Cover art for "The Boy Who Could Bee" VMN Volunteer Roger Gosden Publishes a New Book for Young Adults
Our Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are multi-talented, and many of them have accomplishments outside of their volunteer roles that are quite noteworthy. For example, Roger Gosden (VMN-Historic Rivers Chapter) has published his debut novel for youth ages 10-16. The story was inspired by beekeeping and watching honeybees and wild bees in his backyard. "In the novel," says Roger, "a boy naturalist is sent to help a monk striving to breed perfect bees in a Devonshire monastery garden where conflicts are mounting under the bucolic surface." The book is published by Jamestowne Bookworks under the pseudonym Rowan Gordon. For personal and professional reasons, Roger is donating profits from the royalties to a charity to benefit children with cancer.
Our Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are multi-talented, and many of them have accomplishments outside of their volunteer roles that are quite noteworthy. For example, Roger Gosden (VMN-Historic Rivers Chapter) has published his debut novel for youth ages 10-16. The story was inspired by beekeeping and watching honeybees and wild bees in his backyard. "In the novel," says Roger, "a boy naturalist is sent to help a monk striving to breed perfect bees in a Devonshire monastery garden where conflicts are mounting under the bucolic surface." The book is published by Jamestowne Bookworks under the pseudonym Rowan Gordon. For personal and professional reasons, Roger is donating profits from the royalties to a charity to benefit children with cancer.
From left: Virginia Bluebird Society President Valerie Gaffney Kenyon, John Narney (VMN-Northern Neck Chapter), and Pam Narney (VMN-Northern Neck Chapter). Photo credit: Doug Rogers. Virginia Bluebird Society Award Goes To Two Northern Neck Chapter Volunteers
Contributed by Charlene Talcott, VMN Northern Neck Chapter and State Coordinator for the Virginia Bluebird Society
John and Pam Narney of Colonial Beach were awarded the Barbara Chambers Memorial Award at the Virginia Bluebird Society biennial conference in November. The award is given to County Coordinators who go the extra mile to organize, inspire and further bluebird conservation in their counties. The Narneys lead, train, and encourage bluebird monitors in Richmond and Westmoreland Counties.
John manages three trails : Westmoreland State Park, Menokin, and Stratford Hall. Menokin was formerly managed by a scout group, but the trail had fallen into disrepair. When the Narneys acquired it, they refurbished the trail and replaced boxes. John then took on the monitoring by himself for 5 years, then recruited and trained volunteer monitors.
The managers at Stratford Hall wanted to refurbish a trail that consisted of forty boxes. They called on Pam and John for help, and they quickly agreed. Little did they realize at the time how long the process would be. All the boxes had to be rehabbed and relocated to new locations established with the help of volunteers they recruited and trained.
The Narneys are also members of the Virginia Master Naturalist Northern Neck Chapter, and are pivotal volunteers at the Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach.
The Virginia Bluebird Society was founded in 1996 to promote bluebirds and other cavity nesters. Their goals include promoting bluebird conservation projects, establishing bluebird trails, and developing educational materials and nest boxes for schools, parks, and other public areas. For more information visit www.virginiabluebirds.org.
Contributed by Charlene Talcott, VMN Northern Neck Chapter and State Coordinator for the Virginia Bluebird Society
John and Pam Narney of Colonial Beach were awarded the Barbara Chambers Memorial Award at the Virginia Bluebird Society biennial conference in November. The award is given to County Coordinators who go the extra mile to organize, inspire and further bluebird conservation in their counties. The Narneys lead, train, and encourage bluebird monitors in Richmond and Westmoreland Counties.
John manages three trails : Westmoreland State Park, Menokin, and Stratford Hall. Menokin was formerly managed by a scout group, but the trail had fallen into disrepair. When the Narneys acquired it, they refurbished the trail and replaced boxes. John then took on the monitoring by himself for 5 years, then recruited and trained volunteer monitors.
The managers at Stratford Hall wanted to refurbish a trail that consisted of forty boxes. They called on Pam and John for help, and they quickly agreed. Little did they realize at the time how long the process would be. All the boxes had to be rehabbed and relocated to new locations established with the help of volunteers they recruited and trained.
