Upcoming Events
Workshops | Tours | Training | Conferences | Professional Development
Upcoming Events
Photo Credit: Montgomery Parks
Biological Monitoring – Keeping our Streams Healthy
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Meadowside Nature Center, Derwood MD.
5100 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD. 20855
To register, contact: Jennifer Simms at Jennifer.Simms@Montgomeryparks.org
Clean streams and healthy watersheds provide valuable ecosystem services that humans and wildlife depend on for survival. For most of Montgomery County, surface waters like the Potomac River are a primary source of drinking water. Thousands of miles of Montgomery County streams drain to the Potomac, Anacostia, and Patuxent Rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. It is therefore vital to not only keep these waters clean but to monitor these important resources to understand how watersheds may be changing or responding to various pressures, including those of human activities (e.g., development).
Montgomery Park’s Natural Resources Specialists Rachel Gauza and Dave Sigrist will lead a workshop and electrofishing demonstration to explore our local water quality and discover common fish identification techniques. The outing will include 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. Participants should come prepared by wearing closed-toe shoes and proper clothing to stay comfortable during a couple hours of streamside learning.
Rachel Gauza is a Principal Naturalist Resource Specialist and Biological Monitoring Coordinator for Montgomery Parks. She serves as the lead contact for issues related to aquatic resources management and oversees the stream biological monitoring program and interpretation. Ms. Gauza specializes in herpetology and aquatic ecology and has worked as a biologist and environmental educator throughout the DC Metropolitan region for 20 years. A champion for community science, she coordinated the FrogWatch USA monitoring program nationally and locally, served several roles with the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, and is a Maryland Master Naturalist Instructor. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hood College.
Dave Sigrist is an Aquatic Biologist who began working for Montgomery Parks in 2009. He assists Rachel in administering Montgomery Parks’ Biological Monitoring Program, and also serves as the program’s in-house taxonomist, certified by the state of Maryland and the Society for Freshwater Science for identification of Maryland freshwater fish and Eastern benthic macroinvertebrates, respectively. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Salisbury University.
We’ll meet at Meadowside Nature Center located at 5100 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD. 20855. Day of Contact: Jennifer Simms Cell: 240.446.0086
Dress for the weather and pack a bag lunch to eat outdoors. The tour, limited to 20 participants, will proceed unless dangerous weather or unsampleable stream conditions. To register, contact Jennifer Simms at Jennifer.simms@montgomeryparks.org
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Meadowside Nature Center, Derwood MD.
5100 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD. 20855
To register, contact: Jennifer Simms at Jennifer.Simms@Montgomeryparks.org
Clean streams and healthy watersheds provide valuable ecosystem services that humans and wildlife depend on for survival. For most of Montgomery County, surface waters like the Potomac River are a primary source of drinking water. Thousands of miles of Montgomery County streams drain to the Potomac, Anacostia, and Patuxent Rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. It is therefore vital to not only keep these waters clean but to monitor these important resources to understand how watersheds may be changing or responding to various pressures, including those of human activities (e.g., development).
Montgomery Park’s Natural Resources Specialists Rachel Gauza and Dave Sigrist will lead a workshop and electrofishing demonstration to explore our local water quality and discover common fish identification techniques. The outing will include 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. Participants should come prepared by wearing closed-toe shoes and proper clothing to stay comfortable during a couple hours of streamside learning.
Rachel Gauza is a Principal Naturalist Resource Specialist and Biological Monitoring Coordinator for Montgomery Parks. She serves as the lead contact for issues related to aquatic resources management and oversees the stream biological monitoring program and interpretation. Ms. Gauza specializes in herpetology and aquatic ecology and has worked as a biologist and environmental educator throughout the DC Metropolitan region for 20 years. A champion for community science, she coordinated the FrogWatch USA monitoring program nationally and locally, served several roles with the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, and is a Maryland Master Naturalist Instructor. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hood College.
Dave Sigrist is an Aquatic Biologist who began working for Montgomery Parks in 2009. He assists Rachel in administering Montgomery Parks’ Biological Monitoring Program, and also serves as the program’s in-house taxonomist, certified by the state of Maryland and the Society for Freshwater Science for identification of Maryland freshwater fish and Eastern benthic macroinvertebrates, respectively. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Salisbury University.
