I’vehadthepleasurethisyearofwatchingourfledglingprogrammature,andithasbeenamazingtoseeandhearaboutalloftheaccomplishmentsofourvolunteers.BecauseofVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteers,morekidsareoutdoorslearningaboutnature...andmoreadultstoo!Thousandsofacresoflandhavebeenimprovedthroughriparianplantings,wildlifehabitatrestorationprojects,andinvasivespeciesmanagementefforts.Intotal,VirginiaMasterNaturalistshavecontributedover$1millioninservicetotheCommonwealth.That’sanimpressivemilestoneforaprogramthatisonly3yearsold.

Iwasespeciallydelightedtogiveouttwochapterawardslastyeartoourtwochapterswiththestrongestvolunteeringrecords:theHistoricRiversChapter,locatedintheWilliamsburgarea,andtheBeagleRidgeChapterintheWythevillearea.Really,allofourchaptersaredoingafantasticjobrecruitingandretainingvolunteers,developingpartnerships,matchingvolunteerstoserviceopportunities,andhelpingourprogramtoberecognizedacrossVirginiaandbeyond.Thankyoutoallofourvolunteers,chapteradvisors,sponsoringagencies,localpartners,andcommitteemembersforallyourhardwork.

Iinviteyoutoreadonthroughthisnewsletter/annualreporttomeetsomeofourvolunteers,learnabouttheimpressiveserviceprojectscompletedbyMasterNaturalistsacrossthestate,anddiscoversomeofourotherprogramaccomplishmentsin2008.

Sincerely,

MichellePrysby

VirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramCoordinator

VirginiaTechDepartmentofForestry/VirginiaCooperativeExtension

Overview

Statistics

Service

Spotlightonavolunteer

Milestoneachievers

Otheraccom-plishments

Invasives

Chapters

Websites

Contactinfo

What’s Inside?

DearVirginiaMasterNaturalistsupporters,

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments.

�2008AnnualReport

Providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to Virginia’s

natural resources.

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Save the Date!We will hold our Second Annual Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Volunteer Conference and Training in 2009!When: October 30-November 1Where: Leesburg, VAWhat: A full weekend of advanced training opportunities, networking with other Master Naturalists, and, of course, having fun!More details and registration information will be posted on the program Web site.Photo: Master Naturalists enjoy the fall colors during a birding field trip at the 2008 Virgijnia Master Naturalist Statewide Volunteer Conference and Training in Wytheville, VA. Thank you to the anonymous person who posted this lovely photo on our photo-sharing site! (See page 11.)

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TheVirginiaMasterNaturalistProgram:AnOverview

TheVirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramisastatewide

volunteertrainingprogrampositivelyimpactingnaturalresourceeducationandconservationacrossVirginia.Theprogram’smissionistobeacorpsofwell-informedvolunteersprovidingeducation,outreach,andservicededicatedtothebeneficialmanagementofnaturalresourcesandnaturalareaswithintheircommunitiesfortheCommonwealthofVirginia.

Atthestatelevel,theprogramissponsoredjointlybyVirginia

CooperativeExtension,theVirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries,theVirginiaDepartmentofConservationandRecreation,theVirginiaDepartmentofForestry,andtheVirginiaMuseumofNaturalHistory.TheVirginiaTechForestryDepartmentandCollegeofNaturalResourcesprovideadditionalsupport.Localpartnershipsareacornerstoneoftheprogramandincludeotherpublicagencies,aswellasprivateorganizationsinvolvedinconservationandeducation.

Theprogramconsistsofanetworkof25VirginiaMaster

Naturalistchaptersacrossthestate.Eachchapterisresponsibleforrecruitingandtrainingvolunteersandforworkingwithpartnerstocreateandcoordinatevolunteerserviceopportunities.Thetrainingconsistsofaminimumof40hoursclassroomandfieldtimecoveringacoresetofcurriculumobjectives.Theobjectivesfocuson

Dan River Chapter volunteers check out a turtle while out on a field trip. Photo from Dan River Master Naturalists.

ecology,naturalresourcemanagement,basicnaturalhistoryoftheanimalsandplantsofVirginia,andskillsforteachingandfieldresearch.Volunteersalsocomplete8hoursofadvancedtrainingthatprovidesmorespecializedskillsandknowledge.TobecomeaCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalist,eachvolunteermustalsocomplete40hoursofservice.Thisservicecanbeintheformofeducation(suchasleadinganinterpretiveprograminastatepark),citizenscience(suchascollectingdataonwildlifepopulations),orstewardship(suchasrestoringanaturalarea).

