Opequon Creek Project workshop for MN Credits

If any of you did not attend this workshop last year when Laura presented it as a MN elective, you can still get class credit for the presentation this year. It's really interesting!


The Opequon Creek Project Team is pleased to announce our guest speaker for Wednesday, March 2, 2011, will be Laura from the Outfitter at Harpers Ferry and The Outfitter's General Store. Her presentation will be, "The History of the Beaver in WV". WV beavers were responsible for creating wetlands that provided natural habitat and helped capture, filter and clean water before it entered the Chesapeake Bay.

The Opequon Creek Project Team general meeting is held the first Wednesday of each month, except July and August, at 6:00 p.m. at the P.S.S.D. facility on District Way, off Edwin Miller Blvd. in Martinsburg. General meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged by members.

Directions:

From I-81 - take exit 16 East onto Edwin Miller Blvd (Rt 9). Turn left just past Sheetz on District Way (between Daily Grind and United Bank). PSSD building is on the left at end of street, a PSSD sign is on front door. The conference room is the door to your immediate left upon entering lobby.

Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity

If you are interested in a fun VH opportunity, there are a couple of Earth Day events coming up that PVMN have been involved in, in past years. One is the ArtBerkeley Festival at War Memorial Park on April 16 from 10-4 p.m.

The other is the Earth Day Festival at Morgan Grove Park in Shepherdstown, April 23 from 12 noon-8 p.m.

In the past, we have had children’s activities, but we can do just a Master Naturalist contact booth as well. If you are interested, you can let me know and I can make sure you have access to the displays.


Those who are interested would be responsible for set up, manning the booth/activity, and taking stuff down. You could certainly share duties and time commitments. We would put all in touch with those who volunteer.

Peter Burr Farm Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers needed for PVAS MN Burr Farm projects
Kickoff Date: February 26, 2011 at 10 AM
Contact: Nan Johnson, gabbyvanv@frontier.com
Location: Burr Farm, Kearneysville off Rt 9, Edmond Rd to Peter Burr Street (near Shamrock Lighting)

MN help is requested to assist at Burr Farm. Volunteers are needed to:
    Conduct a plant species inventory
    Identify invasive species
    Remove invasive species
    Develop a plan to introduce native species to be added over time to increase plant diversity
    Remove some old fencing and piles of debris
    Construct wire fence along Warm Springs Rd
    Developing a plan and creating a nature trail


Please let Nan Johnson know if you are interested in volunteering for any of these projects at Burr Farm

Background: PVAS was approached by Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission to assist with improvements at  Peter Burr Farm in Bardane.   The group is interested in developing a nature trail on the property that highlights its natural features which include wetland, grassland, and others.  PVAS has been invited to hold a summer camp on the property this summer as well as host bird walks and other nature oriented activities.

Burr Farm history:  http://jeffersoncountyhlc.org/peterburrhouse.html

Become a Project Wild Facilitator

If any of you are interested in becoming Project Wild facilitators (where you present the training to others), there is information about a free training below.

On behalf of the WV Wildlife Resources Section, I’d like to invite you to become a part of the Project WILD family. As the new state Project WILD Coordinator, I am recruiting and training a core of Project WILD facilitators from around the state to help lead workshops in their local area. This is a great opportunity for you to share your enthusiasm for learning about wildlife. The fun facilitator training is free and includes an overnight stay at Jackson’s Mill, complete with lodging and meals. The dates for the training are May 21-22, 2011. It will begin with dinner on Saturday and end after lunch on Sunday. You would need to provide transportation to and from Jackson’s Mill, located eight miles off I-79 near Weston.

You have been invited because of your interest in teaching people about wildlife. The workshop will consist of training in facilitator skills, review of the curriculum materials, and conducting hands-on activities. We will be working mostly with original Project WILD K-12 and Growing Up WILD for ages 3-7 this year. If it has been a while since you worked with the project WILD family, check out: www.projectwild.org and www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD.htm . As a facilitator, you will be expected to lead one workshop a year (or more if you would like). This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity, so you can volunteer when it works best for you.

I need to confirm my tentative reservations soon, so I’m asking you to consider the invitation and call or email me within the next two weeks. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you decide to be a part of the West Virginia WILD family.


Karen McClure
WVDNR Wildlife Resources
4300 First Avenue, Suite 100
Nitro, WV 25143
Voice: 304-759-070
Fax: 304-759-0705

WV Environmental Education Association Conference

If you have not been to the WV Environmental Education Association Conference, you should think about it! Visit http://www.wveea.org/ for complete information. In particular, you may want to note that both Flying Wild and Growing Up Wild seminars will be offered. Each of these is 6 hours of class time and neither of them is in the immediate future for PVMN to offer. (Other sessions, while shorter, also count for recertification hours.) In addition, Wanda Miller will be presenting the graphic results of our “Body Farm” at Yankauer during last summer’s camp. Several other MN from our chapter will be going and if you are looking for a ride, let us know. We might be able to connect you with someone.


Stay tuned for information on PVMN’s participation in the Great Garlic Mustard Eradication Challenge, coming to Yankauer this spring!!

Ellen and Wanda

Leave No Trace Training for MN credits

As promised, Leave No Trace Training will be offered through Jefferson County Adult Education this spring. The class date is March 22 with the overnight to be announced at that time. Clark Dixon will be leading the session.

To register, go to the Jefferson County school website for Adult and Community Ed. On the left margin there are links to the Winter Catalog. That will bring up the entire booklet. The training is listed on page 11. There is a registration form in the booklet.

You can also find the booklet around the Jefferson County area, particularly in the schools.

If you have any questions about this course, email Clark Dixonconsultants@aol.com

Become a Project Learning Tree Facilitator

Feb. 15-16, 2011 - Weyerhaeuser OSB Plant, near

Flatwoods, WV

The WV Project Learning Tree (PLT) Committee is holding a training

session for anyone wanting to learn more about the PLT program and how

to teach others how to utilize PLT activities. The PLT Program is an

environmental education program designed for teachers and others

working with students in pre-K through 12th grade. PLT has been using the

forest as a “window” into our natural environment to help students gain a

better understanding and appreciation for our natural resources for more

than 30 years.

Workshop Goals:

Learn to use 100+ of PLT’s interdisciplinary activities

Participate in hands-on PLT activities, both indoors and out!

Receive PLT Activity Guides free of charge!

The training will begin at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 15th and conclude by

5:00 pm. Wednesday’s schedule begins at 8:00 am and will conclude by

5:00 pm. Lunch and snacks will be provided both days.

PLT Facilitator Training

Feb. 15-16, 2011 - Weyerhaeuser OSB Plant, near Flatwoods, WV

Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________________State:_______ Zip:___________

Phone: __________________________ Email: ____________________________________

There is no charge to attend! All participants must pre-register!

Space is limited!

Continuing Forestry Education credits (CFE’s) will be awarded.

Return form to: WV PLT, c/o WVFA, PO Box 718, Ripley, WV 25271

Questions? Call toll-free: 888-372-9663