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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.