Virginia News

Volunteer Now!

Current Opportunities to Volunteer!

Working with the Public

Plantings are planned for Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna on May 3 and at Mount Vernon at a date in the spring to be determined.  We are looking for a few volunteers to help with (a) planting the trees, (b) monitoring the seedlings until they get established, (c) developing interpretive material to tell Garden visitors the chestnut story, and (d) organizing the ceremony surrounding the planting.  If you have time and interest, please contact VA TACF at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

Working with Nature*

Opportunities abound for help in planting, pollinating and monitoring American chestnut trees in our orchards.  For more information, and to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

*Risk Advice.  Many activities in support of VATACF put volunteers into close contact with nature.  This poses a number of potential risks volunteers need to consider.  These include exposure to insects, poisonous plants, snakes, difficult terrain and strenuous activity.  VATACF expects volunteers to inform and protect themselves against these risks and cannot accept responsibility for failure to do so.

Behind the Scenes

Staff the VATACF Office.  Multiple volunteer opportunities exist to help staff the Virginia Chapter of TACF office in Marshall, VA.   The duties involve learning enough to answer questions from visitors to the office and over the phone, helping to manage volunteer activity, as well as performing related clerical duties in support of VATACF’s mission to restore chestnut trees to Virginia.  These volunteer opportunities are part-time and hours can be flexible to meet your schedule.  You will have the fun of meeting and working with committed volunteers and interested members of the public and learning about the science and organizational efforts in support of VATACF’s mission.  For information, or to volunteer, contact Kathy Marmet at moc.liamg@temramyhtak.

Communications Assistants Wanted!  VATACF is looking for one or more persons to assist in enhancing communications within our diverse and rapidly growing organization.  Volunteers will help maintain the VATACF web site (vachestnut.org), help write announcements and notices, locate photos and illustrations and help manage VATACF’s use of social media.  Special opportunities exist for persons with skill in producing videos for the web.  The work can be conducted at our Marshall, VA, office or from any location with internet service.  The work requirements are flexible and can be organized to fit your schedule.   Volunteers will have the satisfaction of  working with modern technologies and helping to organize and energize the reintroduction of the chestnut tree to American forests.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav.

Video Editor and YouTube Guru.  VATACF wants to produce short video productions on a variety of topics to be used for training volunteers and educating the public about a variety of aspects of restoring the American chestnut tree.  If you have skills in video production, including filming, editing and creating YouTube videos, then we have an important role for you to fill.  Work schedules can be organized to fit your needs.  You will gain experience in producing and editing high quality video productions and enhancing VATACF’s educational and training program.  You will have the satisfaction of seeing your work on the internet and in use in field trainings all around the Commonwealth.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact Norman Reid ten.sehguh@diernjta.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t see anything that fits?  We have many more needs than we have listed here.  Match your interests and skills with our needs by filling out the online volunteer interest form.

We will get back to you to work out something that meets your interests and our needs!

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Check out this interview by World Teen where ME Chapter Vice President, Eva Butler, and our Director of Science Implementation, Cassie Stark, discuss the American chestnut and the role recurrent genomic selection has in saving it.

Watch the full video here: teen.gwnews.com/articles/genetic-research-may-save-the-american-chestnut

#americanchestnut #news #conservation #Restoration #explorepage
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And as you continue to study these trees you come to realize that some of these sprouts do live long enough to produce nuts. Then you realize that even in their native range there are a few trees that have survived with blight for many many decades and grow quite large. Then you come to learn that there are in fact many large trees that have been living with blight for many years and continue to grow and produce nuts. I’m sure this group will eventually crack this nut.

Would be nice if more people learn those facts. There is a lot of propaganda out there that tries to mute and downplay what you have discovered. Lately it looks like this group has cracked the nut with the RGS approach and "Best of Best" breeding concepts.

May Events! Field season is starting, so get out and help plant some chestnuts!

Visit the following link to register for an event: tacf.org/events/category/tacf/

#americanchestnut #events #VA #WV #conservation #Restoration #explorepage
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May Events! Field season is starting, so get out and help plant some chestnuts! Visit the following link to register for an event: https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ #americanchestnut #events #VA #WV #conservation #restoration #explorepageImage attachmentImage attachment

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Can they grow in Florida?

The VA Chapter collaborated on an orchard culling project at Matthews State Forest with Grayson Land Care! ... See MoreSee Less

The VA Chapter collaborated on an orchard culling project at Matthews State Forest with Grayson Land Care!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Read this article in Preservation Magazine to learn how a historic shelter made of American chestnut logs was moved across state lines.

Article by Alison Van Houten and image by David Huff.

Click the following link to read the article: savingplaces.org/stories/appalachian-trail-shelter-is-saved

#news #americanchestnut #historic #explorepage #conservation
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Read this article in Preservation Magazine to learn how a historic shelter made of American chestnut logs was moved across state lines.Article by Alison Van Houten and image by David Huff.Click the following link to read the article: https://savingplaces.org/stories/appalachian-trail-shelter-is-saved #news #americanchestnut #historic #explorepage #conservation

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That picture is at it's new location in Hot Springs, NC, it's on display there

Love seeing what the Chapters are up to! ... See MoreSee Less

Love seeing what the Chapters are up to!Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

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I have two massive chestnut trees in my backyard and I’ve tried to get someone to look at them to see what kind they are. Who can I contact?

Thank you to our long time Partner, Army Corps of Engineers, Green River Lake. * * * You all do much to educate and serve the thousands of Visitors who enjoy Green River Lake in Central Kentucky. Ken Darnell, KY TACF Chapter President

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