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Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer Thomas Adkins has made a significant achievement in becoming our first volunteer to contribute 5000 hours of service.  Tom became a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Shenandoah Chapter in 2007.  That was early in the life of the chapter, and Tom contributed many hours to the volunteer opportunities and education committees, helping to get the chapter organized and running smoothly.  He also spent plenty of volunteer hours outdoors.  Among his many projects was coordinating the building of bluebird nest boxes for Sky Meadows State Park and helping to monitor the boxes.  He also planted American Chestnut seeds at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and at the Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum (Blandy).  Tom’s favorite project was working with the Young Naturalist Program, a day program for youth at Blandy that gets them outdoors in winter, a time when there are few similar opportunities.  Tom writes, “It is a great program and only chips away at the plight pointed out by Richard Louv in his “Last Child in the Woods”. I always liked the term “Leave No Child Inside”.  I am sure that the ‘nature deficit disorder’ he describes will not gain a lot of attention, but the VMN program has sure done its bit to help, and I love the support we have gotten from our partnership with state agencies.”
Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for all 5000+ hours of service you have graciously given to the program!

Patricia Temples (VMN volunteer, Old Rag Chapter) won top photo in the Local Farms and Foods category in the Piedmont Environmental Council’s 2014 photo contest.   You can see her photo, “Cows Have the Best View”, and other winners at http://pecva.org/about/135-get-involved/photo-contest/1077-2014-photo-contest-winners-finalists.

The VDEQ is also leading two workshops for educators (including Master Naturalist volunteers) on developing effective Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for youth.  Participants will have a chance to begin planning their own seasonal or yearlong action project. Participants will receive CBFs Guide to Creating a MWEE and U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide.  To register: 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WEI
You will receive a confirmation email and a follow up email several weeks before the workshop(s).  For more information, contact Page Hutchinson at 804-698-4488 or 
Page.Hutchinson@deq.virginia.gov 

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015
Location: Herrity Building, Room 107, Fairfax
Fee: $12

OR

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Location: VDOT District Office, Culpeper
Fee: $12 

Arlington Regional Chapter (based in Arlington): http://armn.org 
Central Piedmont Chapter (based in Buckingham, Cumberland, and Prince Edwards counties): http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/centralpiedmont.html
Historic Southside Chapter (based in Surry, Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Sussex counties): http://www.vmnhistoricsouthside.org 
Old Rag Chapter (based in Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, Orange, and the western portions of Fauquier): http://www.oldragmasternaturalists.org
Peninsula Chapter (based in Newport News, Hapton, Poquoson, Gloucester, and lower York counties): http://vmnpeninsula.weebly.com 
Pocahontas Chapter (based in Chesterfield County and the Richmond metro area): http://pocahontasvmn.org
Rivanna Chapter (based in Charlottesville and Albemarle County): http://vmn-rivanna.org 
Riverine Chapter (based in Hanover County and the Richmond metro area): http://riverinemn.org (applications due November 30!)
Southwestern Piedmont (based in Martinsville/Henry County): http://www.vmnh.net/virginia-master-naturalist-program (applications due December 16!)