Hello, VMNs. We hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend. Summer has officially begun and everything is getting very green! When the sun gets a little too bright, you can catch up on the VMN program’s Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
Conference Update - Program Teasers
We are putting the finishing touches on our 2024 VMN Virtual Conference agenda, and it is shaping up to be a great program! The complete program will be available in our next bi-weekly email, but here are a few teasers.
This and much more will be available in our program. And! If you purchase a ticket to the virtual conference, you will have access to the session recordings for six months after the event! You can watch them all!
Reminder: Invasive Plants Survey
Blue Ridge PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) is surveying a broad group of participants to better understand what invasive plant species have been or are becoming, a problem for Virginia homeowners, farmers, commercial property owners, and natural area stewards. They need your help to identify which invasive plants you are seeing locally and are most concerned about. Please fill out the Invasive Plants of Virginia Survey (deadline is August 1.)
Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Leopold's Preserve: A Model for Wise Land Use
Date: Monday, June 24, 12:00 pm
Description: Leopold's Preserve, a 380-acre park with more than 7 miles of trails located in Haymarket, Virginia, was created as part of a housing development project. The developer acquired a 500-acre parcel of land, carved out a slight portion for a clustered residential community, then used the profits to protect and fund the maintenance of the remaining acreage as public open space. In this presentation, participants will learn about the principles of wise land use that influenced the creation of Leopold's Preserve, policies governing the preservation of open space in Virginia, and the educational programs and environmental best practices taking place at Leopold's Preserve.
Presenter: Scott C. Plein is the Chairman and President of the White House Farm Foundation, an environmental nonprofit based in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Scott is deeply involved in many other charitable organizations, including the American Horticultural Society (Chairman), the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (past Board Member), and Asian American Success (past Board Member). Scott has been recognized for his tireless work in conservation with the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation, the Prince William Ducks Unlimited Conservationist of the Year Award, and the NVBIA Great American Living Award for Innovative Land Planning.
Registration: Pre-registration required
Trees to Products Program
Date: July 8-11, 2024 (Registration due June 30)
Location: Wise, Virginia
Description: The Trees to Products teacher program is designed to provide teachers with factual and credible information about Virginia’s hardwood forests. We link these concepts to the Virginia Standards of Learning and provide training in Project Learning Tree activities. A variety of hardwood forest management techniques and forest product industries will be examined in detail. The goal is to offer teachers an in-the-field tour of sustainable forest management techniques. These management practices not only provide raw materials for processing at local forest product industries but also provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and sustain forest health to maintain the viewshed and water quality. The wood products produced are widely used in today’s society. Teachers will see and learn about the sustainable and renewable resource of trees and how trees are converted into a variety of everyday products. This program is open to non-formal educators such as VMN volunteers, as well as K-12 teachers!
More Info: Please see this brochure for more details.
Questions? Contact Bill Worrell, Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, [email protected], 276-889-8056.
This email includes:
- Conference Update
- Invasive Plants Survey
- Continuing Education Opportunities
Conference Update - Program Teasers
We are putting the finishing touches on our 2024 VMN Virtual Conference agenda, and it is shaping up to be a great program! The complete program will be available in our next bi-weekly email, but here are a few teasers.
- Learn about the fascinating behavior, ecology, and life history of the North American Beaver and strategies humans can use for coexisting with these creatures.
- Get ideas for how to conduct a successful BioBlitz.
- Delve into the latest research surrounding the impact of birds on human health and why we need birds for overall well being.
- Discover synergism between Virginians and climate, including opportunities for active participation in climate monitoring and reporting.
This and much more will be available in our program. And! If you purchase a ticket to the virtual conference, you will have access to the session recordings for six months after the event! You can watch them all!
Reminder: Invasive Plants Survey
Blue Ridge PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) is surveying a broad group of participants to better understand what invasive plant species have been or are becoming, a problem for Virginia homeowners, farmers, commercial property owners, and natural area stewards. They need your help to identify which invasive plants you are seeing locally and are most concerned about. Please fill out the Invasive Plants of Virginia Survey (deadline is August 1.)
Continuing Education Opportunities
VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Leopold's Preserve: A Model for Wise Land Use
Date: Monday, June 24, 12:00 pm
Description: Leopold's Preserve, a 380-acre park with more than 7 miles of trails located in Haymarket, Virginia, was created as part of a housing development project. The developer acquired a 500-acre parcel of land, carved out a slight portion for a clustered residential community, then used the profits to protect and fund the maintenance of the remaining acreage as public open space. In this presentation, participants will learn about the principles of wise land use that influenced the creation of Leopold's Preserve, policies governing the preservation of open space in Virginia, and the educational programs and environmental best practices taking place at Leopold's Preserve.
Presenter: Scott C. Plein is the Chairman and President of the White House Farm Foundation, an environmental nonprofit based in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Scott is deeply involved in many other charitable organizations, including the American Horticultural Society (Chairman), the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (past Board Member), and Asian American Success (past Board Member). Scott has been recognized for his tireless work in conservation with the Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation, the Prince William Ducks Unlimited Conservationist of the Year Award, and the NVBIA Great American Living Award for Innovative Land Planning.
Registration: Pre-registration required
Trees to Products Program
Date: July 8-11, 2024 (Registration due June 30)
Location: Wise, Virginia
Description: The Trees to Products teacher program is designed to provide teachers with factual and credible information about Virginia’s hardwood forests. We link these concepts to the Virginia Standards of Learning and provide training in Project Learning Tree activities. A variety of hardwood forest management techniques and forest product industries will be examined in detail. The goal is to offer teachers an in-the-field tour of sustainable forest management techniques. These management practices not only provide raw materials for processing at local forest product industries but also provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and sustain forest health to maintain the viewshed and water quality. The wood products produced are widely used in today’s society. Teachers will see and learn about the sustainable and renewable resource of trees and how trees are converted into a variety of everyday products. This program is open to non-formal educators such as VMN volunteers, as well as K-12 teachers!
More Info: Please see this brochure for more details.
Questions? Contact Bill Worrell, Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, [email protected], 276-889-8056.