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2009 — January, February, March
December 2008
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Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Saturday, December 3, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children through story, song, games, and craft. Every Wednesday, storyteller and nature-educator Kate White share the joy and fun of nature. Topics include tree and plant identification, animal tracks and signs, stargazing, bird language, and much more. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 6 |
First Saturday Bird Walk
Saturday, December 6, 7:30 am
Join Teresa Shaner for an early morning bird walk. Cosponsored by the Monticello Bird Club. Beginners always welcome. Meet in the parking lot. |
| 6 |
Winter Craft Day
Saturday, December 6, 2:00 pm
Winter craft day at Ivy Creek, sponsored by 4-H. Make seasonal nature crafts out of natural materials. Open to all kids. (Note: children younger than five need a parent with them to help them with craftwork.) Meet in the Education Building. To register or for more information, contact LoriAnne Barnett at 434-872-4580 or email at barnettl@VT.EDU. |
| 10 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, December 10, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on December 3rd). |
| 10 |
Virginia Native Plant Society Meeting
Wednesday, December 10, 7:30 pm
Native plant and seed exchange. Also bring pictures or collected items for a show-and-tell at this informal festive gathering of the Jefferson Chapter. Free of charge. |
| 11 |
Monticello Bird Club Meeting
Thursday, December 11, 7:30 pm
Charles Ziegenfus will present on the nesting success of juncos as related to acorns and chipmunks. All Monticello Bird Club meetings are free. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 17 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, December 17, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on December 3rd). |
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Junior Naturalists
Register now!
The 4H Junior Naturalist clubs at Ivy Creek offer fun, outdoor activities exploring the fields, forests, and streams of Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain Natural Areas. We will learn about the native plants and wildlife of our area (including snakes, spiders and bats!).
The clubs meet every other Monday from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the Ivy Creek Natural Area, beginning January 19th. Two sections, for ages 6-9 and ages 10-13, provide age appropriate activities. Pre-registration is required. To register, email LoriAnne Barnett at barnettl@vt.edu or phone at 434-872-4580.
This program is co-sponsored with Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H
Natural History Classes at PVCC
Love learning about natural history? Sign up for Introduction to the Natural History of Virginia (NAS 145). Dan Bieker and Tom Dierauf offer hands on lectures and field trips to learn about the native plants and wildlife of Central Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This 3-credit course meets ten Monday evenings in the Education Building at Ivy Creek with five Saturday morning field trips. Starts January 26th. Register early by logging onto the Piedmont Virginia Community College website at www.pvcc.edu.
Ornithology Classes at PVCC
For birdwatching enthusiasts from novice to expert, learn how to identify the birds of Central Virginia by sight and song in the field on Saturday morning field trips. Dan Bieker teaches NAS 160 starting Saturday, February 14th. For more information about this course, call Dan at 971-9618. To register, log onto the Piedmont Virginia Community College website at www.pvcc.edu.
Beekeeping Class
Learn about the basics of beekeeping from the Central Virginia Beekeeping Association. This indoor course covers bee biology, choice of bee species, and honey production. The class meets four Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in February 2009. Classes are held in the new County Office Building Annex at 1600 Fifth Street Extended. More details in January at www.albemarle.org/ parks under County Classes.
The Big Read, March 17th, 7 pm
As part of the 2009 Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Big Read, the Scottsville Library (220 Bird Street, 434-286-3541) is hosting Dr. Linda Blum from the UVA Department of Environmental Science. Her program is entitled: Everglades: Splendid river of grass or useless alligator-infested backwater? She will be discussing the history behind this beautiful backdrop to Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” See www.jmrl.org for more information.
