John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District (JMSWCD)
ORMN Project Contact: Deirdre Clark - dbclarkmail(at)gmail.com
Project Background
The John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District (JMSWCD) serves Fauquier County. As a subdivision of state government, it is one of 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Virginia which partner with governmental agencies and organizations to identify conservation problems and solutions. Its mission is to provide leadership, technical assistance, information, and education to the citizens of Fauquier County in proper soil stewardship, agricultural conservation methods, and water quality protection so as to ensure the wise use of Fauquier County’s natural resources. Address: 98 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA. Click for directions.
The John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District (JMSWCD) serves Fauquier County. As a subdivision of state government, it is one of 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Virginia which partner with governmental agencies and organizations to identify conservation problems and solutions. Its mission is to provide leadership, technical assistance, information, and education to the citizens of Fauquier County in proper soil stewardship, agricultural conservation methods, and water quality protection so as to ensure the wise use of Fauquier County’s natural resources. Address: 98 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA. Click for directions.
CS (Citizen Science) Activities with John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District (JMSWCD)
National Fish & Wildlife Grant Monitoring
ORMN volunteers assist in monitoring specific aspects of streams and stream side locations to determine the value and impacts of the installation of riparian buffers.
ORMN volunteers assist in monitoring specific aspects of streams and stream side locations to determine the value and impacts of the installation of riparian buffers.
- Locations: Various locations in Fauquier County.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: National Fish & Wildlife Grant monitoring may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. It may be moderately strenuous, varying with location and activity.
- Special Requirements: Sturdy, waterproof protective footwear is recommended along with work gloves and a hat. Bring water, snacks and lunch.
- Time Commitment: As required for activity; average 3 – 5 hours per site visit, frequency as required by grant.
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ED (Education) Activities with John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District (JMSWCD)
Envirothon
Envirothon is a natural resources competition for high school students who learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real and hypothetical environmental problems. The program is field oriented, community based and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals. At each level of competition, students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources — soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue. Students visit five “in the field” test stations where written and hands-on problem-solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy for addressing an environmental problem. The events are competitive, but education is the bottom line. ORMN volunteers assist by helping with organization and registration for local and regional competitions, serving as judges of the local, regional or state competitions and coaching teams.
Envirothon is a natural resources competition for high school students who learn stewardship and management concepts and work to solve real and hypothetical environmental problems. The program is field oriented, community based and gives students an opportunity to work with natural resource professionals. At each level of competition, students are tested on their knowledge of natural resources — soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and a current environmental issue. Students visit five “in the field” test stations where written and hands-on problem-solving is required along with an oral presentation formulating a strategy for addressing an environmental problem. The events are competitive, but education is the bottom line. ORMN volunteers assist by helping with organization and registration for local and regional competitions, serving as judges of the local, regional or state competitions and coaching teams.
- Locations: Various - directions will be provided.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: None known.
- Special Requirements: Volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Day-long competitions are held in the winter and spring, and generally last from early morning to mid-afternoon. Volunteers determine the number of competitions with which to assist.
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Events & Assistance
ORMN volunteers assist JMSWCD staff at public events and with other staffing needs, such as assisting with registration of attendees, preparing information folders, placing traffic signs, setting up and staffing exhibits, directing visitor flow and answering questions.
ORMN volunteers assist JMSWCD staff at public events and with other staffing needs, such as assisting with registration of attendees, preparing information folders, placing traffic signs, setting up and staffing exhibits, directing visitor flow and answering questions.
- Locations: Varies.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in this activity may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirements: May need to be able to deal with the public. If youth are involved, ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.” There is a SNP entrance fee; if you are registered with SNP’s Volunteer In the Park (VIP) program the entrance fee is waived for volunteer project work.
- Time Commitment: Varies
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Farm Field Days
ORMN volunteers assist in these day-long farm-hosted events for elementary and middle school students in Fauquier County. Students engage in hands-on activities and share information with conservation specialists on pasture and livestock management, animal nutrition, water quality issues, soil development and characteristics, insects in agriculture, and the benefits of stream-side forests. ORMN volunteers join personnel from John Marshall SWCD, Virginia Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Virginia Cooperative Extension to facilitate a variety of learning experiences.
ORMN volunteers assist in these day-long farm-hosted events for elementary and middle school students in Fauquier County. Students engage in hands-on activities and share information with conservation specialists on pasture and livestock management, animal nutrition, water quality issues, soil development and characteristics, insects in agriculture, and the benefits of stream-side forests. ORMN volunteers join personnel from John Marshall SWCD, Virginia Department of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Virginia Cooperative Extension to facilitate a variety of learning experiences.
- Location: Various farms in Fauquier County. Directions will be provided.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in Farm Field Days may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. It may be moderately strenuous, varying with location and activity.
- Special Requirements: Sturdy, waterproof protective footwear is recommended along with work gloves and a hat. Bring water, snacks and lunch. ORMN volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.”
- Time Commitment: Each day-long event is completed within school hours.
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ST (Stewardship) Activities with John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District (JMSWCD)
Stream Restoration
ORMN volunteers install vegetative riparian buffers and streamside forests to provide shade, food, improved wildlife habitat and increased stream bank stabilization, while reducing sediment and nutrient loading to streams in Fauquier County. Many of these sites are included in the National Fish and Wildlife (NFWF) 2014 Grant Monitoring Schedule.
ORMN volunteers install vegetative riparian buffers and streamside forests to provide shade, food, improved wildlife habitat and increased stream bank stabilization, while reducing sediment and nutrient loading to streams in Fauquier County. Many of these sites are included in the National Fish and Wildlife (NFWF) 2014 Grant Monitoring Schedule.
- Locations: Various monitoring stations on designated Virginia streams in the Potomac Watershed and the Rappahannock Watershed.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Stream restoration may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. This is a moderately strenuous activity, requiring hiking over rough terrain to the buffer site, digging holes, hammering tree tubes and stakes, transporting planting equipment and seedling bundles. Slippery stream banks are possible.
- Special Requirements: Sturdy, waterproof protective footwear is recommended along with work gloves and a hat. Bring water, snacks and lunch.
- Time Commitment: 3 – 6 hours per site, depending on the site.
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