Tired of seeing lovely mature trees tortured by hideous vines? Come learn how to use impactful messages, material, and strategies for inspiring our neighbors to remove English ivy from their trees! Through a grant from the Tree Canopy Fund, TreeStewards and Master Naturalists hired the nonprofit environmental communications firm Biodiversity Project to create and test materials for our campaign. That work is done and now we volunteers will learn how to use the material and conduct a wide campaign.Continue reading “Remove Ivy Campaign Kickoff – March 12 & 13, 2012”
Green Fire: Screenings of the Aldo Leopold Documentary
ARMN and Northern Virginia Conservation Trust present two showings of the documentary Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time. This full-length HD documentary film depicts the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy. It shares highlights from his extraordinary career and his vision of a community that cares about both people and land.
- The first screening is at 7:00 pm on March 15 in the JC Cinema at George Mason University. Dr. Stan Temple, Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow at Aldo Leopold Foundation, will be speaking and leading a discussion.
- The second screening is at 7:00 pm on March 29 at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 North Quincy St. in Arlington.
Find screenings and parking information at nvct.org. Read more about the movie at greenfiremovie.com or watch the trailer.
1/12/12 Barcroft Sunny Workday Report
By Jim Hurley
Last Thursday, January 12, Master Naturalist (and current ARMN Treasurer) Josh Schnell enticed some 15 of his USDA OLC (Office of Legal Counsel) colleagues to Barcroft Park for a couple of hours cutting and digging Multiflora Rose, English Ivy and Japanese Honeysuckle. Five Americorps volunteers supported the effort, as well as four other MNs 
(thanks Jim Clark!), and tools were supplied by Sarah Archer. The day was sunny and a balmy 58 degrees, and with the ground wet from the previous day’s rain, the invasives were very vulnerable. We took full advantage of the conditions, and massive R. multiflora clumps and root systems yielded to shovels and pickaxes. We continued to clear the area between the bikepath and drainage ditch, exposing the Lesser Celandine that is the dominant invasive there. There were large numbers of Ranunculus ficaria bulblets and tubers just below the ground surface, which, no longer protected by their cover of Rose and Ivy, are vulnerable to spraying in spring. For more on Lesser Celandine, including a shoutout to our own Steve Young, see: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/rafi1.htm. Continue reading “1/12/12 Barcroft Sunny Workday Report”
Earth Sangha
By Rodney Olsen
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) trains and certifies volunteers for stewardship of the environment. Earth Sangha brings volunteers together to restore native forests and meadows, stabilize streams, and control invasive plant species. The compatibility of purpose between the two organizations could not be closer. In 2011, ARMN designated supporting Earth Sangha as one of its focus service projects. This will continue into 2012. Continue reading “Earth Sangha”
Sharing Local Natural History Informally
“Meet Me on a Sunday . . . every Sunday afternoon at Potomac Overlook Regional Park!”
Almost everyone needs more time in the great outdoors – time to take a walk, enjoy each others’ company, or to just sit and do nothing! So, come make a “natural connection” at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. Every Sunday afternoon, between 1:30 and3:30 p.m., the park provides refreshments, games and hands-on nature exhibits, and a fun place to meet and hang out. You take it from there: come alone or with family or friends; go on a walk; visit the nature center and chat with a Master Naturalist; or, just enjoy the day! Continue reading “Sharing Local Natural History Informally”
Applications being accepted for Spring 2012 Basic Training
Applications now being accepted for basic training for the Spring 2012 Class of Arlington Regional Master Naturalists
You can make a difference in our community by becoming a Master Naturalist volunteer! The Virginia Master Naturalist program trains volunteers to provide education, citizen science and outreach to conserve and manage natural resources and public lands. Master Naturalist volunteers gain certification through state-approved natural history courses and a commitment to volunteer service. Fun and interactive training is provided by recognized experts in a wide range of disciplines such as ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, forest and aquatic ecosystems and much more. Continue reading “Applications being accepted for Spring 2012 Basic Training”
President’s Report to the Membership
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists
President’s Report to the Annual Meeting
given by Caroline Haynes
December 7, 2011
Thank everyone for coming out tonight on a wet evening. Especially want to thank our guests for joining us this evening.
This past year
2011 has been a banner year for ARMN. As of this coming Monday, we will graduate the seventh class of ARMN volunteers. Coming up with accurate statistics is a bit difficult considering that hours were still coming in this afternoon. As of about 2:00 pm today, our active volunteers totals 137. Our return of trainees who become active volunteers is close to 90% . As of this afternoon, ARMN volunteers logged in almost 8000 hours so far in 2011 and we still have three weeks to go! Sixty-two members have reached certification or recertification levels in 2011. That is impressive indeed and we should all be proud of our collective efforts.Continue reading “President’s Report to the Membership”
12/17/2011 Barcroft Park Work Day Report
By Jim Hurley
We had another inspiring turnout December 17, with 26 volunteers (Master Naturalists, Tree Stewards, Americorps, Windgate residents, hikers, spouses and friends of the above) reluctantly ending the invasive work after almost two hours, in order to turn our attention to Deep Time. We began the morning again with coffee, cider, and donuts on a cool and cloudy day, fueling more intensive work on the natural area between the bikepath and the drainage ditch. Continue reading “12/17/2011 Barcroft Park Work Day Report”
11/19/11 Barcroft Park Work Day Report
By Jim Hurley
We began Saturday morning with coffee and donuts, which fueled 23 volunteers for more than two hours of intense, and intensely satisfying, invasive removal in sunny brisk weather. The Master Naturalists, Tree Stewards, and Native Plant Society were well represented, and we had residents from Claremont and Windgate too. We worked in the natural area between the bikepath and the drainage ditch, mowing through an impenetrable 1000 sq. ft. hedge of primarily Multiflora Rose, interlaced with Porcelainberry. We cut the canes to a foot or so, and then used shovels and pickaxes to dig impressive old-growth root infrastructures. Great fun. Continue reading “11/19/11 Barcroft Park Work Day Report”