Merrimac Farm Continuing Education Corner - January 2026
- Jan 1
- 3 min read
Happy NEW Year! Lots of changes for the Continuing Education Corner & Continuing Education Team. The state theme for VMN this year is water and our chapter’s goal is inclusion and diversity. The board has decided to offer and feature local Virginia & Prince William County speakers and events for continuing education in 2026.
Now, members have ten (10) in-person CE opportunities, (over 20 CE hours), through the Merrimac Farm Virginia Master Naturalists chapter with five, (5) local lectures, and (5) five local field trip events planned. You have the choice to attend these local lectures and events, to meet your required annual eight (8) CE hours.
Please always check the chapter & individual websites for registration, cancellations and more information.
The MF VMN chapter is excited to announce a change of location for the CE lectures! All CE lectures for 2026 will be held in Woodbridge, Virginia, at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, 14806 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191, instead of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church in Manassas. Cokesbury has a large (FREE) parking lot and a very accessible building.
The chapter is grateful for the generous donation of space to us from both BRUU and Cokesbury. BRUU is still available for future use.
The Continuing Education Team is looking for volunteers. We are looking for Continuing Education Team members to assist with set up, clean up and hospitality. Let Susan know if you’re interested in volunteering! We need light refreshments. Please express interest using this form: https://forms.gle/o3rwQRuvgArqxVvk9.
Chapter Continuing Education Lecture & Event
January, 15, 2026 Thursday, 7 PM - 8:30 PM - Our first lecture: Joe Barnes from Clean Virginia Waterways, "Understanding Marine Debris: Sources and Solutions". Joe is the Marine Debris Prevention Specialist at Clean Virginia Waterways. He runs three workgroups dedicated towards the learning and collaborative opportunities for anyone who deals with plastic pollution in Virginia. Cokesbury United Methodist Church,14806 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191.
March 28, 2026 1 PM Our first field event is with Drew Uglow, Senior Environmental Analyst, & MS4 Coordinator with Prince William County at the Neabsco Bandalong. You will get an in-depth, in-person, close-up tour of the Neabsco Bandalong in Woodbridge, Virginia, the premier floatable trash capture system spanning the Neabsco Creek in PWC. You will never see plastic water bottles in the same way. Parking is limited. Please share the ride.
Please register for all lectures & events.
Saturday, February 14, 2026,
9 AM - 4 PM Prince William Conservation Alliance The 8th Annual Prince WIlliam Native Plant Symposium. Verizon Auditorium George Mason University,10900 University Boulevard, Manassas, VA 20110 Register now.
Registration Link (with all info): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/8th-annual-prince-william-native-plant-symposium-2026-tickets-1858916261579
January 10, 2026
Stream Monitoring Event
Join Elaine Wilson & Team for Winter biologic monitoring! Dress for the weather.
January 10 12 Noon - 2 PM
James Long Park
Meet in the education center parking lot, (second lot on the right as you come into James Long Park).
The stream is Catharpin Creek and down the hill to the right of the tennis courts.
Back up date, if inclement weather- January 11, 12 Noon - 2 PM
Any questions? (Any answers?!) Any concerns? Reach out to Elaine. [Editor's Note: VMN members - see January Newsletter (sent to you by email on January 1) for Elaine's contact information.]
Feel free to share.
Online Opportunities - available at any time
Izaak Walton League
Explore their Clean Water Webinar series from policy to landscaping and everything between, join to learn about clean water issues and what you can do to protect America’s waterways. Next webinar Dec 11 on nitrate pollution. Sign up to be notified about those by checking off “Clean Water Webinars” on this form.
Other webinars available on demand.
Virginia Master Naturalists - Lots of interesting webinars! https://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/continuing-education/webinar-series/
Virginia Save Our Streams https://vasos.org/ Learn how to become a Certified Stream Monitor!
Happy New Year! Join us for an interesting line-up of speakers and continuing education events in 2026 and have fun!
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
Continuing Education Opportunities
Here is a list of our partners that you can use to find additional CE opportunities.
Sponsoring Agencies
VMN - Continuing Education Webinar Series
Prince William - Virginia Cooperative Extension (& PW Master Gardeners)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Leesylvania State Park
Additional Partners
Greater Prince William Trails Coalition
Clifton Institute
Prince William Conservation Alliance
Virginia Native Plant Society (& Prince William Wildflower Society)
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
Plant NOVA Natives (& Plant NOVA Trees)
Prince William Forest Park
Leopold’s Preserve
Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District
Keep Prince William Beautiful
Prince William Parks & Recreation