Photo: Curleyheads, Rusty Moran

When: September 24 and October 1, 7:00pm-8:00pm
Where: VIRTUAL!
Fee: $25

Participants will learn to apply ecological principles to creating backyard habitats and restoring ecosystems. Focus will be on looking not only at the needs of animals, but working with nature and using local ecosystems as examples for selecting species, building soils and providing natural structure.

This workshop is open to all. It is especially relevant for volunteer Audubon at Home Ambassadors, and will augment basic training for Virginia Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners and qualifies for advanced training hours. It is recommended that attendees have some familiarity with the book, "Bringing Nature Home" by Douglas Tallamy and the ASNV publication "The Nature of Change" which can be downloaded here.

Instructor: Charles is a native of Arlington, VA, and a naturalist and ecologist with 25 years of experience working primarily in natural resource management, including the Fairfax County Park Authority and five years with Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. He is currently branch chief of Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division, focusing on stream and natural area restoration. Charles is a US Army veteran; board member of Virginia Native Plant Society, Prince William Wildflower Society and Prince William Conservation Alliance; and member of Friends of the Potomac River Refuges. He is a popular VNPS speaker and has served as an instructor for three chapters of the Virginia Master Naturalists.