MN Recertification

Hi All-


Now that it is after January 1, we wanted to touch base with you all and make sure you knew how MN recertification works. Since you graduated in 2010, you begin recertification in 2011. Each calendar year, you need a minimum of 8 hours of class time (in 2 different natural history topics) and 16 hours of volunteer time to remain an active Master Naturalist. Everything is based on a calendar year of January 1-December 31, so you have the full year to complete stuff. A copy of the recertification form has been emailed to you, it is to be submitted at the end of each year. Contact us if you did not receive the recertification form.
PVMN offers workshops that can be used for recertification—you should have received an email about that, but it is also available at www.potomacaudubon.org. Most of those classes are 2-3 hours each. You can also take classes at places like the Smithsonian Naturalist Center in Leesburg (or in DC) or NCTC. If you are taking a natural history class at Shepherd or another school, you can claim the class credit hours (a 3-hour class=3 hours of MN time regardless of how much time you spend in class over the semester.) PVAS monthly meetings at NCTC will also qualify. Everything is on an hour by hour basis so if you come to a PVAS monthly meeting, you’d probably be getting 45-60 minutes. Friends of the NCTC programs are usually longer. If you take Birding 101, all of the class hours count.

Volunteer projects are often arranged by the PVMN committee, but you can do things like volunteer a day or week at camp, assist with watershed field trips or other programs, work on the committee (like the Member Services subcommittee!!), volunteer at the Cacapon State Park Nature Center (Kelly will love you!), or any of the other stuff you did to initially certify.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us!
 
Ellen and Wanda, your friendly MN Member Services folks

Jefferson Co. Schools Volunteer Opportunity

JCS Science Fair Scheduled

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

The Jefferson County Science Fair will take place on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Charles Town Middle School. Students will begin setting up projects at 8:00 am. Judging will begin at 9:00 am, and should be completed by 1:00 pm. Contact bpenning@access.k12.wv.us for more information, or call 304-725-7821 and leave a message for Beth Pennington.

A Request to the Jefferson County Community

Volunteers and Judges are needed for the JCS Science Fair on Saturday, January 22, 2011. Times: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Please contact bpenning@access.k12.wv.us for more information, or call 304-725-7821 and leave a message for Beth Pennington

Berkeley Co. Schools Volunteer Opportunity

Berkeley County Schools Science Fair January 22, 2011


It is that time of year when I ask for your help judging our county science fair projects. I can promise exciting students, informative projects, and light refreshments! It is Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Martinsburg High from 9 in the morning until about noon. Attached is a schedule. There will be a continental breakfast from 8:30 until everyone is finished. I would appreciate your efforts to once again make Berkeley County Schools Science Fair a success. If you are available, email me at: jhobbs@access.k12.wv.us. And please pass along to any of your colleagues that may be available and would be interested in judging. Thanks!!! Joyce Hobbs

If you are interested in helping, please contact Joyce Hobbs at jhobbs@access.k12.wv.us

2011 Workshops

Hi All-

 

I have attached information about the 2011 MN Workshops that you can take for MN credit. This information will also be posted on the PVAS website very shortly.

 

The workshops are on a “first come first served” basis and we are advertising them as open to the general public, so if you see one or more that interest you, do not delay in registering.

 

Don’t forget that you can also take classes independently of those offered by PVMN. You can get an hour or maybe more credit by attending the PVAS monthly meetings or special programs presented by Friends of NCTC. The Smithsonian Naturalist Center in Leesburg also has frequent programs.

 

Ellen and Wanda

 

(Your friendly MN Member Services group)
 
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The Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program, under the auspices of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, will offer a series of nature workshops that have both classroom and field segments. All workshops are open to members of the general public on a “first come, first served” basis. These workshops also count as “elective courses” for PVMN certified members and for PVMN members who have been accepted for the 2011 certification program.

 

There is a maximum enrollment of 20 students for each workshop. You may register for one or more workshops on one application. Full payment for all workshops chosen must be included with the application. Checks should be made payable to the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.

• A registration confirmation will be sent by email. Directions will be included.
• Refunds will not be made except when a course is cancelled.
• A fee paid for a cancelled workshop can be transferred to another workshop.

Applications must be received no later than two weeks before the date of the workshop to reserve your space. Late applications can be accepted if space is available, but instructors may not have enough materials for a late applicant.

 

Students must make their own arrangements for snacks, drinks, and lunch. (For workshops at the National Conservation Training Center, the Commons cafeteria might not be available. There are vending machines and a restaurant at Cacapon State Park.)

 

If you have questions, contact Wanda Miller at 304-263-7320 or PVMN54@gmail.com or Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739 or pvasprograms@comcast.net.

