Hello, VMNs. Happy Tuesday! We have another new section for you this week, so take a look at that. If you want to get out of the wind, you can catch up on other news in the Bi-weekly email.
This email includes:
Better Impact Tidbits
Better Impact is our volunteer management software that all our chapters use for keeping track of volunteers and activities. And, there’s an app for that! For those volunteers who would like to access information about your chapter’s volunteer opportunities and report your hours while on the go, there is a mobile app.
Information on downloading the My Impact app
Information on using the My Impact app
If you prefer the desktop browser version, you can always still use that at MyImpactPage.com.
Volunteer Opportunities
Reminder: Native Seed Pilot Project with Clifton Institute
VMN volunteers with solid plant ID skills are invited to take part in a new service project for this year to collect seed from a selection of targeted native plants. The seeds will be distributed to small farms by Virginia State University to grow plants to support the native plant industry for pollinator habitat restoration projects. Interested volunteers must sign up at this link by May 1. Please see the March 21 bi-weekly email and review the full details before signing up.
Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park
May 13, 2023. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Dorie Stolley with Virginia State Parks shared: Many volunteers needed to help with a full day of live animal shows, hands-on educational opportunities, and outdoor recreation clinics that all aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia and foster stewardship of our environment. See the list of volunteer positions and sign up slots. Please check with your chapter leaders for approval of this activity.
Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar Series: The Cleopatra Project: Poisonous and Venomous Animals in Virginia
As a reminder, you can always find information about the next VMN CE Webinar and the recordings of past webinars on our website.
Date: Monday, May 8, 12:00-1:00 pm
Registration: Pre-registration required
Description: The Cleopatra Project is a multi-chapter Virgina Master Naturalist educational project conducted in partnership with the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the Blue Ridge Poison Center. Ten Virginia Master Naturalists from 5 different VMN chapters produced The Cleopatra Project - Poisonous and Venomous Animals in Virginia with support from 6 peer reviewers and 36 photographers. The publication is an online reference guide to 32 poisonous and venomous animals that live in Virginia.
Written in non-technical language and filled with full color photographs, the publication is intended to be a reference for parents, educators, medical service providers, and the general public. Each of the 32 animal entries--ranging from Ants to Wasps and Bees--includes a description of the animal, its habitat and likely geographic range in Virginia, the source of poison or venom, potential physical symptoms and possible animal "look-alikes." It emphasizes the vital role that poisons and venoms play as these animals gain food, protect themselves from predators, and defend their territory and young. In this webinar we will discuss poison center data reflecting calls and ER visits, the role of poisons and venoms, and a sampling of the animals. Our goal is for readers to learn to live safely and respectfully with these fellow inhabitants of Virginia.
Presenters:
Kathleen Aucoin: Kathleen has been a Virginia Master Naturalist since 2018. She lives in far western Culpeper County on a wooded lot with her husband, chickens, ducks, and a vast array of native Virginia wildlife.
Bonnie Beers: A Virginia Master Naturalist since 2018, Bonnie works with her husband to restore 57 acres in Rappahannock County to native habitat.
Christopher P. Holstege, M.D. is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine. He also directs the Blue Ridge Poison Center and is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
Blue Ridge PRISM 2023 Spring Meeting (ONE DAY NOTICE!)
Title: "All About Callery Pear," with David Coyle
Date: Wednesday, April 19th, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (via Zoom)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/551792214367 . This is a free online webinar. Those who register will have access to the recording.
Description: We hope you can join us for Blue Ridge PRISM's Spring Meeting on Wednesday, April 19th. We will be focusing on the issue of Callery pear and will be joined by Dr. David Coyle, an engaging speaker who will discuss the problematic history of Callery Pear, his research on the species, and some successful (and unsuccessful) management strategies to mitigate its spread, including tree bounties. Dr. Coyle will also answer questions from the audience.
Presenter: Dr. David Coyle teaches about forest health and invasive species in the Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department at Clemson University. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Entomological Society of America, serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Invasive Species Management Association, and is Co-Director of ProForest (an organization working to promote proactive forest pest management). Dr. Coyle has been instrumental in the success of South Carolina's Bradford Pear Bounty program.
Other Opportunities
Virginia State Parks Seeks AmeriCorps Members - Applications due April 30
Virginia State Parks has a unique opportunity that may appeal very much to some VMN volunteers or people you know. They are in search of a few more people to serve either 450 or 675 hours as AmeriCorps members in state parks conducting interpretive programs and completing trail work from May 17 into August or September.
Members attend the spring interpretive workshop held at Pocahontas State Park. Members receive a living stipend (that is equivalent to $15/hr.) and an educational award that can be transferred to a child or grandchild for 55-and-over members. Serving as an AmeriCorps member is a special way for VMNs to devote themselves to parks, while also receiving financial benefits for their service.
These are paid positions, not a volunteer opportunity, but it is something DCR staff felt would be of interest to some of you.
More information and application. Questions? Email Jessica German, Virginia State Parks AmeriCorps Program Manager, at vspamericorps@dcr.virginia.gov.
