2008 annual report natural resources. dear virginia master ... · special events. in addition,...
TRANSCRIPT
I’vehadthepleasurethisyearofwatchingourfledglingprogrammature,andithasbeenamazingtoseeandhearaboutalloftheaccomplishmentsofourvolunteers.BecauseofVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteers,morekidsareoutdoorslearningaboutnature...andmoreadultstoo!Thousandsofacresoflandhavebeenimprovedthroughriparianplantings,wildlifehabitatrestorationprojects,andinvasivespeciesmanagementefforts.Intotal,VirginiaMasterNaturalistshavecontributedover$1millioninservicetotheCommonwealth.That’sanimpressivemilestoneforaprogramthatisonly3yearsold.
Iwasespeciallydelightedtogiveouttwochapterawardslastyeartoourtwochapterswiththestrongestvolunteeringrecords:theHistoricRiversChapter,locatedintheWilliamsburgarea,andtheBeagleRidgeChapterintheWythevillearea.Really,allofourchaptersaredoingafantasticjobrecruitingandretainingvolunteers,developingpartnerships,matchingvolunteerstoserviceopportunities,andhelpingourprogramtoberecognizedacrossVirginiaandbeyond.Thankyoutoallofourvolunteers,chapteradvisors,sponsoringagencies,localpartners,andcommitteemembersforallyourhardwork.
Iinviteyoutoreadonthroughthisnewsletter/annualreporttomeetsomeofourvolunteers,learnabouttheimpressiveserviceprojectscompletedbyMasterNaturalistsacrossthestate,anddiscoversomeofourotherprogramaccomplishmentsin2008.
Sincerely,
MichellePrysby
VirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramCoordinator
VirginiaTechDepartmentofForestry/VirginiaCooperativeExtension
Overview
Statistics
Service
Spotlightonavolunteer
Milestoneachievers
Otheraccom-plishments
Invasives
Chapters
Websites
Contactinfo
What’s Inside?
DearVirginiaMasterNaturalistsupporters,
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments.
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Providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to Virginia’s
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Save the Date!We will hold our Second Annual Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Volunteer Conference and Training in 2009!When: October 30-November 1Where: Leesburg, VAWhat: A full weekend of advanced training opportunities, networking with other Master Naturalists, and, of course, having fun!More details and registration information will be posted on the program Web site.Photo: Master Naturalists enjoy the fall colors during a birding field trip at the 2008 Virgijnia Master Naturalist Statewide Volunteer Conference and Training in Wytheville, VA. Thank you to the anonymous person who posted this lovely photo on our photo-sharing site! (See page 11.)
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TheVirginiaMasterNaturalistProgram:AnOverview
TheVirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramisastatewide
volunteertrainingprogrampositivelyimpactingnaturalresourceeducationandconservationacrossVirginia.Theprogram’smissionistobeacorpsofwell-informedvolunteersprovidingeducation,outreach,andservicededicatedtothebeneficialmanagementofnaturalresourcesandnaturalareaswithintheircommunitiesfortheCommonwealthofVirginia.
Atthestatelevel,theprogramissponsoredjointlybyVirginia
CooperativeExtension,theVirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries,theVirginiaDepartmentofConservationandRecreation,theVirginiaDepartmentofForestry,andtheVirginiaMuseumofNaturalHistory.TheVirginiaTechForestryDepartmentandCollegeofNaturalResourcesprovideadditionalsupport.Localpartnershipsareacornerstoneoftheprogramandincludeotherpublicagencies,aswellasprivateorganizationsinvolvedinconservationandeducation.
Theprogramconsistsofanetworkof25VirginiaMaster
Naturalistchaptersacrossthestate.Eachchapterisresponsibleforrecruitingandtrainingvolunteersandforworkingwithpartnerstocreateandcoordinatevolunteerserviceopportunities.Thetrainingconsistsofaminimumof40hoursclassroomandfieldtimecoveringacoresetofcurriculumobjectives.Theobjectivesfocuson
Dan River Chapter volunteers check out a turtle while out on a field trip. Photo from Dan River Master Naturalists.
ecology,naturalresourcemanagement,basicnaturalhistoryoftheanimalsandplantsofVirginia,andskillsforteachingandfieldresearch.Volunteersalsocomplete8hoursofadvancedtrainingthatprovidesmorespecializedskillsandknowledge.TobecomeaCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalist,eachvolunteermustalsocomplete40hoursofservice.Thisservicecanbeintheformofeducation(suchasleadinganinterpretiveprograminastatepark),citizenscience(suchascollectingdataonwildlifepopulations),orstewardship(suchasrestoringanaturalarea).
