Big Thank You to Founder Marilyn Schroeder

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The Fairfax Chapter (FMN) has one official Cooperative Agreement (CA). A mutual agreement between FMN and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) agreeing to provide mutually beneficial resources. The CA was originally signed in 2007 with a revised version of the CA was signed in 2022 by VCE Exec Dir. Micheal Cutter (for FMN) and FCPA Jai Cole, Executive Director FCPA. 

Marilyn behind an educational book table at a county fair – photo courtesy of Marilyn Schroeder

As Chair of the Fairfax Chapter’s Coordinating Committee, Marilyn Schroeder drafted the original CA when the FMN charter was established in 2007. She then represented FMN as the liaison until June 2025 when she passed the reins to another FMN volunteer. At the chapter membership meeting in June, FMN recognized Marilyn’s 18 years coordinating the meat and marginalia of FCPA activities – applying for field permits, identifying volunteer opportunities, providing FCPA trainers for FMN classes, and a myriad of other detailed responsibilities in coordination with other FMN Committees. Annually, FMN contributes more service hours towards FCPA activities than to any other single FMN chapter associate. 

Even though Marilyn will continue to volunteer in other FMN activities, it is with much gratitude that we sincerely give thanks for her many years of specific service as the liaison. She was previously honored as an FMN Trailblazer for her significant contributions in establishing the FMN chapter in 2007 – drafting initial By-laws and Operating Manual, and serving in several board positions over the years.

Katy Johnson is the new FCPA/FMN liaison.

FCPA 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Awards

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As announced by FCPA at its meeting on May 28, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a resolution honoring 20 individuals as 2025 Outstanding Volunteers. These peer-nominated individuals were recognized for their dedication to community and their invaluable service to the Fairfax County park system.

Jean Lockhart on duty at Hidden Oaks – photo FMN Kristina Watts

Of the twenty, two Fairfax Chapter Master Naturalist volunteers were officially recognized:
* Jean Lockhart, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Front Desk
* Elizabeth Train, Huntley Meadows Park, Roving Naturalist/General Support
The Board stated that more than 10,000 volunteers contributed to the operation, preservation and conservation of Fairfax County parks in Fiscal Year 2025. They contributed 116,005 hours of volunteer service and their work is valued at over $3.88 million. The Park Authority could not function without the support and commitment of our volunteer force.
“Our parks meet the highest standard of beauty, safety, and accessibility in large part due to our volunteers. Their skill and passion, whether repairing trails, planting trees, or educating visitors, elevate every acre, every day,” said Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole.

Liz Train in her finest ‘vernal pool monitor apparel’ – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

Jean, a relatively new VMN (2023), contributed hours as volunteer on duty, nature program leader, and bird counts. Liz, a VMN since 2019, is involved with just about every volunteer role possible at Huntley Meadows Park. They are both very deserving of this recognition.

The Park Authority, joined by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored all of its amazing volunteers with a special evening of music and celebration at the Volunteer Appreciation Night on Thursday, July 10, as part of the Government Center’s ‘Evenings on the Ellipse’ Summer Concert Series.

And The Emmy Goes To …

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… FMN Kathryn Pasternak for the Outdoors Maryland segment titled “Ghost Rivers”. Ghost Rivers tells the story of Sumwalt Run, a stream that once flowed through Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood. In the early 20th century it was buried in a brick and concrete culvert up to 40 feet below street level. The same fate as natural streams in cities throughout the world, including a network of streams in Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C. – But I digress.

MPT’s David Wainwright (sound) and Brian Windle (camera) filming Ghost Rivers tour led by artist Bruce Willen – photo Kathryn Pasternak

Artist Bruce Willen memorialized Sumwalt Run by tracing its path through the neighborhood, marking it with a sinuous blue line and adding educational markers that tell the environmental, cultural and historical story of the stream along the path it takes all the way to the Jones Falls, and then out to the Chesapeake Bay.  Kathryn and the team worked with Bruce filming the final stages of the Ghost Rivers public art installation, and accompanied him on a walking tour he gives with local residents. They also filmed the Baltimore Department of Public Works inspecting the interior of the Sumwalt Run culvert using a crawler camera, and then doing water testing at the outflow of Sumwalt Run at Jones Falls.

