Hiss-teria Averted: Staying Safe Around Snakes, Webinar July 16th

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Photo: NVCT

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
12 PM – 1 PM
Zoom link provided upon registration

Snakes often get a bad rap, but we share this land with them and they have important roles in their respective environments. In this webinar, learn how to properly identify, handle and avoid unpleasant interactions with native snakes of Virginia. Don’t worry, this session is completely virtual, so you won’t have to test your limits too much!

Brought to you by Northern Virginia Conservation Trust’s Nearby Nature Network. Presented by Bill Crisp of K2C Wildlife Encounters.

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.

From Trash to Treasure: Reconnecting with Urban Streams, July 15th

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Photo: Rebecca Hale (Credit: Kristen Goodhue)

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
7:00pm -8:30pm

Sign up on Zoom to watch live or on demand

Speaker: Rebecca Hale, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) senior scientist
We often think of cities in opposition to nature. But cities have a rich natural history, including many freshwater ecosystems. Urban streams and rivers have been used as dumps for human waste and trash and have been buried, channeled or armored to protect cities from flooding. But urban streams also provide important sources of water, spiritual values, recreation, and an opportunity to connect with nature. On July 15, urban stream ecologist Rebecca Hale will reveal how people are creating new relationships with streams and rivers that reconnect city dwellers with urban nature and each other. Part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s 60th anniversary webinar series.

This event will be hosted entirely online, and it will be recorded. Closed captions will be available at the live event and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you will also receive a link to the recording a few days after the live event.

 

Butterfly Identification with Larry Meade, June 18th

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Photo: David Illig, Variegated Fritillary

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Virtual
FREE

Registration required

The sight of butterflies fluttering around on a warm day is one of the most iconic signs of summer. These beautiful insects usually live for only a few weeks as adults, but they make quite an impression while they are in their full glory. There is a large variety of butterfly species in our area. Larry Meade will walk   through the common species and help participants differentiate some of the trickier look-a-like species.

Participants are encouraged to register for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count to be held on June 28, 8:00a AM – 1:00 PM. More info here.

A good way to prepare this program is to review Butterflies of the Mid-Atlantic, a Field Guide, by Robert Blakney and Judy Gallagher. Judy Gallagher is a member of the NVBA Board, and the field guide is available for purchase on the NVBA website.

Larry Meade is president of the Northern Virginia Bird Club and a member of the NVBA Adult Education Committee. He is a frequent bird walk leader and has been involved in numerous Audubon Christmas Bird Counts and NABA Butterfly Counts. He is the compiler of the Alexandria Circle NABA Butterfly Count in September.

Register here -This program is FREE.

Trail Care Academy: In-Person Maintenance Workshop, July 12th (Registration mid June)

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Photo: Ly Le, National Park Service

Saturday, July 12th, 2025
8:30 am – 12:30 PM

Location: Turkey Run Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway
*Exact location details will be provided following registration

 

Please keep a lookout for registration details for the in-person, half-day workshop event on Saturday, July 12th in mid-June.

Announcing  Trail Care Academy‘s in-person, half-day workshop on Saturday, July 12th from 8:30 am – 12:30 PM at Turkey Run Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway. This event will guide participants on tools and techniques for key maintenance topics, including:
  • Trail safety
  • Vegetation management
  • Tread drainage and water dynamics
  • Blazing
  • Blowdown reporting

Further details, including materials to bring and final workshop agendas, will be provided following registration confirmation and closer to the workshop dates. Please note that signing a waiver will be required, as is the use of a supplied hard hat and eye protection. Registration opening in mid-June! Check website page.

Please feel free to contact Rebecca Murphy if you have any questions regarding the workshops or broader Trail Care Academy programming.

Rebecca Murphy
Coastal Program Manager
Northern Virginia Regional Commission 

Phone: 703 – 642 – 4625

Stream Monitoring Citizen Science & Training Opportunities, May and June Dates Available

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Photo: By FMN J. Quinn, Stream monitoring

Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) Spring stream monitoring season is in full swing! They hope you’ll be able to join them at one of the upcoming stream monitoring workshops.

Are you interested in obtaining a Virginia Save Our Streams Stream Monitoring certification? This certification is not required for the workshops, but it allows you to monitor your own site if you wish. The certification consists of three parts – watching online webinars, passing an online macroinvertebrate ID exam, and taking an in-person field protocols exam.

Field Certification Event at Cub Run

When: Sunday, June 1, 3:00-6:00pm
Where: Cub Run Stream Valley Park, Centreville

To qualify for your field protocol exam, you must have passed the online macroinvertebrate ID test and have attended at least 1-2 stream monitoring sessions. Learn more about the VASOS Stream Monitoring certification here. For questions or to register, please email Ashley. Please DO NOT sign up for the field certification event using the general workshop signup below – the field certification event and workshop will run concurrently, but registration is separate. Thanks!

