Natural History at SBC

The Central Virginia Chapter of
the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
and
the Sweet Briar College Biology Department are sponsoring our second

Advanced Training Rally for
Virginia Master Naturalists
May 8-10, 2009

The Sweet Briar Rally provides advanced training for participants in the Virginia Master Naturalist Program.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service.

The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months. One starts by completing a 40-hour basic training course offered by a local chapter of the program. An additional 8 hours of advanced training are also required; the Sweet Briar rally is one way in which advanced training may be obtained. An important part of the certification process is the required 40 hours of volunteer service.

Rally Registration Information may be downloaded here.

Registration deadline is 30 April 2009

For more information, contact Sweet Briar Naturalist-in-Residence Mike Hayslett at mhayslett@sbc.edu or (434) 381-6439.

	TENTATIVE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, 8 May	Evening Workshops
6:00 pm	Check-in
8:00	Night activities

Saturday, 9 May	Workshops on Sweet Briar's 3200 acres
8:00	Check-in and Continental Breakfast
8:45	Welcome and orientation
9:00	Workshops (Block A) *
10:30	Break
11:00	Workshops (Block B)
12:30	Lunch
1:30	Workshops (Block C)
3:00	Break
3:30	Workshops (Block D)
5:00	Free time
6:00	Dinner
7:00	Keynote presentation by Dr. Richard Hoffman, Virginia Museum of Natural History Dr. Hoffman is the Curator of Recent Invertebrates, and an expert on millipedes.
8:30	Night Activities
10:00	Conclude for the day
	* Most workshops will span 3 hours in two parts with a break in the middle. Some instructors may take snacks and drinks with them and remain in the field for 3.5 hours in outlying areas. Please plan accordingly.

Sunday, 10 May	Field Forays to the Blue Ridge Mountains
8:00	Assemble for forays
8:30	Caravans depart; box lunches provided
1:30	Caravans return
2:00	Weekend rally concludes

The 2009 workshops will be posted in late April

Here is a list of 2008 workshops:

Bugs (& other insects) by Blacklight!
Dr. Art Evans (Smithsonian Institution Research Associate)

Early Amphibians & Wet (ish) lands
Mike Hayslett (Sweet Briar College; VMN Steering Committee & Central VA Chapter)

Eating the Sun: Plant Ecophysiology
Dr. Janet Steven (Sweet Briar College)

EEK! Environmental Education with Kids
Lora DeVan (Camp Kum-Ba-Ya; VMN Central VA Chapter)

Insect-Plant Interactions
Dr. Linda Fink (Sweet Briar College)

Interpreting Mammal and Bird Tracks & Sign
Rob Speiden (Natural Awareness Tracking School, LLC; New River Valley Chapter)

Land Navigation with Map & Compass
Rob Speiden (Natural Awareness Tracking School, LLC; New River Valley Chapter)

Nature Journaling for the Artistically Challenged
Scott Jinks (Tarawood Academy)

Reptilian Search
Kimberly Burge (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission; SBC Biology alumna)

Shocking Fish Tails
Scott Smith (Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries)
Dr. John Morrissey (Sweet Briar College

Stars in Your Eyes [cancelled due to weather]
Dr. Scott Hyman (Sweet Briar College)

There’s a Bat in my Net!
Chris Hobson (Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation)

Wet Spineless Wonders
Garrett Jones (Robert E. Lee Soil & Water Conservation District)

Whitetail Deer Management
Matt Knox (VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)

Under the Dark Waters of Guion Pond
Sweet Briar College team

2008 Sunday Field Trips

Spring Wildflowers at Wiggins Spring, Janet Steven
Cold Mountain “Balds” Hike
Vernal Pool Wetlands at Piney River, Mike Hayslett
Appalachian Trail Predator Survey Walk, John Powers