We’ll meet at Meadowside Nature Center located at 5100 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD. 20855. Day of Contact: Jennifer Simms Cell: 240.446.0086
Dress for the weather and pack a bag lunch to eat outdoors. The tour, limited to 20 participants, will proceed unless dangerous weather or unsampleable stream conditions. To register, contact Jennifer Simms at Jennifer.simms@montgomeryparks.org
Photo Credit: Montgomery Parks
“Ghost Fleet” of Mallows Bay
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD
To register, contact Ken Rosenthal at krosenthal@reston.org
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. We will have a brief introduction on land before exploring the bay by kayak. Learn about the human history of these ghost ships. We’ll meet at Mallows Bay Park, located at 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD, 20662. For directions: Directions and Maps | Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (noaa.gov). Please see below for more information.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD
To register, contact Ken Rosenthal at krosenthal@reston.org
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. We will have a brief introduction on land before exploring the bay by kayak. Learn about the human history of these ghost ships. We’ll meet at Mallows Bay Park, located at 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD, 20662. For directions: Directions and Maps | Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (noaa.gov). Please see below for more information.
Certified Interpretive Guide Training Course
CIG Hidden Oaks Nature Center VA
October 24-27, 2023
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce Street Annandale, VA, 22003
Instructors: Tammy Schwab, Julie Gurnee, and Patricia Dietly
Registration Cost: $230 (The certificate is an additional $165)
Click Here to Register: https://www.interpnet.com/NAI/nai/_certification/registration/cigregistration.aspx?EventKey=GI102423
Fairfax County Park Authority, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), is offering a training course for individuals in the field of Interpretation. It is designed for individuals who deliver interpretive programs or have contact with the public at interpretive sites.
Course Options There are two options for this course.
Option one: take the course without obtaining the CIG certificate.
Option two: take the course and add the certificate as a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG). You will pay an additional fee for the certificate. The CIG lasts four years and comes with a complimentary one-year membership. If you are already a member of NAI we will extend your membership an additional year.
The CIG Program
The nationally recognized Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) certificate is designed for anyone in the interpretive field. Whether you’re a new hire, a professional looking to refresh your skills, or beginning a second career, this course will aid you in improving your presentation techniques. The course combines the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical strategies in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors.
This 32-hour course includes:
For more information about the course, please contact Tammy Schwab at tammy.schwab@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 324-8750.
Special Terms and Cancellations: Participants are allowed to transfer one time at no charge. Cancellation and transfer requests cannot be made by phone and must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by October 8, 2023. Cancellations processed before the cancellation deadline will be subject to a $60 cancellation fee (if fees paid are less than $60, no refund will be processed). Cancellations made after this date will not receive a refund. Emailed cancellations and transfers should be sent to certification@interpnet.com.
October 24-27, 2023
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce Street Annandale, VA, 22003
Instructors: Tammy Schwab, Julie Gurnee, and Patricia Dietly
Registration Cost: $230 (The certificate is an additional $165)
Click Here to Register: https://www.interpnet.com/NAI/nai/_certification/registration/cigregistration.aspx?EventKey=GI102423
Fairfax County Park Authority, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), is offering a training course for individuals in the field of Interpretation. It is designed for individuals who deliver interpretive programs or have contact with the public at interpretive sites.
Course Options There are two options for this course.
Option one: take the course without obtaining the CIG certificate.
Option two: take the course and add the certificate as a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG). You will pay an additional fee for the certificate. The CIG lasts four years and comes with a complimentary one-year membership. If you are already a member of NAI we will extend your membership an additional year.
The CIG Program
The nationally recognized Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) certificate is designed for anyone in the interpretive field. Whether you’re a new hire, a professional looking to refresh your skills, or beginning a second career, this course will aid you in improving your presentation techniques. The course combines the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical strategies in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors.
This 32-hour course includes:
- The history, definition, and principles of interpretation.
- Techniques on how to make your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic.
- How to use tangible objects to connect your audience to intangible ideas and universal concepts.
- The 2 requirements needed to obtain a CIG (program outline, and 10 minute interpretive presentation).
For more information about the course, please contact Tammy Schwab at tammy.schwab@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 324-8750.
Special Terms and Cancellations: Participants are allowed to transfer one time at no charge. Cancellation and transfer requests cannot be made by phone and must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by October 8, 2023. Cancellations processed before the cancellation deadline will be subject to a $60 cancellation fee (if fees paid are less than $60, no refund will be processed). Cancellations made after this date will not receive a refund. Emailed cancellations and transfers should be sent to certification@interpnet.com.
