Opportunity for Volunteer Hours!

NNMN will have an Adopt a Highway  road cleanup of our stretch of Balls Neck Rd, from Shiloh School to  Hughlett Point, on Friday, September 12, at 9:00 AM.  We will meet at Shiloh School and then break into two teams.

As always, dress for the weather (which looks to be good) and bring gloves and water.  We have orange vests available. 

Please contact Camille with questions or to volunteer

Bob Dunstan has scheduled another Clean VA Waterways/International Coastal Cleanup at Hughlett Point for September 11 at 8 a.m.  Four to six volunteers can usually do this in 2 to 2 ½  hours, and the walk along the beach or the woods is always a treat.

The Outreach Committee has an event scheduled for the Montross “First Friday” on September 5.  If you would like to volunteer some time there, please contact Westmoreland Outreach Leader, Molly Callaway.

The Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge has asked the NNMN for volunteer assistance with their native plant gardens.  

The scheduled work day  is Wednesday, September 3, 2025.  

 Work will begin at the Wilna Lodge location at 9:00am. 

This count covers segments of Essex, King and Queen, and Middlesex Counties on the Middle Peninsula of Virginia. 

There are extraordinary habitats on public and private properties and amazing biodiversity within the circle.  The count will cover segments of the Dragon Run, The Dragon Swamp, Two State Forests, and segments along the banks of the Mattaponi and Rappahannock Rivers, and inland portions of the three counties - exceptional rural settings and Mother and Father nature at its best.

A Board of Directors’ Meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Chapter members, desiring to observe or participate in this meeting, are requested to email Andy Bailey prior to 18 August. See member email for agenda and more info.

Details to follow.

For the third year, we are looking for a few volunteers to pick up trash along Hughlett Point. 

This year we will have a late spring, mid-summer and early fall pickups.

The second pick-up will be on Monday, July 28 (low tide 8:36 a.m.)

The Heathsville Farm Market is having Kids Day Saturday, July 19, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM.  Set up will begin at 7:30 and take-down at 1:00.  If you would like to volunteer for this market, please contact Camille.

Thursday, July 17, Dr. Holly Gaff, will be training volunteers how to safely and correctly collect ticks. This training will be held at Beaverdam Park in Gloucester from 10:30 am to 3 pm, but another will be held in the Northern Neck in the near future if any Northern Neck folks are interested.

See member email for details. 

2:00 pm

See member email for details

Activity: Bird Walk 
Join us for a Bird Walk led by our very own bird whisperer, Leslie Fellows. We will be walking in the forest near the Emmanuel Church along with church members that have requested this activity.

Where: Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church 

When: Tuesday, June 17, 9:00 to 11:00, Rain date-TBD

Cat Point is a wonderful example of a Tidal Freshwater Marsh, protected by the refuge and the Rappahannock Indian Tribe. This field trip follows the April 17th NN VNPS program presented by biologist Maeve Coker on freshwater tidal marshes Join us to see the spectacular flora and fauna of a Freshwater Tidal Marsh and how critical this habitat is for all.

For the third year, we are looking for a few volunteers to pick up trash along Hughlett Point. 

This year we will have a late spring, mid-summer and early fall pickups.

The first pick-up will be on Thursday, May 29 (low tide 7:58 a.m.)

Details to follow.

Outreach Event: Volunteers needed.

Menokin Visitor Center

4037 Menokin Road
Warsaw, VA 22572

May 18, 2025 2:00 pm - ?

RSVP Please! See member Email for RSVP email and details.

We have been asked by the members of Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church to return and help with maintenance work on their nature trail. This has been a successful joint effort with the church which is predominantly African American.

Anne Parker will assist in identifying native and non-native plants

Heather Bedford will be there for a short time to provide information about potential health benefits of the native plants

A walk at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve with the Northern Neck Chapter of Virginia Native Plant Society is a wonder anytime but when the Kentucky Lady’s Slipper orchid is in bloom it is a very special sight. We believe this should be in bloom along with False Hellebore, Redring (or White)  Milkweed, Large Twayblade orchid, Summer Bluet, Partridgeberry, and more!

Westmoreland State Park will have a workday for the Visitor's Center Garden on Friday, April 25th, from 9 to noon. Please come if you can. We need your help.

We will be weeding and developing the overall concept for additional plants to replace the switch grass that was removed.

Please bring basic gardening hand tools, water, and a snack.  No experience needed.  Heather Bedford has graciously agreed to help us identify weeds.

This project is found under Stewardship – Native Garden Maintenance in Better Impact.

Outreach Event: Volunteers needed.

Come explore vernal pools, a unique type of wetland, at the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Every winter, these special pools fill up to provide a home for salamanders, fingernail clams, fairy shrimp, and more! Learn about these fascinating wetlands on a nature walk with the Refuge Biologist.

The Board of Directors of the Northern Neck Chapter will meet on April 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm.  The meeting will take place in the classroom of the Warsaw Cooperative Extension office.  This will be an in person meeting, and all members are invited to attend.  Members are also requested to propose items for the Board to consider at this meeting.  Recommendations are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, April 9.

We need volunteers to staff the outreach table at the Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach on April 12. 

What: 7th Annual Virginia Osprey Festival
When: Saturday April 12, 9-4. Sign up for 2 hour shifts.
Where: Colonial Beach Town Hill (Corner of Colonial and Washington Avenues)
Rain or Shine! 
Please see member email from 3/5/2025 for information on signing up.

The Virginia Osprey Foundation based in Colonial Beach, Virginia, will host the 7th Annual Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach on April 12, 2025 from 9 am to 4 pm on Town Hill, Colonial Beach, located on the beautiful Potomac River. The festival celebrates the return of its Osprey from their wintering grounds in South America.

 Northern Neck Master Naturalists have partnered with the University of North Carolina for a fourth season of Caterpillars Count. This citizen science activity measures seasonal variation and abundance of important food sources for birds.

The Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge has asked the NNMN for volunteer assistance with their native plant gardens.  

 What: 
For the second year, Northern Neck Master Naturalists are being asked to identify box turtles that they come across during the months turtles are active. Turtles will be photographed and pictures as well as additional information will be put on a form and submitted to project leaders.  Last year, we identified and accumulated data from almost 100 box turtles.  This year our goal is to start doing actual science!