Get outdoors this winter and learn cool stuff about our Wild and Wonderful – with the Greenbrier Chapter of the WV Master Naturalist Program!

The Master Naturalist program offers fun, interactive classes that develop knowledge, skills and your own curiosity around topics like Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds of West Virginia, and WV’s Native Orchids. New members are always welcome to sign up and start their journey towards certification. Anyone can attend a class for free to try it out, with no experience necessary. Appalachian Headwaters is the sponsor of the Greenbrier Chapter of this WV DNR program.

To learn more, visit www.appheadwaters.org or contact Kevin at kjohnson@appheadwaters.org.

The winter class schedule is listed below.

Greenbrier Chapter Winter Classes – all free

Winter is for the Birds: Bird Talk and Guided Walk with Emily Williams – Saturday, Jan 31 from 10 AM to noon

Join visiting biologist Emily Williams on a wintry guided birding walk. Emily is a doctoral candidate at Georgetown University who has been studying birds for over 15 years.

We will start inside for a short lesson on birding and species ID, and then hit the trail for a guided birding walk. Bring binoculars if you have them. Some are available to borrow. Dress for the weather!

Free, and no experience necessary. This workshop will be held at Wood Thrush Park (334 Richland Ln, Lewisburg).

Be My Bud: Winter Wakeup Walk in downtown Lewisburg – Thursday, Feb 12 from 2 – 4 PM

Let’s hear it for the buds! Join in the hunt for these future flowers around downtown Lewisburg, and learn about our common trees’ winter survival strategies with Kevin Johnson of Appalachian Headwaters.

Buds are already starting to push out in midwinter as days grow longer – and a few of our most abundant tree species will begin to flower by the end of this month.

We’ll meet at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center and do a loop through town to meet our buds. Dress for the outdoors!

Preserving and Sharing What You Find: Nature Journaling in Practice – Sunday, Feb 22 from 2 – 4:30 PM

Unlock your creativity and hone your nature observation skills in this hands-on nature journaling workshop, led Appalachian artist Kathleen DeRouen and Appalachian Headwaters.

We’ll cover how to responsibly gather and record natural phenomena, and use them to create nature journals you can use as spring unfolds.

This workshop will be held at Wood Thrush Park (334 Richland Ln, Lewisburg). Basic journal materials provided. RSVP by February 20 so we have enough materials – by email to kjohnson@appheadwaters.org.

How Bees Navigate Our World: Bee Communication and Adaptations – Saturday, March 21 from 10 AM to noon

Bees are awesome navigators – and sustainers – of our Appalachian ecosystems! Learn how bees communicate and adapt to our dynamic environment with Mark Lilly, WV Master Beekeeper and Apiary Manager of Appalachian Beekeeping Collective.

Free and open to the general public. This program will be held at Wood Thrush Park (334 Richland Ln, Lewisburg).

Native Orchids of WV with Rosanna Springston – Saturday, March 28 from 10 AM to noon

Did you know that WV is home to dozens of native orchid species? Explore the diverse orchids of WV and their fascinating adaptations with Rosanna Springston of Cranberry Glades Visitor Center.

Free and open to the general public. This program will be held at Wood Thrush Park (334 Richland Ln, Lewisburg).