2019

July

Teaching Trees Workshop (for high school teachers)

Training for teachers in forest ecology, management, and utilization with supporting Project Learning Tree® lessons

Who should attend:

This 2-day professional development event will introduce middle and high school science teachers to local pine and hardwood forestry, sustainable forest management, and forest products with hands-on field trips.  Instruction totals 14 hours; see your school administrator for recertification credit.

What to Expect:

Both days will largely be held in the field unless severe weather prohibits.  We will visit a sawmill, multiple forests and potentially an active logging job.  Instructors will discuss what is happening at each site within the context of sustainability.

Field-trip transportation is provided.

Participants will receive several PLT modules (correlated to Va. SOL) and related teaching supplies.

For more information, contact Ellen Powell, ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov, 434-220-9083.

Registration is closed; program is full.

Botany and Bloom Workshop: Summer Blooms

Explore the rich natural diversity of Sky Meadows.  This workshop includes a lecture in the Carriage Barn, followed by a 3-mile field hike for hands-on application. Participants will receive a colored print-out of the lecture. Bring water and lunch to eat along the trail, dress in layers, and wear sturdy shoes.

No pre-registration required.

More information available here. 

Top

August

Teaching Trees Workshop (for high school teachers)

Training for teachers in forest ecology, management, and utilization with supporting Project Learning Tree® lessons

Who should attend:

This 2-day professional development event will introduce middle and high school science teachers to local pine and hardwood forestry, sustainable forest management, and forest products with hands-on field trips.  Instruction totals 14 hours; see your school administrator for recertification credit.

What to Expect:

Both days will largely be held in the field unless severe weather prohibits. 

Field-trip transportation is provided.

Participants will receive several PLT modules (correlated to Va. SOL) and related teaching supplies.

For more information, contact Ellen Powell, ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov, 434-220-9083.

  • Registration deadline extended!
  • Register by mail

Preparing for Generation NEXT 2-Day Workshop

  • August 9-10
  • Friday: 5:30 - 8:30
  • Saturday: 8:30 - 3:30
  • Agenda
  • Longwood University, Farmville
  • $60 for up to 2 family members; $30 each additional family member

Are you prepared to pass the environmental and heirloom values rooted in your woods to the next generation? Join us for a 1.5 day workshop to learn how to secure your woodland legacy. Family participation is strongly encouraged. Breakfast and lunch are included on Saturday.  

For more information, contact Jason Fisher, jasonf@vt.edu, 434-476-2147.

Bad Bugs: A Backyard Bestiary

Scientists from Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension will update participants on spotted lanternflies, emerald ash borers, stinkbugs, cicadas, and other problematic insects. Live and preserved specimens will be on display; bring securely bagged specimens for identification. The program ends with a walk to observe insects and insect damage. Dress for the weather.

Reservations required.  Call 540-837-1758 x 224.

Backcountry Crash Course

Ready to try backcountry camping? Spend 24 hours in nature learning backcountry skills and survival techniques with professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch of the Earth Connection School. With Sky Meadows' Backcountry Campground as the setting, learn how to build a shelter from the elements, start a fire, cook over the open campfire, forage for food and medicine in the wild, track animals, and much more. Meet at the overnight parking lot near the entrance of Sky Meadows State Park. Includes overnight camping fee and parking at Sky Meadows State Park. Bring water, dress in layers, and wear sturdy shoes.

Find out the gear requirements and register by August 14 for this course at: http://earth-connection.com/registration. Course held rain or shine. Limited to 15 registrants (minimum 13 years of age).

Join us for the remainder of the Earth Connection Series:

  • Fall Mountain Herbs: Saturday, September 28

Pollinator Workshop

What are pollinators, and why are they important? What are the primary threats to pollinators, and what can you do in your backyard to help save them? All of these questions and more will be answered at the Sky Meadows Pollinator Workshop. Hear informative presentations on pollinator conservation from knowledgeable Virginia Master Naturalists, including a hike to explore pollinator plots in the park.

Construct a Bee Hotel to display proudly in your yard and receive a tray (4 pack) of native wildflowers to increase pollinator habitat in your backyard or balcony. 

Click here for more information

Register on-line

The Butterflies in Your Backyard

Begins with an illustrated talk on Virginia butterflies, including life cycle, ecology, and identification. Then participants will look for butterflies in Blandy’s gardens. Dress for the weather.

Reservations required.  Call 540-837-1758 x 224.