ThisprogrambenefitsVirginia’scitizenry,itspubliclands,anditsnaturalresources.The
developmentofadedicatedvolunteercorpsexpandsthecapacityofVirginia’snaturalresourceagencies.Thecooperativenatureoftheprogramprovidesamechanismforstate,local,non-profit,andotherpartnerstoworktogethertowardsthecommongoalsofconservationandeducation.ThevolunteerserviceprovidesapurposefulwayforcitizenstospendtimeoutdoorsandonVirginia’spubliclands.
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Arlington Regional Master Naturalists immerse themselves in learning about aquatic ecology during a canoe trip. Photo from Arlington Master Naturalists.
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Thesedata,providedbythechapters,showhowourvolunteersaremakingadifference.Thesefiguresrepresentaminimum;volunteerhoursandimpactstendtobeunderreported.
2008ProgramStatistics
Number of Basic Training Courses Held 23Number of Volunteers Trained in 2008 390Total Number of Trained Volunteers 910Number of Active Volunteers 636 (70%) Active volunteers are individuals
who reported any volunteer service during the year.
Number of Certified VMNs 315 (35%)Volunteer Hours: Education 7116 E.g. Interpretive programs,
classroom presentations, and development of interpretive materials.
Number of People Directly Reached Through Education Programs
18,849
Number of presentations given by VMN volunteers
415
Volunteer Hours: Citizen Science 6155 E.g. Water quality monitoring, Wildlife Mapping, and other monitoring and inventory studies.
Volunteer Hours: Stewardship 5254 E.g. Trail building and mainte-nance, invasive plant removal, and habitat restoration.
Number of acres positively impacted 2562Number of miles of trails built/maintained 222Total Project Hours: 18,770Monetary Value of Volunteer Project Hours:
$376,907 Based on the Independent Sector’s report for VA.
Volunteer Hours: Administration 12,064 These hours reflect the tremendous amount of work completed by local leaders to start new chapters. Established chapters report spending less time on administration and more on projects.
Total Volunteer Hours for 2008 30,834Monetary Value of total volunteer hours $619,146 Based on the Independent Sector’s
report for VA.
Total Volunteer Hours 2006-2008 49,877Monetary Value of total volunteer hours 2006-2008
$1,001,535 Based on the Independing Sector’s report for VA.
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2008SponsoringAgencyVolunteerProjectHighlights
VirginiaMasterNaturalistsareclearlymakingadifferencewiththeirvolunteerservice.In2008,theycontributedmorethan18,000hoursofserviceoneducation,citizenscience,
andstewardshipprojectstobenefitVirginia’snaturalresources.Mostofourchaptershaveadozenormoreongoingprojects.Someofthemostnoteworthyprojectsarehighlightedbelow. VirginiaDepartmentof
ConservationandRecreation: VMNvolunteersconductededucation,citizenscience,andstewardshipprojectsatmanystateparksin2008,includingBearCreekLake,BelleIsle,Douthat,HungryMother,Kiptopeke,MasonNeck,NewRiverTrail,SmithMountainLake,Westmoreland,andYorkRiver.TheywerealsoactiveatseveralDCRNaturalAreaPreserves.Projectsintheparksandpreservesincludedtrailmaintenance,plantsurveys,birdmonitoring,andinterpretiveprogramsforyouth.
EasternShoreChapter
membersformedvolunteer
stewardship committees for three DCR Natural Area Preserves.Theyhavedevelopedfactsheets,monitored
waterlevels,maintainedspecieslists,servedaspubliccontacts,andassistedwithspecialevents
andsupervisionofothervolunteers.“Theassistanceprovidedbythevolunteerstewardship
committeesisessentialtotheeffectivestewardshipoftheEasternShoreNatural
AreaPreserves,”saysDotField,DCRNaturalAreaSteward.
VirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries: MasterNaturalistsDGIFprojectsin2008included
stewardshipprojectsatWildlifeManagementAreas,writingarticlesfortheOutdoorReporte-newsletter,wildlifeandhabitateducationprograms,assistingwithCanadagoosebandingandMuteSwanmonitoring,assistingwithmonitoringoffreshwatermusselpopulations,andwildlifehabitatrestorationprojects.
