Reconnect with Nature
ORMN Project Contact: Julie Connelly - jec8k1(at)gmail.com
Project Background
Research shows that our quality of life improves when we interact regularly with the natural world. Many residents of assisted living and nursing communities have lost this contact due to a variety of restrictions, including lack of staff time to supervise activities. The goal of the Reconnect with Nature project is to develop partnerships with regional elder care facilities so we can offer our personal knowledge of nature in a variety of ways. Current projects are with the Senior Living residents at Dogwood Village, Orange, Va and include helping seniors with vegetable gardening, nature walks, bird watching events, and nature related presentations, demonstrations, video and photographic slideshows, small group programs, or assistance with the healing garden. Our intention is to help reconnect the elderly with nature, helping them to cultivate natural curiosity and enjoyment of the natural world.
Research shows that our quality of life improves when we interact regularly with the natural world. Many residents of assisted living and nursing communities have lost this contact due to a variety of restrictions, including lack of staff time to supervise activities. The goal of the Reconnect with Nature project is to develop partnerships with regional elder care facilities so we can offer our personal knowledge of nature in a variety of ways. Current projects are with the Senior Living residents at Dogwood Village, Orange, Va and include helping seniors with vegetable gardening, nature walks, bird watching events, and nature related presentations, demonstrations, video and photographic slideshows, small group programs, or assistance with the healing garden. Our intention is to help reconnect the elderly with nature, helping them to cultivate natural curiosity and enjoyment of the natural world.
CS (Citizen Science) Activities with Reconnect with Nature
Bluebird Trail Monitoring/Maintenance
ORMN Activity Contact: Dana Squire - danasquire(at)earthlink.net
ORMN volunteers monitor bluebird box trail weekly during spring and summer to check for nesting and record number of eggs, nestlings and fledglings; report data to the Virginia Bluebird Society county coordinator on required forms; maintain boxes year round; install additional bluebird boxes to existing trail if necessary in coordination with county coordinator They share egg and nestling sightings with Senior Living residents who are physically capable of visiting boxes.
ORMN Activity Contact: Dana Squire - danasquire(at)earthlink.net
ORMN volunteers monitor bluebird box trail weekly during spring and summer to check for nesting and record number of eggs, nestlings and fledglings; report data to the Virginia Bluebird Society county coordinator on required forms; maintain boxes year round; install additional bluebird boxes to existing trail if necessary in coordination with county coordinator They share egg and nestling sightings with Senior Living residents who are physically capable of visiting boxes.
- Location: Dogwood Village of Orange County, 120 Dogwood Lane, Orange, VA 22960. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in bluebird trail monitoring may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. Walking over flat to moderate terrain is required. Installation of boxes requires use of digging and pounding tools and implements to secure boxes and baffles to poles.
- Special Requirements: None
- Time Commitment: Monitoring a bluebird box trail each week takes about one hour for every 12 boxes. Time commitment depends upon the terrain and the amount of activity in the boxes. Maintaining the trail takes several hours each year – generally in the late winter/early spring in preparation for nesting season and again in the late summer/early fall to prepare the boxes for winter. Record-keeping time is minimal, but must be accomplished weekly to ensure all data is properly recorded, and at the end of the season to prepare the required reports.
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ED (Education) Activities with Reconnect with Nature
Nature Education
ORMN volunteers give presentations on nature-related topics to Senior Living residents in large groups, small groups, one-on-one and by bulletin board.
ORMN volunteers give presentations on nature-related topics to Senior Living residents in large groups, small groups, one-on-one and by bulletin board.
- Location: Dogwood Village of Orange County, 120 Dogwood Lane, Orange, VA 22960. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: No special requirements or hazards other than being outside in an area that encourages native pollinators. Those at risk from stinging insects would probably opt for the indoors activities.
- Special Requirements: None.
- Time Commitment: Varies by Activity.
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ST (Stewardship) Activities with Reconnect with Nature
Residents' Vegetable Gardens
ORMN volunteers assist Senior Living residents and staff in planting and maintaining residents' on-site vegetable gardens.
ORMN volunteers assist Senior Living residents and staff in planting and maintaining residents' on-site vegetable gardens.
- Location: Dogwood Village of Orange County, 120 Dogwood Lane, Orange, VA 22960. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: No special requirements or hazards other than being outside in an area that encourages native pollinators. Those at risk from stinging insects would probably opt for the indoors activities.
- Special Requirements: None.
- Time Commitment: Varies by Activity.
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Healing Garden
ORMN volunteers assist Senior Living residents and staff in planting and maintaining on-site native-plant healing garden.
ORMN volunteers assist Senior Living residents and staff in planting and maintaining on-site native-plant healing garden.
- Location: Dogwood Village of Orange County, 120 Dogwood Lane, Orange, VA 22960. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: No special requirements or hazards other than being outside in an area that encourages native pollinators. Those at risk from stinging insects would probably opt for the indoors activities.
- Special Requirements: None.
- Time Commitment: Varies by Activity.
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