The application period for the Tidewater Master Naturalists 2016 Spring Training for new members is now closed. The deadline for submission of all applications was February 21, 2016.

This year’s Basic Training class is confirmed for Monday nights from 6-9PM on March 7, 14, 21, April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2, 9, 16 at Virginia Wesleyan College.

Field Trips are scheduled for April 2, 16, May 7 and 21 (usually 4-5 hours in length) starting and ending times subject to change depending on availability of sites and instructors.

Course fee is $125 which will include all materials, entrance fees (if applicable) and first year dues.

Two Tidewater Master Naturalists, Meg French and Frank Walker, were featured prominently in a front page article in a Virginian Pilot newspaper article written by Stacy Parker and published on July 16, 2015.

French was concerned about the mosquito spraying in her neighborhood and how it would affect her native garden buzzing with bees and other beneficial insects. The article draws attention to the option for Virginia Beach residents to opt out of the city spraying by registering with the city. Red tags are placed in front of homes so the truck driver can turn off the spray in those locations. The program is gaining in popularity.

Walker pointed out that bees that are still out when the truck goes by can be affected by the pesticide.

Everyone can help to control mosquitoes by clearing drains, dumping out water that has accumulated in their yard, and encouraging animals that feed on the pests, such as bats.

Kudos to Meg and Frank for helping to educate the public about pollinators and other beneficial insects!

The Tidewater Master Naturalists are featured in the July/August 2015 issue of Tidewater Traveler, the magazine for AAA members. The article by Diane Daniel features our very own Marian Childress as she describes both the state program and our local chapter.

Marian listed some of our on-going projects. “While members can do any approved service work for certification, the Tidewater chapter also conducts its own projects, including monthly trail maintenance at First Landing State Park, invasive species removal at the Chesapeake Arboretum, assisting at Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, and helping various groups with oyster restoration.” That short statement highlights the variety of ways our members benefit the local natural environment.

As an added bonus, there is a photograph featuring Janet Schroeder educating the public at the Virginia Aquarium ray tank.

The websites for both the state program and our local chapter are included for interested readers.