ThisprogrambenefitsVirginia’scitizenry,itspubliclands,anditsnaturalresources.The

developmentofadedicatedvolunteercorpsexpandsthecapacityofVirginia’snaturalresourceagencies.Thecooperativenatureoftheprogramprovidesamechanismforstate,local,non-profit,andotherpartnerstoworktogethertowardsthecommongoalsofconservationandeducation.ThevolunteerserviceprovidesapurposefulwayforcitizenstospendtimeoutdoorsandonVirginia’spubliclands.

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Arlington Regional Master Naturalists immerse themselves in learning about aquatic ecology during a canoe trip. Photo from Arlington Master Naturalists.

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Thesedata,providedbythechapters,showhowourvolunteersaremakingadifference.Thesefiguresrepresentaminimum;volunteerhoursandimpactstendtobeunderreported.

2008ProgramStatistics

Number of Basic Training Courses Held 23Number of Volunteers Trained in 2008 390Total Number of Trained Volunteers 910Number of Active Volunteers 636 (70%) Active volunteers are individuals

who reported any volunteer service during the year.

Number of Certified VMNs 315 (35%)Volunteer Hours: Education 7116 E.g. Interpretive programs,

classroom presentations, and development of interpretive materials.

Number of People Directly Reached Through Education Programs

18,849

Number of presentations given by VMN volunteers

415

Volunteer Hours: Citizen Science 6155 E.g. Water quality monitoring, Wildlife Mapping, and other monitoring and inventory studies.

Volunteer Hours: Stewardship 5254 E.g. Trail building and mainte-nance, invasive plant removal, and habitat restoration.

Number of acres positively impacted 2562Number of miles of trails built/maintained 222Total Project Hours: 18,770Monetary Value of Volunteer Project Hours:

$376,907 Based on the Independent Sector’s report for VA.

Volunteer Hours: Administration 12,064 These hours reflect the tremendous amount of work completed by local leaders to start new chapters. Established chapters report spending less time on administration and more on projects.

Total Volunteer Hours for 2008 30,834Monetary Value of total volunteer hours $619,146 Based on the Independent Sector’s

report for VA.

Total Volunteer Hours 2006-2008 49,877Monetary Value of total volunteer hours 2006-2008

$1,001,535 Based on the Independing Sector’s report for VA.

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2008SponsoringAgencyVolunteerProjectHighlights

VirginiaMasterNaturalistsareclearlymakingadifferencewiththeirvolunteerservice.In2008,theycontributedmorethan18,000hoursofserviceoneducation,citizenscience,

andstewardshipprojectstobenefitVirginia’snaturalresources.Mostofourchaptershaveadozenormoreongoingprojects.Someofthemostnoteworthyprojectsarehighlightedbelow. VirginiaDepartmentof

ConservationandRecreation: VMNvolunteersconductededucation,citizenscience,andstewardshipprojectsatmanystateparksin2008,includingBearCreekLake,BelleIsle,Douthat,HungryMother,Kiptopeke,MasonNeck,NewRiverTrail,SmithMountainLake,Westmoreland,andYorkRiver.TheywerealsoactiveatseveralDCRNaturalAreaPreserves.Projectsintheparksandpreservesincludedtrailmaintenance,plantsurveys,birdmonitoring,andinterpretiveprogramsforyouth.

EasternShoreChapter

membersformedvolunteer

stewardship committees for three DCR Natural Area Preserves.Theyhavedevelopedfactsheets,monitored

waterlevels,maintainedspecieslists,servedaspubliccontacts,andassistedwithspecialevents

andsupervisionofothervolunteers.“Theassistanceprovidedbythevolunteerstewardship

committeesisessentialtotheeffectivestewardshipoftheEasternShoreNatural

AreaPreserves,”saysDotField,DCRNaturalAreaSteward.

VirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries: MasterNaturalistsDGIFprojectsin2008included

stewardshipprojectsatWildlifeManagementAreas,writingarticlesfortheOutdoorReporte-newsletter,wildlifeandhabitateducationprograms,assistingwithCanadagoosebandingandMuteSwanmonitoring,assistingwithmonitoringoffreshwatermusselpopulations,andwildlifehabitatrestorationprojects.

