FMN Milestones – January through June 2026

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As many read in the recent VMN Newsletter, the VMN State Program office recognizes volunteers who complete 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 hours of service. These are cumulative volunteer hours starting when a volunteer joins the program. Volunteers may start recording hours as soon as they are accepted into the program… even while in training.

An FMN cub reporter extracted the names of 14 FMN volunteers who achieved these milestones between January and June 2026. These FMN names are listed below as an extra thank you for service hour to our Chapter.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, VMN logo – photo FMN Jerry Nissley

The list is based on hours recorded in our Better Impact volunteer management system.

250 hours:

Bev Horton, Noel Kaplan, Steve Maceda, Dan Schulke, Andreas Seiter, Darlene Thom

500 hours:

Sylvia Bocskor, Kerry Gilpin, Monica Hoffman, Rob Shapiro, Kristina Watts

1000 hours:

Barbara Heubner, Kat Ochs Dyer, Karen Young

Help Tackle Invasive Plants at the Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve- Dates throughout August and into the Fall

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Photo:  by Ned Stone, Dyke Marsh inlet

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. Volunteers will receive plant identification training for the five or so target plants. Please do not bring your pets. Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants.

Bring gloves, hand clippers and water. Organizers will supply instructions, examples and trash bags. Wear long sleeves and pants and sun protection. There will be some tools to share. Event will be cancelled if lightning or severe storms are anticipated.

Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance bench. If it is raining one hour before a scheduled session, we will cancel it.

Haul Road Trail directions and parking: 

GPS coordinates: 38.777739, -77.050540 South of Alexandria off the GW Memorial Parkway at the sign for Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve and Belle Haven Marina, turn east onto the road toward the Potomac River. Take the first left and park in the Belle Haven Park lot. Walk back to the marina road and turn east, toward the river. Walk 30 yards. On your right is a Dyke Marsh sign and the entrance to the Haul Road trail.

Date(s):

  • July 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • August 8, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • August 22, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • September 5, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • September 19, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 3, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 17, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • October 31, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • November 14, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • November 28, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • December 12, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • December 26, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Calling Citizen Science Volunteers – Urban Heat Island Mapping Project, July 8-24

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Logo: FACS and GM Urban Heat Island Mapping Project

The Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) and GMU are jointly coordinating an Urban Heat Island Mapping project and need citizen science Volunteering support.
This initiative will map temperature variations in the Fairfax County, Arlington, and the City of Alexandria area. Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States and can vary dramatically depending on many factors like tree density.
Citizen scientists will collect data using temperature and humidity sensors along provided routes on “Measurement Day” – which will occur in mid to late July when summer temperatures are historically at their hottest.
Sign up as a driver (need a car), a rider (to monitor the temperature sensor), or as a 2–3-person team to handle both. There are 3 time slots during the day; you can volunteer for all 3 (preferred) or just one, and you can select the area you’d like to monitor. FMN Students can receive service hours and training will be provided.

Volunteer Expectations:

  • Watch the recorded volunteer training before your assigned shift(s).
  • Each team is responsible for picking up a sensor and measurement equipment from a designated pickup location prior to the Measurement Day. Flexible pickup arrangements may be available if needed.
  • Drivers and Riders should coordinate with their team prior to Measurement Day to figure out transportation and logistics. Arrive on time and be prepared to complete your assigned route.
Please click here for Urban Heat Island Mapping Project Volunteer Sign Up and additional details.

Survey: Occoquan Bay NWR Butterfly and Dragonfly, July 3rd

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Photo credit: Ana Ka’ahanui, Halloween pennant dragonfly

Friday, July 3, 2026
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Occoquan Bay NWR
13950 Dawson Beach Road
Woodbridge, VA, 22191

Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out in temperate months (April-October), normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association’s Annual Count.

Note: The usual 8:30 AM start time may be changed to 8:00 AM during hot weather (typically July and August). Check the website for time changes.