MostofourMaster
Naturalistchaptersareengagedincollectingdata
fortheWildlifeMapping program,andvolunteers
contributedhundredsofhourstothisprojectin
2008.
VirginiaCooperativeExtension: Morethanonethirdofthe
totalVMNvolunteerprojecthourswenttowardseducatingothersaboutnaturalresources,contributinggreatlytotheCooperativeExtensionmission.Infact,VMNvolunteersreachedmorethan18,800peoplethroughtheireducationprojects.Forexample,in2008,VMNvolunteersledseveralJuniorNaturalist4Hclubs,staffedboothsatcountyfairs,conductedMeaningfulWatershedEducationExperiencesforstudents,assistedwith4Hcamps,andconductedhabitatprogramsforlandowners.
T h eBlue Ridge Foothills
and Lakes Chapter helped to
develop an outdoor classroom for the Skelton 4-H Center on Smith
Mountain Lake. This small, intimate outdoorclassroom gives the students additional exposure
to the outdoors, allowing the outdoor educationfacilitatorstobebetterabletoteachkeyconceptsofenvironmental conservation. Since being built, theoutdoorclassroomhasservedasanoutdoorlearning
area for several core curriculum areas: forestecology,wildlifeecology,andoutdoorsurvival
skills. 4-H Center instructors find thisoutdoorclassroomverybeneficialto
thesuccessoftheirlessons.
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2008SponsoringAgencyVolunteerProjectHighlights
VirginiaMuseumofNaturalHistory:SouthwesternPiedmontChapter
memberscontributed75hoursandreachedmorethan1600peoplewitheducationalprogramsforVirginiaNaturalHistoryMuseumvisitorsandspecialevents.Inaddition,MasterNaturalistsarevolunteeringinthepaleontologyandarchaeologylabs,cleaningartifactsanddoingotherthingstohelpmanagethecollections.
TheSWPiedmontChapter
ispartneringwiththemuseum
onalong-term biological inventory of Frank Wilson Park,a
Martinsvillecityparkneighboringthemuseum.Thegoalofthisprojectistoidentifythefloraand
faunatheparkinordertogenerateafieldguide.Thevolunteershavecreatedatreemeasurementandidentificationprotocoltousewithnewvolunteersandschoolgroups.Volunteershavealsocreated
awebsiteblogforthisprojectathttp://wilsonparktreesurvey.blogspot.com/.
VirginiaDepartmentofForestry:MasterNaturalistprojectswithDOFin2008includedtreeplanting,
seed/acorncollecting,andriparianbufferplanting.OnechapterisassistingtheDOFinadeerexclosurestudytodeterminetheeffectsofandeducatepeopleaboutdeerbrowsinginFairfaxCountyparks.AnotherchapterispartneringwiththeDOFonaforestmanagementdemonstrationplot,onwhichtheyhaveinventoriedexistingtrees,controlledweeds,andplantedadditionaltrees.
TheNorthernNeck
Chapterishelpingto
buildnew trails in the only state forestinthat
region.Thetrailswillprovideaccesstobothforestersandthegeneralpublicforeducational
andrecreationalpurposes.Manyuncommonfloraareknowntogrowintheseforestsbut
havebeeninaccessiblebytrailuntilnow.
Beagle Ridge Chapter members help educate the public about wildlife habitats at a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries booth. Photo from Beagle Ridge Master Naturalists.
BeagleRidgeMasterNaturalistsshowothersademonstrationraingardentheybuiltwithstudentsataWytheCountyelementaryschool.
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TheCentralPiedmontChapterheldanativegrasslandresto-
rationworkshopforlandowners,showinglandownersfrom4coun-tieshownativewarmseasongrass-escanbeusedtoreplacefescuetoprovidebetterwildlifehabitat.
RiverineChaptervolunteerspartneredwiththeRichmond
AudubonSocietyon30outdoorprogramsdesignedtoreachanunderservedpopulationofchildrenwhohavenotbeenexposedtonatureandoutdoorlearning.
TheNewRiverValleyChapterisworkingwiththeUSDA
NationalForestServiceandseveralothercommunitypartnerstodevelop1½acresofbutterflyhabitatnearBlacksburg.
