Amethyst, 2.2cm., Prince Edward County, Virginia, USA. August Diez Collection. Photo by Connor Williams and used with permission from the Friends of Mineralogy Virginia. Hello, VMNs. Lots of Continuing Education opportunities for you this week, many from other organizations. Always something happening in the Bi-weekly email.
This email includes:
New VMN name tag design
Now that we have our new logo, we are working on redesigning VMN items and the name tag is one of the first on our list. We have been working with our vendor to add the new logo, make everything more readable, possibly make them a tad larger and to have the option for adding pronouns. We hope to be able to share this new design with you in our next Bi-weekly email as it’s not ready just yet.
Chapters that have placed orders to be filled in March will be getting the new design and their leadership has been notified.
Naturalist Resources
Urban and community forestry is a focus area for Virginia Master Naturalists, so we wanted to share a resource from the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria. They have training videos online on a variety of community forestry topics, from soils to tree ID to maintaining street trees.
Need a nature break while at your computer? The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has added a new live cam - the Marsh Cam, where you can watch a tidal marsh habitat at Hog Island Wildlife Management Area 24/7. They have also created some nifty educator resources to go with it.
Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Exploring the Mineral Resources of Virginia
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Registration: Free! Pre-registration required.
Description: With over 430 unique mineral species, Virginia hosts a wide variety of unique mineral deposits. In this presentation you will learn more about Virginia's unique geologic provinces and the various mineral resources and famous ore deposits found within them. Many of these historical sites were the backbone of Virginia's economic prosperity and for decades provided mineral collectors and scientists with stunning specimens which told a story about Virginia's geologic past. The presentation will also explore a brief history of Virginia's key mining developments dating back hundreds of years ago to stone-tool manufacturing and all the way to modern discussions about critical minerals and the future of the state's extractive industry. An additional goal of this presentation is to provide VMN members and leaders with the best resources and literature available about Virginia's geology and mineral resources to aid in discussions about why minerals are essential in everyday life and global discussions on energy transitions and climate change mitigation. No presentation on Virginia's mineral resources could be complete without an array of beautifully photographed images of some incredible mineral specimens collected here in the Commonwealth!
Presenter: Thomas Hale is the president of the Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter Inc., a non-profit organization established in 2020 dedicated to promoting the state's mineral resources and working with industry and teacher associations, along with academic institutions and museums, to increase awareness around minerals in our everday life. Thomas Hale is currently a PhD student at the University of Delaware, in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences focusing on the nexus between the extractive sector and national security. His expertise in mineral diplomacy focuses on using minerals and materials as a method of exploring global challenges facing society. His research areas span the globe, with studies on Afghanistan, Central Africa, and recent work focused on legacy mining operations in Greenland.
Mapping With Drones workshops
We have a couple of VMN volunteers who have been involved in using drones for conservation projects, so we wanted to share this training opportunity.
Description: This 2-day virtual workshop will prepare participants with the knowledge necessary to take the FAA Remote Knowledge Aircraft Test (aka Part 107). All workshop materials are provided to participants (via snail-mail) prior to the workshop. More info at https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/. The workshop has been well received by educators (high school, 2-year, 4-year), state & federal agency employees, the private sector (ranging from engineers to realtors), Cooperative Extension, and a slew of folks from various NGO’s. This workshop is a great place to start for individuals who are considering using drones to support business applications, or managers who want to make solid decisions regarding drone issues moving forward. There are a limited number of discounted registrations available for VCE personnel, and fulltime high school teachers.
Workshop options include (and these workshops are the same, just choose the date that best works for you!).
Workshop #1: registration is closed!
Workshop #2: May 31 – June 1, 2023
Workshop #3: August 14 – 15, 2023
Workshop #4: December 14 – 15, 2023
Workshop #5: January 4-5, 2024
Registration: $250
Questions: This event is being put on by VAView, not VMN. More information about the workshop and online registration is available from: https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/
36th Annual Lahr Native Plants Symposium, U.S. National Arboretum
Date: March 25, 2023, 9:30 am - 3:45 pm
Location: Administration Building Auditorium, U.S. National Arboretum
Description: Learn from our line-up of native plant professionals about efforts to reestablish beautiful and unusual habitats and how we can successfully manage and design our cultivated landscapes. The 36th Lahr Native Plant Symposium provides inspiration from the wild and practical advice for our gardens. Registrants attend all plenary sessions and one concurrent session of their choice. Registration is required and includes all sessions, morning coffee and refreshments, and box lunch.
Registration: $100 (FONA members $80). More information and registration on the U.S. National Arboretum website.