MostofourMaster

Naturalistchaptersareengagedincollectingdata

fortheWildlifeMapping program,andvolunteers

contributedhundredsofhourstothisprojectin

2008.

VirginiaCooperativeExtension: Morethanonethirdofthe

totalVMNvolunteerprojecthourswenttowardseducatingothersaboutnaturalresources,contributinggreatlytotheCooperativeExtensionmission.Infact,VMNvolunteersreachedmorethan18,800peoplethroughtheireducationprojects.Forexample,in2008,VMNvolunteersledseveralJuniorNaturalist4Hclubs,staffedboothsatcountyfairs,conductedMeaningfulWatershedEducationExperiencesforstudents,assistedwith4Hcamps,andconductedhabitatprogramsforlandowners.

T h eBlue Ridge Foothills

and Lakes Chapter helped to

develop an outdoor classroom for the Skelton 4-H Center on Smith

Mountain Lake. This small, intimate outdoorclassroom gives the students additional exposure

to the outdoors, allowing the outdoor educationfacilitatorstobebetterabletoteachkeyconceptsofenvironmental conservation. Since being built, theoutdoorclassroomhasservedasanoutdoorlearning

area for several core curriculum areas: forestecology,wildlifeecology,andoutdoorsurvival

skills. 4-H Center instructors find thisoutdoorclassroomverybeneficialto

thesuccessoftheirlessons.

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2008SponsoringAgencyVolunteerProjectHighlights

VirginiaMuseumofNaturalHistory:SouthwesternPiedmontChapter

memberscontributed75hoursandreachedmorethan1600peoplewitheducationalprogramsforVirginiaNaturalHistoryMuseumvisitorsandspecialevents.Inaddition,MasterNaturalistsarevolunteeringinthepaleontologyandarchaeologylabs,cleaningartifactsanddoingotherthingstohelpmanagethecollections.

TheSWPiedmontChapter

ispartneringwiththemuseum

onalong-term biological inventory of Frank Wilson Park,a

Martinsvillecityparkneighboringthemuseum.Thegoalofthisprojectistoidentifythefloraand

faunatheparkinordertogenerateafieldguide.Thevolunteershavecreatedatreemeasurementandidentificationprotocoltousewithnewvolunteersandschoolgroups.Volunteershavealsocreated

awebsiteblogforthisprojectathttp://wilsonparktreesurvey.blogspot.com/.

VirginiaDepartmentofForestry:MasterNaturalistprojectswithDOFin2008includedtreeplanting,

seed/acorncollecting,andriparianbufferplanting.OnechapterisassistingtheDOFinadeerexclosurestudytodeterminetheeffectsofandeducatepeopleaboutdeerbrowsinginFairfaxCountyparks.AnotherchapterispartneringwiththeDOFonaforestmanagementdemonstrationplot,onwhichtheyhaveinventoriedexistingtrees,controlledweeds,andplantedadditionaltrees.

TheNorthernNeck

Chapterishelpingto

buildnew trails in the only state forestinthat

region.Thetrailswillprovideaccesstobothforestersandthegeneralpublicforeducational

andrecreationalpurposes.Manyuncommonfloraareknowntogrowintheseforestsbut

havebeeninaccessiblebytrailuntilnow.

Beagle Ridge Chapter members help educate the public about wildlife habitats at a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries booth. Photo from Beagle Ridge Master Naturalists.

BeagleRidgeMasterNaturalistsshowothersademonstrationraingardentheybuiltwithstudentsataWytheCountyelementaryschool.

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TheCentralPiedmontChapterheldanativegrasslandresto-

rationworkshopforlandowners,showinglandownersfrom4coun-tieshownativewarmseasongrass-escanbeusedtoreplacefescuetoprovidebetterwildlifehabitat.

RiverineChaptervolunteerspartneredwiththeRichmond

AudubonSocietyon30outdoorprogramsdesignedtoreachanunderservedpopulationofchildrenwhohavenotbeenexposedtonatureandoutdoorlearning.

TheNewRiverValleyChapterisworkingwiththeUSDA

NationalForestServiceandseveralothercommunitypartnerstodevelop1½acresofbutterflyhabitatnearBlacksburg.

