Headwaters Chapter members are invited to submit photos you’ve taken anywhere in Virginia from anytime you were a Master Naturalist, that fit categories listed below. Submissions will be accepted through the end of June after which we will ask Chapter members to vote on their favorite in each category. This Chapter-wide contest will allow us to…
Want to learn about the water beneath us? Attend the “Virtual Hydro-Geologic Tour of Rockingham and Augusta” on Wednesday, June 26. Joel Maynard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Groundwater Characterization Geologist for our region, will be describing the occurrence and movement of groundwater in our area. His presentation, which will include photos and fascinating…
Tyler Urgo is the Shenandoah Valley Region Steward for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. He previously spent many years with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Tyler is learning about Headwaters Master Naturalists while he slides into our Chapter advisor position. Our founding advisor, Paul Bugas, has…
Virginia Museum of Natural History / Fairy Stone State Park Retreat June 21 to June 23, 2019 HMN Chapter President Chris Bowlen and Continuing Education Committee Chair Margaret Speicher have been making plans since early this year for a 1st Annual HMN Retreat to visit another part of the state. We will stay at a…
For seven years, the Headwaters Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists has organized wildflower walks on Shenandoah Mountain in the George Washington National Forest that cuts across the western side of Augusta and Rockingham Counties. What started as a cohort project, has grown into a tradition for some families and groups of friends. It offers a…
April 22, Earth Day, with warm sunny weather, was an appropriate time for three Headwaters Master Naturalists and guests Mike Smith of the local PATC Chapter and Roger and Cynthia Barouti of Allegheny Highlands Master Naturalists to explore rare plants at four area shale barrens and a couple other locations. Jay Shaner, a well- known…
Our chapter is starting a new Citizen Science project to locate and monitor vernal pools in our region. In support of this, we had a training session on Saturday, April 6 that started at McKinney Science Center at Bridgewater College and ended at Deep Run Ponds Natural Area Preserve. Dr. Anne Wright, director of Life…
Every Chapter Has Fantastic Photos: Should It Be So Hard to Find Them? This year’s VMN Photo Contest has not only simplified technical and submission requirements, it features more categories to show off your photographic work and will be judged by amazing photographers. This is the year that every chapter should enter the VMN Photo…
As a means of introducing her to our Chapter, HMN Stephanie Gardner recently corresponded with our newest member, Jean Stephens, to see if she’d be willing to let us know a little about her. Jean transferred to the Headwaters Chapter from the Richmond area’s Riverine Chapter last January. She brings our “transferee cohort” up to…
Wildflower Walks on Shenandoah Mountain Saturday, April 27, 2019 Please join the Headwaters Master Naturalists for our annual rediscovery of the springtime beauty in the forests of our backyard mountain. After a long winter, what better way to celebrate warmer days than to hit the trails in search of spring wild flowers. And really there is…
Liverworts are grouped with the mosses and hornworts forming the Bryophytes. All of the Bryophytes reproduce by spores and Liverworts are considered to be the simplest true land plants from which it is thought that all land plants evolved. As Liverworts have been understudied in the state of Virginia, the plant record database overseen by…
The Headwaters Master Naturalists had a great time at the Cyrus McCormick Research Farm in Raphine on Saturday, March 16! Led by Sandy Greene, Master Naturalists Derek Blyer, Peggy Plass, and myself (Emily Fugate), along with two guests, set off on this unexpectedly cold morning to plant trees along the short but beautiful path on…