Questions: This event is being put on by the USDA, not by VMN. Please send questions to programs.usna@usda.gov.
This email includes:
- New VMN name tag design
- Naturalist Resources
- Continuing Education Opportunities
New VMN name tag design
Now that we have our new logo, we are working on redesigning VMN items and the name tag is one of the first on our list. We have been working with our vendor to add the new logo, make everything more readable, possibly make them a tad larger and to have the option for adding pronouns. We hope to be able to share this new design with you in our next Bi-weekly email as it’s not ready just yet.
Chapters that have placed orders to be filled in March will be getting the new design and their leadership has been notified.
Naturalist Resources
Urban and community forestry is a focus area for Virginia Master Naturalists, so we wanted to share a resource from the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria. They have training videos online on a variety of community forestry topics, from soils to tree ID to maintaining street trees.
Need a nature break while at your computer? The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has added a new live cam - the Marsh Cam, where you can watch a tidal marsh habitat at Hog Island Wildlife Management Area 24/7. They have also created some nifty educator resources to go with it.
Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Exploring the Mineral Resources of Virginia
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Registration: Free! Pre-registration required.
Description: With over 430 unique mineral species, Virginia hosts a wide variety of unique mineral deposits. In this presentation you will learn more about Virginia's unique geologic provinces and the various mineral resources and famous ore deposits found within them. Many of these historical sites were the backbone of Virginia's economic prosperity and for decades provided mineral collectors and scientists with stunning specimens which told a story about Virginia's geologic past. The presentation will also explore a brief history of Virginia's key mining developments dating back hundreds of years ago to stone-tool manufacturing and all the way to modern discussions about critical minerals and the future of the state's extractive industry. An additional goal of this presentation is to provide VMN members and leaders with the best resources and literature available about Virginia's geology and mineral resources to aid in discussions about why minerals are essential in everyday life and global discussions on energy transitions and climate change mitigation. No presentation on Virginia's mineral resources could be complete without an array of beautifully photographed images of some incredible mineral specimens collected here in the Commonwealth!
Presenter: Thomas Hale is the president of the Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter Inc., a non-profit organization established in 2020 dedicated to promoting the state's mineral resources and working with industry and teacher associations, along with academic institutions and museums, to increase awareness around minerals in our everday life. Thomas Hale is currently a PhD student at the University of Delaware, in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences focusing on the nexus between the extractive sector and national security. His expertise in mineral diplomacy focuses on using minerals and materials as a method of exploring global challenges facing society. His research areas span the globe, with studies on Afghanistan, Central Africa, and recent work focused on legacy mining operations in Greenland.
Mapping With Drones workshops
We have a couple of VMN volunteers who have been involved in using drones for conservation projects, so we wanted to share this training opportunity.
Description: This 2-day virtual workshop will prepare participants with the knowledge necessary to take the FAA Remote Knowledge Aircraft Test (aka Part 107). All workshop materials are provided to participants (via snail-mail) prior to the workshop. More info at https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/. The workshop has been well received by educators (high school, 2-year, 4-year), state & federal agency employees, the private sector (ranging from engineers to realtors), Cooperative Extension, and a slew of folks from various NGO’s. This workshop is a great place to start for individuals who are considering using drones to support business applications, or managers who want to make solid decisions regarding drone issues moving forward. There are a limited number of discounted registrations available for VCE personnel, and fulltime high school teachers.
Workshop options include (and these workshops are the same, just choose the date that best works for you!).
Workshop #1: registration is closed!
Workshop #2: May 31 – June 1, 2023
Workshop #3: August 14 – 15, 2023
Workshop #4: December 14 – 15, 2023
Workshop #5: January 4-5, 2024
Registration: $250
Questions: This event is being put on by VAView, not VMN. More information about the workshop and online registration is available from: https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/
36th Annual Lahr Native Plants Symposium, U.S. National Arboretum
Date: March 25, 2023, 9:30 am - 3:45 pm
Location: Administration Building Auditorium, U.S. National Arboretum
Description: Learn from our line-up of native plant professionals about efforts to reestablish beautiful and unusual habitats and how we can successfully manage and design our cultivated landscapes. The 36th Lahr Native Plant Symposium provides inspiration from the wild and practical advice for our gardens. Registrants attend all plenary sessions and one concurrent session of their choice. Registration is required and includes all sessions, morning coffee and refreshments, and box lunch.
Registration: $100 (FONA members $80). More information and registration on the U.S. National Arboretum website.
Questions: This event is being put on by the USDA, not by VMN. Please send questions to programs.usna@usda.gov.
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