BluebirdTrailsinNelsonCountyfledged140moreEastern

Bluebirdsin2008thanin2007,thankstotheCentralBlueRidge

2008LocalPartnerProjectHighlightsMasterNaturalists,whobuiltorrefurbished99newnestboxesandmonitoredthemthroughoutthesummer.

TheCentralRappahannockChapterpartneredwithFredericksburg’sMott’sRunNatureCenter,

locatedatan860acrenaturalareamanagedforbothrecreationandprotectionofadrinkingwatersource.MasterNaturalistvolunteersstaffthenaturecentertoprovidenaturalhistoryinformationtothepublic.Theyanswerquestionsaboutnature,leadvisitorsthroughinteractivedisplays,andmaintainanaturejournaltotrackthefloraandfaunainthearea.Thevolunteerseducatedmorethan900visitorsin2008andhaveallowedthecentertoservemorepeoplebyprovidingmuchneededweekendstaffing.

TheFairfaxChapterworkedwiththeOaktonHighSchoolEnvironmentalStewardstoplantanative

grassandwildflowergardenattheschool.Studentsandnaturalistsworkedsidebysidetodesignandcreatethegarden.Thesiteisflourishingandhasbecomeapopularplaceforbluebirdstofeed.

OldRagMasterNaturalistsareworkingwiththeSmithsonianInstitutiontomonitorbutterfly

diversityandabundance.VolunteerscountedbutterflyspeciesinsmallplotsfromJulythroughAugust.Thisispartofaregionalbiodiversitystudy.

TheBlueRidgeFoothillsandLakesChapterhas14membersmonitoringwaterqualitywithVirginia

SaveOurStreams.Theycontributedover100hourstotheproject,andledlocalstudentsinwatermonitoringatBookerT.WashingtonNationalMonument.

TidewaterMasterNaturalistsconductededucationalprogramsattheEasternShoreandFisherman

IslandNationalWildlifeRefuges.TheUSFishandWildlifeServiceisshort-handedatbothoftheserefuges,andwithoutthehelpoftheMasterNaturalists,theywouldnotbeabletoofferthesesignificantprogramsdesignedtoteachareayouthabouttheChesapeakeBayecosystem.

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SpotlightonaVolunteer:Our200thCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalist,TerryKoci

Backin2007,TerryKociwasoneofnearly100peoplehopingtobeinthefirstRiverineChapter

MasterNaturalisttrainingclass.Now,Terryhasbecomeour200thCertifiedVirginiaMasterNaturalistandanactivechaptermember.Aspartofhervolunteerservice,TerrylearnedtorecognizethecallsofthefrogsinherareaandpassedatesttobecomeaVirginiaFrogandToadCallingSurveyvolunteer.TerryalsohelpedwithtrailbuildingatthenewPowhatanLakesWildlifeManagementAreaandpublishestheRiverineChapter’smonthlynewsletter.Whenshe’snotbusywiththoseactivities,TerryworksfortheCentralVirginiaNurseryandLandscapeAssociationandtakescareofahorse,goats,rabbits,hens,andabio-intensivegardenonher4acrepropertyinGoochland.“Sheisawonderfulmemberofourchapterandadedicatedvolunteer.OnethingthatstandsouttomeaboutTerryishowshetriestoinvolveherdaughterinasmanyactivitieswiththechapteraspossible,”saysKathleenOgilvy,Riverinechapteradvisor.

SpotlightonaVolunteer:ALife-ChangingExperienceforSueRaymond

SueRaymondwasafraidofsnakes--reallyafraid.Sheencounteredsnakes,bothvenomousand

non-venomous,onherwoodedpropertyfrequently,andherparalyzingfearhadrisensohighthatshewouldnolongergohikingorevenventureoutinheryardexceptinwinter.“Ijustretiredfromteachingandwantedtobeabletobeoutsideenjoyingnature,thebirds,thefauna,etc.Idecidedtotrythemasternaturalistclasstogetbackintotunewithnatureandalsoimmediatelyrealizedthatthismightbemychancetoconquer(somewhat)myfearofsnakes,”saysSue.ItjustsohappensthatthepresidentofthelocalCentralVirginiaMasterNaturalistChapter,MikeHayslett,isaherpetologistbytraining!“Itreallydidwork,”saysSue.“ItalkedtoMikeandhegavemesomecommonsenseinformationthathashelpedmetogetoutsideandnotfocussomuchonthepossibilityofasnakeencounter--orthedireconsequencesI’malwaysimagining.I’mnotgoingtosayI’m100%cured,butIwasabletogoonallbutonefieldtripwithourclass(IwasinArizonafortheotherhikinginrattlesnakeinfesteddesert!LastyearIcouldn’thaveimaginedthat!).”

