🧤Project Learning Tree Training Workshop
2025-10-24 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | VA
2025 marks the “Treemendous” 20th anniversary of the Virginia Master Naturalists. One way in which local VMN chapters are encouraged to celebrate this occasion is through education activities utilizing Project Learning Tree.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education program designed to teach about the environment with a focus on trees and forests. The Project Learning Tree curriculum is designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. The lessons and activities can also be adapted for adult audiences. Topics include trees and forests, wildlife, water, air, energy, waste, climate change, invasive species, community planning, and more.

A workshop on utilizing the PLT curriculum is being offered to ESMN volunteers by certified PLT trainer, Julie Head, Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District Education Director. The PLT training will be a one-dayevent at the ESSWCD offices in Accomac April 8, 2025, 9:00am – 3:00pm. Cost is $11.00 for the Project Learning Tree guide. Seating is limited to 12 participants.

ESMN volunteers attending the training are encouraged to use skills and knowledge acquired in chapter education and outreach activities.

To register for this workshop, go to:

https://project-learning-tree.odoo.com/event/eastern-shore-soil-water-conservation-district-october-2025-48/register

Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 15/ESMN Tables/Booths at Eastern Shore Events and be sure to put “#treemendous20th” in the description field.

🧤 Natural Area Preserve Stewardship Days - Savage Neck Dunes NAP
2025-11-03 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve, 2186 Savage Neck Rd. Drive, Cape Charles, VA, United States
Please join us to remove invasive species at DCR Natural Area Preserves in November. Jennifer and Will are going to be there and take the lead on these, focusing on invasive species removal and treatment (the latter only by DCR staff). There will be no RSVP forms supplied, we’ll just hope for anywhere from 2 to 12 volunteers show up.

Schedule – 10am to noon each day; meet in the NAP parking lot.

Monday November 3 – Savage Neck Dunes NAP

Tuesday November 11 – Cape Charles NAP

Monday November 17 – Magothy Bay.

We will bring some hand tools and extra gloves, but please bring your own if you have comfortable ones you like to use.

Please check the weather and dress appropriately. If it is raining, we will likely need to reschedule. If you have any blaze orange to wear, that is recommended, but not required. Ticks can still be active, so please take measures to protect yourself.

Please log your hours under the NAP Category in Better Impact.

💡 CE: Reaching an Audience Where They Are
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | VA
Description: Do you do tabling at events? Or take programs out to different facilities, organizations, or sites? Then you are involved in what we know as outreach, which can range from informational to interpretive. Learn how to create opportunities for informal or spontaneous interpretation. We’ll also discuss design for signage, pop-up exhibits, and tables as well as incorporating hands-on and minds-on activities to captivate your audience and inspire them to seek more from your organization.

Presenter: Angela Yau is the Nature Program Facility Manager at Locust Grove Nature Center with Montgomery Parks, a Certified Interpretive Trainer with the National Association for Interpretation, a Registered Coach with the National Park Service, a yoga teacher, and a historical clothier. She started with a Masters in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida, specializing in human dimensions and interpretive and ecotourism planning. She has worked in interpretation of cultural and natural resources and training staff and volunteers for over 30 years and loves helping people be the voice of the resource. Angela has a passion for sharing the stories that help people to connect, care for, and conserve these precious resources.

Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81632845260

🧤 Volunteer: TNC Elementary School Field Trips
2025-11-06 09:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | TNC Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Rd, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413
Also November 13, and maybe 14.

Volunteers will guide 5th grade students through forest, high marsh, or low marsh habitats looking for examples of food, shelter, and water through the eyes of different animals and plants that are found living there.

Groups of students will number around 25 each. No volunteer would lead a group by themselves but will help TNC staff or lead with another volunteer. Parent chaperones and teachers will also be with each group to help. Most groups arrive at Brownsville Preserve around 9:15 or so and leave by 1:15.

Anyone volunteering who isn’t already youth safety certified through TNC will need to sign a two-time exception waiver where they can volunteer twice with TNC where youth are present before needing to go through a background check and short online training.

Anyone can be helpful if they like to be around kids and nature. We have lesson plan documents that we can share with anyone who is interested so that they get some details on what the field trip is like.

Contact jennifer.miller@tnc.org to sign up. Please log your hours under Category 13, The Nature Conservancy

🧤 Natural Area Preserve Workdays - Cape Charles
2025-11-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve, 301 Patrick Henry Avenue, Cape Charles, Virginia, 23310, United States
Please join us to remove invasive species at DCR Natural Area Preserves in November. Jennifer and Will are going to be there and take the lead on these, focusing on invasive species removal and treatment (the latter only by DCR staff). There will be no RSVP forms supplied, we’ll just hope for anywhere from 2 to 12 volunteers show up.

Schedule – 10am to noon each day; meet in the NAP parking lot.

