Past Programs & Events:
Take Back the Night
Monday, Nov. 27, 2023
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Observatory Park at Turner Farm 925 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, Va. 22066
Credit: Darksky.org
Our speaker Tammy Schwab helped participants understand the impact that outdoor lighting choices at home and in communities have on health, safety, and the environment. We also learned about the easy ways that people and communities can reduce light pollution where they live. Resources for dark sky education and research will be shared to help interpreters spread the word in their own community. Tammy Schwab is an Education and Outreach Manager in the Resource Management Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority. She has an M.S. Zoology. Tammy has been teaching about astronomy and dark skies for more than 10 years and her favorite resource is nighttime nature.
Monday, Nov. 27, 2023
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Observatory Park at Turner Farm 925 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, Va. 22066
Credit: Darksky.org
Our speaker Tammy Schwab helped participants understand the impact that outdoor lighting choices at home and in communities have on health, safety, and the environment. We also learned about the easy ways that people and communities can reduce light pollution where they live. Resources for dark sky education and research will be shared to help interpreters spread the word in their own community. Tammy Schwab is an Education and Outreach Manager in the Resource Management Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority. She has an M.S. Zoology. Tammy has been teaching about astronomy and dark skies for more than 10 years and her favorite resource is nighttime nature.
"Evaluating Natureness" Dr. Patti Bailie shared ways to measure the quality of nature based programing from Pre-K to 3rd grade audiences.
“Ghost Fleet” of Mallows Bay
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD
Mallows Bay is located on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and is home to 230 sunken ships. It is considered the largest shipwreck fleet in the Western Hemisphere. The origins and history of Mallows Bay are filled with world wars; congressional charges of ineptitude; boom and bust economics; community protests; and environmental reclamation, both passive and active. In 2019, Mallows Bay was declared a National Marine Sanctuary. Participants had a brief introduction on land before exploring the bay by kayak. And learned about the human history of these ghost ships.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD
Mallows Bay is located on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and is home to 230 sunken ships. It is considered the largest shipwreck fleet in the Western Hemisphere. The origins and history of Mallows Bay are filled with world wars; congressional charges of ineptitude; boom and bust economics; community protests; and environmental reclamation, both passive and active. In 2019, Mallows Bay was declared a National Marine Sanctuary. Participants had a brief introduction on land before exploring the bay by kayak. And learned about the human history of these ghost ships.
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Biological Monitoring – Keeping our Streams Healthy
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Meadowside Nature Center Montgomery Park’s Natural Resources Specialists Rachel Gauza and Dave Sigrist led a workshop and electrofishing demonstration. Participants had the chance to learn about water quality and discover common fish identification techniques. The outing included a presentation about the importance of water quality in our region, job duties and program details, common fish identification and ecology, and a live electrofishing demonstration. Hemlock Overlook Botanical Walk
Wednesday, May 10, 10am-2pm Hemlock Overlook Regional Park Join the Beltway Chapter on a field trip and botanical walk to the floristically diverse Hemlock Overlook Regional Park (Hemlock Overlook Regional Park | Nova Parks) with Rod Simmons. “Using iNaturalist in the Field”
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 10am-2pm Barcroft Park, Arlington, VA Participants learned about iNaturalist including tips on recording observations. Then they headed out into the field to practice their new skills. |
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“Follow Your Nose: How birds use scent to find mates, assess rivals, and recognize relatives,” with Danielle Whittaker, PhD. She presented on this topic which goes along with her new book, The Secret Perfume of Birds. You can find the recording here: https://youtu.be/BXjuLzfhIPU
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Get in the Spirit!