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January 2009
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| 3 |
First Saturday Bird Walk
Saturday, January 3, 7:30 am
Join us for an early morning bird walk with Leigh Surdukowski of the Monticello Bird Club. Beginners always welcome. Meet in the parking lot. |
| 7 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, January 7, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children through story, song, games, and craft. Every Wednesday, storyteller and nature-educator Kate White share the joy and fun of nature. Topics include tree and plant identification, animal tracks and signs, stargazing, bird language, and much more. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 8 |
Winter Natural History Walk
Thursday, January 8, 2:00 pm
Join us as we search out the plants, fungi, insects, and animals that are still visible in the winter. We’ll learn about their life histories, traditional uses, and how they are adapted to survival under winter conditions. Meet at the kiosk next to the parking lot. |
| 8 |
Monticello Bird Club Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 7:30 pm
Learn about the “quail action plan” in this talk titled “The Bobwhites and the Bees,” which will explain why early-succession habitat is so important to a variety of species. All Monticello Bird Club meetings are free. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 14 |
Become a Virginia Master Naturalist
Wednesday, January 14, 10:00 am
If you enjoy the outdoors and are interested in conserving our local natural heritage, consider becoming a Virginia Master Naturalist. The Rivanna Master Naturalists’ next training session will be held Wednesday mornings from February 18 through May 20. Those interested in the program are welcome to attend this free, informational meeting in the Education Building at Ivy Creek Natural Area. For more information, contact Dede Smith at 434-296-0074 or visit www.vmn-rivanna.org. |
| 14 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, January 14, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on January 7th). |
| 14 |
Virginia Native Plant Society Meeting
Wednesday, January 14, 7:30 pm
Hear Ruth Douglas talk about the threat of non-native invasive plants, and actions being taken at the local and state levels to control them. She is the Invasive Plant Education Director for the VNPS. Meet in the Education Building. Free of charge. |
| 18 |
The Three Stories of Ivy Creek
Sunday, January 18, 2:00 pm
Dede Smith will share 200 years of local history through the intertwining stories of Hydraulic Mills, Hugh Carr and Riverview Farm, and the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. This presentation of the unique cultural and social history of the area around and within the Ivy Creek Natural Area will be in the Education Building followed by a walk to the Hydraulic Mills overlook. |
| 19 |
Junior Naturalists First Meeting
Monday, January 19, 4:00 to 5:30 pm
First meeting of Junior Naturalists, a 4-H club. See above for more information. |
| 21 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, January 21, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on January 7th). |
| 24 |
Streamwatch Training Workshop
Saturday, January 24, 10 am to 4 pm
In this StreamWatch introductory training, learn the fundamentals of benthic invertebrate sampling to gauge water quality and stream health. Class size is limited, so a reservation is required. Contact Rose Brown at 962-3527 or rose@streamwatch.org. Meet in the Education Building at Ivy Creek. No charge. |
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Natural History of Virginia
Monday, January 26, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Join us for the first class of PVCC’s Natural History of Virginia. Meet in the Education Building. See description above. |
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Become a Virginia Master Naturalist
Wednesday, January 28, 10:00 am
Introductory meeting, see listing on January 14th. |
| 28 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, January 28, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on January 7th). |
| 29 |
Ivy Creek Toddler Time
Thursday, January 29, 10:00 am
Enjoy a read-aloud and trail walk for three to five year old toddlers at Ivy Creek. Volunteer guide Rachel Bush will host, starting in the Barn Office at Ivy Creek Natural Area. The event is free. |
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February 2009
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| 4 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, February 4, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children through story, song, games, and craft. Every Wednesday, storyteller and nature-educator Kate White share the joy and fun of nature. Topics include tree and plant identification, animal tracks and signs, stargazing, bird language, and much more. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 7 |
First Saturday Bird Walk
Saturday, February 7, 7:30 am
Join us for an early morning bird walk with the Monticello Bird Club. Beginners always welcome. Meet in the parking lot. |
| 11 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, February 11, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on February 4th). |
| 11 |
