to having your photo/likeness used.

Tickets:

  • Cost: Free
  • Space: Limited
  • Registration: Please RSVP only if you plan to attend. If your plans change, cancel your tickets so others can participate.

For more information and directions, visit: Wolf Trap National Park Visitor Information

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and educational event!

www.butterflyinformatics.org

www.friendsofwolftrap.org

www.farifaxmasternaturalists.org

 

Virtual CEU Opportunities – Walker Nature Center Deep Dives: Spiders – Silk Specialists, August 20th & Fall Migration, September 17th

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Photo: Courtesy of the Reston Walker Nature Center

Walker Nature Center has upcoming “Deep Dives” – one-hour virtual explorations of natural history topics:

Spiders – Silk Specialists:  Thursday, August 20th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Join Nature Center Manager Ken Rosenthal to explore the world of spider silk.  Only about 50% of all spiders actually spin webs.  Learn what it takes to build a web and find out what those other species are doing with their silk.
Fall Migration:  Thursday, September 17th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Join Nature Center Manager Ken Rosenthal to bid farewell to our fall migrants.  Bird migration is one of the great spectacles in all of nature, but birds are not our only fall migrators.  Find out who else will be leaving us.
All programs are geared toward adults.  Registration is free, with a $5 suggested donation.  A link will be emailed to registrants prior to the program.
If you have a Reston Association Webtrac account, you can register there.  Otherwise contact Ken Rosenthal directly at krosenthal@reston.org or 703-435-6510.

Mindful Birding: Finding Wonder, Well-being and Connection through Birds, August 4th

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Image: Courtesy of Northern VA Bird Alliance and Capital Nature -Mindful Birding Presentation

Tuesday, August 4, 2026
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

Online event

Fee: $12.09

Registration required

Overview

Join Ana Ka’ahanui for an event all about how birding helps reduce stress, cultivate mindfulness and deepen our relationship with the natural world.

Birding offers more than the excitement of identifying new species—it can also be a powerful practice for reducing stress, cultivating mindfulness, and deepening our relationship with the natural world. Discover how slowing down and engaging your senses can transform the way you experience birds and their habitats.

Drawing on research about the mental and physical health benefits of birding, as well as practices from forest therapy (“forest bathing”), we’ll explore how birds can help us become more present, attentive, and connected. Learn how mindful birding can foster wonder, resilience, and well-being.

Presenter: Ana Ka’ahanui, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Virginia Master Naturalist, Founder of Wonder Joy Walks, and Co-Founder of Capital Nature.

Leave it to Beavers, August 2nd

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Photo credit: Ellyne Geurts

Sunday, August 2, 2026
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Mason Neck State Park – Bay View Trailhead
7301 High Point Road
Lorton, VA 22079

Beavers are nature’s architects! Meet one of our interpreters, at the Bay View Trail head for a short hike down the trail to the marsh to see evidence of Mason Neck’s resident family of beavers. Learn how they live, why they build dams and lodges, and discover the role that they play in supporting a healthy environment.

Email MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov for more information.

Additional details can be found on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation website.

 

 

Water Cycle: Incredible Journey, August 8th

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Photo credit: Jerry Nissley

Saturday, August 8, 2026
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Road
Lorton, VA 22079

Dive in to water month at Mason Neck State Park and learn about the incredible journey of water in the water cycle! Join an Interpreter at the Picnic Area for a fun game to learn about the way water moves through our watershed and about the waters surrounding Mason Neck State Park! Bug spray and water recommended.

Email MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov for more information.

Additional details can be found on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation website.