Jerry Nissley

Tidy our Shores and Trails, September 26th

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Photo credit: Jerry Nissley

Sept. 26, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Rd.
Lorton, VA 22079

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Please bring water, dress for the weather, and expect to get wet and a little dirty. All supplies (gloves and bags) will be provided by the park.

Additional details can be found on the Virginia State Parks website.

 

Fall Kayak Clean Up, September 20th

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Photo: Courtesy of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

September 20, 2026
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Registration and additional information click here.

Porto Vecchio Condominiums
1250 S Washington St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Help Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Potomac Conservancy clean up the Hunting Creek watershed adjacent to Interstate 495! The trash and debris that pile in from the Potomac River and Cameron Run harms the environment and hinders outdoor activity around the area. Organizers hope you’ll jump in a single or double kayak and join them for the annual cleanup.

Please fill out one registration form for each participant. If the participant is under the age of 16, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the event and in a kayak. Please have their parent or guardian fill out their waiver at the cleanup.

Please let organizers know if you are no longer available to make the event so they can open a spot from the waitlist. They have a limited amount of boats.  Once they fill that capacity they will be placing registrants on the waitlist. If you need a boat and register after all the boats have been filled, they will contact you to notify you that you have been placed on the waitlist and will be in touch if a spot opens up.

All participants must complete waivers at the event! Reach out to Amelia Wilt at awilt@nvct.org with any questions.

Funding for this clean-up is provided by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Soldiers to Scientists – First Activity

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Hello FMN volunteers – nature sojourners, citizen scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature journalists.

FMN recently added Soldiers to Scientists as a chapter partner and created two activity codes to record support hours for relevant projects (E170: Soldiers to Scientists Educational Projects and S170: Soldiers to Scientists Service Activities, under Community Outreach).

Nature Journal example

Through SciStarter ,  S2S recently connected with Metropolitan Washington MENSA and they would like to hold a bioblitz at Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria on Saturday, September 26th (roughly 8:30 – 12:00). After exploring the park in small groups with VMN support (both ARMN and FMN volunteers), S2S would like to conclude with reflections and nature journaling. Dora Kelly Nature Park runs along Holmes Run Stream Valley adjacent to the Buddie Ford Nature Center.

S2S created a SignUp Genius soliciting 12 volunteers interested in education and outreach, nature journaling, and working with a youth audience, and/or citizen science contributions to iNaturalist.

Please join together with S2S, SciStarter, VMN, and MENSA on this uniquely cooperative project.

ARMN Project Lead – Terri McPalmer terrimcpalmer@gmail.com
ARMN Chapter Contact – Laura Gilmore 240-205-1355 lauritagilm@gmail.com

FMN Chapter Contacts – Jerry Nissley jerry14niss@gmail.com  // John Goodin johntgoodin@gmail.com

 

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