Eastern Shore Master Naturalists

💡Member CE: VMN Educators Bureau Flash Talks (Webinar)
2025-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | Virtual
Virginia Master Naturalists who are part of our program’s statewide Educators Bureau will give talks and demonstrations – each no more than five minutes long. Get inspired by these dynamic educators! See our website for the full list of topics and presenters.
Pre-registration required.
As always, the VMN CE Webinar will be recorded and posted on our website shortly after the event.

BETTER IMPACT INFO: Please log your hours under Category 2/ Continuing Education.

💡 CE: Butterfly Walks at the ES NWR
2025-06-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-18 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Halifax) | Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 32205 Seaside Road, Cape Charles, VA, 23310, United States

💡Member CE: Beech Leaf Disease Survey Training Webinar
2025-06-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
In partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry, we are launching a new monitoring project for VMN volunteers to look for beech leaf disease, an emerging issue for Virginia’s forests. Lori Chamberlin, Forest Health Manager for the Virginia Department of Forestry, will present on how to look for and report this disease. This webinar will be recorded, and, around that time, we also will email information on how to participate in this activity.

Date: Monday, June 16, 12:00-1:00 pm

Pre-registration required.

Better ImpactPlease log your hours under Category 2: Continuing Education.

💡CE: Seaview Farm Birding Field Trip
2025-06-18 08:00 (America/New_York)
Eastern Shore Post June 13 p. 30

💡 CE: Eastern Shore Pollinators
2025-06-20 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Buttercups, 16393 Courthouse Road, Eastville, Virginia, 23347, United States
Join Agriculture Extension agent Helene Doughty and the Eastern Shore Master Gardeners for an informal demonstrative session on pollinators of the Eastern Shore. Learn which are native and non-native, generalist or specialized, review specimens, and much more!

For more information, contact hdoughty@vf.edu or call/text 757-999-0780.

💡CE: Birding at Nickawampus Farm, with Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust
2025-06-21 08:00 (America/New_York)
23028 Nickawampus Farm, Melfa VA

Unique opportunity for birding on a private land trust property. www.VESLT.org

Leaders: Maggie Long and Meriwether Payne. Contact Meriwether Payne at 757-710-2454 to register.

Better Impact: Log your hours under Category 2: Continuing Education.

🧤 Volunteer: CBF Oyster Gardening Roundup/New Gardener Seminar
2025-06-21 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Barrier Islands Center, 7295 Young Street, Machipongo, VA, 23405, United States
REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Want to become an oyster gardener? The new gardener seminar starts at 9:00am. Veteran gardeners will turn their oysters in and pick up new spat if desired beginning at 9:30. See links below for details.

🧤 Volunteer: TNC at ESVA Juneteenth Festival
2025-06-21 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Community HelpEvent Assistance: ESVA Juneteenth FestivalJune 21st: Exmore Town Park – Exmore, VA

Juneteenth, dating back to 1865, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. This year’s ESVA Juneteenth Festival in Exmore, VA will be held on Saturday, June 21st, 12:00-4:00 pm, and The Nature Conservancy is looking for 2-4 volunteers to help staff our informational booth. Volunteers will pass out Conservancy materials, greet the public, walk visitors through hands-on activities, and answer questions as best they can. Materials and training will be provided as needed. To volunteer, please contact VCR Community Engagement Specialist, Margaret Van Clief at mvanclief@tnc.org or (757) 414-9227.

2:00-4:00 pm (2 volunteers)

12:00 pm-2:00 pm (2 volunteers)

Better Impact: Log your hours under Category 13: Assist with Educational Programs and Outreach.

🧤 Volunteer: TNC Youth Engagement Event Assistance
2025-07-11 09:15 - 13:15, 2025-07-14 09:15 - 13:15, 2025-07-15 09:15 - 13:15 (America/Halifax) | TNC Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Rd, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413
Butterfly Activity (and more) Field Trip Assistance/Youth Engagement
Brownsville Preserve (Nassawadox, VA)

Fri, July 11 (6th-12th Grade): 9:15 am-1:15 pm (4 volunteers)
Mon, July 14 (3rd-5th Grade): 9:15 am-1:15 pm (3 volunteers)
Tues, July 15 (pre-K – 2nd Grade): 9:15 am-1:15 pm (2 volunteers)

The VCR Outreach & Education Team is seeking 2-3 volunteers for each date to assist with the Accomack County Public School Migrant Youth Program’s visit to Brownsville Preserve on Monday, July 15th, Tuesday, July 16th, and Monday, July 22nd, 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Activities may include habitat exploration, butterfly/insect netting, wagon rides, kayaking on 7/15 (optional for volunteer), and geocaching and will be led by TNC staff with volunteer assistance. ACPS staff will also be on hand, and bilingual skills are not required (students speak English, Spanish, and/or Haitian Creole). Training will be provided, and volunteers must agree to TNC’s Youth Safety policies.
Please contact, VCR Outreach & Education Coordinator, Margaret Van Clief at mvanclief@tnc.org or (757) 414-9227 to sign up for one or more of the above dates.