BluebirdTrailsinNelsonCountyfledged140moreEastern
Bluebirdsin2008thanin2007,thankstotheCentralBlueRidge
2008LocalPartnerProjectHighlightsMasterNaturalists,whobuiltorrefurbished99newnestboxesandmonitoredthemthroughoutthesummer.
TheCentralRappahannockChapterpartneredwithFredericksburg’sMott’sRunNatureCenter,
locatedatan860acrenaturalareamanagedforbothrecreationandprotectionofadrinkingwatersource.MasterNaturalistvolunteersstaffthenaturecentertoprovidenaturalhistoryinformationtothepublic.Theyanswerquestionsaboutnature,leadvisitorsthroughinteractivedisplays,andmaintainanaturejournaltotrackthefloraandfaunainthearea.Thevolunteerseducatedmorethan900visitorsin2008andhaveallowedthecentertoservemorepeoplebyprovidingmuchneededweekendstaffing.
TheFairfaxChapterworkedwiththeOaktonHighSchoolEnvironmentalStewardstoplantanative
grassandwildflowergardenattheschool.Studentsandnaturalistsworkedsidebysidetodesignandcreatethegarden.Thesiteisflourishingandhasbecomeapopularplaceforbluebirdstofeed.
OldRagMasterNaturalistsareworkingwiththeSmithsonianInstitutiontomonitorbutterfly
diversityandabundance.VolunteerscountedbutterflyspeciesinsmallplotsfromJulythroughAugust.Thisispartofaregionalbiodiversitystudy.
TheBlueRidgeFoothillsandLakesChapterhas14membersmonitoringwaterqualitywithVirginia
SaveOurStreams.Theycontributedover100hourstotheproject,andledlocalstudentsinwatermonitoringatBookerT.WashingtonNationalMonument.
TidewaterMasterNaturalistsconductededucationalprogramsattheEasternShoreandFisherman
IslandNationalWildlifeRefuges.TheUSFishandWildlifeServiceisshort-handedatbothoftheserefuges,andwithoutthehelpoftheMasterNaturalists,theywouldnotbeabletoofferthesesignificantprogramsdesignedtoteachareayouthabouttheChesapeakeBayecosystem.
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SpotlightonaVolunteer:Our200thCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalist,TerryKoci
Backin2007,TerryKociwasoneofnearly100peoplehopingtobeinthefirstRiverineChapter
MasterNaturalisttrainingclass.Now,Terryhasbecomeour200thCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalistandanactivechaptermember.Aspartofhervolunteerservice,TerrylearnedtorecognizethecallsofthefrogsinherareaandpassedatesttobecomeaVirginiaFrogandToadCallingSurveyvolunteer.TerryalsohelpedwithtrailbuildingatthenewPowhatanLakesWildlifeManagementAreaandpublishestheRiverineChapter’smonthlynewsletter.Whenshe’snotbusywiththoseactivities,TerryworksfortheCentralVirginiaNurseryandLandscapeAssociationandtakescareofahorse,goats,rabbits,hens,andabio-intensivegardenonher4acrepropertyinGoochland.“Sheisawonderfulmemberofourchapterandadedicatedvolunteer.OnethingthatstandsouttomeaboutTerryishowshetriestoinvolveherdaughterinasmanyactivitieswiththechapteraspossible,”saysKathleenOgilvy,Riverinechapteradvisor.
SpotlightonaVolunteer:ALife-ChangingExperienceforSueRaymond
SueRaymondwasafraidofsnakes--reallyafraid.Sheencounteredsnakes,bothvenomousand
non-venomous,onherwoodedpropertyfrequently,andherparalyzingfearhadrisensohighthatshewouldnolongergohikingorevenventureoutinheryardexceptinwinter.“Ijustretiredfromteachingandwantedtobeabletobeoutsideenjoyingnature,thebirds,thefauna,etc.Idecidedtotrythemasternaturalistclasstogetbackintotunewithnatureandalsoimmediatelyrealizedthatthismightbemychancetoconquer(somewhat)myfearofsnakes,”saysSue.ItjustsohappensthatthepresidentofthelocalCentralVirginiaMasterNaturalistChapter,MikeHayslett,isaherpetologistbytraining!“Itreallydidwork,”saysSue.“ItalkedtoMikeandhegavemesomecommonsenseinformationthathashelpedmetogetoutsideandnotfocussomuchonthepossibilityofasnakeencounter--orthedireconsequencesI’malwaysimagining.I’mnotgoingtosayI’m100%cured,butIwasabletogoonallbutonefieldtripwithourclass(IwasinArizonafortheotherhikinginrattlesnakeinfesteddesert!LastyearIcouldn’thaveimaginedthat!).”
