Suzanne Moss waves from The Nature Bus before it departs on a VMN conference field trip. Photo by M. Prysby. The Nature Bus Comes to the VMN Statewide Conference
We were fortunate and thankful to have VMN volunteer Suzanne Moss (Tidewater Chapter) donate the use of The Nature Bus and her time as the driver for our recent conference in Fredericksburg.
The Nature Bus is the realization of Suzanne's dream to offer nature experiences to people of all ages. With years of professional experience as an educator along with volunteer experience leading youth nature clubs and what is now the Virginia Junior Master Naturalist program in Tidewater, Suzanne wanted to use her talents and resources to help connect more people to nature. She developed a plan, purchased a bus, and put all the pieces in place for a new business. Its mission is to be a vehicle for transformative, shared nature experiences and to nurture peoples’ affinity for the natural world. It is Suzanne’s hope that people will have positive nature experiences, feel a deeper connection to the great outdoors, become more attached and grow their affinity and level of concern for the health of our natural world.
We were fortunate and thankful to have VMN volunteer Suzanne Moss (Tidewater Chapter) donate the use of The Nature Bus and her time as the driver for our recent conference in Fredericksburg.
The Nature Bus is the realization of Suzanne's dream to offer nature experiences to people of all ages. With years of professional experience as an educator along with volunteer experience leading youth nature clubs and what is now the Virginia Junior Master Naturalist program in Tidewater, Suzanne wanted to use her talents and resources to help connect more people to nature. She developed a plan, purchased a bus, and put all the pieces in place for a new business. Its mission is to be a vehicle for transformative, shared nature experiences and to nurture peoples’ affinity for the natural world. It is Suzanne’s hope that people will have positive nature experiences, feel a deeper connection to the great outdoors, become more attached and grow their affinity and level of concern for the health of our natural world.
A group of VMN volunteers rode The Nature Bus to Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve. For our conference, Suzanne drove the bus from the Virginia Beach area to Fredericksburg, offering a ride to VMN volunteers in her chapter and neighboring chapters who were planning to attend the conference and wanted a fun way to get there. At the conference, she provided transportation for three different field trips. Her generosity and many hours of driving helped us make our field trips safer, more environmental, and more organized by reducing carpooling and keeping everyone together.
Visit The Nature Bus website to learn more, including a list of just a few of the many possible nature experiences The Nature Bus can offer. Though The Nature Bus is a private business and not part of the VMN program, it's a great potential partner for some of the things we and our chapters do. You can contact Suzanne through The Nature Bus website to discuss possibilities.
Visit The Nature Bus website to learn more, including a list of just a few of the many possible nature experiences The Nature Bus can offer. Though The Nature Bus is a private business and not part of the VMN program, it's a great potential partner for some of the things we and our chapters do. You can contact Suzanne through The Nature Bus website to discuss possibilities.
Margaret Wester receiving recognition for her bluebird work. Photo by VMN-Shenandoah Chapter. Shenandoah Chapter
By Karen Fall, VMN-Shenandoah Chapter
Margaret Wester recognized for service at state park
In appreciation of Margaret Wester's tireless dedication to running the Bluebird Monitoring project at Sky Meadows State Park for more than 10 years, Park Manager and Chapter Adviser, Tim Skinner, presented her with a stunning, original watercolor painting at our Chapter's annual picnic. Margaret is well-known in our chapter for expertly leading the Bluebird Monitoring project, making this is a popular volunteer activity. This year she and Bob Edmonds worked together to add a new trail of boxes that include plaques honoring our members with 10 years of service. Margaret's expertise was essential in the planning, and Bob constructed and placed the 8 beautiful cedar boxes.
By Karen Fall, VMN-Shenandoah Chapter
Margaret Wester recognized for service at state park
In appreciation of Margaret Wester's tireless dedication to running the Bluebird Monitoring project at Sky Meadows State Park for more than 10 years, Park Manager and Chapter Adviser, Tim Skinner, presented her with a stunning, original watercolor painting at our Chapter's annual picnic. Margaret is well-known in our chapter for expertly leading the Bluebird Monitoring project, making this is a popular volunteer activity. This year she and Bob Edmonds worked together to add a new trail of boxes that include plaques honoring our members with 10 years of service. Margaret's expertise was essential in the planning, and Bob constructed and placed the 8 beautiful cedar boxes.