Pohick Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Thursday, May 29, 4:00-7:00pm
Where: Pohick Creek Stream Valley Park, Springfield

The stream monitoring site on Pohick Creek is located on the cross-county trail, popular with runners, dog walkers, and families. This is the largest and deepest stream monitored in these public workshops. This is an accessible stream site, which can be reached by wheelchair and/or other assistive tools over a paved path (there may be some uneven spots). Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Cub Run Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Sunday, June 1, 3:00-6:00pm
Where: Cub Run Stream Valley Park, Centreville

This site features some of the largest hellgrammites we find in Fairfax County! (Haven’t heard of them? Be sure to research this super cool macroinvertebrate!). Just a stone’s throw from the parking area, this site is very popular, and you can certainly see why! Learn more and register for this workshop and others here. Want to get your stream monitoring certification here? Please email Ashley instead of registering.

 

Accotink Creek Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Wednesday, June 11, 4:00-7:00pm
Where: Long Branch Stream Valley Park, Fairfax

Help explore this new stream site! Adopted this spring, this stream is tiny but mighty. Monitors found a lot of diverse macroinvertebrate populations the last time we visited this site! This site is located within a short walk from the parking area over a paved trail. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

Sugarland Run Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Saturday, June 14, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Sugarland Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon

This site is located near one of the largest great blue heron rookeries (breeding/nesting areas) in the eastern US. Monitors often find plenty of newly hatched young crayfish in the spring. This is also the most accessible stream site, which can be easily reached by wheelchair and/or other assistive tools over a paved path. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

 

The NVSWCD is very excited to contribute their stream data to state and national datasets. If you’d like to see data from all the NVSWCD regional stream monitoring team’s active sites, you can find the organization on the Clean Water Hub.

Celebrating Warblers: Yes, That’s a Warbler Too!, Webinar, May 20th

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Photo: Ovenbird by ABC

Tuesday, May 20, 2025
4 – 5 pm
Free webinar
Register here.

Did you know that North America is home to 53 species of warblers? While many are easily recognized by their name, other species like redstarts and waterthrushes might surprise you. These vibrant songbirds are not just beautiful to observe; they play crucial roles in our ecosystems.​

Unfortunately, warblers are among the many bird species facing significant declines, with some species even experiencing a loss of over 50% in population since 1970, according to the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report. Habitat loss is a primary driver of these declines.

Join American Bird Conservancy (ABC) for a special “Warblinar” to learn more about warblers — whether by name or not, their songs are just as sweet! We’ll explore what defines them, their ecological importance, and the critical challenges they face. They’ll also discuss ABC’s conservation efforts and how you can take bold action to help conserve these remarkable birds.​

You’ll hear from ABC experts and partners, including:

Anne Mini, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Science Coordinator
Linnea Rowse, Great Lakes Private Lands Director
Jordan E. Rutter, Director of Communications, American Bird Conservancy

If you can’t make the webinar live, RSVP now and they’ll send you a recording to enjoy when the time is right for you!

Dragonflies From the Arctic to the Tropics, May 20th

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Photo: Dr. Jessica Ware – by Denis Finnin

Tuesday, May 20, 2025,
7:00pm – 8:30pm

Webinar
Advance Registration Required

Event Details


Dragonflies, damselflies and their ancestors were among the first creatures to fly—before birds, bats or pterosaurs. On May 20, explore the origins of the Odonata insects with Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History. Using a large genomic dataset, scientists are unlocking their evolutionary history. By studying the tree of life of Odonata, scientists are beginning to understand how flight first evolved in these enigmatic insects. Part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s 60th anniversary webinar series.

This event will be hosted entirely online, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available at the live event and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the event.

Sign up on Zoom to watch live or on demand

About The Speaker: Jessica Ware

Dr. Jessica Ware is a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, where she serves as Chair of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology. Dr. Ware’s research focuses on the evolution of behavioral and physiological adaptations in insects, with an emphasis on how these occur in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and Dictyoptera (termites, cockroaches, and mantises). Dr. Ware holds a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in Canada, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers, New Brunswick. She was awarded a PECASE medal from the U.S. government for her work on insect evolution. Dr. Ware served on the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America for 3 years. Dr. Ware is the past president of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association and the past president of the Entomological Society of America. She is president-elect of the Society of Systematic Biologists. Dr. Ware is co-founder of Entomologists of Color and serves on the board of Black in Natural History Museums. Photo by Denis Finnin

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