The results of these surveys are made available to the participants and other interested individuals and agencies, including the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and agencies of the U.S. Interior Department. The results of the butterfly-dragonfly surveys are summarized, along with the results of the general surveys, in an annual report.

Participation is limited. Email Jim Waggoner at jwagge3093@aol.com to RSVP or for more information.

Additional details can be found on the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance website.

 

 

Survey: Metz Wetlands Butterfly and Dragonfly, July 10th

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Photo credit: Juan Gonzalez

Friday, July 10, 2026
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Metz Wetlands
15875 Neabsco Road
Woodbridge, VA, 22191

Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out in temperate months (April-October), normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association’s Annual Count.

Note: The usual 8:30 AM start time may be changed to 8:00 AM during hot weather (typically July and August). Check the website for time changes.

The results of these surveys are made available to the participants and other interested individuals and agencies, including the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and agencies of the U.S. Interior Department. The results of the butterfly-dragonfly surveys are summarized, along with the results of the general surveys, in an annual report.

Participation is limited. Email Jim Waggoner at jwagge3093@aol.com to RSVP or for more information.

Additional details can be found on the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance website.

 

Help Survey Butterflies and Dragonflies, July 22, August 19, September 23 and October 21

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Photo by Plant NOVA Natives, Mourning Cloak Butterfly,

Please join Friends of Dyke Marsh volunteer team once a month, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and help count butterflies and dragonflies in Dyke Marsh on these dates: July 22, August 19, September 23 and October 21.  Surveyors do not need experience or specialized knowledge.

Meet in the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, sun and insect protection and a snack. Binoculars, camera phone or a camera are helpful.

To help, contact, Laura McDonald at laura.e.mcdonald@icloud.com or 703-909-8232.

Awesome Volunteer Opportunity – The 2026 4-H Fair Needs Exhibit Judges

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Image: Courtesy of Fairfax County and 4-H Organization 2026

July 30th – August 2
2026 Fairfax Co. 4-H Fair & Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park

Thank you for your interest as a judge for the 76th Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Carnival exhibits!

Exhibit Judges play a huge role in our 4-H Fair.  Organizers are looking for individuals willing to share their knowledge and time to give meaningful feedback to exhibitors.

Judges Orientation/Training (choose 1)

*(1 of 2) Thursday, July 23, 2026
6:30pm – 7:30pm via Zoom
Register: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/qRn8TpOkRb6kVRe7Sfrkcw*(2 of 2) Saturday, July 25, 2025
11am – 12pm via Zoom
Register: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/1azNZYmoRBKBuGTgq6I71A 

Judging Night 
Friday, July 31, 2026
6-7pm, dinner (provided) & training refresher
7pm- finished, judging

At Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA 20171

Fairfax Master Naturalists can use volunteer code: E110: FCPA Educational Nature Programs — Fairfax County Park Authority. The code covers the list of topics: educational as well as Science and Tech field.

Additional Information

*2026 Fair Catalog can be found here, https://www.fairfaxcounty4h.com/4-h-activities/fairfax-county-4-h-fair

Your willingness to serve the Fairfax County 4-H community in this way is appreciated!

Kim Kruszewski
Volunteer Management Program Coordinator
Fairfax Co. 4-H Fair Manager
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Fairfax
12011 Government Center Pkwy, 10th floor, Fairfax, VA  22035
kkruszewski@vt.edu | (Office) 703.324.1864

Citizen Science Project – Caterpillars Count!

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Photo credit: Don Coram, Sawfly larvae observed during CaterpillarCounts!

Greetings Master Naturalists and Biodiversity Enthusiasts!

Volunteers for this Cit Science activity can record hours under:  C254: Caterpillars Count! — National Science Foundation

In 2025 several FMN volunteers contributed 85 hours to this code.Please read below for registration details. Volunteers will use INaturalist as the field tool.
Thank you.