OldRagMasterNaturalistJackPricesnappedthispictureofaTimberRattlesnakewhilevisitingOldRagMountain,whereheandotherVMNvolunteersparticipateintheShenandoahNationalParkAdopt-an-Outcropprogram,educatingpeopleaboutandmonitoringsensitiverockyoutcropsinthepark.

TheVirginiaFrogandToadCallingSurveyisacitizenscienceprojectcoodindatedbytheVADepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries.Learnmoreathttp://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/frogsurvey/.PhotofromBansheeReeksMasterNaturalists.

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SomeVirginiaMasterNaturalistsgivemanymorethanthe40

hoursofserviceannuallyrequiredtomaintaincertification,Thisyear,we’vestartedgivingthesesuperstarvolunteerspinstoacknowledgetheirdedicationtotheprogramandtoVirginia’snaturalresources.Theirserviceincludestimespentonnaturalresourceprojectsaswellasadministrativetimedonatedtodevelopingandsupportingthelocalchapters.Thankyousomuchforallthatyoucontribute!These names were compiled from the 2008 annual reports submitted by chapters. If any volunteers believe they should be added to this 2008 list, please contact your chapter’s record keeper.

MilestoneAchievements

250+ Lifetime Hours: Linda Cole, Historic Rivers ChapterPaul Davis, Central Blue Ridge ChapterMary Lee Epps, Rivanna ChapterKarrin Gordon, Riverine ChapterDede Smith, Rivanna ChapterVictoria Keenum, Blue Ridge Foothills & Lakes Chapter Alice Kopinitz, Historic Rivers ChapterSeig Kopinitz, Historic Rivers Chapter Kathleen Ogilvy, Riverine Chapter Pam Owen, Old Rag ChapterRob Payne, Banshee Reeks ChapterJack Price, Old Rag ChapterEllen Reynolds, Beagle Ridge ChapterPatty Riddick, Historic Rivers ChapterDorothy Tompkins, Rivanna/Northern Neck Chapters

500+ Lifetime Hours: Susan Abraham, Banshee Reeks Chapter Shirley Devan, Historic Rivers Chapter Emily Gianfortoni, Riverine Chapter Nicole Hamilton, Banshee Reeks Chapter Tammie Lowry, Beagle Ridge ChapterFrank McLaughlin, Banshee Reeks Chapter Charlotte Rea, Central Blue Ridge ChapterDori Rhodes, Banshee Reeks Chapter Jim Scibek, Central Rappahannock ChapterIda Swenson, Rivanna Chapter

1000+ Lifetime Hours:Kari Abbott, Historic Rivers ChapterSusan Powell, Historic Rivers Chapter

WeheldourfirsteverstatewidevolunteerconferenceinWytheville,Virginia.79MasterNaturalistsattendedtheconference,representing18chapters. Wereceiveda$2000grantfromtheVirginiaResourceUseEducationCouncilandtheVirginiaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualitytoprovidewatershededucationtrainingatourstatewideconference.

Other2008ProgramAccomplishments

WeheldaNewChapterCoordinatorsTrainingattheNewKentForestryCenterandourfournewchaptersarenowfullyonboardwiththeprogram. Our5statesponsoringagenciesapprovedanother3yearsofprogramfunding.

OurWebsitehadnearly20,000visits.

Ourchapterspartneredwithmorethan150localorganizations.

Weachieveda75%rateofre-certificationofourvolunteers.

Invasivespeciesarerecognizednationallyandlocallyasaleadingthreattohealthyecosystems.InVirginia,invasivespeciesdisplacenativeandbeneficialspecies,negativelyimpactnaturalandagriculturalresources,and,accordingtoarecentreportfromVirginia’sDepartmentofConservationandRecreation,

