If you are looking for a really, really interesting project to earn some volunteer hours, this is a doozy! As a volunteer with this class, you’ll be helping with water quality testing (pH, DO, etc) at Flowing Springs Park. These students are already raising trout in their classroom! If you can only volunteer once, go for it! If you have the time volunteer on a regular basis you’ll be amazed at the relationships you develop with the students. If you are interested, contact Carolyn Thomas at the info below.
-Ellen
Students at in 7th grade at Wildwood Middle School in Jefferson County will be engaged in a year-long to answer the question "Can brook trout be reintroduced into Flowing Springs?" The brook trout, West Virginia’s only native trout, have been extirpated from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia due to degradation of habitat and poor water quality. Through classroom activities, research, service learning, and collaboration with community partners, students will analyze the specific needs of brook trout with respect to water quality, land use and ecosystems.They will then participate in the reclamation of habitat for fish while building awareness and connection to Flowing Springs Park in Ranson, West Virginia. Students will develop technical science skills to examine the life cycle and habitat needs of brook trout in order to assess the feasibility of reintroducing brook trout to Flowing Springs Park. Through our existing “Trout in the Classroom” program, students will raise brook trout in a cold water aquarium from egg to fry stage, while studying the life cycle of trout. Community partners are needed to work with the students in and out of the classroom. Students will be in the field at Flowing Springs beginning in September and continuing throughout the year. It is anticipated that most field work will be conducted on Wednesday mornings (9-11:30). Partners are especially needed in the field to help students with water testing protocols, equipment usage, plantings, etc. and to serve as chaperons, providing extra "eyes and ears".
If you are interested please contact Carolyn Thomas at crthomas25443@gmail.com.
United Way Day of Caring
PVAS is also spearheading volunteer projects for the United Way Day of Caring at Flowing Springs Park (next to Home Depot in Ranson). We'll be battling invasives, planting trees, picking up trash, etc... All physical work, but generally a fun day because there are so many volunteers helping out. And you’ll get…
Free breakfast, lunch and dinner! And a t-shirt. Contact Kristin Alexander to volunteer (pvasmail@aol.com)
The date is September 13th. The complete schedule is: 7:30-8 Breakfast at War Memorial Park (not required, but it’s a nice free breakfast, especially if you are in Martinsburg anyway)
8:30-4:00 Work at Yankauer/Flowing Springs Park (lunch provided at site)
4:30-6:00 Dinner at the Clarion in S-town. (also not required, but the food is great and welcome after a hard day of work)
Free breakfast, lunch and dinner! And a t-shirt. Contact Kristin Alexander to volunteer (pvasmail@aol.com)
The date is September 13th. The complete schedule is: 7:30-8 Breakfast at War Memorial Park (not required, but it’s a nice free breakfast, especially if you are in Martinsburg anyway)
8:30-4:00 Work at Yankauer/Flowing Springs Park (lunch provided at site)
4:30-6:00 Dinner at the Clarion in S-town. (also not required, but the food is great and welcome after a hard day of work)
Boy Scout Council Volunteer Opportunity
Merit Badge counselors are needed for Troop 420 in Charles Town as well as the local Boy Scout Council.
Here are some topics for which Master Naturalists would excel as counselors: Animal Science, Astronomy, Bird Study, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Geology, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, Oceanography, Orienteering, Photography, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Soil and Water Conservation, Weather... Following site has requirements and record keeping sheets for each badge: meritbadge. org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badge_Worksheets.
I hope that all of you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your expertise and passion with the younger generation. Your efforts would also help the next generation to protect, cherish and appreciate things we hold dear. Boys will be super motivated and deeply appreciative. Please help.
Contact Jim Jenkins, Master Naturalist and Assistant Scoutmaster at : jenkinsjim@att.blackberry.net or 571-209-7350 to volunteer or with questions or leads to other good people.
Here are some topics for which Master Naturalists would excel as counselors: Animal Science, Astronomy, Bird Study, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Geology, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, Oceanography, Orienteering, Photography, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Soil and Water Conservation, Weather... Following site has requirements and record keeping sheets for each badge: meritbadge. org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badge_Worksheets.
I hope that all of you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your expertise and passion with the younger generation. Your efforts would also help the next generation to protect, cherish and appreciate things we hold dear. Boys will be super motivated and deeply appreciative. Please help.
