Category: Training

On July 2, 2021, Matt Heller from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Division of Geology and Mineral Resources and John Bauman, HMN Field Trips Coordinator, led Cohort VII on a hike to Fridley Gap. After introductions, Matt brought out his cool maps showing the geologic features of the region and described how we’d be walking forward in time as the newer rock formations were further up the trail due to the way layers dipped due to geologic forces.

We’d be traversing four major formations, from 450 million to 400 million years ago. The first formation was the Edinburg formation; “bluestone” limestone. OK, truth be told, this was the gravel in the parking lot, likely deposited from Frazier quarry. Most geologists wouldn’t pass up such a teaching moment I’m sure.

A short way from the parking lot, Matt showed us our first real formation, a bank with exposed shale bedrock, an example of the Martinsburg formation from the late, or Upper, Ordovician period. Only a short way up the trail we encountered our next formation, Massanutten sandstone. This sandstone, a very light gray in color, from the Silurian period was the predominant rock we saw throughout the hike, in outcroppings, talus slopes and trail steps & obstacles. Eventually, we came upon some examples of sandstone from the Bloomsburg formation. This sandstone, from the Upper Silurian period, is red in color from the oxidation of its iron content.

Matt also told us much about the topological features of Mt Massanutten and showed us one of the springs that feeds Mountain Run. Best geology class ever!

– Art Fovargue, Cohort VII, July 2021

The photo at the top of this post shows Matt pointing out Massanutten sandstone outcropping from the Silurian period. Photo by Art.

Click on a photo below to start a slide show to see them better. Thanks to Art, Jeanine Botkin, and Sharon Landis for the photos and captions! 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Grand Caverns, the oldest show cave, discovered in 1804 by Bernard Weyer, was the site of another field trip for “Cohort Zoom.“

On Thursday, June 24, eight members of Cohort VII (aka “Cohort Zoom” due to completing all our classroom work through Zoom), plus our instructor Peggy, were led on a personalized tour by guide Adam Nelson. It was a very pleasant 75°F when we arrived at the Caverns in the late afternoon; however, the 55°F cave temperature caused most of us to don jackets or hoodies.

In addition to its age superlative, Grand Caverns has many unique and beautiful shield formations for which it has received a National Natural Landmark designation by the National Park Service. Although the exact formation process is unknown, the growth of these shapes is around a calcite core. Another unique feature of these caverns is the abundance of vertical limestone bedding, indicating some pretty serious earth movements in the past.

During our tour, Adam pointed out where in 2004, a new section of cave was discovered, which more than doubled the size of the overall cavern. According to the story, the new section’s entrance was brought to the attention of a cavern surveying crew by the barking of a dog named Rosie.

– Art Fovargue, Cohort VII, June 2021

The photo at the top of this post is of the group in the Caverns: l to r: Diane Lepkowski, Peggy Plass, Tina Dove, Anna Maria Johnson, Karen Milne, Steve Talley, Zack Perdue, Jeanine Botkin, Art Fovargue. Photo by Jeanine Botkin.

Click on a photo below to start a slide show to see them better. Thanks to Art for the captions! Thanks to Art, Jeanine and Diane Lepkowski for the photos!

Basic Training field trips have continued in June, many thanks to HMN Training Committee Chair Peggy.

On the beautiful, cool, crispy, evening of June 15, Dave Forrer and Jan Mahon, Arboretum Director, took us (Peggy and six of the trainees) on a tour of James Madison University’s Edith J Carrier Arboretum. Jan first told us of the worth of the tree & plant communities in the arboretum and how it has grown from 26 to 125 acres since its opening in 1989. Dave then led us on various trails, pointing out many trees and how the now mainly Oak-Hickory forest was once Oak-Chestnut. We did find a 15 ft American Chestnut trying to buck the odds. We kept our eyes low too, finding spectacular examples of Indian pipe, coral fungi, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Wild Ginger, ramps, Witch-hazel (with its Cone Gall Aphid galls which Dave says look like witches’ hats) and so much more. 

What a treasure of flora & fauna (we saw & heard birds too, sadly no bears which some were hoping for) the arboretum is.

– Art Fovargue, Cohort VII, June 2021

Photo at top is of Jan introducing us to the Arboretum. From l to r: Zack Perdue, Sharon Landis, Karen Milne, Jan Mahon, Dave Forrer, Peggy Plass, Angie Cromer, Tina Dove.