Top

September

2019 Mapping with Drones

  • September 10-12
  • Hampton
  • $450 - inlcudes lunch all 3 days

Workshop Summary 
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) are permeating many sectors of industry, and are increasingly being employed as data collection platforms to support of an array of applications.  Applications span disciplines and industries and can include:  planning, natural resource management, marketing, inspection of structures, agricultural production, permitting, and public safety.  Specific sensors can be used to tailor application needs. Flights can be scheduled and conducted under short notice to accommodate weather, and temporal considerations.  sUAS operations support efficient workflows and provide opportunities for ‘data on demand’.

This 3-day workshop will provide participants with the following:

  • An understanding of FAA and sUAS lingo;
  • A comprehensive knowledge of current federal commercial sUAS regulations;
  • In-depth discussions of sUAS platforms (fixed wing and multi-rotor), sensors (including true color, NIR, multispectral, thermal), and associated applications;
  • sUAS project workflows, including;
  • Compliance with FAA regulations and safe practices;
  • An overview of sUAS operation planning software, check sheets, and smartphone apps;
  • Demonstrations of fixed wing and multi-rotor aircraft (contingent on weather and other local conditions / regulations) of both autonomous and manual operations, and;
  • A comprehensive presentation and demonstration of image processing software techniques and options (image mosaics, NDVI, etc.).

Registration

This is an intensive, yet introductory level workshop.  No previous knowledge or experience with drones, sUAS, or GIS is required. Online registration is required and is available here. (major credit cards are accepted). The fee includes instruction, handouts, resources, and lunch (for all 3 days). After registration has been received, you will receive further information about the workshop (exact location, etc.).

Space is limited. Registration are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Questions associated with the workshop should be directed to John McGee (jmcg@vt.edu) or Daniel Cross (falkus@vt.edu).

This workshop is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Geospatial Extension Program, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), the Conservation Management Institute (CMI), and GeoTED-UAS.

SE Virginia Beginning Woodland Owners' Retreat

  • September 19-21
  • New Kent Forestry Center, Providence Forge
  • Individual, No Lodging - $55
  • Individual, Lodging Thurs. & Fri. - $95 
  • Couple, No Lodging - $90                                    
  • Couple, Lodging Thurs. & Fri.  - $170

Developed for landowners new to woodland management, this entry-level program covers the basics of keeping your woods and wildlife healthy and productive, while working towards meeting your ownership goals.  A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used to explore these concepts of sustainability.  A variety of natural resource professionals will be available throughout the program.  

Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday, 2 meals on Saturday, refreshments, field trip transportation, and all materials.

On-site lodging is available and encouraged.   

For more information, please contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.

Preparing for Generation NEXT Mini-Workshop

Are you prepared to pass the environmental and heirloom values rooted in your woods to the next generation? Join us for a half-day workshop to learn how to secure your woodland legacy. Family participation is strongly encouraged. Lunch is included. 

For more information, contact Bill Worrell, bworrell@vt.edu, 276-889-8056

Preparing for Generation NEXT 2-Day Workshop

  • September 27-28
  • Friday 5:30 - 8:30
  • Saturday 8:30 - 3:30
  • Agenda
  • Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Harrisonburg
  • $70 for up to 2 family members; $35 each additional person 

Are you prepared to pass the environmental and heirloom values rooted in your woods to the next generation? Join us for a two-day workshop to learn how to secure your woodland legacy. Family participation is strongly encouraged. Breakfast and lunch are included on Saturday. 

Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-3881, for more information.

Fall Mountain Herbs

  • September 28
  • 9 - 4:00
  • $127

Sky Meadows State Park provides a unique opportunity to explore the rich natural diversity of the region. Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch of the Earth Connection School to discover the amazing wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains in autumn. This full day hike will cover native and non-native species of useful plants, and will conclude at the Log Cabin for hot cider and a sample of the foods prepared from the wild. Each participant will receive a full color copy of our Fall Mountain Herbs manual as a take-home reminder of the plants they studied in class.

Registration is $127/person (non-refundable). Register by September 25 at: http://earth-connection.com/registration. Parking included in registration fee. Course held rain or shine. Limited to 15 registrants (minimum 13 years of age). Bring water, dress in layers, and wear sturdy shoes.

Top

October

2019 Mapping with Drones

  • October 8-10
  • Winchester
  • $400 - inlcudes lunch all 3 days

Workshop Summary 
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) are permeating many sectors of industry, and are increasingly being employed as data collection platforms to support of an array of applications.  Applications span disciplines and industries and can include:  planning, natural resource management, marketing, inspection of structures, agricultural production, permitting, and public safety.  Specific sensors can be used to tailor application needs. Flights can be scheduled and conducted under short notice to accommodate weather, and temporal considerations.  sUAS operations support efficient workflows and provide opportunities for ‘data on demand’.

