About the Martinsville-Henry County Community Nature Initiative

With the support of The Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont, Virginia Museum of Natural History and its partners, Dr. Denny Casey and Tamara Poles developed a new nature and outdoor initiative entitled the Martinsville Henry County Community Nature Initiative (MHC CNI). The CNI will serve as a clearinghouse for environmental information, use nature as a way to stimulate learning, develop opportunities for quality family time in the outdoors, and position VMNH as a leader in environmental education. CNI will serve as a means to provide hands-on, real-world opportunities for children, educators, and families to increase appreciation for nature and as an effective means to better understand and address community environmental issues.

Click the above CNI logo for official website and to access your Earth Week Passport!

Earth Week 2010 Highlights

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Updates on TACO Week

Due to the current weather conditions, the following programs have been canceled or postponed

Step it up with Art- CANCELED

After School Playtime-POSTPONED to next Thursday October 7.

Creepy Crawlies Special Saturday Program- CANCELED do to lack of pre registered participants

Gravely Graves- CANCELED do to the lack of pre registered participants

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

TACO Week Activities

Friday September 24: Screen on the Green at Hooker Field


Saturday, September 25: Community Events

Oktoberfest, Arts and Crafts show, and a Car Show taking place throughout the day in Uptown Martinsville.


Monday, September 27: Step it up with Art

Get Artsy with Activate at 6 p.m. Jack Dalton Park! This activity is for all ages.


Wednesday, September 29: Doodle Bugs!

"Jungle to Jungle"

10 a.m and 3 p.m. Join us on a jungle safari. Investigate the latest exhibit featuring a lion, zebras, and antelopes with a binocular craft. Pre-registration is required by calling 276 634 4185, $5 per child.



Thursday, September 30: After School Playtime

3 to 5 p.m at J. Frank Wilson Park for all ages. A light snack will be provided.

Saturday, October 2: Community Open Park Day!
Participants can enjoy a fun day at the park with organizations who contribute to the beautification and education in our community parks.

10 a.m.-Noon: Creepy Crawlies Special Saturday Program
Ages 8-11. Learn which insects make slime and make your own! Pre-registration is required no later than Wednesday September 29, at 276 634 4185, $5 per child. Located at J. Frank Wilson Park. Meet at the stone shelter.

Noon-2p.m: Park Green Up
Join the Friends of Wilson Park and the Southwestern Piedmont Master Naturalists in the park. Help take care of this community gem by gardening, removing invasive species, and other projects.

3-4:30 p.m: Gravely Graves
Kids and adults join a VMNH educator at the Gravely Nature Preserve for a cemetery "scavenger hunt" using the information on the headstones! Pre-registration is required no later than Wednesday September 29, at 276 634 4185, $5 per child.

Screen on the Green at Hooker Field Results

A special thank you to all of you who came out to Hooker Field Friday night! We had 197 people participate in this event! We raced Marty the Mustang around the bases at Hooker field! I can't believe Marty LOST! Those kids were so fast! Participants also were able to get their faces painted by our great artists, make a snow measuring sticks that could have either looked like a penguin or a snowman. Participants tested their accuracy in the throwing contest, and they tested their balance in a penguin relay race! After the fun activities, the participants enjoyed the movie Happy Feet under the stars on this beautiful Friday night at Hooker Field.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Screen on the Green at Hooker Field!

September's Screen on the Green is going to be a big one! This one will take place at Hooker Field and we will be showing a hit animated film starring Robin Williams and Nicole Kidman!!

Activities start at 8:00pm and include face painting, relay races with Marty the Mustang, and Throwing accuracy contests! Movie starts at 8:30pm!

$2 admission and food will be available for purchase!

TACO Week!

Take A Child Outside (TACO) Week is back!! This year is the third annual celebration to help break down obstacles that keep children from exploring the outdoors. Normally this week is from September 24 to September 30, however due to the excitment of our partners wanting to participate we have extended our TACO week to Ocotber 2, 2010. Our kickoff event is our Screen on the Green that will be taking place September 24, 2010 at Hooker Stadium!! :) Fun activities such as relay races with Marty the Mustang, face painting, crafts, and accuracy contests will begin at 8:00pm and the movie will begin at 8:30pm! We will be showing a hit animated film starring Robin Williams and Nicole Kidman!

We are currently coordinating a variety programs addressing various audiences that will take place throughout the week. Keep checking this page for updates!!