Hello, VMNs. In the aftermath of Helene, our thoughts are with all of those who are now in a state of recovery. There are many opportunities in every community to donate to this effort in multiple ways. If you’d like to help, in whatever capacity, remember that it is best to go through official channels. We have some tips below. As always, you can find the VMN Bi-weekly emails on our website.
This email includes:
Helene Update
Several of our VMN chapters are in communities dealing with significant flooding and storm damage in the wake of Helene. We are thinking of all of you and hope that you and your families are managing okay.
From a natural resource perspective, please be aware that many places where VMNs volunteer and recreate are closed (for example, the Channels Natural Area Preserve, many State Parks, and certain trails in Shenandoah National Park.) Be sure to check with the appropriate authorities on conditions before you visit, and also check road closures. While some locations have asked people to stay away for safety reasons, some locations have specific calls out for volunteer assistance. For example, the High Knob Chapter is organizing volunteers to clean up the trails that they maintain in advance of the Cloudsplitter ultra race. Volunteers in the area who want to help should contact High Knob Chapter President, Elizabeth Cooperstein, [email protected].
VMN Virtual Conference Recap
Hundreds of VMN volunteers tuned in to our virtual conference at some point last weekend! We enjoyed connecting with you and getting to share a lot of great natural resource information. We have a lot of thank yous we want to share publicly. Our gratitude goes out to:
VMN Snapshot
To help communicate and celebrate all that our VMN volunteers are accomplishing, we share occasional summaries of VMN volunteer service. Here are some statistics for July 1-September 30, 2024.
A Few Impact Highlights:
“Taught 2nd grade classes about monarch caterpillars and showed them caterpillars on the milkweed in the new pollinator garden. Children were able to see real monarch caterpillars eating leaves of their host plant. They also learned about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and its host plants.”
“I helped educate ~15 people on Zoom and about ~25 life long learners in the room about beginning animal tracking skills. Many people thanked me and provided positive feedback :)”
“Collected with a group of 10 others trash and debris from Martinsville's largest park, and reported it to Virginia Clean Waterways project via the Clean Swell app”
“Removal of invasive rose bushes to allow for native oak tree regeneration at Conway Robinson State Forest.”
“The ferns we planted will help stop any runoff into the stream down below, I feel the work today went a long way to protect that resource”
“Participants were astonished at the different kinds of butterflies found in Northern Virginia and watched in amazement at Luna Moths hatching out into their adult form during the event. They also learned the importance of ‘leaving the leaves’.”
Way to go, VMN volunteers! Keep up the volunteering, and remember to report it (preferably as you do it, or at least monthly)!
Continuing Education Opportunities
Fall Forestry and Wildlife Tours
Registrations are still being accepted for several of the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program’s Fall Forestry and Wildlife Tours (October 11, 24, and 25.) These are great field-based events where you can see different land management practices in action. See https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/landownerprograms/field-tours.html for locations, and registration information.
October VMN CE Webinar - Save the Date
Our next VMN Continuing Education Webinar will be Tuesday, October 29, 12:00 pm. The presentation will describe current research from Virginia Tech scientists that explores the connection between bird feeding and human emotions. We’ll have the link to join and more information in our next bi-weekly and on the VMN website.
Volunteer Opportunities
Clifton Institute Native Seed Collection Project
Some VMN volunteers participated in this project in 2023. It is continuing in 2024, but the species list has changed and there is a new project contact, Andrew Eberly, [email protected]. Please see https://cliftoninstitute.org/restoration/virginia-native-seed-pilot-project/ for more information. Michelle will send updated project information to chapter project/service chairs this week.
Earth Science Week
October 13-19 is Earth Science Week, and the Virginia Department of Energy invites VMN volunteers to participate by organizing an event, perhaps using the Earth Science Week educational materials that are freely available. Please see this letter from our State Geologist, Matt Heller.
This email includes:
- Helene Update
- VMN Virtual Conference Recap
- VMN Snapshot
- Continuing Education Opportunities
- Volunteer Opportunities
Helene Update
Several of our VMN chapters are in communities dealing with significant flooding and storm damage in the wake of Helene. We are thinking of all of you and hope that you and your families are managing okay.