Echinochloa muricata var. microstachys (Rough Barnyard Grass) VMN volunteers find new county record
When chapter member Phyllis Partain discovered an unusual grass on her property she turned to another member, Paul Guay, for help to identify it. Paul believed it to be an Echinochloa and forwarded specimens to Gary Fleming (Vegetation Ecologist with DCR-Natural Heritage) for verification. Gary confirmed it to be Echinochloa muricata var. microstachya (Rough Barnyard Grass), adding that "until recently the two varieties of this species were generally not recognized in Virginia botanical studies, and we only have a skeletal map of var. microstachya in the Digital Atlas". Gary is making some herbarium sheets out of the specimens Paul sent, to document it in Warren County. Paul provided the information to prepare labels for the specimens, and the sheets will be added to the herbaria at George Mason University and College of William and Mary. Nice contribution Paul and Phyllis!
Gratitude from Sky Meadows State Park
Vanessa Lewis, Park Naturalist, had these kind words to share with Shenandoah Chapter volunteers for their help with Nature weekend:
"I wanted to pass on my gratitude to you all for being instrumental in such a wonderful weekend. The Master Naturalists added so much to our event. Their engagement with the public was so appreciated. So many children and families had a terrific time thanks to the dedication of all the volunteers. We can't thank you enough! Thank you for the time you put into coordinating this."
Thanks Janet Alger, Tammy Batcha, Juli Bowers, Sara Dydak, Ellen Schwalenstocker, Andy and Margie Miller, and Christie Green!
When chapter member Phyllis Partain discovered an unusual grass on her property she turned to another member, Paul Guay, for help to identify it. Paul believed it to be an Echinochloa and forwarded specimens to Gary Fleming (Vegetation Ecologist with DCR-Natural Heritage) for verification. Gary confirmed it to be Echinochloa muricata var. microstachya (Rough Barnyard Grass), adding that "until recently the two varieties of this species were generally not recognized in Virginia botanical studies, and we only have a skeletal map of var. microstachya in the Digital Atlas". Gary is making some herbarium sheets out of the specimens Paul sent, to document it in Warren County. Paul provided the information to prepare labels for the specimens, and the sheets will be added to the herbaria at George Mason University and College of William and Mary. Nice contribution Paul and Phyllis!
Gratitude from Sky Meadows State Park
Vanessa Lewis, Park Naturalist, had these kind words to share with Shenandoah Chapter volunteers for their help with Nature weekend:
"I wanted to pass on my gratitude to you all for being instrumental in such a wonderful weekend. The Master Naturalists added so much to our event. Their engagement with the public was so appreciated. So many children and families had a terrific time thanks to the dedication of all the volunteers. We can't thank you enough! Thank you for the time you put into coordinating this."
Thanks Janet Alger, Tammy Batcha, Juli Bowers, Sara Dydak, Ellen Schwalenstocker, Andy and Margie Miller, and Christie Green!
Volunteering at Pleasant Grove in Fluvanna County. Photo courtesy of Walter Hussey, VMN-Rivanna Chapter. Rivanna Chapter
Master Naturalist Volunteer Activities on Fluvanna County Stewardship, Education, and Citizen Science Projects
By Walter Hussey, VMN-Rivanna Chapter
Over the past fiscal year, 15 members of the Rivanna chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists have contributed over 400 volunteer hours to the re-naturalization of Pleasant Grove, to educational activities in the Fluvanna County schools as well as at events such as the Old Farm Day and the County Fair, and to citizen science projects, which represents a value of over $10,000 in volunteer time contributed. During these activities our volunteers have contacted over 2,600 citizens and visitors to Fluvanna County.
Working with Fluvanna County Parks and Rec, Library, and Public Schools, RMN volunteers have conducted special projects for fourth graders on Ag Day, carried out nature sessions with the second grade, hosted a Nature Field Day at Pleasant Grove for the first and second grades on Earth Day, conducted children’s Library Summer Reading Program workshops, worked with high school biology classes, and led monthly nature hikes at Pleasant Grove.
At the County Fair, RMN volunteers helped educate hundreds of visitors on native plants and environmentally friendly practices. Master Naturalist-led hikes through the wildlife habitats at Pleasant Grove provided visitors a firsthand nature experience.
