VMN volunteers Bill Blair (pointing) & Helmut Walter (far right) help make VIMS public tours possible, like this recent visit to VIMS by the Northern Neck chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists. Photo by Karen Duhring, VIMS-CCRM.
Public Programs & Volunteering at VIMS
Many Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers participate in public programs offered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). VIMS public programs this summer at the Gloucester Point campus will include the annual open house event known as Marine Science Day, guided tours of VIMS labs and the Teaching Marsh, continuing education lectures, and special group programs. All VIMS public programs are free with registration sometimes required due to limited space.
These VIMS public programs would not be possible without assistance from dedicated VMN volunteers. In 2017, 335 service hours were reported for VIMS educational programs and helping to maintain the teaching marsh and VIMS aquarium. VIMS Public Outreach volunteers assist with fairs and festival exhibits, serve as visitor center docents and tour guides, and help with special events. Volunteer opportunities in VIMS laboratory research and fieldwork are also sometimes available. Visit the VIMS Volunteering web site for additional information and an online volunteer application form.
2018 VIMS Public Programs – Gloucester Point campus
May 19 Marine Science Day http://www.vims.edu/public/msd/index.php
Annual open house event with exhibits, children’s activities, beach seining, lab tours, seafood cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, marine life costume contest, and much more.
June 15 – October 12 Summer Public Tours http://www.vims.edu/public/publictours/index.php
1.5 hour guided walking tours on select mornings are designed for adults and children 9 and up. Each tour includes the VIMS Visitor Center & a laboratory, plus the Nunnally Ichthyology Collection, Oyster Hatchery or Teaching Marsh.
Special Group Tours http://www.vims.edu/public/group_tours/index.php
Customized tours for civic clubs, school groups, and other organizations can be arranged
Discovery Labs http://www.vims.edu/cbnerr/education/public_programs/index.php
Hosted by Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve at VIMS
Family-friendly, hands-on lab experiences, such as looking through microscopes, observing live animals, crafts and games focused on a specific topic: Animal & Plant Collections (June), Feeding Frenzy (August), Marine Careers (September)
After Hours Lecture Series http://www.vims.edu/public/afterhours/index.php
A monthly series of public lectures exploring popular Chesapeake Bay and ocean topics, also available as live & recorded webinars
VIMS Speakers Bureau http://www.vims.edu/public/speakersbureau/index.php
VIMS faculty and staff available for talks or other activities at your location or other venue
Contact the VIMS Programs office for more information about these offerings or to set up a special group tour or program. programs@vims.edu 804-684-7061
New VMN Chapter on the Middle Peninsula
VIMS has been instrumental in helping to start a new VMN chapter for the Middle Peninsula region. Karen Duhring, a VIMS educator and VMN Steering and Executive Committee member, will serve as the chapter advisor. Neighboring chapters, including Northern Neck, Peninsula, and Historic Rivers, have contributed ideas and perspectives for the new chapter. They also have contributed volunteers to the new chapter's Coordinating Committee. Each of those chapters had several volunteers who lived on the Middle Peninsula but had been commuting to another area to participate in the program. We are holding a New Chapter Coordinators Training for this new chapter in early May. Watch the VMN website for more news and contact information as this new chapter develops!
Many Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers participate in public programs offered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). VIMS public programs this summer at the Gloucester Point campus will include the annual open house event known as Marine Science Day, guided tours of VIMS labs and the Teaching Marsh, continuing education lectures, and special group programs. All VIMS public programs are free with registration sometimes required due to limited space.
These VIMS public programs would not be possible without assistance from dedicated VMN volunteers. In 2017, 335 service hours were reported for VIMS educational programs and helping to maintain the teaching marsh and VIMS aquarium. VIMS Public Outreach volunteers assist with fairs and festival exhibits, serve as visitor center docents and tour guides, and help with special events. Volunteer opportunities in VIMS laboratory research and fieldwork are also sometimes available. Visit the VIMS Volunteering web site for additional information and an online volunteer application form.
2018 VIMS Public Programs – Gloucester Point campus
May 19 Marine Science Day http://www.vims.edu/public/msd/index.php
Annual open house event with exhibits, children’s activities, beach seining, lab tours, seafood cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, marine life costume contest, and much more.
June 15 – October 12 Summer Public Tours http://www.vims.edu/public/publictours/index.php
1.5 hour guided walking tours on select mornings are designed for adults and children 9 and up. Each tour includes the VIMS Visitor Center & a laboratory, plus the Nunnally Ichthyology Collection, Oyster Hatchery or Teaching Marsh.
Special Group Tours http://www.vims.edu/public/group_tours/index.php
Customized tours for civic clubs, school groups, and other organizations can be arranged
Discovery Labs http://www.vims.edu/cbnerr/education/public_programs/index.php
Hosted by Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve at VIMS
Family-friendly, hands-on lab experiences, such as looking through microscopes, observing live animals, crafts and games focused on a specific topic: Animal & Plant Collections (June), Feeding Frenzy (August), Marine Careers (September)
After Hours Lecture Series http://www.vims.edu/public/afterhours/index.php
A monthly series of public lectures exploring popular Chesapeake Bay and ocean topics, also available as live & recorded webinars
VIMS Speakers Bureau http://www.vims.edu/public/speakersbureau/index.php
VIMS faculty and staff available for talks or other activities at your location or other venue
Contact the VIMS Programs office for more information about these offerings or to set up a special group tour or program. programs@vims.edu 804-684-7061
New VMN Chapter on the Middle Peninsula
VIMS has been instrumental in helping to start a new VMN chapter for the Middle Peninsula region. Karen Duhring, a VIMS educator and VMN Steering and Executive Committee member, will serve as the chapter advisor. Neighboring chapters, including Northern Neck, Peninsula, and Historic Rivers, have contributed ideas and perspectives for the new chapter. They also have contributed volunteers to the new chapter's Coordinating Committee. Each of those chapters had several volunteers who lived on the Middle Peninsula but had been commuting to another area to participate in the program. We are holding a New Chapter Coordinators Training for this new chapter in early May. Watch the VMN website for more news and contact information as this new chapter develops!
