By Mary McLean Mary McLean recounts a series of fascinating encounters with a family of Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio) in early May 2018 at Tuckahoe Park in North Arlington. Mary and fellow master naturalists, park experts, and even animal welfare professionals provided thoughts and assistance to protect the offspring, and everyone learned something newContinueContinue reading “Arlington Discovery: Intriguing Screech Owls at Home in Suburbia”
Category Archives: Education
Firefly Fest – Fun for all Ages!
Text and photos by Jo Allen On June 24, 2018, the 10th annual Firefly Festival was held at Fort C.F. Smith Park. This very popular event was scheduled to run from 7:00–9:30 p.m. but was cut short by a cloudburst around 9:10. Still, it was really a great time, especially for the little ones! ThisContinueContinue reading “Firefly Fest – Fun for all Ages!”
Getting Involved in the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists Program: Why Mentoring Benefits Both Mentor and Student
By Susan Berry If you have ever thought you might want to get involved in the conservation and stewardship of our local natural resources, then the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist (ARMN) program is for you! ARMN conducts a 3 ½ month basic training course for new volunteers in ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, forest and aquaticContinueContinue reading “Getting Involved in the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists Program: Why Mentoring Benefits Both Mentor and Student”
Summer Chapter Meeting Kicks off ARMN’s 10 Year Celebration
ARMN members met on the evening of June 21st to celebrate the first day of summer and the official start to our 10-year anniversary festivities. While ARMN members are known for their industrious volunteer work, we also know how to have a good time! ARMN’s Summer Chapter meeting was preceded by a tree identification walkContinueContinue reading “Summer Chapter Meeting Kicks off ARMN’s 10 Year Celebration”
ARMN: Getting to Know Yolanda Villacampa
Photos courtesy of Yolanda Villacampa unless otherwise noted. ARMN’s Membership Committee occasionally posts profiles of our members, including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they affect their environment. This latest biography features ARMN Member Yolanda Villacampa, who graduated from our training class in Spring 2011.ContinueContinue reading “ARMN: Getting to Know Yolanda Villacampa”
The Importance of Citizen Scientists: Using iNaturalist to Create an Inventory of Natural Resources
By Louis Harrell The recent City Nature Challenge, held 27-30 April 2018, exemplifies the important role that the general public plays by providing professional scientists with valuable data on biodiversity. Anyone can become a “citizen scientist” by going out and collecting data related to the natural world – made even easier today with the iNaturalistContinueContinue reading “The Importance of Citizen Scientists: Using iNaturalist to Create an Inventory of Natural Resources”
ARMN Member Joanne Hutton Receives Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award
(Based on article in Arlington County’s Environment webpage.) Photos courtesy of Bill Browning. On April 24, 2018, ARMN member, Joanne Hutton, was honored with a Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award for her volunteer work in Arlington last year. This award was established to pay tribute to lifelong parks volunteer Bill Thomas and toContinueContinue reading “ARMN Member Joanne Hutton Receives Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award”
ARMN: Getting to Know Emily Ferguson
ARMN’s Membership Committee posts occasional profiles of our members, including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they affect their environment. This latest biography features ARMN Member Emily Ferguson, who graduated from our training class in Spring 2010. Many of our members already know her becauseContinueContinue reading “ARMN: Getting to Know Emily Ferguson”
ARMN: Getting to Know Susan Berry
By Alison Sheahan and Susan Berry. Photos courtesy of Pablo Nuesch ARMN’s Membership Committee posts occasional profiles of our members, including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they affect their environment. This latest biography features ARMN Member Susan Berry, who graduated from our training classContinueContinue reading “ARMN: Getting to Know Susan Berry”
ARMN Winter Book Share: Good food for the body, mind, and spirit!
by Carol Mullen, with photos by Rodney Olsen A few times a year, folks who enjoy nature literature meet at a local restaurant for a Book Share event. Participants enjoy good food as they provide a brief overview of a book or other material that they found inspiring and useful. The most recent get-together was atContinueContinue reading “ARMN Winter Book Share: Good food for the body, mind, and spirit!”