DPW inspecting Sumwalt Run culverts – photo Bruce Willen

The Outdoors Maryland Episode received the Emmy Award and like all their episodes, it has three stories. The 3 stories stitched together in Episode 3603 each have a different theme about water. Series Producer Stefanie Robey describes it this way: It was a Bay/water themed episode, with stories about submerged aquatic vegetation restoration work, open-water swimming, and the Ghost Rivers project.

Brian Windle films Bruce Willen during installation of Ghost Rivers Site #2, Wyman Park Dell at 29th Street, Baltimore. – photo Kathryn Pasternak

Kathryn thinks part of what helped them win was that the episode told stories about water from three totally different perspectives — a more science/restoration focused piece, a recreation focused piece, and then a historical/cultural/arts focused piece with Ghost Rivers. Kathryn’s segment starts at the 9:45 mark of the episode and runs to the 18 minute mark. But the entire episode is interesting.

Eight months work for eight minutes of video. That’s tenacity. The episode won for Science/Environment Long Form.  (Watch here: Outdoors Maryland, scroll down to Episode 3603).

Sumwalt Run expelling into Jones Falls – photo Kathryn Pasternak

Kathryn (Pasternak Media) became an FMN in 2021 but she is also a veteran of wildlife, conservation, and cultural films; and recipient of two National Emmy Awards for ‘Best Science and Nature Program’. She spent 15+ years at National Geographic Television working on high-end programs for international distribution. Since 2007, she’s been producing media independently both as a freelancer and small business owner.

Acknowledgments:
Outdoors Maryland: Series Producer Stefanie Robey principally, and Executive Producer, Frank Batavick.
Photos: FMN Kathryn Pasternak and Bruce Willen

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!

 

Katy Johnson – The New FMN Liaison to FCPA

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As many readers already know, FMN has maintained a signed Cooperative Agreement (CA) with Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) since chapter inception in 2007. Annually, FMN contributes more collective volunteer hours towards FCPA Activity Codes than any other single partner organization.
In turn, FCPA provides FMN with course instructors, meeting facilities, volunteer opportunities, and access to parks for field trips and CE hikes.
In 2024, FMN reported over 5300 volunteer hours at 12 individual FCPA sites.

The CA identifies liaison roles and responsibilities for both FCPA and FMN. Together the liaisons coordinate activities, acquire field trip permits, identify opportunities, and maintain open communications between the orgs. Currently, Tammy Schwab is the FCPA liaison and Katy Johnson is the newly designated FMN liaison. Katy takes over from Marilyn Schroeder who held the FMN role since 2007, when she helped establish the initial CA.

FMN Katy Johnson with a trillium – photo Katy Johnson

Katy graduated FMN training in 2021. Since then she has contributed over 600 service hours and is also the POC for FMN activities in Fairfax City. She is very familiar with the functional liaison responsibilities defined in the CA by virtue of her similar role in another local organization, Northern Virginia Mineral Club. Katy joined NVMC and FMN because she believes in their missions – to educate and spread an understanding of the importance of natural resources in our everyday lives.

Going forward please direct questions regarding FCPA opportunities to Katy

FMN Katy Johnson rockhounding – photo Katy Johnson

(katynor@gmail.com). FMN has 10 individually defined Activity Codes for FCPA. We look forward to continuing our long time association with Fairfax County Parks. Thank you Katy!

FYI – Additional Chapter Partners:
The formal CA with FCPA is the only signed agreement our chapter maintains. We do, however, have other Chapter Partners and we strive to identify points of contact for each of them in their corresponding BI Activity Code descriptions.
For example, FMN service hours for Fairfax Tree Stewards may be recorded using Activity Code S405. The FMN POC for FTS is found in the S405 Activity Code description in BI, along with additional details so you may ask questions of someone directly involved with that organization.

The FMN web site lists several chapter partners and links to their sites for general information. FMN POCs and specific FMN Activity details will normally only be found in the BI Activity Code Description, as described above for S405.

Of course if all else fails, please direct activity code catalog and CE questions to the Hours/CE co-chairs and we will work with you to clear the fog.
Hours/CE email – FMNcontinuingED@gmail.com

Acknowledgements:

Cover photo – two handsome KATYdids liaising on a hibiscus. Photo Jerry Nissley

Community Champion – Betsy Martin

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Congratulations to FMN Betsy Martin for her recognition as a “Community Champion” in the Mount Vernon District of Fairfax County.