This email includes:
- Better Impact Tidbits - new section
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Continuing Education Opportunities
- Other Opportunity
Better Impact Tidbits
Better Impact is our volunteer management software that all our chapters use for keeping track of volunteers and activities. And, there’s an app for that! For those volunteers who would like to access information about your chapter’s volunteer opportunities and report your hours while on the go, there is a mobile app.
Information on downloading the My Impact app
Information on using the My Impact app
If you prefer the desktop browser version, you can always still use that at MyImpactPage.com.
Volunteer Opportunities
Reminder: Native Seed Pilot Project with Clifton Institute
VMN volunteers with solid plant ID skills are invited to take part in a new service project for this year to collect seed from a selection of targeted native plants. The seeds will be distributed to small farms by Virginia State University to grow plants to support the native plant industry for pollinator habitat restoration projects. Interested volunteers must sign up at this link by May 1. Please see the March 21 bi-weekly email and review the full details before signing up.
Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park
May 13, 2023. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Dorie Stolley with Virginia State Parks shared: Many volunteers needed to help with a full day of live animal shows, hands-on educational opportunities, and outdoor recreation clinics that all aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia and foster stewardship of our environment. See the list of volunteer positions and sign up slots. Please check with your chapter leaders for approval of this activity.
Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar Series: The Cleopatra Project: Poisonous and Venomous Animals in Virginia
As a reminder, you can always find information about the next VMN CE Webinar and the recordings of past webinars on our website.
Date: Monday, May 8, 12:00-1:00 pm
Registration: Pre-registration required
Description: The Cleopatra Project is a multi-chapter Virgina Master Naturalist educational project conducted in partnership with the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the Blue Ridge Poison Center. Ten Virginia Master Naturalists from 5 different VMN chapters produced The Cleopatra Project - Poisonous and Venomous Animals in Virginia with support from 6 peer reviewers and 36 photographers. The publication is an online reference guide to 32 poisonous and venomous animals that live in Virginia.
Written in non-technical language and filled with full color photographs, the publication is intended to be a reference for parents, educators, medical service providers, and the general public. Each of the 32 animal entries--ranging from Ants to Wasps and Bees--includes a description of the animal, its habitat and likely geographic range in Virginia, the source of poison or venom, potential physical symptoms and possible animal "look-alikes." It emphasizes the vital role that poisons and venoms play as these animals gain food, protect themselves from predators, and defend their territory and young. In this webinar we will discuss poison center data reflecting calls and ER visits, the role of poisons and venoms, and a sampling of the animals. Our goal is for readers to learn to live safely and respectfully with these fellow inhabitants of Virginia.
Presenters:
Kathleen Aucoin: Kathleen has been a Virginia Master Naturalist since 2018. She lives in far western Culpeper County on a wooded lot with her husband, chickens, ducks, and a vast array of native Virginia wildlife.
Bonnie Beers: A Virginia Master Naturalist since 2018, Bonnie works with her husband to restore 57 acres in Rappahannock County to native habitat.
Christopher P. Holstege, M.D. is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine. He also directs the Blue Ridge Poison Center and is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
Blue Ridge PRISM 2023 Spring Meeting (ONE DAY NOTICE!)
Title: "All About Callery Pear," with David Coyle
Date: Wednesday, April 19th, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (via Zoom)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/551792214367 . This is a free online webinar. Those who register will have access to the recording.
Description: We hope you can join us for Blue Ridge PRISM's Spring Meeting on Wednesday, April 19th. We will be focusing on the issue of Callery pear and will be joined by Dr. David Coyle, an engaging speaker who will discuss the problematic history of Callery Pear, his research on the species, and some successful (and unsuccessful) management strategies to mitigate its spread, including tree bounties. Dr. Coyle will also answer questions from the audience.
Presenter: Dr. David Coyle teaches about forest health and invasive species in the Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department at Clemson University. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Entomological Society of America, serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Invasive Species Management Association, and is Co-Director of ProForest (an organization working to promote proactive forest pest management). Dr. Coyle has been instrumental in the success of South Carolina's Bradford Pear Bounty program.
Other Opportunities
Virginia State Parks Seeks AmeriCorps Members - Applications due April 30
Virginia State Parks has a unique opportunity that may appeal very much to some VMN volunteers or people you know. They are in search of a few more people to serve either 450 or 675 hours as AmeriCorps members in state parks conducting interpretive programs and completing trail work from May 17 into August or September.
Members attend the spring interpretive workshop held at Pocahontas State Park. Members receive a living stipend (that is equivalent to $15/hr.) and an educational award that can be transferred to a child or grandchild for 55-and-over members. Serving as an AmeriCorps member is a special way for VMNs to devote themselves to parks, while also receiving financial benefits for their service.
These are paid positions, not a volunteer opportunity, but it is something DCR staff felt would be of interest to some of you.
More information and application. Questions? Email Jessica German, Virginia State Parks AmeriCorps Program Manager, at vspamericorps@dcr.virginia.gov.
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