Click on an image below to start a slide show of the photos.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Cohort VII (aka Cohort Zoom) has now completed the indoor portion of our required 40 training hours and the final exam, but the field hours have been hard to come by due to pandemic safety concerns. Now, thanks to our intrepid leader, Peggy Plass, we are finally logging some outdoor hours. Our first field trip of 2021 was incorporated as part of the HMN Warblers & Wildflowers event in early May. Various cohort members attended walks at the different locations. The highlight, other than the fantastic wildflowers and birds, was getting to see some of our classmates without zoom rectangles around their heads and bookshelves in the background. (Click HERE for photos from this event/ trip.)

Our second outing was a hike in Shenandoah National Park on May 12. Jerry Hopkins, Cohort I, led us, including Peggy, on a leisurely 3 mile plus hike down the Rose River from Fisher’s Gap, then up the Hogcamp Branch to Dark Hollow Falls and back to the gap. In addition to sighting some beautiful birds and wildflowers, Jerry filled our brains with many geological, hydrological, and historical facts of the area.

Then five days later, Kathy Byers, Cohort IV, with John Bauman, Cohort VI, led us on a bird walk in Hillandale Park, Harrisonburg. In addition to one or more of us observing 29 species, Kathy passed on much valuable information on best birding practices, binocular tips and bird identification hints. Although the recent resident Eastern Screech-Owl (Red Phase) eluded us, the highlight may have been the spot where we saw Blackburnian Warblers and watched Downy Woodpeckers bring spiders and other nutrition to their young.

To complete our May run of field trips, five of us joined Peggy for a trip to Deep Run Ponds Natural Area Preserve on May 28. Our two plus hour trek through the forest was led by Steve Gaines, Restoration Forester, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Although the trip was under threat of postponement due to rain, for the most part it was simply just cloudy, with the sun even peeking out occasionally. What better weather could we ask for in our search for vernal pools. On the way to Pond No. 5, Steve filled our heads with many facts and tips on tree identification, from American Chestnut to Virginia Pine (2 needles, forming a “V” for Virginia). Although dry a week ago according to Steve, Pond No. 5 was now partially filled with murky water, making it impossible to find any egg masses or other life. Pond No. 6, home of the rare Virginia Sneezeweed, was dry, and no Sneezeweed in bloom to tickle our senses. To return to our cars, Steve led us through a field which was a mecca for ticks and invasive plants. Our biggest surprise there was flushing a Wild Turkey while trying to chase down the smothering Mile-a-minute weed (we did ultimately catch up to it).

Thank you Steve for a fabulous outing and to Peggy for the great series of May field trips.

– Art Fovargue, Cohort VII

Photos by Art.

Photo at top above is from the birding field trip at Hillandale Park on May 17 led by Kathy Byers.

Click on any image below to see the full image and get a slide show of the photos.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Greetings from Cohort VII

Our eager swarm of 25 got together on a windy Feb 27, 2020 evening for our initial class at Bridgewater College. At this intro session we “broke bread”, got to know some of our fellow mates, met some of the HMN officers and got the lay of the future land from our intrepid leader, Peggy Plass. Of course, this first meeting at McKinney Hall was our last, as the SARS-COV-2 viruses loomed their ugly little heads over the natural world. Although Bridgewater College closed, we all were hoping this disruption would be short lived & we’d be back at it soon. As we all know, life didn’t work out like that.

Over the summer, VMN pondered what to do with the ongoing training classes and decided they wanted to move ahead and to take the training online. We were given various options and 14 of us decided to continue. So, we became the Zoom cohort. We proceeded with nine sessions in the fall, from Forest Ecology to Fish. In addition to absorbing Master Naturalist bits, by default, we all became more efficient at Zoom. Our fall semester finished up with discussion of “The Nature Principle” by Richard Louv, an excellent reminder how much Vitamin N (Nature) is dearly needed in these pandemic times.

The spring semester began on February 25 this year with our project presentations, with ideas spanning from Astronomy to Wildlife corridors. Plus, a new (returning) member joined our swarm. Classes, still virtual of course, finished up April 8. We are now in the midst of our final exam, hoping Peggy is truly as empathetic as she appears on the computer screen!

Hoping to meet the rest of HMN soon, best to all from Cohort Zoom.

– Art Fovargue, Cohort VII, April 22, 2021

Top photo is Cohort VII in class. Screenshot is by Art Fovargue.

Update from the April 28 HMN board meeting:

Trainee field trips are being organized for May and June. HMN members who aren’t trainees may find CE opportunities with these trips that don’t fill with trainees.

With luck there will be an outdoor graduation in September!

HMNs are hoping to offer the next basic training class next spring 2022.