Betsy has been a certified Master Naturalist since 2007 with over 2950 service

Betsy Martin – courtesy of office of Mt. Vernon District Supervisor

hours under belt. She is active in the Northern Virginia Birding community and her conservation work with area ‘Friends of…’ groups, has promoted significant improvement in local wetland environments.
Please enjoy the following article from the office of Mount Vernon supervisor Dan Storck recognizing Betsy’s ‘champion’ contributions to the many communities she is involved with.

Article on Betsy from Supervisor Storck’s ‘Good News Advisor’ Newsletter, April 2025:

“The Mount Vernon District is filled with natural beauty—streams, forests and wetlands. In honor of Earth Month, this month’s Community Champion, Betsy Martin, has spent more than two decades working to protect and restore those special places, one trail, cleanup and native plant at a time.

Betsy and her husband Paul have lived along Little Hunting Creek for over 30 years. In 2002, they helped co-found the Friends of Little Hunting Creek and she now serves as President. The Friends organize annual cleanups (most recently they held their annual Earth Month Cleanup on April 5) to remove debris from the creek and raise awareness about watershed health. With support from neighbors and volunteers, the Friends have become a steady force for positive environmental change.

Among her many accomplishments, Betsy’s favorite is the preservation and restoration of the Little Hunting Creek Preserve, a nearly two-acre wetland site off Stockton Parkway that she helped transform from neglected land into a thriving preserve. Working with local residents, the Friends, Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and Stratford Landing Citizens Association, the area now features a trail, benches, educational signage and bird boxesand is regularly maintained by volunteers. “The preserve is becoming really lovely,” she says, “and it’s full of birds!” As someone who walks and runs along this section of Stockton Parkway, along with dozens of community members a day, its calming, natural wetlands, creek and minipark areas help center me.

In addition to her work with the Friends, Betsy is a certified Fairfax Master Naturalist and serves on the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance as co-director of the Wildlife Sanctuary Program. Whether she’s pulling invasive weeds, planting natives or tending to her own garden, Betsy’s dedication continues to inspire all of us to make a difference. Thank you, Betsy, for helping make the Mount Vernon District a greener and cleaner place for us all.”

Cover photo: Potomac River Wetland – Jerry Nissley

River Farm – Spring Garden Market

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American Horticultural Society (AHS) HQ at River Farm
Spring Garden Market – American Horticultural Society

Grab a rocker and take in the back porch view – photo Jerry Nissley

In 2024 AHS contacted VMN – Fairfax Chapter (FMN) specifically to help rebuild the nest boxes along their bluebird trail. FMN Susan Farmer became the liaison for this and other activities on location. She organized a team of stalwart FMN volunteers to help River Farm rebuild their bluebird box trail. Eight new boxes replaced ten sad old boxes, which were then salvaged for parts. She organized trail monitoring training and managed the seasonal monitoring schedule. The monitors observed/reported 11 eggs. Eleven volunteers reported 90+ hours in 2024 to River Farm opportunities.

Combined FMN and NVBS table – photo Jerry Nissley

In 2025, River Farm asked FMN to continue trail support, which started in March. FMN was also invited to set up a chapter table and participate with approximately 35 vendors and organizations at their annual showcase event, “River Farm Spring Garden Market” April. We were able to provide information on VMN, the bluebird trail, and Northern Virginia Bluebird Society (NVBS) in general. We emphasized the importance of native plant habitat, and enlightened the community to VMN’s mission of conservation of natural resources in Virginia, Fairfax County, and the Potomac River.

The weather could have been better but we were honored to be part of River

Walkway from house to outdoor vendor area. Photo Jerry Nissley

Farm’s showcase spring event – and the grounds were spectacular with seasonal blooms. It was encouraging to see the plant vendors offer only organic starter vegetables, Virginia native flowers, shrubs, and trees. In addition, several artisans were on site selling crafts, nature photography,  soaps, and even a mystery writer with his new novel of intrigue in Old Town Alexandria.

FMN and others will be meeting at River Farm to include species found in the new AHS native garden for The City Nature Challenge on Friday, April 25th at 10:30 followed by a picnic lunch. Contact Susan Farmer (susanfarmer6365@gmail.com) for more information. All are welcome!