Contact Jim Jenkins, Master Naturalist and Assistant Scoutmaster at : jenkinsjim@att.blackberry.net or 571-209-7350 to volunteer or with questions or leads to other good people.
Volunteer Opportunites
Many of you are looking for volunteer hours (VH) and there are a few things that you may want to know about. I have listed the event, time and place as I know it, and a contact person. If you are interested, YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CONTACT THE COORDINATOR SO THAT YOU ARE INCLUDED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. You can volunteer for everything or just partial help (days or specific times.)
The Day of Caring at Yankauer will be in September—maybe the 13th, but I’m not positive. This is a physical work day, but you get a free t-shirt and food. Contact Tim Murphy to volunteer. (timurf@comcast.net)
The Jefferson County Science Olympiad is September 26, 27, 28 and October 3, 4, 5, 8:00-1:00 p.m. daily. This involves presenting 40 minute hands-on sessions for 6th graders. Groups are generally 12-15 students with a chaperone. You present the same presentation 4 times each day. It is held at For Love of Children Outdoor Ed Center off Mission Rd near Harpers Ferry. Ellen can put you on that list for more info (pvasprograms@comcast.net).
The Berkeley Springs Birding Festival needs help. That’s September 16-18. Contact Helen Herlocker to volunteer and for more information on specific jobs. (hherlocker@gmail.com). There will also be classes and field excursions that you may enjoy.
The Charles Town Heritage Festival is September 17, 10-5 p.m. (set up 7:30-9:30). This is a “meet and greet” booth for PVAS and you can also talk about Master Naturalists. Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
The Sharpsburg Heritage Festival is also September 17, 10-5 p.m. (set up 7:30-9:30). This is also a “meet and greet” booth for PVAS and Master Naturalists. (Same time as the Charles Town festival, but we have supplies for both places). Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
Growing Native Seed Collection at Yankauer Preserve will be October 8, 10-12 noon. This is a fun event where you walk the trails at Yankauer and pick up nuts! Acorns, hickory nuts, etc are collected then sent to plant nurseries so that native trees can be cultivated for planting as buffer zones along local rivers and streams. Families often help with this. Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
If you aren’t interested in any of this, there’s a whole section in your Master Naturalist binder about possible volunteer projects—6 or 8 pages. Most of those are citizen science ideas and you can contact the group to get involved.
Ellen and Wanda(Your friendly, neighborhood MN Member Services people)
The Day of Caring at Yankauer will be in September—maybe the 13th, but I’m not positive. This is a physical work day, but you get a free t-shirt and food. Contact Tim Murphy to volunteer. (timurf@comcast.net)
The Jefferson County Science Olympiad is September 26, 27, 28 and October 3, 4, 5, 8:00-1:00 p.m. daily. This involves presenting 40 minute hands-on sessions for 6th graders. Groups are generally 12-15 students with a chaperone. You present the same presentation 4 times each day. It is held at For Love of Children Outdoor Ed Center off Mission Rd near Harpers Ferry. Ellen can put you on that list for more info (pvasprograms@comcast.net).
The Berkeley Springs Birding Festival needs help. That’s September 16-18. Contact Helen Herlocker to volunteer and for more information on specific jobs. (hherlocker@gmail.com). There will also be classes and field excursions that you may enjoy.
The Charles Town Heritage Festival is September 17, 10-5 p.m. (set up 7:30-9:30). This is a “meet and greet” booth for PVAS and you can also talk about Master Naturalists. Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
The Sharpsburg Heritage Festival is also September 17, 10-5 p.m. (set up 7:30-9:30). This is also a “meet and greet” booth for PVAS and Master Naturalists. (Same time as the Charles Town festival, but we have supplies for both places). Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
Growing Native Seed Collection at Yankauer Preserve will be October 8, 10-12 noon. This is a fun event where you walk the trails at Yankauer and pick up nuts! Acorns, hickory nuts, etc are collected then sent to plant nurseries so that native trees can be cultivated for planting as buffer zones along local rivers and streams. Families often help with this. Contact Kristin Alexander (pvasmail@aol.com).
If you aren’t interested in any of this, there’s a whole section in your Master Naturalist binder about possible volunteer projects—6 or 8 pages. Most of those are citizen science ideas and you can contact the group to get involved.
