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Welcome to Old Rag Chapter

Serving the Virginia counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, and the western portions of Fauquier and Orange

Montpelier's Working Woods Walk

by Adam Downing with foreword by Pat Temples, 2012-04-02

         Members of the Old Rag and Central Rappahannock Chapters of Master Naturalists have spent over a year creating a Working Woods Walk at Montpelier.  In the group there are now a number of knowledgeable leaders.  One of the project goals has been to create a script covering the important features of the woods that can be shared with other Master Naturalists who are interested in becoming guides.  Additionally, one of ORMN’s own members, Joy Andrews, created a Smart Phone app that allows visitors to learn about fifteen different trees on the property and to connect to the Virginia Tech website for more in-depth information. This is cutting edge technology in the world of naturalist activities, as well as on historic properties in Virginia.  The first Working Woods Walk of 2012 will be held on Sunday, April 15 at 2pm, and MN can receive advanced training hours for participating.  Please read the excellent press release written by Adam Downing of the Madison Extension Service.

 

CONTACT:

Adam K. Downing, Extension Agent

Forestry & Natural Resources - Northern District

 

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Madison County

War Memorial Building, 2nd floor, Main St.

P.O. Box 10; Madison, VA  22727

Phone: (540)948.6881  Fax: (540)948.6883

E-mail: adowning@vt.edu

 

            Confluence of the Constitution, Trees & Technology

 

The vision of forest sustainability, as imagined by President James Madison from his Montpelier Estate, stood in contrast to the wanton resource extraction he observed in the early 1800’s.  Today, those same forests have not only recovered and are sustainability managed but now also boast the Commonwealth’s first Smart Phone Tree ID Trail.

 

Montpelier’s “Working Woods Walk” guides visitors through part of the “Big Woods” to a loop trail that explores various conservation management practices based on today’s best forest science. A new element of the walk features a technology enhanced Tree ID experience using common smart phone technology.  According to Adam Downing, a forester with Virginia Cooperative Extension, “This is the first ID trail using QR codes in Virginia that I know of.”  QR codes are a sort of three dimensional barcode embedded with additional information.

 

Virginia Master Naturalists worked with resource professionals from Virginia Cooperative Extension and Montpelier to assess the technology, develop content and locate representative tree specimens. “Anyone with a smart phone can access additional information about the tree’s historical use and a link to Virginia Tech’s Tree ID Website,” according to Joy Andrews, who led the project and is a Certified Master Naturalist from the Old Rag Chapter.  Others can enjoy the trail with limited visual impact from ID signage that doesn’t distract.

 

The public is invited to explore the “Working Woods” at James Madison’s Montpelier for the first Working Woods Walk of 2012 slated for Sunday, April 15, at 2:00.  The two hour tour will start at the visitor’s center and proceed with a short walk through Montpelier’s “Big Woods” to a newer loop trail that explores various conservation management practices based on today’s best forest science.  Discover how “Working Woods” work for you by participating in a Master Naturalist led tour of Montpelier’s Working Woods. Regular entry fees apply.

 

Montpelier’s “Working Woods” is a cooperative project by: The Montpelier Foundation, Virginia Master Naturalists, Virginia Cooperative Extension, The Society of American Foresters, Virginia Department of Forestry, the Ballyshannon Fund, Virginia’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment as partners in Virginia’s LEAF (Link to Education About Forestry) program.

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Old Rag Mountain in summer
Old Rag Mountain in Winter
Old Rag Mountain in summer and winter.
Left photo ©Carl Zitzmann; right photo ©Pam Owen
Old Rag panorama part 6

Chapter Events

Going Wild in Your Backyard . 2012-02-04 — Our chapter's first wildlife habitat open house (see program) sure to be a big event.  Get it on your list! 

NABA Butterfly Count in Rappahannock County. 2012-07-28 — This is our second annual butterfly count.  Our results are reported to the North American Butterfly Association.  Last year we counted over 1200 butterflies in 40 species. Come join us! 

Master Naturalist Training. Spring 2012 — The next training course is from March 13 - May 29, 2012. Applications accepted Jan. 1 - Feb. 11, 2012. The class is limited to 20 participants.
 

Articles

Montpelier's Working Woods Walk. 2012-04-02 —

The first Working Woods Walk of 2012 will be held on April 15th at Montpelier. Read about the innovations of the Working Woods Cadre and plan to come to the walk.

 

 

ORMN Welcomes Master Naturalists-in-Training. 2012-02-29 —

Here's a way to get to know the newest training class for our chapter. 

 

ORMN on the Front Lines in the War on Invasives. 2011-12-01 — Twenty ORMN have been aggressively attacking invasives in the Shenandoah National Park and their efforts are really paying off. 

Old Rag Butterfly Count 2011. 2011-10-10 — July 2011 Butterfly Count in Rappahannock County. 

Miracles Happen at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. 2011-08-15 — The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has an interesting history and provides a hopeful future for endangered species. 

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Photo Gallery

All Photos
Photo Essays:
Botany Field Trip to the Jones' Farm
Buck Hollow Garlic Mustard Pull
Butterflies
Class III of the Old Rag Chapter
Class IV Starts Training 2010
Forestry Field Trip to Conway River Tract
Learning About Stream Assessment
Making Charcoal

More...

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Kathy Poush
Hosting & applications by Mary Graham

Virginia Master Naturalist programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Panorama photo © Carl Zitzmann