Eastern Shore Master Naturalists

💡 CE: Virginia Association for Environmental Education Conference
2026-02-26 08:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 (America/New_York)
The VAEE conference will take place February 26-28 in Richmond. Right now, VAEE is collecting submissions for presentations. Many of you are engaged in environmental education and would have great things to share, so please consider submitting a presentation proposal.

💡Chincoteague Bird Walk
2026-02-28 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center, 8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague Island, Chincoteague iIsland, Virginia, United States
Watch snow geese and tundra swans gather to migrate to their Arctic breeding grounds. Late February is peak season for these magnificent birds at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR).

Eastern Shore Master Naturalists in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service will lead a bird walk on Saturday, Feb. 28, 8.30-10.30 am. Meet at the Bateman Visitors’ Center. Newcomers to birding are welcome, expect to walk about one mile. We will provide binoculars and scopes.

💡VIMS Science by the Sea Monthly Seminar - SHE STUDIES SEAWEEDS IN THE CITY BY THE SEA
2026-03-04 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory, Seaside Hall, 36 Atlantic Street, Wachapreague, VA, United States
Dr. Krueger-Hadfield will discuss her new role as Director of the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory, share updates on what’s new at the lab, and highlight the research and ongoing work of the Algal Evolutionary Ecology (AlgEE) Lab at the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory in Wachapreague, Virginia.

Please record speaker time in Better Impact under Category 2/Continuing Education.

💡 Birding Field Trip - Seaview Farm
2026-03-12 08:00 (America/New_York) | Seaview Farm, 23039 Rose Cottage Road, Melfa, VA, United States
FIELD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Join experienced birder, Captain Meriwether Payne to explore Seaview Farm. Enjoy birding opportunities from shorebirds to songbirds found in the diverse habitats of this Seaside private property protected by a Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust Conservation Easement.

WHEN: Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 a.m.

LOCATION: 23039 Rose Cottage Road, Melfa, VA

Boots are recommended for this trip. The Program is free. The public is invited to attend. Always be prepared for ticks, the sun, mosquitos, and the weather.

For more information contact: Captain Meriwether Payne 757-710-2454

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

💡TNC Bird Walk at Brownsville Preserve
2026-03-13 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | TNC Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Rd, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413
Join TNC Migratory Bird Specialist, Mario Balitbit for a “tail end of winter” bird walk along Brownsville Preserve’s public nature trail in Nassawadox – Fri, March 13, 10:00-11:30 am!

This outing is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. To sign up and receive details, please email Margaret at mvanclief@tnc.org.

Trail difficulty: Easy. The trail is flat and consists of hard, crushed shell with grassy areas at the end. It is accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The outing will take 1-1.5 hours.

Please log your time under Better Impact Category 2, Continuing Education.

💡CE: ESMN Chapter Meeting
2026-03-18 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-20 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-15 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-09-16 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-11-18 17:00 - 19:00, 2027-01-20 17:00 - 19:00, 2027-03-17 17:00 - 19:00, 2027-05-19 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) and 2 more dates | Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory, Seaside Hall, 36 Atlantic Street, Wachapreague, VA, United States
Speaker: Zak Poulton – “Technology & Conservation at the Virginia Coast Reserve.”
A certified UAV pilot, Zak creates and maintains the technology and data systems that empower the monitoring and stewardship of the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve. He leads a range of drone-based imaging and mapping efforts and builds modern data-collection tools that improve accuracy and efficiency as well as field safety across multiple conservation programs. While his work spans many areas, Zak focuses on innovation and the integration of new technologies that strengthen our capacity to meet long-term conservation and research goals in migratory bird, island stewardship, marine restoration, coastal resilience, and land protection programs.
“We do our best work when science, technology, and teamwork come together. I’m proud to help build the tools that drive conservation across this incredible landscape.”

Schedule:

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.
Check out other ESMN CE Opportunities and VMN CE Webinars.

💡 Cooperative Extension Coffee Hours
2026-03-20 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-10 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-22 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-06-26 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-24 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-08-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-09-18 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-10-23 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Eastville Community Center, 17202 Courthouse Road, Eastville, Virginia, 23347
Per Northampton County Cooperative Extension:

Northampton Virginia Cooperative Extension is excited to unveil our 2026 Coffee Hour Lecture Series — a year of engaging, seasonal topics designed for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and lifelong learners across the Eastern Shore.