Ellen and Wanda(Your friendly, neighborhood MN Member Services people)
Berkeley Springs Birding Festival
If you are look for some volunteer hours or elective class hours, the Fall Berkeley Springs Birding Festival might be just the thing! This is a terrific opportunity, very close to us and most of it is free! The preliminary poster is below.
If you are looking for volunteer hours, there are several ways you can be involved:
Be a volunteer at the reception booth for an hour or two (give out programs, sell tee shirts, answer questions or help with directions etc.). Please sign up for a two hour time slot on Friday between 4 pm and 9 pm, on Saturday between 9 am and 9:30 pm, or on Sunday between 9 am and noon. Contact Judy Webb at natureniche@earthlink.net.
Volunteer to help with this year’s Silent Auction. Last year this event was generously supported by donations from local artists, organizations, shops, and individuals and purchased by birders attending the evening events. It was a tremendous help to off-set expenses. If you would like to donate an item or help with the auction, please contact Helen Herlocker at hherlocker@gmail.com
If you are looking for volunteer hours, there are several ways you can be involved:
Be a volunteer at the reception booth for an hour or two (give out programs, sell tee shirts, answer questions or help with directions etc.). Please sign up for a two hour time slot on Friday between 4 pm and 9 pm, on Saturday between 9 am and 9:30 pm, or on Sunday between 9 am and noon. Contact Judy Webb at natureniche@earthlink.net.
Volunteer to help with this year’s Silent Auction. Last year this event was generously supported by donations from local artists, organizations, shops, and individuals and purchased by birders attending the evening events. It was a tremendous help to off-set expenses. If you would like to donate an item or help with the auction, please contact Helen Herlocker at hherlocker@gmail.com
PVAS Picnic
Don’t miss one of the best (eating) events of the year! This Saturday, June 11, is the PVAS annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the pavilion at the Yankauer Nature Preserve.
All PVAS members are invited and children are welcome! As a MN, you were given a one-year membership in PVAS and if you haven’t already renewed, you can come and remember what makes PVAS such a great organization.
The meeting includes the election of directors and recognition of volunteers, but we always eat first!! (And the meeting is pretty short.)
The potluck supper is provided by YOU and everyone asked to bring a dish to share. Those whose last names begin with the letters A-H are asked to bring vegetables or fruit; I-L, a dessert; M-R, a protein dish; and S-Z, a starch dish. The chances are good that some of the BEST pies you will ever eat will be there (hint, hint, Susan!)
All are asked to bring their own dishes, flatware, and the like. You might also want to bring a lawn chair if you don’t want to sit on the benches.PVAS will provide water and lemonade.
For more info, contact Kristin Alexander at 304-676-3397 or pvasmail@aol.com
All PVAS members are invited and children are welcome! As a MN, you were given a one-year membership in PVAS and if you haven’t already renewed, you can come and remember what makes PVAS such a great organization.
The meeting includes the election of directors and recognition of volunteers, but we always eat first!! (And the meeting is pretty short.)
The potluck supper is provided by YOU and everyone asked to bring a dish to share. Those whose last names begin with the letters A-H are asked to bring vegetables or fruit; I-L, a dessert; M-R, a protein dish; and S-Z, a starch dish. The chances are good that some of the BEST pies you will ever eat will be there (hint, hint, Susan!)
All are asked to bring their own dishes, flatware, and the like. You might also want to bring a lawn chair if you don’t want to sit on the benches.PVAS will provide water and lemonade.
For more info, contact Kristin Alexander at 304-676-3397 or pvasmail@aol.com
The Marcellus Academy
As Master Naturalists, we are not allowed to use our status to support or oppose political issues. However, you are certainly allowed to attend events and opportunities that interest you as an individual. This may be of interest to some.
================================================================================
Meals and lodging are provided, mileage is reimbursed.
Registration is limited, so get your application in early.
Schedule below.
The purpose of the Marcellus Academy is to educate volunteer activists about the facts and impacts of drilling with horizontal hydraulic fracturing and to train them on how to bring about meaningful regulation.
There may be a special session this summer to pass Marcellus regulation and we want to be ready to show our legislators how we voters feel, as opposed to hordes of well paid industry lobbyists. Marcellus Academy will train a new cadre of activists who can proactively work on Marcellus in their communities and build grassroots support for new legislation.