A No-Fee Virtual Training for NAI Members and Guests
Dates: Tuesday Oct. 18th, Wednesday Oct. 19th, and Thursday Oct. 20th
Times: 5:30pm-7:30pm (Eastern) each evening
Location: online virtual training
Here come the ghouls and goblins! Elementary students wear costumes to their school Halloween parties. Tour guides compete to tell the scariest ghost story. Walking the dog past the local cemetery takes on a whole new meaning after dark.... Where does interpretation fit into the mix? Through example and discussion, experienced interpreters will share their methods for professionally connecting audiences to historical, cultural, and natural resources while drawing on the fun side of fright. Participants were eligible to earn two hours of continuing education credit and a certificate of completion for participating in this program.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Session 1: Gaze Into the Grave!
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Session 2: Bring Your Cemetery Alive!
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Session 3: Escape the Graveyard! (An Outdoor Escape Room)
A No-Fee Virtual Training for NAI Members and Guests
Dates: Tuesday Oct. 18th, Wednesday Oct. 19th, and Thursday Oct. 20th
Times: 5:30pm-7:30pm (Eastern) each evening
Location: online virtual training
Here come the ghouls and goblins! Elementary students wear costumes to their school Halloween parties. Tour guides compete to tell the scariest ghost story. Walking the dog past the local cemetery takes on a whole new meaning after dark.... Where does interpretation fit into the mix? Through example and discussion, experienced interpreters will share their methods for professionally connecting audiences to historical, cultural, and natural resources while drawing on the fun side of fright. Participants were eligible to earn two hours of continuing education credit and a certificate of completion for participating in this program.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Session 1: Gaze Into the Grave!
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Session 2: Bring Your Cemetery Alive!
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Session 3: Escape the Graveyard! (An Outdoor Escape Room)
Crawling and Pulsating Decomposers: The Mystery of Slime Molds
Date: Friday October 14, 2022
Time: 10am-1pm (in-person lecture and nature walk)
Location: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Program Description: Join ANS Adult Education Director, Serenella Linares to examine the life cycle and ecology of slime molds. What are these creatures that appear and disappear in a matter of hours? Where can you find them and how can you get a better look at them? Learn why the intelligence of one slime mold has been compared to the work of the engineers who created Tokyo's transportation system.
Serenella Linares holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidad Metropolitana de Puerto Rico, a Master’s degree in atmospheric science from Howard University, and graduate training in mycology from University of Maryland. As a Director of Adult Education at Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and Co-Chair of Naturally Latinos, Serenella Linares is dedicated to sparking curiosity about nature and inspiring nature stewardship through environmental education. Serenella is known around ANS for being expert in two things: making learning fun (for children and adults) and mycology (mushroom knowledge). Ms. Linares time outside of work is invested towards being an active member the Mycological Association of Washington DC, exploring natural areas, nature photography, and participating in citizen science projects.
Date: Friday October 14, 2022
Time: 10am-1pm (in-person lecture and nature walk)
Location: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Program Description: Join ANS Adult Education Director, Serenella Linares to examine the life cycle and ecology of slime molds. What are these creatures that appear and disappear in a matter of hours? Where can you find them and how can you get a better look at them? Learn why the intelligence of one slime mold has been compared to the work of the engineers who created Tokyo's transportation system.
Serenella Linares holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidad Metropolitana de Puerto Rico, a Master’s degree in atmospheric science from Howard University, and graduate training in mycology from University of Maryland. As a Director of Adult Education at Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and Co-Chair of Naturally Latinos, Serenella Linares is dedicated to sparking curiosity about nature and inspiring nature stewardship through environmental education. Serenella is known around ANS for being expert in two things: making learning fun (for children and adults) and mycology (mushroom knowledge). Ms. Linares time outside of work is invested towards being an active member the Mycological Association of Washington DC, exploring natural areas, nature photography, and participating in citizen science projects.
Poplar Island Field Trip September 2022
On September 20, 2022, we visited Poplar Island for a morning tour and enjoyed some networking opportunities at a local restaurant (or Ice cream parlor). This tour was limited to 24 people. Attendees were selected on a first come first serve basis.
On September 20, 2022, we visited Poplar Island for a morning tour and enjoyed some networking opportunities at a local restaurant (or Ice cream parlor). This tour was limited to 24 people. Attendees were selected on a first come first serve basis.