Working on the Rivanna River and the new fields, both at Pleasant Grove Park (PGP), RMN volunteers have conducted citizen science activities such as measuring the health of our water resources as well as the Virginia State Bluebird Inventory along the newly installed bluebird nesting box trail.
Thanks to the work of our volunteers, our citizens and County visitors can now experience nature at Pleasant Grove Park as they:
Master Naturalist Volunteer Activities on Fluvanna County Stewardship, Education, and Citizen Science Projects
By Walter Hussey, VMN-Rivanna Chapter
Over the past fiscal year, 15 members of the Rivanna chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists have contributed over 400 volunteer hours to the re-naturalization of Pleasant Grove, to educational activities in the Fluvanna County schools as well as at events such as the Old Farm Day and the County Fair, and to citizen science projects, which represents a value of over $10,000 in volunteer time contributed. During these activities our volunteers have contacted over 2,600 citizens and visitors to Fluvanna County.
Working with Fluvanna County Parks and Rec, Library, and Public Schools, RMN volunteers have conducted special projects for fourth graders on Ag Day, carried out nature sessions with the second grade, hosted a Nature Field Day at Pleasant Grove for the first and second grades on Earth Day, conducted children’s Library Summer Reading Program workshops, worked with high school biology classes, and led monthly nature hikes at Pleasant Grove.
At the County Fair, RMN volunteers helped educate hundreds of visitors on native plants and environmentally friendly practices. Master Naturalist-led hikes through the wildlife habitats at Pleasant Grove provided visitors a firsthand nature experience.
Working on the Rivanna River and the new fields, both at Pleasant Grove Park (PGP), RMN volunteers have conducted citizen science activities such as measuring the health of our water resources as well as the Virginia State Bluebird Inventory along the newly installed bluebird nesting box trail.
Thanks to the work of our volunteers, our citizens and County visitors can now experience nature at Pleasant Grove Park as they:
- Visit the Nature Room at the Pleasant Grove House to see the interpretive exhibits
- Take the self-guided nature hike starting at the kiosk behind the caretaker’s house (brochure available)
- Visit the native plant Butterfly Garden (brochure available)
- Take a hike on one of the 23 trails covering over 20 miles (Trail Map with habitat descriptions available)
- Hike through one of the 4 Wildlife Meadows and observe the wildflowers, native grasses and animal wildlife (see Trail Map)
- Go birding – Pickup a birding checklist and go walking in the Park (bird id field guides available for checkout)
- Attend a monthly Master Naturalist led nature hike (see FluCo Parks and Rec Program Guide for dates and topics)
- Hike the Tree ID Trail behind the Library to observe 23 native tree species identified by interpretive plaques (children scavenger hunt brochures available, with prizes for completion, at the Library)
- Observe one of the Bluebird, American Kestrel, Bat or Eastern Screech Owl Nesting Boxes in the Park
- Brochures, guides and maps are available at the Farm House, the Nature Room (in the Summer Kitchen), the Library, and many kiosks in the Park.
VMN-High Knob Chapter volunteers share nature information with Cloudsplitter100 ultra trail race participants while also supplying them with an aid stop and cheering them on. Photo by Paxton Allgyer (VMN-High Knob Chapter). High Knob Chapter
Volunteers share nature information at ultra trail race
Members of the VMN-High Knob Chapter recently helped share a dose of environmental education alongside other aid at their aid station during the Cloudsplitter100 ultra trail race. High Knob Chapter volunteers helped with trail maintenance leading up to the race, and they also created an aid station with natural resource educational posters and field guides on hand so that runners, support teams, family members, etc. could hopefully identify the things they had encountered.
Fred Ramey, the Town Manager of Norton, wrote, “In 2017, the City of Norton had the wonderful opportunity of welcoming the Cloudsplitter100 ultra trail race into our community. Although we were extremely excited about this unique opportunity, we soon realized what a logistical challenge we were facing. One of the most important challenges was to find enough volunteers to staff nine aid stations that would be located along the race course for the 40 hour event. Thankfully we are blessed to live in a region where we had a number of wonderful individuals and organizations step forward. One such organizations was the local Master Naturalists whose members volunteer to staff not one, but two aid stations. Their volunteerism was greatly appreciated but their overall effort was something to be admired. They not only served the primary purpose of providing food and liquids to the participants but they also gladly served as cheerleaders and tour guides. We are both thankful and proud of our local Master Naturalists for all of their efforts in our community and, yes, they were the first to sign up to do it all again in 2018. The Cloudsplitter100 consists of a 25k, 50k, 100k, and 100 mile trail run that starts in our downtown and then using the existing trail system located on High Knob.”