2026 Topics Include:

– Jan 23 – Ticks & Their Diseases on the Eastern Shore

– Feb 20 – History of Agriculture on the Eastern Shore

– Mar 20 – Planning Your Spring Garden & Plant Exchange

– Apr 10 – TBD

– May 22 – Eastern Shore Birds Through the Seasons

– Jun 26 – Mothing on Virginia’s Eastern Shore

– Jul 24 – Native Edible & Medicinal Plants

– Aug 21 – Planning Your Fall Garden & Plant Exchange

– Sep 18 – Soil Health & Cover Crops

– Oct 23 – Controlling Invasive Plant Species

No registration required — just bring your curiosity and enjoy coffee and conversation with neighbors and experts.

For accommodations or questions, contact Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Helene Doughty at 757-678-7946 or hdoughty@vt.edu

💡 CE: Invasive Species Spring Webinar Series
2026-03-24 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-04-28 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Invasive Species Spring Webinar Series

The Invasive Species Collaborative at Virginia Tech is excited to host a spring webinar series that highlights their partners and affiliates. The webinars will be held monthly from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Free and open to the public! These sessions will not be recorded, so you must attend live.

Dates and topics:

January 27 – Invasive Species Management & State Agencies

February 24 – Mobilizing Volunteers & Communities

March 24 – Restoring Invaded Landscapes

April 28 – Invasion Pathways & Agricultural Biosecurity

Speakers include representatives from: Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Virginia Master Naturalists, Town of Blacksburg, Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., Plant SWVA Natives, the Schmale Lab at Virginia Tech, and the Lieurance Lab at Penn State.

Registration for all dates: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/G1Xuv0EqTfWl6v0f4SNWig#/registration

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

💡 Bird Walk at Chincoteague NWR
2026-03-26 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Come Celebrate Spring in a Maritime Forest and Fresh Water Marsh.

Explore the beauty this unique coastal environment as it transitions from winter to spring!

We will meet in the parking lot of the Wildlife Loop on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. Bug spray, binoculars and a surprise treat at end of walk will be provided.

The walk will be about 1/2 mile on even terrain.

Birding Field Trip - Mutton Hunk Fen NAP
2026-03-28 08:30 (America/New_York) | Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, 28583 Baker Road, Parksley, VA, United States
FIELD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Join Joette Borzik and Maggie Long on a walk through the preserve to look for early migrants and resident breeding birds.

Mutton Hunk Fen, a Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Area Preserve, protects a globally rare sea-level fen along with hundreds of acres of migratory bird habitat.

The field trip is free. The public is invited to attend. Always be prepared for ticks, the sun, mosquitos, and the weather.

Pre-registration is required; please contact Joette Borzik by text to register at 757-350-1659

VESLT Conservation Talk - POSTPONED
2026-03-30 09:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York)

🧤 Plant Eastern Shore Natives Educational Table at Annual ANEC Member Appreciation and Arbor Day Celebration
2026-04-25 08:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | ANEC, 21275 Cooperative Way, Tasley, VA, 23441, United States
This popular spring event is open to the public from 9am to 1pm, but volunteers are needed in advance to set up and at the end to break down the display.

The Plant ES Natives table is usually located inside and alongside the Birding ES and the ESMN tables. Volunteer windows are usually from 8am – 10:30am and 10:30am-1:30pm. The morning shift is generally busier and requires more volunteers to interact with the hundreds of attendees.

Please contact shannon.alexander@dcr.virginia.gov if you’re interested in volunteering.

Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 15 – E & O/Plant Eastern Shore Natives.

🧤 Plant Eastern Shore Natives Educational Table at Annual Eastern Shore Agricultural Fair
2026-10-03 08:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
This popular fall event is open to the public from 10am to 2pm, but volunteers are needed in advance to set up and at the end to break down the display and outdoor event tent. The Plant ES Natives table is usually located near the ESMN table and other conservation partners. Volunteer windows are usually from 8:30am to 11:30am and from 11:30am to 2:30. Please contact shannon.alexander@edcr.virginia.gov if you’re interested in volunteering.

Please contact shannon.alexander@dcr.virginia.gov if you’re interested in volunteering.

Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 15 – E & O/Plant Eastern Shore Natives.