OldRagMasterNaturalistJackPricesnappedthispictureofaTimberRattlesnakewhilevisitingOldRagMountain,whereheandotherVMNvolunteersparticipateintheShenandoahNationalParkAdopt-an-Outcropprogram,educatingpeopleaboutandmonitoringsensitiverockyoutcropsinthepark.
TheVirginiaFrogandToadCallingSurveyisacitizenscienceprojectcoodindatedbytheVADepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries.Learnmoreathttp://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/frogsurvey/.PhotofromBansheeReeksMasterNaturalists.
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SomeVirginiaMasterNaturalistsgivemanymorethanthe40
hoursofserviceannuallyrequiredtomaintaincertification,Thisyear,we’vestartedgivingthesesuperstarvolunteerspinstoacknowledgetheirdedicationtotheprogramandtoVirginia’snaturalresources.Theirserviceincludestimespentonnaturalresourceprojectsaswellasadministrativetimedonatedtodevelopingandsupportingthelocalchapters.Thankyousomuchforallthatyoucontribute!These names were compiled from the 2008 annual reports submitted by chapters. If any volunteers believe they should be added to this 2008 list, please contact your chapter’s record keeper.
MilestoneAchievements
250+ Lifetime Hours: Linda Cole, Historic Rivers ChapterPaul Davis, Central Blue Ridge ChapterMary Lee Epps, Rivanna ChapterKarrin Gordon, Riverine ChapterDede Smith, Rivanna ChapterVictoria Keenum, Blue Ridge Foothills & Lakes Chapter Alice Kopinitz, Historic Rivers ChapterSeig Kopinitz, Historic Rivers Chapter Kathleen Ogilvy, Riverine Chapter Pam Owen, Old Rag ChapterRob Payne, Banshee Reeks ChapterJack Price, Old Rag ChapterEllen Reynolds, Beagle Ridge ChapterPatty Riddick, Historic Rivers ChapterDorothy Tompkins, Rivanna/Northern Neck Chapters
500+ Lifetime Hours: Susan Abraham, Banshee Reeks Chapter Shirley Devan, Historic Rivers Chapter Emily Gianfortoni, Riverine Chapter Nicole Hamilton, Banshee Reeks Chapter Tammie Lowry, Beagle Ridge ChapterFrank McLaughlin, Banshee Reeks Chapter Charlotte Rea, Central Blue Ridge ChapterDori Rhodes, Banshee Reeks Chapter Jim Scibek, Central Rappahannock ChapterIda Swenson, Rivanna Chapter
1000+ Lifetime Hours:Kari Abbott, Historic Rivers ChapterSusan Powell, Historic Rivers Chapter
WeheldourfirsteverstatewidevolunteerconferenceinWytheville,Virginia.79MasterNaturalistsattendedtheconference,representing18chapters. Wereceiveda$2000grantfromtheVirginiaResourceUseEducationCouncilandtheVirginiaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualitytoprovidewatershededucationtrainingatourstatewideconference.
Other2008ProgramAccomplishments
WeheldaNewChapterCoordinatorsTrainingattheNewKentForestryCenterandourfournewchaptersarenowfullyonboardwiththeprogram. Our5statesponsoringagenciesapprovedanother3yearsofprogramfunding.
OurWebsitehadnearly20,000visits.
Ourchapterspartneredwithmorethan150localorganizations.
Weachieveda75%rateofre-certificationofourvolunteers.
