Hello, VMNs. Autumn is rolling in! As you get out your fleeces and pullovers for your outdoor volunteer work (yeah cooler weather!), make sure to keep up on the VMN program’s Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
Conference Registration Deadline Extended!
We have extended the conference registration deadline to September 18 at 11:59pm! We had a few issues that made it difficult for people to register and we are so sorry about that! We have fixed those issues and extended the deadline so if you haven’t been able to purchase a ticket, now’s your chance!
Go to the VMN Conference webpage, scroll down to the Registration section and click the “Register Now” button. This will take you to the registration platform we are using. You will need to login there or create an account with them. If you have any problems, please email the VCE Registration Help at [email protected] or Tiffany at [email protected].
Proposals Sought for VAEE Conference
The Virginia Association for Environmental Education will hold its annual conference in Roanoke, February 9-11. They are now accepting proposals for presentations now through October 16. VMN volunteers have presented there in the past, and we know many of you have a lot to share about your EE work! Info at https://vaee.squarespace.com/conference.
Training for New VBWT Birdability Project
Did you know that 1 in every 4 American adults have a disability? Despite this being a huge portion of the population, disabled people continue to have unequal access to natural resources. A part of this barrier is information-based. If there is any accessibility information on a park's website, it is often very basic (simply stating that a trail is "ADA-compliant") without saying the trail substrate, whether or not there are accessible restrooms, or benches, to name a few.
With the help of Virginia Master Naturalists, we can help to reduce or remove this information barrier. Birdability is a non-profit group that has created an interactive map (https://birdability.org/map) for finding accessible locations all over the world. Using their resource, we can improve access to Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail sites, known as great places to view wildlife. Our goal is to put every accessible VBWT site on the map. Lisa Mease, intern with DWR's Watchable Wildlife program and Watchable Wildlife Biologist Meagan Thomas will be presenting a training workshop about this exciting new opportunity and how you can help. The day after the training session, we will send information out to all chapters about the activity details, including a Better Impact template so that chapters can approve the activity. Volunteers who want to participate in the activity but who cannot attend the training live should plan on watching the recording.
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Zoom
Registration: Pre-registration is required.
Recording: The session will be recorded, and we will share the link for the recording in the following bi-weekly email and on Better Impact.
Note: If you had already registered for this event for the original date in August, you are still registered! But, if you have lost the personalized link to join the Zoom, feel free to re-register.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Live (Virtual) Mini Monarch Essentials Course
Join the Monarch Joint Venture for a virtual 3-week course to learn about monarch butterfly ecology, threats, and the effective conservation actions that you can take to help protect this iconic species. All classes are recorded and also available for later viewing.
Dates: October 1, 8, and 15, 7:00-8:30 pm
Cost: $75. Some financial support may be available.
More Info:
https://learn.monarchjointventure.org/courses/Live-Mini-Monarch-Essentials-Oct-2024?blm_aid=590500865
Vernal Pools from Ice Age to Space Age
Description: Wild Virginia invites Virginia citizens to join a free webinar on Thursday, September 26th by wetlands ecologist, Mike Hayslett, who will cover a trajectory of VERNAL POOLS from their ancient ecological significance through future climate planning - hope and practical measures for the future of these special environments that are critical in providing connectivity and quality water for living systems in Virginia.
Presenter: Michael S. Hayslett, M.S. has been an advocate, researcher and conservation biologist of "vernal pool" wetlands and their wildlife for over three decades, traveling around Virginia and beyond educating, studying and consulting for these fascinating ecosystems. Mike directed the Virginia Vernal Pools Program through Sweet Briar College for years and now devotes his energy to consulting full time as Principal of Virginia Vernal Pools, LLC in the work of restoring, enhancing and constructing vernal pools, wetlands and water features to preserve biodiversity, increase native habitat and bank freshwater for the future. Dubbed "Virginia's leading vernal pools expert" - join Mike for this lively webinar with Wild Virginia!
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vernal-pools-from-ice-age-to-space-age-tickets-1000766518597?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Fredericksburg Native Plant Festival, Featuring Doug Tallamy
Date: October 5th, 11:30 - 4 pm
Location: Dodd Auditorium on the University of Mary Washington Campus, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Cost: $25
More info and registration: https://www.treefredericksburg.org/event/fredericksburg-native-plant-festival/
This festival is an educational opportunity appropriate for those already enamored with the native plant movement and those wishing to learn more about it.
The event will feature several guest speakers, with the keynote speaker being Douglas Tallamy, co-founder of the Backyard National Park movement and author of the best selling books Bringing Nature Home and The Nature of Oaks. Dr. Tallamy will be signing books purchased on site (limited number of spaces available). Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased online.