This 3-day workshop will provide participants with the following:

  • An understanding of FAA and sUAS lingo;
  • A comprehensive knowledge of current federal commercial sUAS regulations;
  • In-depth discussions of sUAS platforms (fixed wing and multi-rotor), sensors (including true color, NIR, multispectral, thermal), and associated applications;
  • sUAS project workflows, including;
  • Compliance with FAA regulations and safe practices;
  • An overview of sUAS operation planning software, check sheets, and smartphone apps;
  • Demonstrations of fixed wing and multi-rotor aircraft (contingent on weather and other local conditions / regulations) of both autonomous and manual operations, and;
  • A comprehensive presentation and demonstration of image processing software techniques and options (image mosaics, NDVI, etc.).

Registration

This is an intensive, yet introductory level workshop.  No previous knowledge or experience with drones, sUAS, or GIS is required. Online registration is required and is available here. (major credit cards are accepted). The fee includes instruction, handouts, resources, and lunch (for all 3 days). After registration has been received, you will receive further information about the workshop (exact location, etc.).

Space is limited. Registration are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Questions associated with the workshop should be directed to John McGee (jmcg@vt.edu) or Daniel Cross (falkus@vt.edu).

This workshop is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Geospatial Extension Program, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), the Conservation Management Institute (CMI), and GeoTED-UAS.

Blue Ridge PRISM Invasive Plant Workshop

Non-native invasive plants are quickly overwhelming many properties by tearing down the forest canopy and overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and/or groundcover levels.  Understanding what invasive plants exist on the landscape and what it will take to control them can often feel overwhelming.

Our spring and summer workshops will enable you to learn how to confidently identify and manage invasive plants.

Topics covered in this session include:

  • Identifying invasive plants in spring and summer
  • Which invasives you can best kill now
  • Which invasives you should treat later
  • Best spring-time and summer-time practices for each invasive
  • Using manual & mechanical control methods
  • Methods for controlling invasives with herbicides
  • Choosing the right herbicide and equipment, and using it properly
  • Planning a work schedule with best timings for multiple plants

There will also be an opportunity to identify your plants, so bring samples of your mystery plants and we’ll identify them!

Each session includes classroom and outdoor instruction (weather permitting) and discussion.

Register

For more information, visit PRISM's website.

Floyd County Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tour

  • October 11
  • 8 - 5:00

Join woodland owners and natural resources professionals for a fall tour of Floyd County.  

  • More details coming soon  
  • Registration opens in August

For more information, contact Bill Worrell, 276-889-8056, bworrell@vt.edu. 

Charlotte County Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tour

  • October 17
  • 8 - 5:00

Join woodland owners and natural resources professionals for a fall tour of Charlotte County.  Tour stops will include private woodlands and Morgan Lumber.  

  • More details coming soon  
  • Registration opens in August

For more information, contact Jason Fisher, jasonf@vt.edu, 434-476-2147.

2019 Mapping with Drones

  • October 22-24
  • Richmond
  • $400 - inlcudes lunch all 3 days

Workshop Summary 
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) are permeating many sectors of industry, and are increasingly being employed as data collection platforms to support of an array of applications.  Applications span disciplines and industries and can include:  planning, natural resource management, marketing, inspection of structures, agricultural production, permitting, and public safety.  Specific sensors can be used to tailor application needs. Flights can be scheduled and conducted under short notice to accommodate weather, and temporal considerations.  sUAS operations support efficient workflows and provide opportunities for ‘data on demand’.

This 3-day workshop will provide participants with the following:

  • An understanding of FAA and sUAS lingo;
  • A comprehensive knowledge of current federal commercial sUAS regulations;
  • In-depth discussions of sUAS platforms (fixed wing and multi-rotor), sensors (including true color, NIR, multispectral, thermal), and associated applications;
  • sUAS project workflows, including;
  • Compliance with FAA regulations and safe practices;
  • An overview of sUAS operation planning software, check sheets, and smartphone apps;
  • Demonstrations of fixed wing and multi-rotor aircraft (contingent on weather and other local conditions / regulations) of both autonomous and manual operations, and;
  • A comprehensive presentation and demonstration of image processing software techniques and options (image mosaics, NDVI, etc.).

Registration

This is an intensive, yet introductory level workshop.  No previous knowledge or experience with drones, sUAS, or GIS is required. Online registration is required and is available here. (major credit cards are accepted). The fee includes instruction, handouts, resources, and lunch (for all 3 days). After registration has been received, you will receive further information about the workshop (exact location, etc.).

