By Susan and Biff Andrews

Long before governments were creating and enforcing environmental laws, concerned individuals were uniting to protect habitats and the organisms that live in them.

In the past few years, such a group has formed in western Tidewater, and its members are working in your community to fight invasive species, protect habitats, improve wildlife and forestry lands and educate fellow Virginians to the unique species we enjoy in our local woods, ponds, swamps, and rivers.

The Virginia Master Naturalists — Historic Southside Chapter advertised early this spring for volunteers who wished to make contributions to the local ecology. As retired educators who hike, camp and boat locally, my wife and I had been seeking some such opportunity. A quick call to the local chapter, which meets in Isle of Wight at the Virginia Cooperative Extension office of Janet Spencer, got us involved.

For a nominal fee — used mainly for field guides and speaker fees — we began a 40-hour series of lectures covering the botany, geology, icthyology, forestry, mammalogy and other aspects of Southeastern Virginia’s ecology.

I used to think my 35 years of hiking, canoeing, sailing and camping in the area gave me a good handle on its ecosystems. I learned differently. What a wealth of exotic and endangered species abound nearby!

Classes were taught by professionals in each area — from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Nature Conservancy, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and so on. Their knowledge was encyclopedic. Field trips to the Dismal Swamp, Zuni Pine Barrens, fossil cliffs of Chippokes and more gave our class eyes-on and hands-on experiences.

During this educational period (February through May), we learned of some of our own chapter’s ecological efforts to eradicate invasive stilt grass, study the denizens of vernal pools, band migratory birds and educate the local citizenry and 4H youngsters.

After we trainees perform 40 hours of volunteer service on our projects and attend further study sessions from outside agencies, we will become fully certified Virginia Master Naturalists. So we can truly … “act locally.”

Susan and Bradford “Biff” Andrews are retired teachers who enjoy exploring and enjoying the woods, swamps, rivers and beaches throughout the region. Email them at b.andrews22@live.com.