Better Impact Category 13/Education & Outreach

💡 CE: Blue Ridge PRISM - How Neighborhood Associations Can Address Invasive Plants VIRTUAL
2025-07-16 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join the Blue Ridge PRISM for a panel-style webinar when three neighborhood association leads will share how their communities address invasive plants in their neighborhoods. They will share stories, discuss the hurdles, and give tips on how to organize and train a group to work together toward the common goal of managing invasive plants in their area. This is a free online event and includes a question & answer period with the audience. Those who register will receive an email with the recording.

Registration and additional info

💡 CE: ESMN Chapter Meeting: Jay Ford, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
2025-07-16 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory, Seaside Hall, 36 Atlantic Street, Wachapreague, VA, United States
July 16, 2025: Jay Ford, Virginia’s Eastern Shore Representative for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will discuss the CBF’s Blueprint for all states within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed with a focus on where Virginia, including present status and future goals. Jay is the Virginia Policy Manager for the CBF and Managing Partner with the Old Dominion University (ODU) Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience and CBF partnership and has an extensive background in natural resource policy and resilience planning.

Agenda:

5:00-5:30 Social time

5:30-6:00 Business meeting

6:00-7:00 Speaker.

Better Impact Info: Log speaker time under Category 2/Continuing Education.

💡 CE: Shore Roots - Exploring Eastern Shore Native Plants
2025-07-18 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Buttercups, 16393 Courthouse Road, Eastville, Virginia, 23347, United States
Join Agriculture Extension agent Helene Doughty, the Plant Eastern Shore Natives Committee and DCR Coastal Region Steward Shannon Alexander for an informal and demonstrative learning session on native plants of the Eastern Shore. Learn why and how to use them in your landscape and where to source them. For more information, contact hdoughty@vt.edu or call/text 757-999-0780.

Better Impact: Log your hours under Category 2/Continuing Education.

💡 CE: Guided Bird Walk at Chincoteague NWR
2025-07-19 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge – Toms Cove Visitor Center, 8586 Beach Road, Chincoteague, Virginia, 23336
Summer shore bird walk at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge July 19, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Hosted by Eastern Shore Master Naturalists, National Park Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. For birders of all ages – beginner, expert or in-between. Meet at the Toms Cove Visitor Center.

Better Impact: Log your hours under Category 2: Continuing Education.

💡 CE: Registration Opens for VMN State Conference
2025-07-24 00:00 (America/New_York)

🧤 Volunteer: North Northampton County Butterfly Count
2025-08-03 11:00 (America/New_York)
All levels of expertise/experience are welcome! Please contact Kellie (kellie.piekarsky@verizon.net) if you have questions or need more info.

You do not have to be an ESMN to participate – please share this info with anyone who may be interested.

Details

Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Rain Date: Sunday, August 10, 2025).

Start Time: 11:00 a.m.

End Time: Up to you. The count will last as long as you do! We appreciate your participation – there is no requirement to spend a particular amount of time.

Meet-up Location: FORMER Northampton Middle School, 7247 Young StreetMachipongo, VA (NOTE: No restrooms are available.)

Fee: ESMN will cover the $3.00 per person NABA fees.

Suggested Attire: Dress and prepare for hot/humid, buggy, weather and walking in natural environments.

Refreshments: Bring water and snacks/food as needed. It will most likely be very hot so hydration is important. Safety first.

Volunteer Service Hours: Eastern Shore Master Naturalists can log their volunteer hours under Better Impact under Category 14 – Annual Butterfly Count – Eastern Shore/Northern Northampton County.

VIDEO: There is a butterfly identification video you can review prior to the count.

Team Roles

Participants will be divided into teams to cover roles and mix expertise levels.

Leader – point person for team. Ensures members go to specified locations timely.

Spotters – alert team members to a butterfly they have observed (NO skill required!). Note: everyone on the team can spot! Photos are very helpful.

Scribe/compiler – records the number of butterflies/species observed for each location and then calculates an overall total. Forms will be provided for recording counts. If you cannot make a firm ID the scribe should document as much information as possible to assist in later identification.

Drivers – each team will decide how they want to manage transportation – carpool or separate vehicles.

Identifiers – team members who have sufficient familiarity to identify the species observed.