Save the Date! May2,2009willbeastatewideInvasivePlantRemovalDay!Plantogetyourhandsdirtyremovinginvasiveplantsatasite

costanestimated$1billionannually. Witha$2500grantfromtheVirginiaTechCollegeofNaturalResourcestopromoteExtensionpartnerships,AdamDowning(NorthernDistrictForestryandNaturalResourcesExtensionAgent)andMichellePrysby(VirginiaMasterNaturalistProgramCoordinator)launchedthe“ArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers”program.Wetrained74MasterNaturalistvolunteersinfourregionalworkshopsequippingthemtoaddressinvasivespeciesissuesintheircommunities,andfollowedtheworkshopswithanawardsprogramtorecognizevolunteers,bothwithinandoutsideoftheprogram,makingabigdifferenceoninvasivespeciesissuesinthestate(seethenextpageforourawardwinners). Inafollow-upsurveyofworkshopparticipants,76%ofrespondentssaidthat,sincetheworkshops,theyhaveworkedtoeradicateinvasivespeciesontheirownproperties.Inaddition,62%ofrespondentssaidtheyhadworkedtoeradicateinvasivespeciesonanotherproperty,suchasapark.Aboutone

thirdofrespondentshadgivenapresentationaboutinvasives,and86%hadinformallyeducatedafriendorneighboraboutinvasives.Allinall,thesurveyrespondentshadeducatedalmost700peopleaboutinvasivesandimprovedmorethan260acresoflandthroughtheiron-the-groundefforts. Asjustoneexampleofthegreatprojectsthesevolunteershavedone,aMasterNaturalistteam(JimandDenisePilversackandJimandBonnieZinck)inBedfordCountylaunchedaninvasivespeciesremovalcampaignfortheirHomeowner’sAssociation.Theyledaneducationalprogramforotherhomeowners,conductedasurveyfortheinvasiveAilanthustree,andworkedwiththepropertyownerstoremove50Ailanthustreesintheneighborhood.Overthenextseveralyears,theyplantocontinuethework,educatingmorehomeownersandeventuallycontrollingAilanthusthroughoutthe100acresubdivision.

nearyou.Tofindaprojectthatneedsvolunteers,ortoregisteryourownproject,visithttp://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/invasives/index.html

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ArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers

VolunteersinBedfordCountyareworkingwithhomeownerstoeliminatetree-of-heavenintheirsubdivisionusingthe“hackandsquirt”method.Photo from Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter.

Wehadmanysubmissionsforourawardsprogram,andwewerepleasedtoacknowledgethefollowingawardrecipients.

TeamWinnersWalnutRunSubdivisionProject

Seeaboveforadescriptionofthisproject,ledbyBlueRidgeFoothillsandLakesMasterNaturalistsJimPilversack,DenisePilversack,JimZinck,andBonnieZinck.

InvasiveManagementAreaVolunteerSiteLeaders

These50volunteerscoordinateinvasivespeciesremovaleffortsat40sitesinFairfaxCountyparks.Alongwithmanagingover2000othervolunteers,theyeducatedthepublicthroughcommunityeventsandnewsletterarticles.

TeamHonorableMentionsFallsRidgePreserveProject

13NewRiverValleyMasterNaturalistvolunteersadopteda10-acreplotinthisNatureConservancypreserve,visitedit12timesandspentalmost400hoursoverthesummerandfallcontrollingAilanthus,autumnolive,andbushhoneysuckle.

BansheeReeksWeedBattalion:

TheseMasterNaturalistsmappedinvasivesona500acrenaturepreserve,removedinvasiveplantsatthesite,andcreatedaneducationalbrochureforthepublic.

IndividualWinnersHelenHamilton ThisMasterGardenervolunteerhaseducatedhundredsofpeopleinthe

Williamsburgareaaboutinvasivesandconductsoutdoorprogramstoteachpeopleaboutusingnativeplantsinsteadofexotics.

SteveYoung ThisvolunteeratLongBranchNatureCenterinArlingtonleadsinvasiveremovaleffortsatthecenterandotherlocationsandmaintainsablogsitegearedateducatingpeopleaboutexoticinvasives.

JimBallard ThisprivatelandownerincorporatedinvasivespeciescontrolintohismanagementplanforhisConwayRiverTimberFarm.Hehasspent200hourscontrollinginvasives,includinggarlicmustardandAilanthus,ontheproperty.

IndividualHonorableMentionsEdwardA.Munns,Jr.

ThisMasterGardenervolunteerconductseducationalprogramsaboutinvasivespeciesontheNorthernNeck.

LindaGuinn ThisPrinceWilliamMasterGardenerdevelopededucationalmaterialsaboutinvasivesandtaughtcommunityclassesonthetopic.