You ideally would be willing to organize citizens in your communities by talking to neighbors, holding meetings, giving presentations, organizing house parties…..generally serving as a leader for building public support. The training will also equip you to enlist others to help you with these tasks.
All of your expenses for the workshop (lodging, meals, mileage) will be covered by WV Sierra Club. Several environmental organizations in WV are collaborating on this workshop, but no personal affiliation with any of them is necessary. The program will run from 10AM Saturday until 3PM Sunday.
Our trainers have backgrounds in politics, lobbying, geology, organizing and activism. There will be sessions on direct action organizing, including identifying goals, targets, strategies and tactics; how to do house parties, LTEs, planning events and news media. Saturday evening will be “entertainment” by videos of experts from other states. Sunday, trainees will do actual planning, report-backs, role playing, and then refining action plans.
We want to stress that there is limited space so only a limited number of registrations will be accepted. Applicants will be considered based primarily on geographical region, resulting in new organizers in as many regions as possible. We do hope to see more than one person from a community, so they can be a team, but the number will depend on applications from the rest of the state.
Since space is limited, please respond as soon as possible listing your name, address, county, phone number and email. If you cannot attend but know of someone in your community who fits our guidelines and could benefit from joining us, please let us know. Again, they should be people who can make a clear commitment to do what it takes to build local grassroots on their home turf.
We hope you will consider this opportunity to grow our numbers and create a strong, intelligent response to the challenge of Marcellus drilling in our neighborhoods.
Here's the agenda for the weekend. We hope to see you there.
Contact: Chuck Wyrostok, Sierra Club Outreach Organizer
Toll free 877 252 0257 E: outreach@marcellus-wv.com http://www.marcellus-wv.com/
Marcellus Academy
June 18-19
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon
Purpose: To train activists to be ready to take on the Marcellus issue in the special and regular legislative session and to proactively work on Marcellus in their communities.
Schedule
Saturday
10:00 Coffee and Registration
10:30 Welcome and Introductions
10:45 Kickoff - Hiram Lewis, Morgantown, WV, a fiery lawyer who has battled to protect citizen
land owners from the worst abuses of the Marcellus onslaught.
11:30 Training Goals & Objectives Orientation – Jim Kotcon, Chair, WV Sierra Club Energy Committee;
teaches environmental protection at WVU
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Marcellus Geology and Drilling Technology – what actually happens - Dan Soeder, Sierra Club member
and geologist with 30 years experience in shale gas drilling and hydrology
2:00 Regulation - current regulation, needed regulation – Don Garvin, WV Environmental Council
Legislative Coordinator
3:00 Break
3:15 How to get what we want - strategy and tactics – Chuck Wyrostok, Outreach Organizer WV Sierra Club;
Leslee McCarty & John Christensen, WV Environmental Council lobbyists;
Jim Kotcon, WV Sierra Club Energy Committee; Beth Little, WV Sierra Club
Marcellus Campaign Chair
4:30 The WV Legislature - who’s who, how it works – Delegate Mike Manypenny (D-Taylor Co.)
5:30 Supper
7:30 Video presentations – Ron Bishop, Anthony Ingraffea,
“A Snowmobile for George”, “Gasland”
Sunday
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Risks - what has happened, what can happen – Beth Little, WV Sierra Club Marcellus
Campaign Chair
9:30 Legal Framework - surface owners, mineral owners, contracts - Dave McMahon,
Director, WV Surface Owners’ Rights Organization
10:30 Break
10:45 Environmental Activist Skills and Resources - Bill Price, Sierra Club Organizing
Representative, Environmental Justice Program, Beyond Coal to Clean
Energy Campaign
12:00 Lunch – Groups meet over lunch and do local planning
1:00 Report Back & Role Playing
2:30 Refine Plans Develop Action Schedules
================================================================================
ANNOUNCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Presented by the WV Sierra Club
THE MARCELLUS ACADEMY
A Weekend of presentations and workshops about Marcellus shale gas drilling in WV
June 18-19, 2011 at WV Wesleyan College in Buckhannon.
Meals and lodging are provided, mileage is reimbursed.
Registration is limited, so get your application in early.
