Screen on the Green

Our next Screen on the Green will be August 27 we will be showing Animal Planet's The Predators' Prey!!

Next month be prepared to sit underneath the stars at Hooker Field and watch a Box Office Hit!!!

Screen on the Green

The last Friday of the month from April to September M-HC CNI partners with Martinsville Parks and Recreation to show an outdoor movie. This month we showed an IMAX movie called "T-Rex Back to the Cretaceous." We had over a dozen people participate in our crafts and our exciting movie. More pictures to come soon!

Outdoor Fun Festival 2010

On June 12, 2010 in Frank Wilson Park was our Second Annual Outdoor Fun Festival. This festival had over 369 people attend. I first would like to extend a huge thanks to all of the organizations and volunteers that helped in making the Outdoor Fun Festival of 2010 a success! ! We had a lot for our participants to take part in such as a disc golf tournament, basketball tournament (Around the World, and Horse), horseshoe tournament, moon bounce, an inflatable rock wall, guided trail hikes, a sidewalk chalk competition, carnival games, live animals, and live music!

The organizations that were present during this event were; YMCA, Martinsville Fire & Rescue, Civil Air Patrol, Tactfully Teamed, Starting Place,VMNH, Southwestern Piedmont Master Naturalists, Trout Unlimited, Friends of Frank Wilson Park, Martinsville Parks and Recreation, Martinsville Mustangs, Friends of Philpott, National College, Smith River Sports Complex, Bath Fitters, Friends of Fairystone, Smokey Pig, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Due to inclement weather the Outdoor Fun Festival had to end early however everyone enjoyed the festival.

Sharing Nature Workshop

On Thursday, June 10, 2010 we hosted a Sharing Nature Workshop presented by Greg Traymar. The Sharing Nature book series was developed by Joseph Cornell consists of techniques and activities that encourage getting children involved in the outdoors and with nature. The workshop demonstrated to participants the effectiveness of flow learning and teh Sharing Nature activities. Greg Traymar was an enthusiastic instructor who kept the participants engaged and energized.

For more information about Sharing Nature go to http://www.sharingnature.com/

Earth Day Festival

This year’s Earth Day Festival yield over 795 participants!! With activities such as a live interactive band, a craft station, facepainting, a moon bounce, an inflatable slide, live animals, a bubble station, and other activities hosted by almost a dozen exhibitors!

Earth Day at VMNH

Above picture is of Astronaut Patrick G. Forrester who was our Keynote speaker of the day.

Earth Day at VMNH was an amazing event! We had presenters from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Master Gardeners, Dan River Basin Association, and a Master Naturalist. This event was a conference style event for classes that registered.

We also had a very special guest speaker Astronaut Patrick G. Forrester who gave a presentation that was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Earth Week 2010 Highlights

No Light Night Hike
This event had over a dozen people exploring the Gravely Nature Preserve at night without ANY flashlights!! Everyone had a wonderful time and their guide said they were an excellent group!

Friends of Philpott Environmental Expo
This event had exhibitors from all around Martinsville, Henry County, and neighboring counties. There were over 400 participants at this very fun event!! Wonderful job Friends of Philpott!!

Black Bears of Virginia
This was a great presentation given by Danny Martin USACE. This outdoor educational presentation was a hit with the families that attended to see in real time bears jumping from tree to tree. An amazing presentation followed by a great outdoor movie about bears in nature. This event kept our audience of over 20 people on the edge of their seats.

Earth Day Earth Craft
This crafty event had over a dozen kids making beautiful deer deterrent wind chimes! They came in all colors and designs. The kids had more paint on them than their crafts, this is how we know they had a great time :)

Hike and Craft April 21 (Philpott Dam) and the Natural Art April 22 (Frank Wilson Park)
Over a dozen people gathered for these events to develop creative crafts out of the natural objects that they found on a hike. Perfect days for both activities! Great job!

Screen on the Green
This event went very well. We had over 80 people in attendance! From 7:00 to 8:00 the participants went on a nature hike, identified and made animal tracks, created nature crafts, got their faces painted, and played with bubbles. Then as soon as 8:00 hit we watched the Lorax!