Southwest Virginia is a global hotspot for salamander biodiversity at the next Education Station!
Southwestern Piedmont Master Naturalists and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, (VMNH) present the latest installment in their Education Station series, The Magical World of Salamanders! The Series provides an interactive experience for visitors and will be held at the museum on Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
President of the Virginia Herpetological Society (VHS) and Assistant Curator of Herpetology at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Dr. Arianna Kuhn, will give a presentation on salamanders, The True Hidden Gems of Appalachia at Noon. Research Technician at VMNH and Vice President of VHS, Marshall Boyd, will be available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to share information on the amazing world of amphibians, their transformative life cycles, and how this diverse group has adapted to live in and out of the water!
Virginia Master Naturalists will be available to talk about how to become a Master Naturalist, and Virginia's native salamanders, including one called the Hellbender.
“The addition of the Education Station experience series represents an expanded partnership between the Southwestern Piedmont Virginia Master Naturalist Chapter and the VMNH” said Christine Stewart, Education Station project leader with the Southwestern Piedmont Chapter. Stewart added, “the stations will allow naturalist volunteers to educate the public about various Virginia native plants and animals and their environments.”
The Education Stations are to be held on one or two Saturdays a month. Upcoming Education Station topics have included Waterfowl and Shorebirds on March 22, and Virginia Salamanders on April 19, with more to be announced soon.
More Info:
The Virginia Museum of Natural History is located at 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA
24112.
Admission:
$10 for ages 18-59
$5 for ages 3-17, seniors 60+, and college students
FREE for children under 3, museum members, and members of ASTC participating institutions