Tips for a Good Counting Experience

Here are some suggestions for being prepared and having as pleasant an experience as possible:

Think about how many hours you want spend counting butterflies. Some prefer to stop after a few hours while other like to do it all day.

Cameras, binoculars, and butterfly guides are great tools to have with you. Taking photos whenever you can is highly recommended, especially if you are unable to ID the butterfly in the field. Also, it’s great to include photos with any reporting.

Please DO NOT net or touch any butterflies. This activity should be as unobtrusive to the butterflies and their neighbors as possible.

Butterflies and Skippers will be counted – Moths are not considered for this count. You will have a list of species we are most likely to see.

Here is the 15 mile-radius count area:

💡 CE - Project Learning Tree and Aquatic WILD Joint K-5 Educator Professional Development
2025-08-08 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Date/Time: Friday, August 8, 2025, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Location: Education Center at Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Rd., Chester, VA 23836

Cost: $11 (Fee is for PLT portion. WILD workshops are free.)

Description: Pack a lunch, dress to be outdoors, & join us for a great day at the Education Center at Henricus Historical Park to become a certified educator for both Project Learning Tree and Project WILD. Don’t forget bug spray, sun protection, and a water bottle! After this professional development, you will receive a certificate of completion, an Explore Your Environment PLT K-8 guide, an Aquatic WILD K-12 guide, & have the confidence & skills to use outdoor activities with K-5 students. Our agenda includes a tour of the park.

Better Impact: Please log your hours under Category 2/Continuing Education.

Registration: Register by July 20

For more information, contact: Chrystie Richards richardsch@chesterfield.gov (804) 318-8728

💡 CE: Birding Eastern Shore September Field Trips
2025-08-16 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
BOAT TRIP, Saturday, September 6, 2025. Birdwatching Boat Tour with Capt. Payne, Wachapreague, VA. Celebrate World Shorebird Day and get an amazingly close look at seabirds and shorebirds from the water! $20/Limited to 6 Participants/Time Slot. Registration Required by 8/28/2025 Leader: Capt. Meriwether Payne 757-710-2454. Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 time slots, please register for only 1. 8:00 – 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

FIELD TRIP, Saturday, Sept. 13, Meet at 8:30 AM at the Edward S. Brinkley Preserve, 20199 Seaside Road, at Cobbs Station Road. Join Joette Borzik and Maggie Long in search of fall migrants: waders and waterfowl in the pond, warblers and other passerines in the woods and thickets, and shorebirds from the overlook. Register with Joette Borzik at vabirdmom@gmail.com

FIELD TRIP, Wednesday, Sept. 17, Meet at 8:30 AM at the Chincoteague Island Nature Trail, 6078 Hallie Whealton Smith Drive, Chincoteague VA. Look for migrating warblers and other passerines at this local hotspot with leaders Helen Belencan and Gary Smith. The trail is about 1 mile of easy terrain. Register with Gary Smith at 803-292-6883.

FIELD TRIP, Tuesday, Sept. 23, Meet at 5:00 PM for a VESLT JOINT FIELD TRIP AT BOWMAN’S FOLLY ON FOLLY CREEK, 25118 Bowmans Folly Drive, Accomac, VA. Join MaggieLong, Paul Anderson, and members of the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust for a rare opportunity to bird a private property protected with a conservation easement. Register with Maggie Long at 610-500-9971

FIELD TRIP, Friday, Sept. 26, 8:30 am, Kiptopeke State Park, Fishing Pier and Wood Warbler Boardwalk. Meet Joette Borzik and Paul Anderson at the boat ramp parking lot to look for a variety of water birds along the pier, and

💡 CE: Blue Ridge PRISM Webinar: Documenting Invasive Plants with Herbaria: A Tutorial with Dr. Andrea Weeks
2025-08-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Description: Join the webinar to learn how you can report your observations to the central scientific resource for county-level plant distributions, the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora https://vaplantatlas.org/. These maps are incorporated into the Flora of Virginia app (https://floraofvirginia.org/flora-app/) and are an ever-growing resource for understanding what plant species grow where in the Commonwealth. Because of the speed of biological invasions, creating accurate and up-to-date distribution maps for non-natives and invasives is particularly challenging.

Join the webinar to learn how you can help us fill the “gaps in the maps” with vouchered specimens and a simple reporting protocol!

Note: To be recognized by the Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Program, all plants must be documented with one of the Commonwealth’s herbaria. In this workshop, Dr. Weeks will demonstrate how to collect and submit plant samples for documentation.

Registration: Pre-registration required. This is a free online webinar. Those who register will receive a copy of the recording.