The Narneys are also members of the Virginia Master Naturalist Northern Neck Chapter, and are pivotal volunteers at the Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach.
The Virginia Bluebird Society was founded in 1996 to promote bluebirds and other cavity nesters. Their goals include promoting bluebird conservation projects, establishing bluebird trails, and developing educational materials and nest boxes for schools, parks, and other public areas. For more information visit www.virginiabluebirds.org.
Jill Henderson with her Backyard Birds outreach table. Photo by VMN-Holston Rivers Chapter. Volunteer Jill Henderson Helps Young Community Members Learn About Birds
"Backyard Birds with Jill", led by Jill Henderson (VMN-Holston Rivers Chapter) hosted a learning exhibit for the Meadowview Elementary School community at their annual Fall Festival held at the school on Saturday, November 5. Approximately 250 students, family members, and teachers from the Meadowview community in rural Washington County participated in the interactive display. Students spun the bird wheel and were asked to identify the bird name on the wheel by using The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Backyard Birds Flash Cards. The activity provided an opportunity to help students learn bird characteristics including size, shape, color pattern, habitat, behavior and range so they can identify the bird when they see them in their own backyard. Using the bird sound app feature on the flash cards, participants were able to hear the bird's sound to also aid in identification. Each student received a really cool bird sticker for their backpack (or shirt!) To add to someone’s post-event backyard bird fun, "Backyard Birds with Jill" donated a gift basket for the silent auction that included a bird feeder, 8 pounds of bird seed, and a set of flash cards.
"Backyard Birds with Jill", led by Jill Henderson (VMN-Holston Rivers Chapter) hosted a learning exhibit for the Meadowview Elementary School community at their annual Fall Festival held at the school on Saturday, November 5. Approximately 250 students, family members, and teachers from the Meadowview community in rural Washington County participated in the interactive display. Students spun the bird wheel and were asked to identify the bird name on the wheel by using The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Backyard Birds Flash Cards. The activity provided an opportunity to help students learn bird characteristics including size, shape, color pattern, habitat, behavior and range so they can identify the bird when they see them in their own backyard. Using the bird sound app feature on the flash cards, participants were able to hear the bird's sound to also aid in identification. Each student received a really cool bird sticker for their backpack (or shirt!) To add to someone’s post-event backyard bird fun, "Backyard Birds with Jill" donated a gift basket for the silent auction that included a bird feeder, 8 pounds of bird seed, and a set of flash cards.
Wayne Hall, Chair of the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Committee, digs in to plant a new longleaf pine. Photo by B. Ruegsegger. Planting the Past to Become the Future
Contributed by Beverley Ruegsegger, VMN Historic Southside Chapter
December, 2022 marked a major milestone in the efforts of the Historic Southside Chapter to establish a longleaf pine forest in Smithfield’s Windsor Castle Park. Over 3,500 pine plants were planted in an 8-acre plot by approximately 60 community volunteers including 20 VMN members. The plants were donated by the VA Department of Forestry and VA Department of Conservation and Recreation and planted in scarfed rows in a prominent part of the park. This planting adds to the 700+ longleaf pines that were installed in 2019 and represents a substantial contribution toward drawing the public’s attention to this important Virginia heritage tree. In time the trees of this forest will not only lend their towering beauty to this area, but also provide the unique understory of flora and fauna characteristic of longleaf pine communities. Who knows, maybe a Red-cockaded woodpecker will check it out!
Along with other participants from various organizations in the community was Mr. Wayne Hall, Chair of Smithfield’s Parks and Recreation Committee. In appreciation he expressed the following on behalf of the town, “My sincere thanks to all Master Naturalists and the other agencies involved for their efforts and guidance in the LL Pine project. Without their cooperation, this project would not have been possible.”
Go to natureinwindsorcastlepark.com to learn more of this project and other longleaf pine iniatives by the Historic Southside Chapter in Windsor Castle Park.