Invasivespeciesarerecognizednationallyandlocallyasaleadingthreattohealthyecosystems.InVirginia,invasivespeciesdisplacenativeandbeneficialspecies,negativelyimpactnaturalandagriculturalresources,and,accordingtoarecentreportfromVirginia’sDepartmentofConservationandRecreation,
Save the Date! May2,2009willbeastatewideInvasivePlantRemovalDay!Plantogetyourhandsdirtyremovinginvasiveplantsatasite
costanestimated$1billionannually. Witha$2500grantfromtheVirginiaTechCollegeofNaturalResourcestopromoteExtensionpartnerships,AdamDowning(NorthernDistrictForestryandNaturalResourcesExtensionAgent)andMichellePrysby(VirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramCoordinator)launchedthe“ArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers”program.Wetrained74MasterNaturalistvolunteersinfourregionalworkshopsequippingthemtoaddressinvasivespeciesissuesintheircommunities,andfollowedtheworkshopswithanawardsprogramtorecognizevolunteers,bothwithinandoutsideoftheprogram,makingabigdifferenceoninvasivespeciesissuesinthestate(seethenextpageforourawardwinners). Inafollow-upsurveyofworkshopparticipants,76%ofrespondentssaidthat,sincetheworkshops,theyhaveworkedtoeradicateinvasivespeciesontheirownproperties.Inaddition,62%ofrespondentssaidtheyhadworkedtoeradicateinvasivespeciesonanotherproperty,suchasapark.Aboutone
thirdofrespondentshadgivenapresentationaboutinvasives,and86%hadinformallyeducatedafriendorneighboraboutinvasives.Allinall,thesurveyrespondentshadeducatedalmost700peopleaboutinvasivesandimprovedmorethan260acresoflandthroughtheiron-the-groundefforts. Asjustoneexampleofthegreatprojectsthesevolunteershavedone,aMasterNaturalistteam(JimandDenisePilversackandJimandBonnieZinck)inBedfordCountylaunchedaninvasivespeciesremovalcampaignfortheirHomeowner’sAssociation.Theyledaneducationalprogramforotherhomeowners,conductedasurveyfortheinvasiveAilanthustree,andworkedwiththepropertyownerstoremove50Ailanthustreesintheneighborhood.Overthenextseveralyears,theyplantocontinuethework,educatingmorehomeownersandeventuallycontrollingAilanthusthroughoutthe100acresubdivision.
nearyou.Tofindaprojectthatneedsvolunteers,ortoregisteryourownproject,visithttp://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/invasives/index.html
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ArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers
VolunteersinBedfordCountyareworkingwithhomeownerstoeliminatetree-of-heavenintheirsubdivisionusingthe“hackandsquirt”method.Photo from Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter.
Wehadmanysubmissionsforourawardsprogram,andwewerepleasedtoacknowledgethefollowingawardrecipients.
TeamWinnersWalnutRunSubdivisionProject
Seeaboveforadescriptionofthisproject,ledbyBlueRidgeFoothillsandLakesMasterNaturalistsJimPilversack,DenisePilversack,JimZinck,andBonnieZinck.
InvasiveManagementAreaVolunteerSiteLeaders
These50volunteerscoordinateinvasivespeciesremovaleffortsat40sitesinFairfaxCountyparks.Alongwithmanagingover2000othervolunteers,theyeducatedthepublicthroughcommunityeventsandnewsletterarticles.
TeamHonorableMentionsFallsRidgePreserveProject
13NewRiverValleyMasterNaturalistvolunteersadopteda10-acreplotinthisNatureConservancypreserve,visitedit12timesandspentalmost400hoursoverthesummerandfallcontrollingAilanthus,autumnolive,andbushhoneysuckle.
BansheeReeksWeedBattalion:
TheseMasterNaturalistsmappedinvasivesona500acrenaturepreserve,removedinvasiveplantsatthesite,andcreatedaneducationalbrochureforthepublic.
IndividualWinnersHelenHamilton ThisMasterGardenervolunteerhaseducatedhundredsofpeopleinthe
Williamsburgareaaboutinvasivesandconductsoutdoorprogramstoteachpeopleaboutusingnativeplantsinsteadofexotics.
SteveYoung ThisvolunteeratLongBranchNatureCenterinArlingtonleadsinvasiveremovaleffortsatthecenterandotherlocationsandmaintainsablogsitegearedateducatingpeopleaboutexoticinvasives.
JimBallard ThisprivatelandownerincorporatedinvasivespeciescontrolintohismanagementplanforhisConwayRiverTimberFarm.Hehasspent200hourscontrollinginvasives,includinggarlicmustardandAilanthus,ontheproperty.
IndividualHonorableMentionsEdwardA.Munns,Jr.
