Hello, VMNs. As we all head outdoors for the summer, don’t forget your sunscreen and insect repellent! When you get a rainy day, curl up with a good book or catch up on the VMN program’s Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
VMN CE Webinar Series: The Ins and Outs of Rain Gardens
Date/Time: May 20, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Registration: Pre-registration required
Description: Rain gardens are probably the most commonly used stormwater management practice in residential landscapes. Join Dr. Laurie Fox, Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech, for an in depth look at how to design, install and maintain a rain garden.
Presenter: Laurie Fox is a Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center (AREC) in Virginia Beach. Her Ph.D. research focused on phytoremediation, or cleaning the environment with plants. Her current work includes stormwater & nutrient management in the landscape, urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) including floating treatment wetlands, aquatic weed ID & management in ponds, sustainable landscapes, sustainable landscape design & practices, native plants, buffer zones, and rain gardens.
As always, the VMN CE Webinar will be recorded and posted to the VMN CE Webinar Series webpage. You do not need to register to access the recording.
Note: Our programming related to urban and community forestry are sponsored by an Urban and Community Forestry grant from the USDA Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please consult your chapter leaders to determine whether these activities are approved and under what category they may be found.
Clean the Bay Day
Saturday, June 1, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual Clean the Bay Day will take place at hundreds of locations across Virginia. See the webpage for a map of locations, signup, and other information. CBF is also seeking volunteers to serve as Zone Captains who will check in volunteers and report data.
https://www.cbf.org/events/clean-the-bay-day/locations-registration.html
Become a Virginia State Parks volunteer!
Did you know that in 2023, VMN volunteers contributed 11,804 hours of stewardship, education, and participatory science at 28 parks of Virginia’s 42 State Parks? Virginia State Parks would love to have more VMN volunteers assisting with their interpretive programs, stewardship projects, and other activities. See the this flyer for more info. By the way, it is fine to count service hours as a VMN volunteer and for the Virginia State Parks volunteer program at the same time! To volunteer, you will need to complete the State Parks volunteer application so that you are in their system.
Being a VMN Volunteer: How To Request a Certification Check (for initial certifications)
We have several hundred new VMN volunteers graduating from basic training this time of year. Congratulations to all of you! We encourage you to make the effort to complete those first 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education to earn the Certified Virginia Master Naturalist title, for which you will be recognized with a certificate and a badge in Better Impact.
The VMN State Office will automatically run a check for all new certifications at the end of June Better Impact badges are added and paper certificates are mailed by the end of July. But! If you think you’ve completed the initial certification requirements and would like to see your badge sooner than that, you can Request a Certification Check. See our Request a Certification Check info sheet for step-by-step directions.
NOTE: This procedure is only for initial/first-time certifications. Recertifications are handled at the end of the year.
This email includes:
- VMN CE Webinar
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Being a VMN - for our newest volunteers
VMN CE Webinar Series: The Ins and Outs of Rain Gardens
Date/Time: May 20, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm
Registration: Pre-registration required
Description: Rain gardens are probably the most commonly used stormwater management practice in residential landscapes. Join Dr. Laurie Fox, Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech, for an in depth look at how to design, install and maintain a rain garden.
Presenter: Laurie Fox is a Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center (AREC) in Virginia Beach. Her Ph.D. research focused on phytoremediation, or cleaning the environment with plants. Her current work includes stormwater & nutrient management in the landscape, urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) including floating treatment wetlands, aquatic weed ID & management in ponds, sustainable landscapes, sustainable landscape design & practices, native plants, buffer zones, and rain gardens.
As always, the VMN CE Webinar will be recorded and posted to the VMN CE Webinar Series webpage. You do not need to register to access the recording.
Note: Our programming related to urban and community forestry are sponsored by an Urban and Community Forestry grant from the USDA Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please consult your chapter leaders to determine whether these activities are approved and under what category they may be found.
Clean the Bay Day
Saturday, June 1, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual Clean the Bay Day will take place at hundreds of locations across Virginia. See the webpage for a map of locations, signup, and other information. CBF is also seeking volunteers to serve as Zone Captains who will check in volunteers and report data.
https://www.cbf.org/events/clean-the-bay-day/locations-registration.html
Become a Virginia State Parks volunteer!
Did you know that in 2023, VMN volunteers contributed 11,804 hours of stewardship, education, and participatory science at 28 parks of Virginia’s 42 State Parks? Virginia State Parks would love to have more VMN volunteers assisting with their interpretive programs, stewardship projects, and other activities. See the this flyer for more info. By the way, it is fine to count service hours as a VMN volunteer and for the Virginia State Parks volunteer program at the same time! To volunteer, you will need to complete the State Parks volunteer application so that you are in their system.
Being a VMN Volunteer: How To Request a Certification Check (for initial certifications)
We have several hundred new VMN volunteers graduating from basic training this time of year. Congratulations to all of you! We encourage you to make the effort to complete those first 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education to earn the Certified Virginia Master Naturalist title, for which you will be recognized with a certificate and a badge in Better Impact.
The VMN State Office will automatically run a check for all new certifications at the end of June Better Impact badges are added and paper certificates are mailed by the end of July. But! If you think you’ve completed the initial certification requirements and would like to see your badge sooner than that, you can Request a Certification Check. See our Request a Certification Check info sheet for step-by-step directions.
NOTE: This procedure is only for initial/first-time certifications. Recertifications are handled at the end of the year.