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EMERGING CONTAMINANT ISSUES AND FISH HEALTH


January 15, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 noon

Dr. Vicki Blazer, Fisheries Biologist

USGS National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneysville WV


NATURE PROGRAMS WITH CHILDREN

February 5, 2011, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (including lunch break)

Cacapon State Park (Main Lodge), Berkeley Springs WV

Nancy Little, Ellen Murphy, Wanda Miller


BATS

May 14, 2011, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

(This date and time is tentative and may need to be changed because of instructor availability.)

Cool Spring Farm, Lloyd Rd, Charles Town WV

Kieran O’Malley, WVDNR Biologist


FALL WILDFLOWERS

September 24, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 noon

NCTC

Phil King, NCTC Staff


MONARCH WATCH

August 20, 2011, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Cool Spring Farm, Lloyd Rd, Charles Town WV

Clark Dixon


LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT) TRAINER WORKSHOP

Late April/Early May

Clark Dixon (certified LNT Trainer)

For Love of Children Outdoor Education Center, Mission Road, Charles Town WV

Registration for this program MUST go through the Jefferson County Adult and Community Education Program at http://boe.jeff.k12.wv.us/ . Fees for this program are higher.

_________________________________________________________________



For more information and registration form please visit the Potomac Valley Audubon Society's website.

Upcoming 2011 Workshops

Hi All

Here’s a heads-up on the Master Naturalist sponsored workshops for 2011. We are getting instructors and places set, but don’t have everything in place quite yet. However, we wanted you to know what was in the works and to let you know that information will be up on the PVAS website soon. If you have a workshop that you would like to offer, let us know!

Ellen and Wanda

(Your Friendly PVMN Member Services Folks)


EMERGING CONTAMINANT ISSUES AND FISH HEALTH January 15, 2011 [This is definite!]

USGS National Fish Health Research Laboratory, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville WV

Nature Programs With Children (tentatively set for February)

Leave No Trace Trainer Workshop (through Jefferson County Adult Continuing Education)

Bats (very tentatively set for May)

Forest Succession (August)

Fall Wildflowers (very tentative, possibly September)

Monarch Watch (August)



Other workshops that we are hoping to offer include:

Geology Field Trip with Ed Snyder

Butterflies

Project Underground

Crows

NCTC Volunteer Opportunity

PVAS to Sponsor Birding Station at NCTC Open House


The National Conservation Training Center will hold its annual open house on October 23.

The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., rain or shine.

The theme of this year's open house will be focused on birds. NCTC's 538-acre campus includes a rich variety of bird habitats, from eastern hardwood forest to edge areas, hedgerows, meadows and Potomac River waterfront. It also includes a Bald Eagle nest which has been active for five seasons now.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hoping visitors will take this opportunity to learn more about our fascinating feathered friends.

PVAS will be sponsoring a "Take a Child (and Adult) Birding" station at the event.

From there, we will be conducting short (10 to 20-minute) bird walks on the NCTC campus throughout the day, providing binoculars for those who do not have their own to see birds up close.

We will also have informational displays, including a "please touch" table, and people on hand to answer questions. We would also like to offer visual bird identification games and bird song quizzes for children.

We will need volunteers willing to help staff this PVAS station and lead birding walks.

If you would like to volunteer and/or have other ideas for activities for our station, please contact Joette Borzik of NCTC at 304-876-7207 or joette_borzik@fws.gov as soon as possible.

Yankauer Volunteer Opportunity

Dear Master Naturalists,


If you are available, Tuesday Sept. 14th is the United Way's Day of Caring. We typically have about 80 people out at Yankauer hauling mulch, pulling stilt grass, getting the flower garden under control, and other various projects.

While this year we have LOTS of volunteers, we don't have a lot of knowledgeable volunteers to lead the charge for trail trimming (the difference between a fern and multiflora rose when trimming trails) and weed pulling (stilt grass vs. a native grass).

I would LOVE some Master Naturalists on hand to help lead the charge on these types of nature-oriented projects, and this would definitely be worth some volunteer hours.

I'm expecting volunteers to arrive at Yankauer around 8:30 am and everyone is usually gone by 3pm. (Of course, if you'd like to help clean up and get more hours, I won't complain.) There's also a breakfast for volunteers at 7:30 at War Memorial Park, we provide a hot lunch at the preserve, and there's a delicious "backyard barbecue" type dinner at the Clarion in Shepherdstown from 4:30-6:30 for volunteers. What more could you want? Breakfast, lunch AND dinner, complete with some VH on the side! (And if you still want more to do, there's a free concert at Yankauer from 6:30-7:30!)

Please let me know if you'd be willing to come and be a crew leader and share some of your MN knowledge with others. Spending a weekday in the woods with wonderful fellow volunteers is an added perk. You can e-mail me at PVASmail@aol.com or call me at 304-676-3397 to let me know of your willingness.


Thanks,
Kristin Alexander