Recent Articles from FoBR Newsletters
| Friends of Bull Run was excited to host two high school seniors from Highland School as part of Highland's internship program. Mitch Rodia and Shawn McPherson spent two weeks working full-time at FoBR and performing all the duties required of an executive director and naturalist with an environmental education facility. We are proud of their efforts and look forward to a long-lasting relationship with Highland School. |
by Mitch Rodia
Two weeks with Michael Kieffer, Friends of Bull Run's executive director, was very educational and also enjoyable. I have learned more about biology than I had in a whole school year. I hiked trails, did experiments, and categorized more insects than I can count.
On our first day, I was sent out on the trails to check for downed trees with another intern. I was not looking forward to the fact that I had to walk around in the rain and mud in my nice clothes. After walking for a while I stopped thinking about my clothes and I started to realize that the rain falling on the leaves was very peaceful. At that moment, I began taking in what was going on around me.
Michael increased my knowledge of the outdoors. He taught me how to identify many different species of insects and types of vegetation that grow in the forest. I learned which plants and leaves are edible-and which ones actually taste good, too. Michael is also an expert when it comes to identifying the many species of birds in this area; he doesn't even have to see the bird to know what it is, because he knows their calls. The first day I was out in the field with Michael, he started chanting "Cheeseburger, cheeseburger," and I thought he had gone crazy but then realized he was just mimicking the birdcall. It was the Carolina wren, one I will never forget.
One day I participated in an ecological survey with four other scientists. It was a vegetative survey, where we made a 400-square-meter plot. I was intrigued by their ability to identify species of plants and by the various equipment used for the survey.
The next week I participated in a macro-invertebrate study. We went to a stream and found a spot where we could conduct our analysis. In the study we measured the amount of pebbles, sand, cobble, and boulders in the streambed. The most important aspect was the identification of insect larvae and adults. It required us to find more than one hundred specimens within the study's protocol to be statistically significant. I held the net while Michael lifted up rocks and stirred up the bottom. I had no idea there were so many insects in a small stream.
My favorite part of this internship was the hike up to High Point. Normally no one is allowed up there, but since we were conducting ecological surveys we had the privilege. High Point overlooks Fauquier County and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was the most magnificent view that I had ever seen. It was very high up, so everything below looked very small, like a painting.
When I first came into this, I thought that it wasn't going to be fun. I was very wrong; this has been the only job that I have enjoyed. When Michael sat on the ground without a chair, I thought he was going to have insects crawling all over him, and I swore to myself I would never do that. Well, I learned that there is nothing wrong with sitting on the ground: nothing is going to infest you. My experience here was something I will not forget, and I hope to come back some day.
by Shawn McPherson
My first day, Michael Kieffer, Friends of Bull Run's executive director, told me and another intern to walk the trails to check for downed trees. I was told to investigate the western ridge while my friend investigated the eastern ridge. I am from the city and never really hiked trails-especially in khakis and tennis shoes (big mistake). I didn't really think much of it until I got about a quarter of the way up. I stopped walking for a minute and looked around. I had heard a noise to my left and looked over only to see two deer staring right back at me. I had never been this close to deer before, and I could clearly see the contours of their muscular bodies. They stared at me and then bounded off into the woods. I continued walking, but at a slower pace this time. I didn't want to miss anything. I slowed and returned to the path with an open mind. This is what this experience has done for me. It has expanded my perception of the world.
Of my many experiences here, I would have to say that the best was a walk to the very top of Bull Run Mountain. From its peak, I could see all the way up I-66, as well as the rest of the entire mountain. The view was spectacular and I was angry with myself for not bringing a camera, but I knew that this image would not go to waste. I will remember it for a long time.
Michael has encouraged me to use critical thinking skills. I gained a deeper appreciation of taxonomic classification. What I learned in high school was applied to actual field studies, which led to a better understanding of biology. FoBR provides excellent educational opportunities for both high school students and the community.
My internship here has taught me much about nature and humankind's role in preserving as much of it as we can. I learned how to identify certain birds without seeing them, simply by their call. I spent time classifying macro-invertebrates to the family level. It would be difficult to describe all my experiences, but that is what FoBR is all about: providing enjoyable learning experiences for those who want to increase their understanding of the natural world. With so many members, outdoor programs and workshops are often full long before the program takes place. I had the privilege of attending one of the programs, "Ferns and Friends." Not only did we learn about ferns, but we also learned about the natural history of the mountain during the walk.
I must say that due to the time spent at FoBR, I have a better understanding and a deeper appreciation of nature. These mountains are a precious natural resource that should be preserved, and FoBR is a remarkable organization dedicated to doing so.