RobinWilliams ThisOldRagMasterNaturalistvolunteerhasbeenveryactiveininvasivecontroleffortsinShenandoahNationalPark,helpingwithon-the-groundeffortsandwithmanagingothervolunteers.

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AwardWinnersforArmedandDangerous:DestroyingVirginia’sInvasiveSpecieswithVolunteers

1. Banshee Reeks Chapter2. Central Rappahannock Chapter3. Rivanna Chapter4. Riverine Chapter5. Historic Rivers Chapter6. Alleghany Highlands Chapter7. Tidewater Chapter8. Central Virginia Chapter9. New River Valley Chapter10. Beagle Ridge Chapter11. Fairfax Chapter12. Daughter of the Stars Chapter13. Old Rag Chapter

14. Northern Neck Chapter15. Eastern Shore Chapter16. Central Blue Ridge Chapter17. Central Piedmont Chapter18. Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter19. Southwestern Piedmont Chapter20. Holston Rivers Chapter21. Dan River Chapter22. Arlington Regional Chapter23. Merrimac Farm Chapter24. Pocahontas Chapter25. Peninsula Chapter

For contact information and details about our chapters, please visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/chapters.html

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ReachingOutThroughtheWeb

We’reontheWeb,inmorewaysthanone.Weofcoursehaveoursiteatwww.

virginiamasternaturalist.orgasaone-stopspotforinformationabouttheprogram,linkstoour25chapters,anddownloadableprogramdocuments.Inaddition,manyofourchaptershostandmaintaintheirownWebsiteswheretheyhavechapternewsletters,projectlists,eventcalendars,andmore.SomechaptersalsohaveFacebookpagesandYahoo!orGooglegroups.

Infall2008,welaunchedvirginiamasternaturalist.smugmug.com,aphotosharingsitethatallowsour

chapterstopostpicturesoftheiractivities.Anyonecanviewthephotosbyvisitingthatlink,andchaptermemberscanlogonanddownloadphotosforuseinpresentations.Sofaronlyafewchaptershavecontributed,butwehopetoincreasethatnumberin2009.IfyouareaVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteerwhowouldliketocontributedigitalimagesofyourchaptertrainings,volunteerprojects,orsocialevents,

pleasecontactMichellePrysbyfordirections.

Inaddition,we’vejustlaunchedtheVirginiaMasterNaturalist

blog.TheblogismainlygearedtoVirginiaMasterNaturalistvolunteersandchapterboardsandwillcontainpostsaboutinterestingnaturalresourceeventsinVirginia,naturalhistoryobservations,andtheprogramcoordinator’sobservationsandexperiencesasshevisitschaptersaroundthestate.Theblogcanbefoundatvirginiamasternaturalist.blogspot.com.

DropinandvisitourmainWebsite,chaptersites,photo

sharingsite,orblogsoonandoften!

Steering Committee Michelle Adcock, VCE

Denise Hayes, Volunteer Beth Hawse, VA DCR

Michael Hayslett, Volunteer Ron Hughes, VA DGIF

Jeff Kirwan, VCE Michael Lachance, VCE

Ann Mallek, VMNH Toni Noreika, VA DOFEllen Powell, VA DOF

Ellen Reynolds, VA DCRLou Verner, VA DGIF

Carol Zokaites, VA DCR

Executive Committee Dennis Casey, VMNH Dean Cumbia, VDOF Bob Duncan, VDGIF

Denise Hayes, Volunteer Jeff Kirwan, VCE

Chris Ludwig, VDCRKeith Morgan, VDCR

Jim Riddell, VCE Dave Slack, VDOF

David Whitehurst, VDGIF

The Virginia Master Naturalist program is sponsored joinly by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Additional support is provided by the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry and the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources.

Program Coordinator Michelle Prysby

Virginia Tech Department of Forestry/Virginia Cooperative Extension Mailing Address: 460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Phone: 434-872-4580 E-mail: masternaturalist@vt.edu

www.virginiamasternaturalist.org

I was given the opportunity to be a seasonal educator for the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association this summer at 2 campgrounds close by my home in Damascus. It was a sizeable challenge but a good stretch to grow from my basic training. Had I not taken this path of the master naturalist, I never would have had the confidence to do it. --BunnyMedeiros,HolstonRiversMasterNaturalist

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