Chilton Woods Trail Making

Thursday morning, October 30, 2008, a combined group of 12 members of  Northern Neck Chapters of Virginia Master Naturalist and Virginia Native Plant Society formed a work party led by Rich Steensma – Forester and Mike Aherron – Forest Technician of the Lancaster County office of the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF).  The work party’s objective was to clear a trail within the Chilton Woods State Forest, located near Lively and Alfonso, Virginia on Rt.602, Field Trial Road. 

Chilton Woods is the first, and so far only, state forest on the Northern Neck and consists of approximately 400 acres of various aged stands of loblolly pine mixed with hardwoods.  If you would like to learn more about the Chilton State Forest and other State Forests across the Commonwealth please visit the DOF website www.dof.virginia.gov, select State Forests in the upper left hand corner and scroll down the page.

The DOF is one of the sponsors of the Virginia Master Naturalists program.  The Northern Neck Chapter (NNMN) was chartered in 2007 and its first graduating class is busy fulfilling their 40 volunteer hours requirement by participating in projects such as trail making and maintaining, so that natural resources like the state forest are accessible to the general public for recreation and educational purposes.

The Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society (NNNPS) has recently become a partner with NNMN, allowing for an exchange of volunteer resources and training opportunities.  The NNNPS is desirous of trails accessing the native flora and fauna that thrive in habitats found at Chilton Woods.  While hiking to the trail head, the group identified Chrysopsis mariana, Maryland Golden Aster, in bloom along with goldenrods and asters and enjoyed the spectacular autumn foliage colors.  Although some plants were sacrificed while cutting the trail, access to the greater majority is achieved.

Approximately one-quarter of the first planned trail was cleared by the group, although additional stump clearing will be required by DOF.  Additional work parties will continue at 10am Thursday, November 13th and throughout the winter as weather permits.

NNMN will conduct training classes beginning in February 2009 for citizens interested in becoming Master Naturalists.  For more information, e-mail or phone (804)436-4944. The curriculum of the first class is posted here.

Master Naturalist volunteers inspecting insects on a 2007 field trip.

Basic Training Course

The Northern Neck Master Naturalist basic training course is currently in progress. Here is the current class on the beach at Stratford Hall during a field trip to study the geology and fossils of the area. See below for the full course schedule.

Classroom      9:00am-12:00	Instructor(s)	Fieldtrip    1:00 – 3:00pm	Topic
February 26 @ RCC Annex #202	Charlene Talcott  & Rebecca Wilson (DCR)	None	Orientation; Introductions, Basic Skills; Dress for Field; Yahoo Group Sign-up
March 5 @ RCC Annex #202	Michelle Prysby (VA Coop Ext)	None	Basic Ecology
March 12 @ RCC Annex #202	Lynton Land (PhD. Geology,)	Stratford Hall: Lynton Land and Fawn Palmer	VA Biogeography, Geology, Weather, Climate, Soils
March 19 @ RCC Annex #202	Emily  Gianfortoni Sherry Giese (DGIF) Page Henley, NN Land Conservancy	None	Urban/Suburban Systems; Volunteer Opportunities; other misc.
March 26 @ Menokin	John McGruder (Consulting Forester)	Chilton Woods with Rich Steensma	Dendrology, Forest Ecology and Management
April 2 @ Belle Isle SP	Johnny Townsend (DCR)	Hickory Hollow NAP	Botany; Using a Key
April 9 @ RCC Annex #202	Art Evans (PhD Entomology)	Westmoreland State Park	Invertebrates Entomology
April 16 @ Belle Isle SP	Sandy Spencer (FWS-RRVNWR) Charlene Talcott	Belle Isle SP	Ornithology; Interpretation & Speaking Skills
April 23 @ RCC Annex #202	Sam Austin (USGS)	None	Streams, Rivers
April 25 @ Shiloh School	Chris Hobson (DCR-DNH) Lynton Land	SATURDAY FIELD TRIP Dameron Marsh/ Hughlett Point	Coastal systems, Mammalogy, Herpetology
April 30 @ Irvington Baptist Church	Bill Portlock (CBF) Billportlock.com	Boat Trip on the Rappahannock (1230-1530)	Wetlands; Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
May 7 @ VIMS, Gloucester Point 11:00AM! (times tentative – tidal influences)	Carl Hershner (VIMS) [1 hour classroom]	ALL DAY FIELD TRIP  @ VIMS seining with Sarah McGuire, etc. (1230-1630)	Ichthyology; Estuarine & Coastal Ecology and Management
May 14 @ RCC Annex #202	Charlene Talcott Rebecca Wilson (DCR)	Graduation Party CharleneTalcott’s home Near Lancaster Courthouse (1200-1400)	Risk Management Review of Exam, other misc.