From a natural resource perspective, please be aware that many places where VMNs volunteer and recreate are closed (for example, the Channels Natural Area Preserve, many State Parks, and certain trails in Shenandoah National Park.) Be sure to check with the appropriate authorities on conditions before you visit, and also check road closures. While some locations have asked people to stay away for safety reasons, some locations have specific calls out for volunteer assistance. For example, the High Knob Chapter is organizing volunteers to clean up the trails that they maintain in advance of the Cloudsplitter ultra race. Volunteers in the area who want to help should contact High Knob Chapter President, Elizabeth Cooperstein, [email protected].
VMN Virtual Conference Recap
Hundreds of VMN volunteers tuned in to our virtual conference at some point last weekend! We enjoyed connecting with you and getting to share a lot of great natural resource information. We have a lot of thank yous we want to share publicly. Our gratitude goes out to:
- The 12 keynote and concurrent session presenters, all of whom provided excellent sessions.
- The 10 VMN Educators Bureau volunteers who gave flash talks. Your session was a major highlight of the weekend!
- The 10 additional volunteers who served as session hosts and technical support. We couldn’t have done it without you! A special shout out to Joy Green, a Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist who provided a lot of assistance beforehand and throughout the weekend.
- The 84 individuals who purchased “Helping Hand” tickets, voluntarily paying more in order to subsidize discounted registration for those with financial barriers.
VMN Snapshot
To help communicate and celebrate all that our VMN volunteers are accomplishing, we share occasional summaries of VMN volunteer service. Here are some statistics for July 1-September 30, 2024.
- Volunteers who have reported service for Jan-Jun 2024: 1,880 volunteers (approximately 54% of all currently enrolled volunteers)
- Total service hours reported: 41,228 hours
- Service Hours by Type:
- Education/outreach - 10,403 hours
- Citizen science - 12,310 hours
- Stewardship - 11,529 hours
- Chapter leadership/administration - 6,986 hours
- Direct educational contacts reported: 113,474 contacts
- Continuing education hours reported: 4,697 hours
A Few Impact Highlights:
“Taught 2nd grade classes about monarch caterpillars and showed them caterpillars on the milkweed in the new pollinator garden. Children were able to see real monarch caterpillars eating leaves of their host plant. They also learned about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and its host plants.”
“I helped educate ~15 people on Zoom and about ~25 life long learners in the room about beginning animal tracking skills. Many people thanked me and provided positive feedback :)”
“Collected with a group of 10 others trash and debris from Martinsville's largest park, and reported it to Virginia Clean Waterways project via the Clean Swell app”
“Removal of invasive rose bushes to allow for native oak tree regeneration at Conway Robinson State Forest.”
“The ferns we planted will help stop any runoff into the stream down below, I feel the work today went a long way to protect that resource”
“Participants were astonished at the different kinds of butterflies found in Northern Virginia and watched in amazement at Luna Moths hatching out into their adult form during the event. They also learned the importance of ‘leaving the leaves’.”
Way to go, VMN volunteers! Keep up the volunteering, and remember to report it (preferably as you do it, or at least monthly)!
Continuing Education Opportunities
Fall Forestry and Wildlife Tours
Registrations are still being accepted for several of the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program’s Fall Forestry and Wildlife Tours (October 11, 24, and 25.) These are great field-based events where you can see different land management practices in action. See https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/landownerprograms/field-tours.html for locations, and registration information.
October VMN CE Webinar - Save the Date
Our next VMN Continuing Education Webinar will be Tuesday, October 29, 12:00 pm. The presentation will describe current research from Virginia Tech scientists that explores the connection between bird feeding and human emotions. We’ll have the link to join and more information in our next bi-weekly and on the VMN website.
Volunteer Opportunities
Clifton Institute Native Seed Collection Project
Some VMN volunteers participated in this project in 2023. It is continuing in 2024, but the species list has changed and there is a new project contact, Andrew Eberly, [email protected]. Please see https://cliftoninstitute.org/restoration/virginia-native-seed-pilot-project/ for more information. Michelle will send updated project information to chapter project/service chairs this week.
Earth Science Week
October 13-19 is Earth Science Week, and the Virginia Department of Energy invites VMN volunteers to participate by organizing an event, perhaps using the Earth Science Week educational materials that are freely available. Please see this letter from our State Geologist, Matt Heller.
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