Virginia Native Plant Society Meeting
Wednesday, February 11, 7:30 pm
Hear Pat Brodie speak about her visit to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which is noted for its natural landscapes and advocacy for native plants through research. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 12 |
Monticello Bird Club Meeting
Thursday, February 12, 7:30 pm
Bob Schamerhorn shares his experience pertaining to nature photography especially for Virginia’s native species from the coast to the mountains and deep wilderness to your backyard. All Monticello Bird Club meetings are free and open to the public. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 14 |
Field Ornithology Class
Saturday, February 14, 8:30 to 11:30 am
Come to the first of a series of classes on field ornithology sponsored by Piedmont Virginia Community College and taught by Dan Bieker. Registration required by January 26th. Meet in the Education Building. (See description above.) |
| 22 |
Learning the Native Trees of Virginia
Sunday, February 22, 2:00 pm
Learn to identify trees in the dead of winter using bark, branching, seed, and other distinguishing characteristics. Join Ellen Powell of the Virginia Department of Forestry on a Winter Walk in the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. Meet in the RMNA parking lot. |
| 24 |
Tree Steward Training
Tuesday, February 24, 9:00 am
Gain knowledge of tree identification, tree care, and how they benefit our urban and rural landscape by becoming a Tree Steward. After completing the 14 week training (Tuesday mornings until noon) at the Department of Forestry and on field trips you become a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward (CATS) committed to performing volunteer hours from variety of tree related activities, not all physically demanding. At Ivy Creek, the tree stewards have restored a section of the Quiet Area edge between the Education Building and the Barn. Register at many library locations, garden centers, Dept. of Forestry, and Virginia Cooperative Extension (phone 434-872-4580). Course cost of $50 includes training manual and other publications. |
| 25 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, February 25, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on February 4th). |
| 26 |
Ivy Creek Toddler Time
Thursday, February 26, 10:00 am
Enjoy a read-aloud and trail walk for three to five year old toddlers at Ivy Creek. Volunteer guide Rachel Bush will host, starting in the Barn Office at Ivy Creek Natural Area. The event is free. |
| 28 |
Stars and Nebulas at Ivy Creek
Saturday, February 28, 7:30 pm
Get close to the stars at Ivy Creek. Charlottesville Astronomical Society will help you visit the Orion Nebula and other deep sky objects without leaving Earth. Following a short presentation in the Education Building, we will view the sky from the open mowed area next to the barn. Bring your own telescope or look through the scopes set up by the Charlottesville Astronomical Society. Use low beam or red flashlights only. Free and open to the public. Cloudy skies will cancel this event. |
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March 2009
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| 4 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, March 4, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children through story, song, games, and craft. Every Wednesday, storyteller and nature-educator Kate White share the joy and fun of nature. Topics include tree and plant identification, animal tracks and signs, stargazing, bird language, and much more. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 5 |
Central Virginia Beekeepers Meeting
Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 pm
Beginners welcome to our first meeting of the year. No charge. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 7 |
First Saturday Bird Walk
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 am
Join us for an early morning bird walk with the Monticello Bird Club. Beginners always welcome. Meet in the parking lot. |
| 7 |
Wilderness First Aid Certification
Saturday & Sunday, March 7-8, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
This weekend course, through basic instruction and role-playing scenarios, provides a well rounded introduction to Wilderness First Aid for hikers, climbers, paddlers and those who find themselves out and about. Led by SOLO instructor and director of the Outdoor Adventure Social Club - Matt Rosefsky. The certification is valid for two years. Registration required. Fee includes books, handouts, and certification. For more information go to http://www.outdoorsocial.com/wfa.htm or call (434) 760-HIKE. 10% of proceeds will go to Ivy Creek Foundation. Meet in the Education Building. |
| 11 |
Makin’ Tracks: Nature Connection
Wednesday, March 11, 3:30 to 5:30 pm
Explore the natural world with your children (see description on March 4th). |
| 26 |
Author Talk: Karen Tei Yamashita
Thursday, March 26, 7:00 pm
Join us for University of Virginia’s Brown College Environmental Writer’s Series. This evening we will hear from Karen Tei Yamashita who has written four books. Currently she is a professor of creative writing at University of California, Santa Cruz. Meet in the education building. |
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