Recent award to the VMN program from the Alliance of Natural
Resource Outreach and
Service Programs.
The Virginia Master Naturalist program received the 2014 “Outstanding Program Evaluation” award from the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs, a national organization of Master Naturalist-type programs. The award was given in recognition of the extensive needs assessment and strategic planning initiative led by program coordinator Alycia Crall during 2013 and 2014, which involved focus groups, interviews, listening sessions, and surveys of more than 700 program volunteers, state agency personnel, and partner organization representatives. The final strategic plan is now available; see the article about it in this newsletter issue for more information.
Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer Thomas Adkins has made a significant achievement in becoming our first volunteer to contribute 5000 hours of service. Tom became a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Shenandoah Chapter in 2007. That was early in the life of the chapter, and Tom contributed many hours to the volunteer opportunities and education committees, helping to get the chapter organized and running smoothly. He also spent plenty of volunteer hours outdoors. Among his many projects was coordinating the building of bluebird nest boxes for Sky Meadows State Park and helping to monitor the boxes. He also planted American Chestnut seeds at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and at the Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum (Blandy). Tom's favorite project was working with the Young Naturalist Program, a day program for youth at Blandy that gets them outdoors in winter, a time when there are few similar opportunities. Tom writes, "It is a great program and only chips away at the plight pointed out by Richard Louv in his "Last Child in the Woods". I always liked the term "Leave No Child Inside". I am sure that the 'nature deficit disorder' he describes will not gain a lot of attention, but the VMN program has sure done its bit to help, and I love the support we have gotten from our partnership with state agencies."
Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for all 5000+ hours of service you have graciously given to the program!
Patricia Temples (VMN volunteer, Old Rag Chapter) won top photo in the Local Farms and Foods category in the Piedmont Environmental Council’s 2014 photo contest. You can see her photo, “Cows Have the Best View”, and other winners at http://pecva.org/about/135-get-involved/photo-contest/1077-2014-photo-contest-winners-finalists.
Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer Thomas Adkins has made a significant achievement in becoming our first volunteer to contribute 5000 hours of service. Tom became a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Shenandoah Chapter in 2007. That was early in the life of the chapter, and Tom contributed many hours to the volunteer opportunities and education committees, helping to get the chapter organized and running smoothly. He also spent plenty of volunteer hours outdoors. Among his many projects was coordinating the building of bluebird nest boxes for Sky Meadows State Park and helping to monitor the boxes. He also planted American Chestnut seeds at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and at the Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum (Blandy). Tom's favorite project was working with the Young Naturalist Program, a day program for youth at Blandy that gets them outdoors in winter, a time when there are few similar opportunities. Tom writes, "It is a great program and only chips away at the plight pointed out by Richard Louv in his "Last Child in the Woods". I always liked the term "Leave No Child Inside". I am sure that the 'nature deficit disorder' he describes will not gain a lot of attention, but the VMN program has sure done its bit to help, and I love the support we have gotten from our partnership with state agencies."
Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for all 5000+ hours of service you have graciously given to the program!
Patricia Temples (VMN volunteer, Old Rag Chapter) won top photo in the Local Farms and Foods category in the Piedmont Environmental Council’s 2014 photo contest. You can see her photo, “Cows Have the Best View”, and other winners at http://pecva.org/about/135-get-involved/photo-contest/1077-2014-photo-contest-winners-finalists.