Tuesday November 11 – Cape Charles NAP

Monday November 17 – Magothy Bay.

We will bring some hand tools and extra gloves, but please bring your own if you have comfortable ones you like to use.

Please check the weather and dress appropriately. If it is raining, we will likely need to reschedule. If you have any blaze orange to wear, that is recommended, but not required. Ticks can still be active, so please take measures to protect yourself.

Please log your hours under the NAP Category in Better Impact.

🚫 Magothy Bay NAP CLOSED TODAY
2025-11-13 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | VA

💡 CE: Birding Field Trip - Brinkley
2025-11-13 09:00 (America/New_York) | Edward S. Brinkley Nature Preserve, 20199 Seaside Road, Cape Charles, VA, United States
Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 2/Continuing Education.

🧤 Volunteer: TNC Elementary School Field Trips
2025-11-13 09:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | TNC Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Rd, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413
Also November 13, and maybe 14.

Volunteers will guide 5th grade students through forest, high marsh, or low marsh habitats looking for examples of food, shelter, and water through the eyes of different animals and plants that are found living there.

Groups of students will number around 25 each. No volunteer would lead a group by themselves but will help TNC staff or lead with another volunteer. Parent chaperones and teachers will also be with each group to help. Most groups arrive at Brownsville Preserve around 9:15 or so and leave by 1:15.

Anyone volunteering who isn’t already youth safety certified through TNC will need to sign a two-time exception waiver where they can volunteer twice with TNC where youth are present before needing to go through a background check and short online training.

Anyone can be helpful if they like to be around kids and nature. We have lesson plan documents that we can share with anyone who is interested so that they get some details on what the field trip is like.

Please log your hours under Category 13, The Nature Conservancy

🧤 Volunteer: TNC Elementary School Field Trips
2025-11-14 09:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | TNC Brownsville Preserve, 11332 Brownsville Rd, Nassawadox, Virginia, 23413
Volunteers will guide 5th grade students through forest, high marsh, or low marsh habitats looking for examples of food, shelter, and water through the eyes of different animals and plants that are found living there.

Groups of students will number around 25 each. No volunteer would lead a group by themselves but will help TNC staff or lead with another volunteer. Parent chaperones and teachers will also be with each group to help. Most groups arrive at Brownsville Preserve around 9:15 or so and leave by 1:15.

Anyone volunteering who isn’t already youth safety certified through TNC will need to sign a two-time exception waiver where they can volunteer twice with TNC where youth are present before needing to go through a background check and short online training.

Anyone can be helpful if they like to be around kids and nature. We have lesson plan documents that we can share with anyone who is interested so that they get some details on what the field trip is like.

Contact jennifer.miller@tnc.org to sign up. Please log your hours under Category 13, The Nature Conservancy

🧤 Natural Area Preserve Workdays - Magothy Bay
2025-11-17 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve, 4829 Bulls Drive, Cape Charles, VA, United States
Please join us to remove invasive species at DCR Natural Area Preserves in November. Jennifer and Will are going to be there and take the lead on these, focusing on invasive species removal and treatment (the latter only by DCR staff). There will be no RSVP forms supplied, we’ll just hope for anywhere from 2 to 12 volunteers show up.

Schedule – 10am to noon each day; meet in the NAP parking lot.

Monday November 17 – Magothy Bay.

We will bring some hand tools and extra gloves, but please bring your own if you have comfortable ones you like to use.

Please check the weather and dress appropriately. If it is raining, we will likely need to reschedule. If you have any blaze orange to wear, that is recommended, but not required. Ticks can still be active, so please take measures to protect yourself.

Please log your hours under the NAP Category in Better Impact.

🧤 Natural Area Preserve Stewardship Days – Mutton Hunk Fen NAP
2025-11-19 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, 28583 Baker Road, Parksley, VA, United States
Please join us to remove invasive species at DCR Natural Area Preserves in November. There will be no RSVP forms supplied, we’ll just hope for anywhere from 2 to 12 volunteers show up.

The goal at MHF will be similar to that for SND, MB, and CC earlier in the month – invasive species removal in some of the most visible areas of these public access facility preserves. We’ll focus near the parking lot, the drive in, and the areas of the trail closest to the parking lot. We can also do some branch/tree trimming as necessary to make it safe to mow the trails next season. DCR staff will be there prior to noon with about 3 tons of gravel to fill some low spots and potholes in the entry road.

💡 CE: Waterfall Walk at Chincoteague NWR
2025-11-22 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center, 8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague Island, Chincoteague iIsland, Virginia, United States
Ducks, geese and swans are arriving to overwinter at the Refuge. Join a guided walk (about a mile) to explore the rafts of waterfowl in the ponds and birds of the woodlands.

Newcomers to birding welcome. Binoculars available.

This program is hosted by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Eastern Shore Master Naturalists.

Meet at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center 8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336-2149.