Contributed by Beverley Ruegsegger, VMN Historic Southside Chapter
December, 2022 marked a major milestone in the efforts of the Historic Southside Chapter to establish a longleaf pine forest in Smithfield’s Windsor Castle Park. Over 3,500 pine plants were planted in an 8-acre plot by approximately 60 community volunteers including 20 VMN members. The plants were donated by the VA Department of Forestry and VA Department of Conservation and Recreation and planted in scarfed rows in a prominent part of the park. This planting adds to the 700+ longleaf pines that were installed in 2019 and represents a substantial contribution toward drawing the public’s attention to this important Virginia heritage tree. In time the trees of this forest will not only lend their towering beauty to this area, but also provide the unique understory of flora and fauna characteristic of longleaf pine communities. Who knows, maybe a Red-cockaded woodpecker will check it out!
Along with other participants from various organizations in the community was Mr. Wayne Hall, Chair of Smithfield’s Parks and Recreation Committee. In appreciation he expressed the following on behalf of the town, “My sincere thanks to all Master Naturalists and the other agencies involved for their efforts and guidance in the LL Pine project. Without their cooperation, this project would not have been possible.”
Go to natureinwindsorcastlepark.com to learn more of this project and other longleaf pine iniatives by the Historic Southside Chapter in Windsor Castle Park.
The Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program keeps a mile-long section of the Capital Trail clean! Photo by Connie Reitz. Historic Rivers Chapter Volunteers Earn a Clean-up Award
Contributed by Judy Jones, Rick Brown, and Connie Reitz, VMN Historic Rivers Chapter
HRC members received a wonderful piece of news in December of 2022. The Capital Trail Foundation chose the Historic Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists to receive the Adopt-a-Trail Group of the Year award. The Foundation is an organization responsible for the Virginia Capital Trail, a dedicated, paved pedestrian and bicycle 52-mile trail that connects the Commonwealth’s past and present capitals of Jamestown and Richmond along the Scenic Route 5 corridor. Over 1 million people used this trail in 2021.
This accolade represents the hard work of so many of the Chapter members and is truly a recognition of which we can be proud. The cleanup team, which varies in number and ‘litter-pickers’ each month, is only required to ‘scour’ their mile once a quarter. Instead, coordinator Karen Hines has 6-10 members meet every month at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, wearing gloves, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, orange vests, and carrying both water and ‘litter grabbers’, ready to clean up the trash on Capital Trail Miles 6-7.
This activity was first created by HRC stalwart Karen Grass, whom we lost suddenly in 2020. She was an avid biking enthusiast and felt that helping to keep the Capital Trail clear of litter was not only a gift to bikers and hikers but also to the community as a whole. In her honor, we have continued this activity naming it “Karen’s Mile”, and we view this award as a tribute to her leadership and vision as well as to our commitment as a Chapter to carry on her legacy.
Contributed by Judy Jones, Rick Brown, and Connie Reitz, VMN Historic Rivers Chapter
HRC members received a wonderful piece of news in December of 2022. The Capital Trail Foundation chose the Historic Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists to receive the Adopt-a-Trail Group of the Year award. The Foundation is an organization responsible for the Virginia Capital Trail, a dedicated, paved pedestrian and bicycle 52-mile trail that connects the Commonwealth’s past and present capitals of Jamestown and Richmond along the Scenic Route 5 corridor. Over 1 million people used this trail in 2021.
This accolade represents the hard work of so many of the Chapter members and is truly a recognition of which we can be proud. The cleanup team, which varies in number and ‘litter-pickers’ each month, is only required to ‘scour’ their mile once a quarter. Instead, coordinator Karen Hines has 6-10 members meet every month at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, wearing gloves, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, orange vests, and carrying both water and ‘litter grabbers’, ready to clean up the trash on Capital Trail Miles 6-7.
This activity was first created by HRC stalwart Karen Grass, whom we lost suddenly in 2020. She was an avid biking enthusiast and felt that helping to keep the Capital Trail clear of litter was not only a gift to bikers and hikers but also to the community as a whole. In her honor, we have continued this activity naming it “Karen’s Mile”, and we view this award as a tribute to her leadership and vision as well as to our commitment as a Chapter to carry on her legacy.
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