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!”
Category Archives: Service Projects
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 Helps DC Area Place 5th Worldwide in City Nature Challenge
By Rosemary Jann During the weekend of 27-30 April 2018, 180 ARMN members and other area residents answered the call to participate in the third annual City Nature Challenge. The Nature Challenge seeks to encourage interest in urban nature by having groups compete to record and identify the nature around them. It began in 2016ContinueContinue reading “ARMN Helps DC Area Place 5th Worldwide in City Nature Challenge”
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”
Join the City Nature Challenge: April 27 to 30!
Join the City Nature Challenge Now! Select from many local events on April 27–30 and sign up. For the list of local events and sign-up information, click: HERE By Louis Harrell, Caroline Haynes, and Phil Klingelhofer What is the City Nature Challenge? Mark your calendars for April 27-30 to participate in the City Nature Challenge.ContinueContinue reading “Join the City Nature Challenge: April 27 to 30!”
It’s Time to Plant Natives!
Text and photos by Kasha Helget With longer daylight hours, warming soils, and the return of birds and butterflies, we want to spend more time outdoors. It’s a perfect time to install beautiful native plants that also benefit the critters that depend on them. So, please consider a few—or several native plants to brighten yourContinueContinue reading “It’s Time to Plant Natives!”