This email includes:
- Conference Registration Extended!
- Proposals Sought for VAEE Conference
- Training for New VBWT Birdability Project
- Continuing Education Opportunities
Conference Registration Deadline Extended!
We have extended the conference registration deadline to September 18 at 11:59pm! We had a few issues that made it difficult for people to register and we are so sorry about that! We have fixed those issues and extended the deadline so if you haven’t been able to purchase a ticket, now’s your chance!
Go to the VMN Conference webpage, scroll down to the Registration section and click the “Register Now” button. This will take you to the registration platform we are using. You will need to login there or create an account with them. If you have any problems, please email the VCE Registration Help at [email protected] or Tiffany at [email protected].
Proposals Sought for VAEE Conference
The Virginia Association for Environmental Education will hold its annual conference in Roanoke, February 9-11. They are now accepting proposals for presentations now through October 16. VMN volunteers have presented there in the past, and we know many of you have a lot to share about your EE work! Info at https://vaee.squarespace.com/conference.
Training for New VBWT Birdability Project
Did you know that 1 in every 4 American adults have a disability? Despite this being a huge portion of the population, disabled people continue to have unequal access to natural resources. A part of this barrier is information-based. If there is any accessibility information on a park's website, it is often very basic (simply stating that a trail is "ADA-compliant") without saying the trail substrate, whether or not there are accessible restrooms, or benches, to name a few.
With the help of Virginia Master Naturalists, we can help to reduce or remove this information barrier. Birdability is a non-profit group that has created an interactive map (https://birdability.org/map) for finding accessible locations all over the world. Using their resource, we can improve access to Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail sites, known as great places to view wildlife. Our goal is to put every accessible VBWT site on the map. Lisa Mease, intern with DWR's Watchable Wildlife program and Watchable Wildlife Biologist Meagan Thomas will be presenting a training workshop about this exciting new opportunity and how you can help. The day after the training session, we will send information out to all chapters about the activity details, including a Better Impact template so that chapters can approve the activity. Volunteers who want to participate in the activity but who cannot attend the training live should plan on watching the recording.
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Zoom
Registration: Pre-registration is required.
Recording: The session will be recorded, and we will share the link for the recording in the following bi-weekly email and on Better Impact.
Note: If you had already registered for this event for the original date in August, you are still registered! But, if you have lost the personalized link to join the Zoom, feel free to re-register.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Live (Virtual) Mini Monarch Essentials Course
Join the Monarch Joint Venture for a virtual 3-week course to learn about monarch butterfly ecology, threats, and the effective conservation actions that you can take to help protect this iconic species. All classes are recorded and also available for later viewing.
Dates: October 1, 8, and 15, 7:00-8:30 pm
Cost: $75. Some financial support may be available.
More Info:
https://learn.monarchjointventure.org/courses/Live-Mini-Monarch-Essentials-Oct-2024?blm_aid=590500865
Vernal Pools from Ice Age to Space Age
Description: Wild Virginia invites Virginia citizens to join a free webinar on Thursday, September 26th by wetlands ecologist, Mike Hayslett, who will cover a trajectory of VERNAL POOLS from their ancient ecological significance through future climate planning - hope and practical measures for the future of these special environments that are critical in providing connectivity and quality water for living systems in Virginia.
Presenter: Michael S. Hayslett, M.S. has been an advocate, researcher and conservation biologist of "vernal pool" wetlands and their wildlife for over three decades, traveling around Virginia and beyond educating, studying and consulting for these fascinating ecosystems. Mike directed the Virginia Vernal Pools Program through Sweet Briar College for years and now devotes his energy to consulting full time as Principal of Virginia Vernal Pools, LLC in the work of restoring, enhancing and constructing vernal pools, wetlands and water features to preserve biodiversity, increase native habitat and bank freshwater for the future. Dubbed "Virginia's leading vernal pools expert" - join Mike for this lively webinar with Wild Virginia!
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vernal-pools-from-ice-age-to-space-age-tickets-1000766518597?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Fredericksburg Native Plant Festival, Featuring Doug Tallamy
Date: October 5th, 11:30 - 4 pm
Location: Dodd Auditorium on the University of Mary Washington Campus, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Cost: $25
More info and registration: https://www.treefredericksburg.org/event/fredericksburg-native-plant-festival/
This festival is an educational opportunity appropriate for those already enamored with the native plant movement and those wishing to learn more about it.
The event will feature several guest speakers, with the keynote speaker being Douglas Tallamy, co-founder of the Backyard National Park movement and author of the best selling books Bringing Nature Home and The Nature of Oaks. Dr. Tallamy will be signing books purchased on site (limited number of spaces available). Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased online.
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