Thank you to the following FMNs for their continued contributions at River Farm:
Susan Farmer, Donna Stauffer, Sarah Glassco, John Fagan, Monica Hoffman, Rachel Roll, Amanda Kay, Elaine Kolish, and Jerry Nissley.

A Different Kind of Success Story – Mother Nature Takes Center Stage at Huntley Meadows Park

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Photo: By Ron Grimes, Northern Shoveler March 2025

Narrative by Mary Ann Bush / Photos are credited below the image.

Success stories can be about a person, a community, a project, or even an event.  These stories may leave us feeling inspired, motivated, impressed, or even lucky! 

This success story is about the amazing Huntley Meadows Park and its extraordinary wildlife, some permanent and some just visiting.  Huntley Meadows Park, the largest park operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is home to many birds, amphibians, and reptiles. 

This story starts with the wonderful group of students in the Spring FMN Basic Training class. These students were attending their March 29th field trip to Huntley Meadows Park. This park is a uniquely suitable site for the students to explore and observe the concepts presented in the Ornithology and Herpetology classroom sessions. FMN Instructors and field trip leaders, Ron Grimes – Ornithology, and Alonso Abugattas – Herpetology, are widely respected and experienced naturalists, who coordinated and guided the students through the day’s exploration and observation activities. They are very accomplished and skillful guides who can take classroom curriculum to the field in a way that is tangible, relatable, and at times, exciting.

Huntley Meadows did not disappoint the students.  The park’s majestic forests, wildflower meadows and vast wetlands provided the students with some very memorable experiences. Instructor, Ron Grimes, and student, John Eppler, have graciously shared photographs of their observations.      

The real stars of day: Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Hooded Mergansers, Northern Shoveler Muskrat, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Spotted Turtle, Southern Leopard Frog, Tree Swallows, Bald Eagle, Rusty Blackbirds, Eastern Bluebird, Common Ribbon snake, American Bullfrog, Swamp Sparrow, and Cope’s Gray Treefrog.

By Ron Grimes, Northern Shoveler March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Spotted Turtle March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Muskrat March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Tufted Titmouse, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, White-breasted Nuthatch March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Red-winged Blackbird March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Southern Leopard Frog March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Hooded Mergansers March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Great Blue Heron March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Eastern Bluebird, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, American Bullfrog, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Copes Tree Frog, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Tree Swallows, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Swamp Sparrow “Scout” , March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Rusty Blackbirds, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Common Ribbon snake, March 2025

 

By Ron Grimes, Bald Eagle, March 2025

 

By John Eppler,Hooded Merganaser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Male, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia

 

By John Eppler, Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia.

 

By John Eppler, Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia.

 

A BFF to the ‘Friends of Trees’

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The Fairfax County Tree Commission’s “Friends of Trees Awards” are awarded annually to recognize exceptional and innovative conservation-based tree activities in Fairfax County and the people behind them.
FMN Maryam Dadkhah, received the 2024 award in the ‘Individual’ category for providing extraordinary unpaid leadership in conceiving and implementing various tree-related projects throughout the year.

FMN Maryam Dadkhah – photo courtesy C. Wolter

She first volunteered as a Fairfax Master Naturalist in 2022. The award announcement mentions that Maryam has worked as a community leader to educate the public and local agencies about native trees and plants since 2021.

Highlights from her array of 2024 stewardship activities include:
* volunteer Project Manager for Fairfax ReLeaf
* volunteered with the Town of Vienna’s Parks superintendent to improve area parks through native tree and shrub seedling planting and protection
* partnered with Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and

Maryam’s rain barrels – photo William Mayhew

Fairfax Releaf to plant 337+ native trees and shrubs in the Vienna public parks of Wildwood, Glyndon, and Southside
* served her third year as a group leader from Navy Federal, instructing employee volunteers on invasive removal and native tree and shrub planting
* worked with Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Areas Program to cage active tree seedlings in Middleridge and Woodglen Lake Parks
* Encouraged and educated local friends and family to plant and maintain native areas on their personal property in an organized, tidy, compliant manner – planting 146 trees and shrubs in county neighborhoods including her own.