Several High Knob Chapter members also helped plan and conduct the High Knob Naturalist Rally, a weekend of hikes and educational programs focused on the natural resources in Wise County, and especially at High Knob Recreation Area. Learn more about it in a Coalfield Progress article.
Volunteers share nature information at ultra trail race
Members of the VMN-High Knob Chapter recently helped share a dose of environmental education alongside other aid at their aid station during the Cloudsplitter100 ultra trail race. High Knob Chapter volunteers helped with trail maintenance leading up to the race, and they also created an aid station with natural resource educational posters and field guides on hand so that runners, support teams, family members, etc. could hopefully identify the things they had encountered.
Fred Ramey, the Town Manager of Norton, wrote, “In 2017, the City of Norton had the wonderful opportunity of welcoming the Cloudsplitter100 ultra trail race into our community. Although we were extremely excited about this unique opportunity, we soon realized what a logistical challenge we were facing. One of the most important challenges was to find enough volunteers to staff nine aid stations that would be located along the race course for the 40 hour event. Thankfully we are blessed to live in a region where we had a number of wonderful individuals and organizations step forward. One such organizations was the local Master Naturalists whose members volunteer to staff not one, but two aid stations. Their volunteerism was greatly appreciated but their overall effort was something to be admired. They not only served the primary purpose of providing food and liquids to the participants but they also gladly served as cheerleaders and tour guides. We are both thankful and proud of our local Master Naturalists for all of their efforts in our community and, yes, they were the first to sign up to do it all again in 2018. The Cloudsplitter100 consists of a 25k, 50k, 100k, and 100 mile trail run that starts in our downtown and then using the existing trail system located on High Knob.”
Several High Knob Chapter members also helped plan and conduct the High Knob Naturalist Rally, a weekend of hikes and educational programs focused on the natural resources in Wise County, and especially at High Knob Recreation Area. Learn more about it in a Coalfield Progress article.
Historic Southside Chapter
VMN volunteer Ann Nall received the 2018 Community Builders Award from the Virginia Masonic Lodge 177 for her work with the Friends of Chippokes State Park.
VMN volunteer Della Carrico was appointed to the newly formed Blackwater Task Force. This group will be leading efforts to plan the future use of this Isle of Wight County-owed property. She will be serving alongside several representatives of our state sponsoring agencies and other local stakeholders, adding important input to the committee.
VMN volunteer Ann Nall received the 2018 Community Builders Award from the Virginia Masonic Lodge 177 for her work with the Friends of Chippokes State Park.
VMN volunteer Della Carrico was appointed to the newly formed Blackwater Task Force. This group will be leading efforts to plan the future use of this Isle of Wight County-owed property. She will be serving alongside several representatives of our state sponsoring agencies and other local stakeholders, adding important input to the committee.
Terri Keffert (VMN Volunteer Coordinator, left) and Michelle Prysby (VMN Program Director, center) accept the Volunteer Project of the Year award from Marc Larese-Casanova (ANROSP Awards Committee Chair) on behalf of the volunteers of the Socrates Project. The awards were given at the annual ANROSP conference in New Orleans. The Socrates Project/Old Rag Chapter
The Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs is a national network of Master Naturalist-type programs. In September, ANROSP granted its "Volunteer Project of the Year" award to the VMN program for the Socrates Project. This project was spearheaded by Alfred Goossens and other members of the VMN-Old Rag Chapter with a goal of providing education about poisonous plants. After lots of hard work by many contributing volunteers and by several partners within Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Socrates Project team published their guide to poisonous plants of Virginia. The volunteers are now working on a second edition to include more species, and they have expanded the team to include volunteers in other chapters.
The Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs is a national network of Master Naturalist-type programs. In September, ANROSP granted its "Volunteer Project of the Year" award to the VMN program for the Socrates Project. This project was spearheaded by Alfred Goossens and other members of the VMN-Old Rag Chapter with a goal of providing education about poisonous plants. After lots of hard work by many contributing volunteers and by several partners within Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Socrates Project team published their guide to poisonous plants of Virginia. The volunteers are now working on a second edition to include more species, and they have expanded the team to include volunteers in other chapters.
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