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…