Space is limited. Registration are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Questions associated with the workshop should be directed to John McGee (jmcg@vt.edu) or Daniel Cross (falkus@vt.edu).

This workshop is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Geospatial Extension Program, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), the Conservation Management Institute (CMI), and GeoTED-UAS.

Blue Ridge PRISM Invasive Plant Workshop

Non-native invasive plants are quickly overwhelming many properties by tearing down the forest canopy and overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and/or groundcover levels.  Understanding what invasive plants exist on the landscape and what it will take to control them can often feel overwhelming.

Our spring and summer workshops will enable you to learn how to confidently identify and manage invasive plants.

Topics covered in this session include:

  • Identifying invasive plants in spring and summer
  • Which invasives you can best kill now
  • Which invasives you should treat later
  • Best spring-time and summer-time practices for each invasive
  • Using manual & mechanical control methods
  • Methods for controlling invasives with herbicides
  • Choosing the right herbicide and equipment, and using it properly
  • Planning a work schedule with best timings for multiple plants

There will also be an opportunity to identify your plants, so bring samples of your mystery plants and we’ll identify them!

Each session includes classroom and outdoor instruction (weather permitting) and discussion.

Register

For more information, visit PRISM's website.

Fredericksburg/Stafford Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tour

  • October 25
  • 8 - 5:00
  • $45/person; $80/couple

More details coming soon!  

For more information, contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881.

Top

November

Blue Ridge PRISM Invasive Plant Workshop

Non-native invasive plants are quickly overwhelming many properties by tearing down the forest canopy and overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and/or groundcover levels.  Understanding what invasive plants exist on the landscape and what it will take to control them can often feel overwhelming.

Our spring and summer workshops will enable you to learn how to confidently identify and manage invasive plants.

Topics covered in this session include:

  • Identifying invasive plants in spring and summer
  • Which invasives you can best kill now
  • Which invasives you should treat later
  • Best spring-time and summer-time practices for each invasive
  • Using manual & mechanical control methods
  • Methods for controlling invasives with herbicides
  • Choosing the right herbicide and equipment, and using it properly
  • Planning a work schedule with best timings for multiple plants

There will also be an opportunity to identify your plants, so bring samples of your mystery plants and we’ll identify them!

Each session includes classroom and outdoor instruction (weather permitting) and discussion.

Register

For more information, visit PRISM's website.

Preparing for Generation NEXT Mini-Workshop

  • November 9
  • Times TBA
  • New Kent Forestry Center, Providence Forge
  • $25* for up to 2 family members; $15* each additional family member

Are you prepared to pass the environmental and heirloom values rooted in your woods to the next generation? Join us for a half-day workshop to learn how to secure your woodland legacy. Family participation is strongly encouraged.

For more information, contact Neil Clark, neclark@vt.edu, 757-653-2572

Registration will open in September

Botany and Bloom Workshop: Summer Blooms

Explore the rich natural diversity of Sky Meadows.  This workshop includes a lecture in the Carriage Barn, followed by a 3-mile field hike for hands-on application. Participants will receive a colored print-out of the lecture. Bring water and lunch to eat along the trail, dress in layers, and wear sturdy shoes.

No pre-registration required.

More information available here. 

Top

December

Preparing for Generation NEXT 2-Day Workshop

  • December 5-6
  • Thursday: 12:30 - 5:30
  • Friday: 9:00 - 4:00
  • Springhill Suites, Roanoke
  • $70* for up to 2 family members; $35* each additional family member

Are you prepared to pass the environmental and heirloom values rooted in your woods to the next generation? Join us for a half-day workshop to learn how to secure your woodland legacy. Family participation is strongly encouraged.

For more information, contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.

Registration will open in October.

Top

2020

January

Top

February

Top

March

SE Virginia Beginning Woodland Owners' Retreat

Developed for landowners new to woodland management, this entry-level program covers the basics of keeping your woods and wildlife healthy and productive, while working towards meeting your ownership goals.  A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used to explore these concepts of sustainability.  A variety of natural resource professionals will be available throughout the program.  

Registration fees include 3 meals on Friday, 2 meals on Saturday, refreshments, field trip transportation, and all materials.

On-site lodging is available and encouraged.   

For more information, please contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.

  • Registraton will open January 2020

Top

April

Top

May

Top

June

Top

July

Top

August

Top

September

Top

October

Top

November

Top

December

Top