Maryam also engages in “passive” education with a highly visible little book and seed library on her property. Anyone walking by can peruse or borrow

Maryam’s Little Seed and Book Library – photo William Mayhew

books describing native plants and their benefits. Small drawers hold a collection of free seed packets. She also makes native plant magnets for this unique neighborhood library. From one seed packet for one person, to hundreds of trees planted by family, friends or volunteers, Maryam makes it happen.

 

Acknowledgements:

– Fairfax County Tree Commission – content and photo
– FMN Sarah Mayhew and William Mayhew – content and photos

– FMN Janet Quinn – research

– FMN Jerry Nissley – cover photo

 

Dreaming of Forests

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Photo: Induction Ceremony, FMN Janet Quinn*

Article by FMN Stacey Remick

It is possible to save and celebrate forests.  I know it does not seem possible when you see so many tracts of beautiful trees destroyed for roads and further development.  I am here to tell you that you can dream big and bring your local forests, parks and private lands into a network of recognized Community and Old Growth Forests.

St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church dreamed big this year.  In 2019, we were awarded what is now the Wildlife Sanctuary designation through the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, in part because of our native gardens.  We continued our congregational work in setting the cultural and infrastructural foundations of sustainability and Earth care practices.  So, in May of this year, I proposed to the church governing board that I submit a petition for our Sanctuary Forest to be considered for inclusion into the Old Growth Forest Network.

Photo: Forest at dawn, FMN Stacey Remick

Our property sits in a Resource Protection Area (RPA) as part of the Virginia Commonwealth’s Chesapeake Bay Ordinance.  Being designated as an Old Growth Forest would be a confirmation of this protected status — more than this, a public statement of our commitment to the continued practices of stewardship of this mature forest that it will become an old-growth forest.  Our unique placement in a zone of resource protection is permanent and would have stood whether or not we submitted for this designation.  We wanted to make public our commitment and responsibility.

We have two retaining ponds and the forest itself is a riparian buffer that contributes to the protection of both the Occoquan and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.  The forest is close to 100 years old and has all the characteristics of a mature forest, which means that it is not fully old-growth yet but it will become old-growth within a decade.  It contains a meditation trail of about .2 miles and is used by not just our congregation but our surrounding community.

I began the process by contacting the Old Growth Forest Network with a basic description of our forest as well as pictures and video of it over the last year.  We worked with

Photo: Meditation trail, FMN Stacey Remick

Brian Kane to go over the key critical criteria for the designation.  Once I had done the required research, the final documentation was submitted.  We signed a Memorandum of Understanding which outlined our responsibilities and then began planning for a September 14, 2024 induction ceremony.

As of September 14th, we are listed on the national Old Growth Forest Community Forests website, have been invited to speak at webinars and will soon be featured in the international Episcopal E-Communique Living Church.  Other congregations are looking to us as an example of what is possible to hope for and aspire to.  One result is that the Virginia Master Naturalists (VMN) program got a boost when Virginia Senator Stella Pekarsky and Virginia Delegate Dan Hellman learned about the Virginia Master Naturalists active in our congregation.  They had never heard of VMN, much less the Fairfax Chapter, before coming to the ceremony.

If you are a private landowner, know of a park where there is a mature forest or you live in a community that has such a forested space, do not give up hope.  Consider talking with the Old Growth Forest Network.  No matter how large or small a forest, such a designation moves us closer to saving more of our precious forest ecosystems.

Please feel free to visit St. Peter’s in the Woods (https://www.stpetersinthewoods.org) anytime during the year.  For more information about the Old Growth Forest Network (https://www.oldgrowthforest.net) contact Brian Kane.  If you would like to join me for a walk in our forest or a retreat, please contact me at sremicks@gmail.com.

* Pictured in feature photo:

Furthest left – Christopher Topoleski, Executive Director, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS)
Front row to the right of Christopher Topoleski
Andreana Jinju Lin, Communications and Outreach Manager (FACS)
Stacey Remick, author
Brian Kane, Old Growth Forest Network
Rev. Susan Hartzell, St. Peter’s in the Woods

Back row left to right
Fatima Malik, representing Congressman Gerry Connolly
Virginia State Senator Stella Pekarsky
Virginia State Delegate Dan Helmer
Kristine Montamat, Chair, Diocese of Virginia Creation Care Committee.