Calendar of Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, Fairfax, VA


	Note: I sometimes forget to update this. For most updated information, email me for newest calendar. CALENDAR EXPLORE WITH NEST Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you wish you knew more about local streams, plants, and soil? Do you want to get more involved in your community? Then participate in the free Neighborhood Ecological Stewardship Training (NEST) program. Explore your NEST! Adults are invited to learn about natural resources through a series of free hands-on workshops and outings that will be held at various locations around Northern Virginia on weekends and some weeknights from March - June, 2006. These include: (1) classes about streams, soil, native and invasive plants, stewardship programs; (2) land-based exploration including walks, hikes, and bike rides; (3) water-based exploration including kayaking, canoeing, and boating; (4) outdoor arts including photography, music, drawing, and journaling; and (5) evening educational programs. You have many options for participation. Participants that commit to the entire series will be given priority in class choice and will receive various incentives like park passes and more. As part of the NEST program, participants will be asked to complete two surveys about stewardship. No prior experience is needed. The surveys are the basis for a dissertation project at George Mason University. For more information and to register, check out http://mason.gmu.edu/~jcornell/NEST and contact Joanna Cornell at or 703-324-1425. Register early as the program will fill quickly. Does this all sound wonderful but you just don't have the time to participate? Then we invite you to take part in one or two surveys about stewardship. Your responses on the survey will greatly assist a doctoral student at George Mason University and local agencies and organizations. No experience or background is needed to participate in the surveys. If you participate in the survey, you will be eligible to win free recreation center passes and many other items. For more details on incentives, see our Website. Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is coordinating the NEST program. Partners include: Fairfax County Park Authority, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, Clean Fairfax Council, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners Programs, National Wildlife Federation, Friends of Little Rocky Run, Earth Sangha, Fairfax Audubon, Audubon Naturalist Society, The Nature Conservancy, George Mason University's Hemlock Overlook Center for Outdoor Education, and Adventure Links. Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District 2006 Native Seedling Sale - A Harvest of Fruits and Nuts From late summer into fall, these trees and shrubs produce colorful berries and hearty nuts that feed migrating songbirds and sustain wildlife through the winter. Whether you are seeking a backyard tree or the perfect shrub for the garden border, these appealing selections will attract wildlife to your landscape. The seedling package contains 14 seedlings for $16.95. Also available this year is a ground cover seedling package. Each package contains 4 Virginia Creeper seedlings and costs $4.00. Place your pre-paid orders by April 14. You will receive a confirmation receipt and a map to the pick-up site (in Fairfax County, off Braddock Road, two miles inside the beltway). Trees will be available for pickup on April 21-22. For more information or to get an order form, call NVSWCD at 703-324-1460 or email or visit February 18, 2006 - FULL Introduction to Stream Monitoring Workshop and Monitoring of Walney Creek (Karen Waltman's site) Location: Eleanor C. Lawrence Park Time: 9:30 a.m. - finish We will take the sample at the stream and then use an indoor classroom for the workshop. We will be outdoors for about 30 minutes. If you are really excited to get involved with stream monitoring but you don't like the cold, then this is the winter workshop for you. This site is a very healthy stream. RSVP to jcornell@gmu.edu. February 18, 2006 Citizens for Water Quality Meeting 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, University of Virginia, Clark Hall (School of Architecture) Room 160 More information at: http://www.vasos.org/cwqwinter.htm March 2, 2006 (Thursday) Stream Monitor and Watershed Volunteer Social - for Reston volunteers and residents Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Location: Reston Association, Main Conference Room, 1930 Isaac Newton Square This program is for our Reston team. If you live or monitor in Reston, then come spend an evening with fellow Reston volunteers. - Take a chance at "Name that Macroinvertebrate!" - Light Refreshments - Door prizes - Meet RA's new Watershed Manager - Nicki Foremsky - Learn about ways to volunteer in the watershed and upcoming events - Learn about the Storm Drain Marking Project - Get an update on Reston's stream quality over the past 5 years - Learn about the new stream monitoring web reporting tool - Give input about the upcoming watershed bike ride and tour in Reston RSVP to Nicki Foremsky at nicki@reston.org or call 703-435-6560 March 4, 2006 (Saturday) Green Breakfast Time: 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Location: Old Country Buffet, Fair City Mall - Route 236 (Main Street) and Pickett Road in Fairfax City Cost: Under $7.00. Pay the cashier as you arrive. If a senior, ask for the discount. No reservations are necessary. Program: "What’s Happening in the Occoquan Watershed?” Speaker: Kambiz Agazi, Fairfax County Environmental Coordinator Paul Shirey, Fairfax County DPWES, Stormwater Planning Division The Occoquan Watershed New Millenium Task Force report of January 2003 presented information on conditions in the watershed and make a number of recommendations toward continuing protection of this sensitive environmental area, including the Occoquan Reservoir that provides drinking water for nearly one million people. Paul Shirey will talk about the watershed’s water quality conditions and current planning activities. Kambiz Agazi will then can give a status report on the recommendations of the Task Force report. March 16-26, 2006 Environmental Film Festival in DC March 16, 2006 Potomac Watershed Trash Summit Participate in a one-day gathering at The World Bank with approximately 200 key stakeholders to educate, dialogue, plan and take action on strategies that lead to a Trash-Free Potomac Watershed by 2013. For more information, visit: http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/trash_summit.html March 30, 2006 Enviroscape Model Training Program 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: Fairfax County Government Center Learn how you can volunteer to demonstrate the watershed model to school-aged kids. This program will introduce you to leading a program with the model. To learn more about the model visit: www.enviroscapes.com RSVP to Joanna. Limited to 20 participants. April 1 or April 8, 2006 Potomac River Watershed Cleanup Start planning now to participate in the cleanup. More information at: http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/trash_cleanup.html More information to come about sites around Fairfax County.