Log your hours under Better Impact Category 2, Continuing Education.

Catch the King Webinar
2025-08-22 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Catch the King Tide Volunteer General Interest Webinar, Hey Tide Mappers! Our first Catch the King General Interest webinar is coming up…

Join us on August 22nd for a Lunch & Learn (12-2pm) all about CTK 2025, how to get involved, how to use the Sea Level Rise app, and how to connect with other volunteers. Visit bit.ly/ctkwebinar25 to register!

Log your hours in Better Impact under Category 14.

There will also be an in-person training session on the shore in early September. Stay tuned for details!

Bald Eagle Release at Kiptopeke State Park!
2025-08-28 13:00 (America/New_York) | Kiptopeke State Park, 3540 Kiptopeke Dr., Cape Charles, VA, 23310, United States
From the Wildlife Center of Virginia:

We have exciting news! We’re releasing a Bald Eagle back to the wild on Thursday, August 28 (https://wildlifecenter.org/news-events/news/2025/bald-eagle-release-kiptopeke-state-park) —and you’re invited to the release!

Bald Eagle #25-2450 was admitted on June 24 from Norfolk, Virginia. The fledgling had been found grounded for more than a week, with no parents observed in the area. Upon admission, the Center’s veterinary team determined that the eagle was thin and suffered from subclinical lead poisoning, with a lead level of 0.056 ppm.

After one round of chelation therapy to remove the lead, the eagle was deemed healthy and moved to a large outdoor flight pen to begin flight conditioning. At the end of July, the eagle began undergoing daily flight exercises with our rehabilitation team to rebuild strength; by late August, the patient was officially cleared for release!

The eagle will be released back into the wild on Thursday, August 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Kiptopeke State Park. Staff from the Wildlife Center will give a brief educational presentation before opening the crate and watching the eagle take flight.

Join us to witness this special moment! This release is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to RSVP with their name and the number of people in their party through this webform. (https://wildlifecenter.org/double_eagle_release_rsvp)

Log your hours under Better Impact Category 2, Continuing Education.

💡 CE: Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training 2025
2025-09-05 08:00 - 2025-09-07 12:00 (America/New_York) | Westin Richmond, 6331 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23230, United States
Registration required.

Overview​WhenThe 2025Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Training will be Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7. Pre-conference field trips and activities will take place during the day on Friday and the main event will run Friday evening through Sunday mid-day.

WhereOur Pocahontas and Riverine Chapters welcome VMN volunteers from across Virginia to the Richmond region. We will be based at the Westin Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

WhatThe Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training is an opportunity for VMN volunteers to share ideas and learn from each other, to participate in high-quality continuing education sessions, and to learn about a region of Virginia that may be different from their home communities.

Each year, one or more of our local VMN chapters serve as the host chapter(s) for the conference, helping to choose programming that showcases their local natural areas, presenters, and style. The programming includes both on-site sessions and off-site field trips to visit natural resource highlights of the area. We emphasize hands-on learning and skill-building, trying to choose sessions that relate to the education, citizen science, and stewardship volunteer work that VMN volunteers do.

WhoDue to the nature and limited space of our VMN conference, only certified VMNs, VMN members, VMN trainees, and partners from our state agency sponsors (including chapter advisors) may attend.

💡 CE: Birdwatching Boat Tour with Capt. Payne
2025-09-06 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
BOAT TRIP, Saturday, September 6, 2025. Birdwatching Boat Tour with Capt. Payne, Wachapreague, VA. Celebrate World Shorebird Day and get an amazingly close look at seabirds and shorebirds from the water! $20/Limited to 6 Participants/Time Slot. Registration Required by 8/28/2025 Leader: Capt. Meriwether Payne 757-710-2454. Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 time slots, please register for only 1. 8:00 – 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Log your hours in Better Impact Under Category 2, Continuing Education.

🧤 Volunteer: STEAM Community Event (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Mathematics)
2025-09-06 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Mary N. Smith Cultural Enrichment Center, 24577 Mary N. Smith Road, Accomac, Virginia, 23301, United States
The Education and Outreach Committee is looking for volunteers for this event. We will be focusing on TREES. We have numerous kids activities such as create your personal tree ring paper plate, match the tree ring to the conditions, make a tree penny necklace and more. All training will be provided. We need two people for each time slot (9:30-11:30,11:30-1:30). Please email Brenda Poist at bbioqueen@aol.com if you can volunteer. Log your hours under Better Impact Category 15, Eastern Shore Events. Please be sure to include #Treemendous20th in the description for your entry.

Zero Waste Awareness Week in Virginia
2025-09-07 00:00 - 2025-09-13 23:59 (America/New_York)
