December 07, 2011

Paw Paw School Science Fair - Volunteer Opportunity

Those of you in Morgan County should seriously consider helping Carol Coryea with the Paw Paw Science Fair. This is an important support to students to help them in their education.  If you have never judged a science fair, it is fun!  You do not have to know anything about the subject--just ask the students about their project, listen to their answers, and decide if they have done a good, scientific project and seem to know what they are talking about.
You can contact Carol about helping at ccoryea@access.k12.wv.us.

Ellen

I am writing to see if anyone is interested in judging our school science fair on Friday December 16th, ( Snow date Jan 6th 2012). If you are available, if you would contact me at ccoryea@access.k12.wv.us to confirm that would be great.  We would ask if judges would arrive at the school at 12:30 PM.  We anticipate the fair to be approximately 2 hours.

A copy of the rubric for judges will be sent to you if you are interested.

It is a fun way to see what our students are doing in the County.  If you are not able to judge and know someone who might be able to help, please feel free to send this massage along.

The grades involved are as follows:  4-6   7-8   9-12

There are a range of topics and team projects this year. I hope you can join us for this fun activity.

Sincerely,

Carol Coryea

November 21, 2011

2012 Master Naturalist applications

News from the Potomac Valley Audubon Society:

The 2012 Master Naturalist applications are now available! They must be postmarked by January 14th, and applicants will be notified of acceptance by February 1. The fee for the entire course is $300 and is due prior to the first weekend workshop, typically held in March. Scholarships are available. To learn more about the West Virginia Master Naturalist program or how to apply, please download the following:

Master Naturalist Background Information
Master Naturalist 2012 Application
Master Naturalist 2012 Scholarship Application

April 12, 2011

First PVMN service project of 2011

The West Virginia Garlic Mustard Challenge is coming to Yankauer Nature Preserve on Saturday May 7 from 10 a.m.-12 noon! It is sponsored by PVMN and all members are encouraged to be there! There’s certainly plenty of garlic mustard to pull and it’s always more fun to have lots of volunteers helping. Bring your family and friends even if you can only stay for an hour.

This is our first PVMN sponsored service project for the year. Others are the Mile A Minute Eradication effort at Flowing Springs Park on Saturday June 4 and service projects at Cacapon State Park and Yankauer Nature Preserve later this year.

...continued.

March 01, 2011

2011 Citizen Science Projects

Below is a list of Citizen Science projects that you may be interested in.

POTOMAC VALLEY MASTER NATURALISTS
Citizen Science Projects 2011

West Virginia Citizen Science Opportunities

Crayfishes in WV: Zach Loughman, Natural History Research Specialist at West Liberty State College, is running a statewide survey of the Crayfishes found in WV and would appreciate any help in collecting. Contact him at: Zachary J. Loughman, Natural History Research Specialist, Campus Service Center Box 139, West Liberty State College, West Liberty, WV, 26704, Phone: (304) 336-8923, Fax: (304) 336-8266, zloughman@westliberty.edu .

WVDNR Research Projects: Contact Keiran O’Malley at Romney and volunteer to help on any surveys or other projects. (He teaches the PVMN Reptiles and Amphibian Class.) Contact him at kieranomalley@wv.gov

Bird Banding: Contact Bob Dean who bands locally and volunteer to help him. Contact Bob
at 304-754-3042 or BobDean52@gmail.com .

Fish Research Projects: Contact Vicki Blazer at the USGS National Fish Health Research Lab in Kearneysville WV. You’ll start out recording notes during research field work, but as you gain knowledge and experience, you can do more. Contact Vicki at fishdoc322@frontiernet.net .

...continued.

2011 Volunteer Opportunities

Below is a list of projects and activities where Potomac Valley Master Naturalists will be this spring! You should plan to make sure you are involved in one or more of them! Remember the whole point of being a Master Naturalist is GIVING BACK to the community through volunteer time.

POTOMAC VALLEY MASTER NATURALISTS
Volunteer Opportunities-2011

PVAS Sponsored Events

Saturday April 2, PVAS is hosting an Open House at the NEW Flowing Springs Park in Ranson (near Home Depot). Many different activities are planned and we need volunteers to help with all of them! Activities include helping with tree plantings, leading bird/nature walks, stream sampling demonstrations, and possible invasive removal. There will also be a PVAS/PVMN contact table which will need volunteers to greet visitors, help providing refreshments, and talking about both organizations. Gloves, tools and refreshments will be provided to volunteers (and a t-shirt to thank you for all your hard work!) Hours are 11:00-4:00 p.m. and you can volunteer for all or part of that time. Contact Kristin Alexander to help: 304-274-0509.

Saturday, April 16, PVAS will be hosting a Wildflower Festival at the Yankauer Preserve
in northeast Berkeley County. We'll need some folks to help with children's activities, lead
walks, and lend a helping hand as required. Training in wildflowers is available before the big
day. The walks will be held on the hour from 11-3. Contact Kristin Alexander for more
information: 304-274-0509.

Sunday April 17, PVAS’s Annual Egg Hunt, 2-4 p.m. Help is needed in:
• putting out the eggs about 12:30 p.m.
• assisting with some of the activities (egg games, reading books, playing games, etc)
• baking cookies! We need several people to make 3 dozen cookies (your choice) and
drop them off at Yankauer Sunday morning. (The kids will be trading in their eggs for cookies and lemonade and there are lots of parents to feed.) Contact Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739.

Saturday May 7, PVAS is participating in the Boonsboro GreenFest which is one of the best Earth Festivals in this area! Everything from solar energy systems to composting to fair trade products to heirloom tomato plants to special children's activities to recycling opportunities to clothing and children's book swaps will be featured throughout the park. We need volunteers to help with our contact booth. Time is 10:00-5:00 p.m. Contact Kristin Alexander to volunteer: 304-274-0509.

...continued.

January 24, 2011

2011 Class dates

March 19-20 Cacapon Orientation, General Ecology, Names/Classification/Identification and Soils (elective), Nature Interpretation/Teaching and Geology (elective)

April 30 Shepherd University Birds and Wildflowers/Weeds

May 21 NCTC Terrestrial Habitats and Recording/Sharing and Preserving What You Know

June 11 Cool Spring Farm Reptiles/Amphibians, Beavers (elective), Mammals

July 16 Cacapon Aquatic Habitats

August 6 NCTC Slime Molds (elective), Insects/Spiders & Such

Sept 10 Cool Spring Farm Wetland Habitats and Habitat Improvement

Oct 1 Yankauer Trees/Shrubs/Woody Wines, Service Project and Elective (elective)

Nov 5 Cacapon Service Project, Auction, and Casual Picnic

Nov 19 NCTC Annual Meeting and Presentation of Certification


Core classes are required for you to graduate.  Elective hours can be substituted hour for hour with any approved elective, but it is easier for you to plan on the ones offered.