ThisMasterGardenervolunteerconductseducationalprogramsaboutinvasivespeciesontheNorthernNeck.
LindaGuinn ThisPrinceWilliamMasterGardenerdevelopededucationalmaterialsaboutinvasivesandtaughtcommunityclassesonthetopic.
RobinWilliams ThisOldRagMasterNaturalistvolunteerhasbeenveryactiveininvasivecontroleffortsinShenandoahNationalPark,helpingwithon-the-groundeffortsandwithmanagingothervolunteers.
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AwardWinnersforArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers
1. Banshee Reeks Chapter2. Central Rappahannock Chapter3. Rivanna Chapter4. Riverine Chapter5. Historic Rivers Chapter6. Alleghany Highlands Chapter7. Tidewater Chapter8. Central Virginia Chapter9. New River Valley Chapter10. Beagle Ridge Chapter11. Fairfax Chapter12. Daughter of the Stars Chapter13. Old Rag Chapter
14. Northern Neck Chapter15. Eastern Shore Chapter16. Central Blue Ridge Chapter17. Central Piedmont Chapter18. Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter19. Southwestern Piedmont Chapter20. Holston Rivers Chapter21. Dan River Chapter22. Arlington Regional Chapter23. Merrimac Farm Chapter24. Pocahontas Chapter25. Peninsula Chapter
For contact information and details about our chapters, please visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/chapters.html
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ReachingOutThroughtheWeb
We’reontheWeb,inmorewaysthanone.Weofcoursehaveoursiteatwww.
virginiamasternaturalist.orgasaone-stopspotforinformationabouttheprogram,linkstoour25chapters,anddownloadableprogramdocuments.Inaddition,manyofourchaptershostandmaintaintheirownWebsiteswheretheyhavechapternewsletters,projectlists,eventcalendars,andmore.SomechaptersalsohaveFacebookpagesandYahoo!orGooglegroups.
Infall2008,welaunchedvirginiamasternaturalist.smugmug.com,aphotosharingsitethatallowsour
chapterstopostpicturesoftheiractivities.Anyonecanviewthephotosbyvisitingthatlink,andchaptermemberscanlogonanddownloadphotosforuseinpresentations.Sofaronlyafewchaptershavecontributed,butwehopetoincreasethatnumberin2009.IfyouareaVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteerwhowouldliketocontributedigitalimagesofyourchaptertrainings,volunteerprojects,orsocialevents,
pleasecontactMichellePrysbyfordirections.
Inaddition,we’vejustlaunchedtheVirginiaMasterNaturalist
blog.TheblogismainlygearedtoVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteersandchapterboardsandwillcontainpostsaboutinterestingnaturalresourceeventsinVirginia,naturalhistoryobservations,andtheprogramcoordinator’sobservationsandexperiencesasshevisitschaptersaroundthestate.Theblogcanbefoundatvirginiamasternaturalist.blogspot.com.
DropinandvisitourmainWebsite,chaptersites,photo
sharingsite,orblogsoonandoften!
Steering Committee Michelle Adcock, VCE
Denise Hayes, Volunteer Beth Hawse, VA DCR
Michael Hayslett, Volunteer Ron Hughes, VA DGIF
Jeff Kirwan, VCE Michael Lachance, VCE
Ann Mallek, VMNH Toni Noreika, VA DOFEllen Powell, VA DOF
Ellen Reynolds, VA DCRLou Verner, VA DGIF
Carol Zokaites, VA DCR
Executive Committee Dennis Casey, VMNH Dean Cumbia, VDOF Bob Duncan, VDGIF
Denise Hayes, Volunteer Jeff Kirwan, VCE
Chris Ludwig, VDCRKeith Morgan, VDCR
Jim Riddell, VCE Dave Slack, VDOF
David Whitehurst, VDGIF
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is sponsored joinly by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Additional support is provided by the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry and the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources.
Program Coordinator Michelle Prysby
Virginia Tech Department of Forestry/Virginia Cooperative Extension Mailing Address: 460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-872-4580 E-mail: [email protected]
www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
I was given the opportunity to be a seasonal educator for the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association this summer at 2 campgrounds close by my home in Damascus. It was a sizeable challenge but a good stretch to grow from my basic training. Had I not taken this path of the master naturalist, I never would have had the confidence to do it. --BunnyMedeiros,HolstonRiversMasterNaturalist
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