💡 CE: Birding Field Trip - Mutton Hunk Fen
2025-11-24 08:30 (America/New_York) | Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, 28583 Baker Road, Parksley, VA, United States

💡 CE: Birding Field Trip - Onancock Parks and Marina
2025-12-04 08:30 (America/New_York) | VA

💡 CE: Ospreys in the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic
2025-12-04 17:30 (America/New_York) | Eastern Shore Community College, 29316 Lankford Highway, Melfa, Virginia, 24310, United States
Date: 5:30 pm, December 4. Doors open at 5:00 pm.

NEW! Now available via ZOOM:

Location: In-person, Eastern Shore Community College, 29316 Lankford Highway, Melfa, VA 23410. (Great Room of the Workforce Development Building). Also available on ZOOM.

Description: Please join us as we welcome Dr. Bryan D. Watts, the Mitchell A. Byrd Professor of Conservation Biology and Director of The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary, and Benjamin Wurst, Environmental Scientist and NJ Osprey Project leader for Conserve Wildlife Foundation. We will hear about the latest scientific research regarding the reproduction and sustainability of regional osprey populations, one of the most iconic species in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coast. Registration: Free and open to the public.

For More Information: This event is organized by the nonprofit Birding Eastern Shore. If you have questions, please direct them to Info@birdingeasternshore.org. Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 2: Continuing Education.

ESMN Tree at Lights on the Lawn
2025-12-05 18:00 (America/New_York) | VA
Check out the ESMN tree at Onancock’s Lights on the Lawn! Grand Illumination @ Ker Place 6 pm. Trees illuminated nightly through Dec. 31. Many thanks to Anne Birch and Karen Morris for decorating.

💡 CBBT Birding Trip
2025-12-06 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | VA
Please log your hours under Better Impact Category 2, Continuing Education.

TNC Holiday Open House
2025-12-10 15:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | VA
TNC has invited all chapter members to their holiday open house.

🧤 Volunteer - Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-14 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-20 00:00 - 23:59, 2025-12-20 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-29 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | VA
The nation’s longest-running community science bird project fuels Audubon’s work throughout the year. The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season. Contact the specified compiler to participate.

💡 CE: First Day Hike at Kiptopeke KSP
2026-01-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Kiptopeke State Park, 3540 Kiptopeke Dr., Cape Charles, VA, 23310, United States
Friends of Kiptopeke State Park invite you to ring in the New Year with a guided nature hike observing wildlife. The hike will start at 10:00am and leave from Picnic Shelter #1. The hike will be one mile on flat, even ground.

Stay after the hike to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies and learn more about the Friends of Kiptopeke StatePark.VIRGINIA STATE PARKSFind details at www.virginiastateparks.gov/firstdayhikes.800-933-PARK (7275) | www.virginiastateparks.gov

Featured image is here https://www.flickr.com/photos/vadcr/53008610493/in/album-72157603478789824.

Birding Field Trip - Saxis
2026-01-10 15:30 (America/New_York) | VA

💡 Birding Field Trip - Chincoteague
2026-01-17 13:00 (America/New_York) | VA

🧤 Savage Neck Dunes NAP Work Session
2026-01-19 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve, 2186 Savage Neck Rd. Drive, Cape Charles, VA, United States
VDCR staff will be on site to let volunteers park beyond the gate. Join us in trimming the Southern Wax Myrtle and other species along the field loop trail. Since this area faces east and with a noon start time, we hope that it won’t be too cold. Although staff will bring some extra loppers and gloves, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own favorites from home for their own use if they’d like. No RSVP required – there’s plenty to do for everyone!

Staff will have first aid kits and an AED. Please dress appropriately with layers and watch the forecast. If it is raining, the event will be cancelled.

Please log your hours under Category 3, Savage Neck Dunes NAP.

🧤 Cape Charles NAP Work Session
2026-01-20 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Cape Charles NAP, 301 Patrick Henry Avenue, Cape Charles, VA, 23310, United States
Join us in pulling young privet and Amur honeysuckle shrubs while the bugs and poison ivy are mostly dormant. Although staff will bring some gloves, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own favorites from home for their own use if they’d like. No RSVP required – there’s plenty to do for everyone!

Staff will have first aid kits and an AED. Please dress appropriately with layers and watch the forecast. If it is raining, the event will be cancelled.

Please log your hours under Category 6, Cape Charles NAP.

💡CE: ESMN Chapter Meeting
2026-01-21 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory, Seaside Hall, 36 Atlantic Street, Wachapreague, VA, United States
Speaker: Libby Bieri of The Nature Conservancy will talk about “Nature-based solutions: building oyster reefs to help defend a low-lying coastal town,” an update on TNC’s Wachapreague Inlet oyster reef effort.

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.

💡 Birding Field Trip - Onancock
2026-01-22 09:00 (America/New_York) | VA
