West Main Street!
January 29, 2012 3pm
Cville Coffee
Free

The Historic Resources Committee of Charlottesville is proud to present: West Main Street! as part of Where I Live - Stories from Yesterday and Today discussion series. The series will feature a new neighborhood every month through next December.

Come listen, learn, and talk about the place where you live. This is an opportunity to mix and mingle with locals and answer all those burning design questions about your house/apartment, your favorite eatery or late night hang out. Odds are, someone knows why it looks that way/feels that way/smells that way.
 
Go to C'ville Coffee on January 29th at 3pm and start talking!

Throughout April
Saturdays and Sundays
Eco-tulips Organic Tulip Festival
FREE admission
I cannot wait to pack a picnic lunch and blanket and enjoy tulips in the sunshine! Currently the only company providing pesticide free tulip bulbs in the US, this tulip farm offers bulbs as fundraisers also. We planted 60,000 tulips on an organic farm and folks can pick them. Admission is free.

Ongoing Craft Cycling Classes
Saturdays 3-4pm **Ages 4- 11**
Skylight Studioslocated at 108 2nd Street NW
**Come and create a fun one of kind project or craft out of recycled materials. Its Fun & Eco-friendly** Classes taught by registered Art Therapist $75 for all 6 Sessions or $15 per session. For more info please call 434-293-3908 or email skylightcville@gmail.com
 

Betty has listed the Ivy Creek Foundation's events below.

The most up-to-date information can be found at http://ivycreekfoundation.org/calendar.html.
Email Bruce Gatling-Austin at programs@ivycreekfoundation.org, or call (434) 973-7772 to leave a message for a callback.

Junior Naturalists First Meeting
Monday, January 23, 4:00 pm
First meeting of Junior Naturalists, a Cooperative Extension 4-H club. Meet in the Education Center.

Natural History of Virginia First Meeting
Monday, January 23, 7:00 pm
First meeting of Natural History of Virginia. Join Dan Bieker for the first class of Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Natural History of Virginia. You must register with PVCC. Meet in the Education Center. Meet in the Education Center.

Toddler Time
Thursday, January 26, 10:00 am
Introduce your toddler to nature with this short talk and trail walk for three to five year olds. Volunteer guide Rachel Bush will host, starting in the Education Center at Ivy Creek Natural Area. Free and open to the public.

Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, January 28, 9:00 am
Join volunteers to work on field restoration, invasive plant removal, and various trail improvements such as water bar repairs and trail widening. Wear appropriate clothing. Meet in front of the barn.

First Saturday Bird Walk
Saturday, February 4, 7:30 am
Join us for an early morning bird walk with Teresa Shaner of the Monticello Bird Club to see our winter residents. Beginners always welcome. Meet in the parking lot of Ivy Creek Natural Area. Free and open to the public.

StreamWatch Training Workshop
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 am
In this StreamWatch introductory training, learn the fundamentals of benthic invertebrate sampling to gauge water quality and stream health. Class size is limited, and a reservation is required. Contact Rose Brown at 962-3527 or rose@streamwatch.org. Meet in the Education Center at Ivy Creek Natural Area off of Earlysville Road.

Virginia Native Plant Society Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 pm
Hear Jean Bartelsen of The Wintergreen Nature Foundation speak on “Restoring and Preserving the Natural Landscape: The Wintrgreen Nature Foundation’s Plant Propagation and Gardening Program.” Meetings are free and open to all. Meet in the Education Center at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Monticello Bird Club Meeting
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm
Come hear Ron Luque of Charlottesville talk about how to paint birds. Learn tips from an award winning painter. Free and open to the public. Meet in the Education Center at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Casual Hiker through Urban Disaster: Wilderness First Aid
Saturday & Sunday, February 11-12, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
In this two-day course, learn how to save a life when someone is injured in a wilderness area, or urban disaster zone. The class blends lecture, hands-on rescue scenario practice, and Q&A. Led by SOLO instructor and director of the Outdoor Adventure Social Club – Matt Rosefsky. The resulting Wilderness First Aid certification is valid for two years. Registration required. Fee includes books, handouts, and certification. For more information go to http://www.outdoorsocial.com/wfa.htm or call (434) 760-HIKE. 10% of proceeds will go to Ivy Creek Foundation.

Volunteer Work Day
Thursday, February 16, 9:00 am
Join volunteers to work on field restoration, invasive plant removal, and various trail improvements such as water bar repairs and trail widening. Wear appropriate clothing. Meet in front of the barn.

Field Ornithology Class
Saturday, February 18, 8:30 to 11:30 am
Come to the first of a series of classes on field ornithology sponsored by Piedmont Virginia Community College and taught by Dan Bieker. Registration required by mid January. Meet in the Education Center.

Learning the Native Trees of Virginia
Sunday, February 19, 2:00 pm
Learn to identify trees in the dead of winter using bark, branching, seed, and other distinguishing characteristics. Join Ellen Powell of the Virginia Department of Forestry on a Winter Walk in the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. Meet in the RMNA parking lot.  Free and open to the public.

Toddler Time
Thursday, February 23, 10:00 am
Introduce your toddler to nature with this short talk and trail walk for three to five year olds. Volunteer guide Rachel Bush will host, starting in the Education Center at Ivy Creek Natural Area. Free and open to the public.

Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, February 25, 9:00 am
Join volunteers to work on field restoration, invasive plant removal, and various trail improvements such as water bar repairs and trail widening. Wear appropriate clothing. Meet in front of the barn.

Ongoing Monthly Events:

Monthly hikes with Wild Virginia. 
One weekend per month, Wild Virginia sponsors a day hike in the George Washington National Forest, Shenandoah National Park or other natural area.  Hikes are free and open to anyone who is interested, carpooling is encouraged.  Details can be found at www.wildvirginia.org, or 434-971-1553.

BLUE RIDGE COHOUSING OPEN HOUSE
Every Saturday and Sunday, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Blue Ridge Cohousing is a group of families and single people building an earth-friendly community in Crozet, Virginia. Features will include private energy-efficient homes, shared organic gardens, preserved green space and a community house to help build social ties. Meet the members of BRC, tour the historic farmhouse, see house and site plans, and learn more about cohousing. For info, visit blueridgecousing.org, call (434) 245-7039, or email info@blueridgecohousing.org 

Charlottesville Green Drinks
Second Thursday at 6pm at The Local in Belmont
A monthly gathering of folks from environmental fields to discuss, debate, and meet new friends in downtown Charlottesville. Whether you live green, wear green, speak green or just want to, come mingle.

Saturdays at the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center
River-related acitivies for children: nature drawing, animals, masks, and mapping the rivanna River.  Fee:  $3.  Reservations:  (434) 979-2425 Also free keelboat replica tours.  Saturdays May-October.  www.lewisandclarkeast.org

Volunteer Opportunities:

Better World Betty
Dynamic Volunteers Needed!
Do you care about the future environment and sustainability of the Charlottesville area? Would you like to bring like-minded people together to meet, greet, and talk solutions? Can you spare a couple of hours a month helping Betty reach her mission of raising eco-consciousness and creating local action steps? Email: betty@betterworldbetty.org

National Trail Day Event held by Rivanna Trails Foundations has volunteer opportunities. Email John Holden at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports: john@brms.com

Nature Conservancy
The Conservancy has lots of great opportunities for volunteering. Contact Jen Rich if you are interested or want more information please at 434-951-0572 or jrich@tnc.org.

Know of an event not listed here: contact betty@betterworldbetty.com