You are invited to learn more about the citizen science project Caterpillars Count!, which aims to better understand:
•        insect declines (and hence bird declines)
•        shifts in seasonal insect activity
•        impacts of climate change and urbanization
•        importance of insect-host plant relationships.

Participants conduct surveys on the branches of trees and shrubs to monitor seasonal variation and abundance of arthropods like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders, and to establish critical baseline data for evaluating long term trends. To date, 2,500 participants have conducted 140K surveys across 37 states and provinces in North America.

The project can be easily carried out ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD with woody vegetation, especially:

•        Nature and environmental education centers
•        Parks and botanical gardens
•        School campuses (used at 14 colleges and universities)
•        Private backyards

The Maps and Graphs page allows anyone to fully explore the dataset, and the team has published a variety of  lesson plans and learning activities surrounding both data collection and analysis.

For more details on the project and what hosting a survey site for Caterpillars Count!entails, watch the short video on our project website, and check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.

In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact the team to answer any questions.  You can reach the team by emailing caterpillarscount@gmail.com.

And, please, forward this email along to any friends, colleagues or local groups you think may be interested in monitoring the biodiversity around them.

Best wishes,

Allen Hurlbert
Professor
Department of Biology
University of North Carolina
Director, Caterpillars Count!

FMN’s – Opportunity to Join The Living with Black Bears Team in Fairfax County

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Photo: Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Black Bear and cubs
For those in the FMN Chapter who may be interested in joining the Living with Black Bears Team in Fairfax County, below is information on upcoming training sessions.

DWR is hosting virtual Part 1 and Part 2 Living with Black Bears training for our chapter.  These training sessions are for new or current members interested in the Living with Black Bears project, those members who were unable to attend the original Part 1 and Part 2 Living with Black Bears training sessions, or those Living with Black Bear project members that are looking to refresh their knowledge. The training is broken into two parts.

For Part 1 training, please watch this prerecorded Bear 101 presentation hosted by DWR Region 2 District Wildlife Biologist Sarah Peltier before June 19, 2026.  The video link is https://youtu.be/T4tgRx4kswg.

For Part 2 training, please register for a live virtual Part 2 training with DWR Black Bear Project co-lead Katie Martin using this link https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/244215 . This training will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026. at 6:00 pm. This training will be hosted on the virtual meeting platform, Teams (it’s like Zoom), and you will receive a meeting link via email the morning of the training. The Part 2 training will NOT be recorded.  If you can not attend this Part 2 training, we will offer another virtual Part 2 training in winter 2027, date TBD.

If you have any questions about these trainings, please reach out to Wildlife Education Coordinator, Courtney Hallacher at courtney.hallacher@dwr.virginia.gov.

Fairfax County Park Authority Will Host Wetlands Awareness Day at Huntley Meadows Park on May 3rd

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Photo: by FMN John Eppler, Canada Goose

 

Sunday, May 3, 2026
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Free but registration is requested.

Huntley Meadows Park

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria. For more information, visit the Huntley Meadows Park website or call 703-768-2525.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will host Wetlands Awareness Day on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Huntley Meadows Park from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This free community event celebrates the ecological importance of the county’s premier wetland sanctuary with live animal encounters and educational activities.

Event Highlights
  • Live Wildlife: Up-close encounters with live raptors, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • Guided Exploration: Stroll forested paths and immersive 1/2-mile boardwalk trails to spot local flora and fauna.
  • Interactive Learning: Hands-on exhibits and displays focused on wetland conservation and biodiversity.
  • Registration: Admission is free, though online registration is recommended to secure a spot.
Logistics & Transportation

Due to high attendance, the main parking lot at Lockheed Boulevard often reaches capacity.

  • Free Shuttle Service: Shuttles run every 15 minutes from 
    Groveton Elementary School starting at 11:30 AM.
  • Last Shuttle: The final departure to the park is at 3:30 PM, with the last return shuttle leaving at 4:15 PM.
  • ADA Parking: Pull up to the main park entrance for direction from staff to designated ADA spots.