Schedule below.
The purpose of the Marcellus Academy is to educate volunteer activists about the facts and impacts of drilling with horizontal hydraulic fracturing and to train them on how to bring about meaningful regulation.
There may be a special session this summer to pass Marcellus regulation and we want to be ready to show our legislators how we voters feel, as opposed to hordes of well paid industry lobbyists. Marcellus Academy will train a new cadre of activists who can proactively work on Marcellus in their communities and build grassroots support for new legislation.
You ideally would be willing to organize citizens in your communities by talking to neighbors, holding meetings, giving presentations, organizing house parties…..generally serving as a leader for building public support. The training will also equip you to enlist others to help you with these tasks.
All of your expenses for the workshop (lodging, meals, mileage) will be covered by WV Sierra Club. Several environmental organizations in WV are collaborating on this workshop, but no personal affiliation with any of them is necessary. The program will run from 10AM Saturday until 3PM Sunday.
Our trainers have backgrounds in politics, lobbying, geology, organizing and activism. There will be sessions on direct action organizing, including identifying goals, targets, strategies and tactics; how to do house parties, LTEs, planning events and news media. Saturday evening will be “entertainment” by videos of experts from other states. Sunday, trainees will do actual planning, report-backs, role playing, and then refining action plans.
We want to stress that there is limited space so only a limited number of registrations will be accepted. Applicants will be considered based primarily on geographical region, resulting in new organizers in as many regions as possible. We do hope to see more than one person from a community, so they can be a team, but the number will depend on applications from the rest of the state.
Since space is limited, please respond as soon as possible listing your name, address, county, phone number and email. If you cannot attend but know of someone in your community who fits our guidelines and could benefit from joining us, please let us know. Again, they should be people who can make a clear commitment to do what it takes to build local grassroots on their home turf.
We hope you will consider this opportunity to grow our numbers and create a strong, intelligent response to the challenge of Marcellus drilling in our neighborhoods.
Here's the agenda for the weekend. We hope to see you there.
Contact: Chuck Wyrostok, Sierra Club Outreach Organizer
Toll free 877 252 0257 E: outreach@marcellus-wv.com http://www.marcellus-wv.com/
Marcellus Academy
June 18-19
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon
Purpose: To train activists to be ready to take on the Marcellus issue in the special and regular legislative session and to proactively work on Marcellus in their communities.
Schedule
Saturday
10:00 Coffee and Registration
10:30 Welcome and Introductions
10:45 Kickoff - Hiram Lewis, Morgantown, WV, a fiery lawyer who has battled to protect citizen
land owners from the worst abuses of the Marcellus onslaught.
11:30 Training Goals & Objectives Orientation – Jim Kotcon, Chair, WV Sierra Club Energy Committee;
teaches environmental protection at WVU
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Marcellus Geology and Drilling Technology – what actually happens - Dan Soeder, Sierra Club member
and geologist with 30 years experience in shale gas drilling and hydrology
2:00 Regulation - current regulation, needed regulation – Don Garvin, WV Environmental Council
Legislative Coordinator
3:00 Break
3:15 How to get what we want - strategy and tactics – Chuck Wyrostok, Outreach Organizer WV Sierra Club;
Leslee McCarty & John Christensen, WV Environmental Council lobbyists;
Jim Kotcon, WV Sierra Club Energy Committee; Beth Little, WV Sierra Club
Marcellus Campaign Chair
4:30 The WV Legislature - who’s who, how it works – Delegate Mike Manypenny (D-Taylor Co.)
5:30 Supper
7:30 Video presentations – Ron Bishop, Anthony Ingraffea,
“A Snowmobile for George”, “Gasland”
Sunday
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Risks - what has happened, what can happen – Beth Little, WV Sierra Club Marcellus
Campaign Chair
9:30 Legal Framework - surface owners, mineral owners, contracts - Dave McMahon,
Director, WV Surface Owners’ Rights Organization
10:30 Break
10:45 Environmental Activist Skills and Resources - Bill Price, Sierra Club Organizing
Representative, Environmental Justice Program, Beyond Coal to Clean
Energy Campaign
12:00 Lunch – Groups meet over lunch and do local planning
1:00 Report Back & Role Playing
2:30 Refine Plans Develop Action Schedules
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