Category: Training

by Sopia Cliffe                     from the Spring 2013 newsletter

The  Class of 2013 Fall semester began on August 31, 2012 with 15 resourceful students eager to begin their studies and participate in lab work and field trips.

Fall classes included instruction in ecological concepts, geology, meteorology ecology, forest management, interpretive skills, dichotomous keying, and an overview of citizen science opportunities.

The classes provide an overview.  Students spend many hours reading, and preparing for presentations, and participating in field trips.

The Spring Semester began April 3, 2013. Paul Bugas, DGIF,  and Dawn Kirk, USFS, gave presentations about Ichthyology and Aquatic Entomology followed by lab work.

by Sophia Cliffe

In August 2012, RoxAnna Theiss and Sandy Greene held the first Headwaters “3 in 1 Day” advanced training at Sandy’s place.

The day began with an introduction to the VMN Field Guide created by Sandy and held in the barn. It is a “who’s who” in the world of government and non-profit agencies tailored to the needs of the area serviced by the Headwaters Chapter. After a lively game of jeopardy to see what we knew or missed, some of the class participants headed over to the log cabin for a computer session taught by RoxAnna Theiss. The objective was to have everyone present be able to access and navigate the MN volunteer system web page (http://www.virginiamn.volunteersystem.org), and also be able to log in volunteer and advanced training hours.

Other participants joined a scavenger hunt adjacent to a wooded area by the river bank with Eric Jones and Sandy identifying wildflowers and seeking edible plants.

The delightful day was topped over with a meal of locally grown or foraged greens, a quiche with lambs quarters, venison ka-bob provided by RoxAnna and expertly grilled by Frank Deckert. The class savoured the fresh picked berries, as well as, homemade cakes topped with whipped
cream. Sandy treated us to her homemade honey mead, and elderberry.
tea.