When: Wednesdays at noon, June and July 2026
Location: Frances Plecker Education Center,  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU
Format: Lecture. You are welcome to bring a lunch or snack to enjoy. Seating is in chairs without tables.
Audience: Adults and mature youth
Fee: None
Registration: requested (Helps us plan and we can contact you if there are changes to the program.)
Parking: expect parking in the small lots to fill during this time. Additional parking is available in R5 lot at 664 University Boulevard.
EJCA contact: Kelli Hertzler, Education Coordinator. Gdxc5j@jmu.edu or (540) 568-3194.

Registration

June 10: Native Landscaping for Backyard Birds

by Rich Woods, President of Augusta County Birding Club

Would you like to attract more birds to your backyard? Then it's time to go native! Join us to learn which native plants our resident and migratory bird species prefer. Whether you have a small space or large property, every little bit counts and can make a difference in bird conservation! 

July 17: Brood Pollination of Plants by Specialized Insects

by David Hembry, Assistant Professor in JMU’s Biology Department and PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

Brood pollination is a type of pollination mutualism in which specialized insects pollinate the flowers of certain plants, and in exchange, the plants provide either some of their seeds or flower tissue as food for these insects' larvae. These interactions exemplify the notion of mutualisms (mutually beneficial interactions) as ones in which both partners are reciprocally exploiting each other but net benefits outweigh costs. In this talk I'll provide an overview of these relationships, starting with the famous mutualisms between fig trees and pollinating fig wasps, and yuccas and their yucca moths, before moving on to other more obscure and recently discovered examples. Then I will give a brief introduction to some of the work my lab has done at JMU on leafflower plants and their brood pollination by leafflower moths. 

June 24: Flora of Virginia app 

Anna Maria Johnson will walk guests through the updated Flora of Virginia Mobile App and how to use it in your day-to-day life. Johnson is a Flora of Virginia Ambassador, president of the Shenandoah Chapter of the VA Native Plant Society and coordinator/project manager for the Plant Ridge & Valley Natives: Guide for Gardeners. 

July 1: Exploring our Watershed with Watercolors 

by Ali Sloop, JMU Stormwater Coordinator, watercolor activity by Kelli Hertzler, Arboretum Education Coordinator

Join us on a virtual journey downstream from JMU’s campus to the Chesapeake Bay. During our “journey” we will create a watershed painting inspired by what we see as we travel from campus to the Bay. This trip will connect us and our impacts (both good and bad) to all who live downstream. No artistic skills needed, but a willingness to try something new is required.

July 8: Sounds Fun: Discussion and demonstrations of hearing in humans and animals

by Lincoln Gray, retired Professor of Communication Sciences at JMU and Adjunct Research Professor of Otolaryngology at the UVA Medical School
What CAN humans hear, and what DO we hear when not distracted by other sounds.  How do these abilities compare with those of other animals (and at least one plant, if you can believe that).  This talk will briefly review medical and graduate school lectures on such topics, interspersed with several demonstrations.  Such listening can be fun. 

July 15: Conservation Photography: Riverine and Backyard Biodiversity in Rockingham County
by Steven David Johnson, conservation photographer and Professor of Visual and Communication Arts at EMU

In this multimedia talk, I’ll focus on my work photographing biodiversity close to home: across the street on the Shenandoah River and even closer to home at our backyard pollinator garden and frog pond just outside of Broadway, VA (this project is the cover story for current of edition of National Wildlife Magazine). I’ll discuss how these long-term photo projects have contributed to the educational and advocacy work of conservation organizations. 

https://www.stevendavidjohnson.com/bio

Steven David Johnson is a conservation photographer and Professor of Visual and Communication Arts at EMU in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His photography of the natural world has appeared in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Wildlife Magazine, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Ranger Rick, Virginia Wildlife, Biographic, Orion, National Science Teachers Association Press books, and numerous conservation publications and journals. 

Steve is an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. He earned an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and serves on the advisory boards of the Virginia Wilderness Committee and Girls Who Click. When he’s not in the office, you’ll probably find him crouched next to a vernal pool or kayaking the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

July 22: Conservation in Your Community: How Appalachian Conservation Corps Extends the Legacy of the CCC

by Bailey McInturff, Recruitment and Enrollment for Appalachian Conservation Corps

Meet with representatives from Appalachian Conservation Corps, a local conservation organization designed to provide experiential learning and professional development opportunities in environmental conservation while also working to maintain and conserve our public lands. Learn about the history and mission of ACC, and investigate how we can honor and extend the legacy of the CCC over 90 years after its creation.

Registration