Culpeper Sports Complex Habitat Development
ORMN Project Contact: Sue Weis - sue.weis.99(at)gmail.com
Project Background
The Culpeper County Community Sports Complex, administered by the Culpeper County Department of Parks and Recreation, consists of sports fields for the leagues that exist in the county. The plan for the complex includes the development of community areas for use by the public. ORMN members are working with the County to prepare and maintain areas of natural habitat. The area consists of wetlands, drainage streams, two ponds, and some upland with tree lines. Bluebird boxes are installed on the perimeter fence, and are monitored and maintained in accordance with Virginia Bluebird Society requirements. Purple martin gourds are installed in an open area. Future plans include planting a native meadow and a butterfly garden, and installing a board walk through wet lands and picnic areas. Street address: 16358 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Click for directions.
The Culpeper County Community Sports Complex, administered by the Culpeper County Department of Parks and Recreation, consists of sports fields for the leagues that exist in the county. The plan for the complex includes the development of community areas for use by the public. ORMN members are working with the County to prepare and maintain areas of natural habitat. The area consists of wetlands, drainage streams, two ponds, and some upland with tree lines. Bluebird boxes are installed on the perimeter fence, and are monitored and maintained in accordance with Virginia Bluebird Society requirements. Purple martin gourds are installed in an open area. Future plans include planting a native meadow and a butterfly garden, and installing a board walk through wet lands and picnic areas. Street address: 16358 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Click for directions.
CS (Citizen Science) Activities with Culpeper Sports Complex Habitat Development
Bluebird Trail Monitoring/Maintenance
ORMN Activity Contact: Michael Ann Herbst - pbgv_family(at)hotmail.com
ORMN volunteers monitor bluebird box trail weekly during spring and summer to check for nesting and record number of eggs, nestlings and fledglings; report data to the Virginia Bluebird Society county coordinator on required forms; maintain boxes year round; install additional bluebird boxes to existing trail if necessary in coordination with county coordinator.
ORMN Activity Contact: Michael Ann Herbst - pbgv_family(at)hotmail.com
ORMN volunteers monitor bluebird box trail weekly during spring and summer to check for nesting and record number of eggs, nestlings and fledglings; report data to the Virginia Bluebird Society county coordinator on required forms; maintain boxes year round; install additional bluebird boxes to existing trail if necessary in coordination with county coordinator.
- Location: The Culpeper Sports Complex is located at the corner of Green’s Corner Road (Route 666) and Jonas Road in central Culpeper County, near Eastern View High School. Take Jonas Road to the first left (Competition Drive) – note that the sign for Competition Drive is often missing. Street address: 16358 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in bluebird trail monitoring may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, snakes and insect bites. There is extensive poison ivy throughout the site. Walking over flat to moderate terrain is required. Installation of boxes requires use of digging and pounding tools and implements to secure boxes and baffles to poles.
- Special Requirements: None.
- Time Commitment: Monitoring a bluebird box trail each week takes about one hour for every 12 boxes. Time commitment depends upon the terrain and the amount of activity in the boxes. Maintaining the trail takes several hours each year – generally in the late winter/early spring in preparation for nesting season and again in the late summer/early fall to prepare the boxes for winter. Record-keeping time is minimal, but must be accomplished weekly to ensure all data is properly recorded, and at the end of the season to prepare the required reports.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
ED (Education) Activities with Culpeper Sports Complex Habitat Development
Guided Walks
Once the habitats are in place, ORMN volunteers will offer guided walks to school classes, organizations and the general public to provide information on the benefits of increasing native habitat diversity and also to provide information on appropriate plants for specific site characteristics.
Once the habitats are in place, ORMN volunteers will offer guided walks to school classes, organizations and the general public to provide information on the benefits of increasing native habitat diversity and also to provide information on appropriate plants for specific site characteristics.
- Location: The Culpeper Sports Complex is located at the corner of Green’s Corner Road (Route 666) and Jonas Road in central Culpeper County, near Eastern View High School. Take Jonas Road to the first left (Competition Drive) – note that the sign for Competition Drive is often missing. Street address: 16358 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Conducting guided walks may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, snakes and insect bites. There is extensive poison ivy throughout the site. Walking over flat to moderate terrain is required.
- Special Requirements: Volunteers must review the Risk Management policy on the Virginia Master Naturalist website, paying special attention to the “Above Suspicion Policy.” Leaders must be knowledgeable about the techniques used to establish and maintain native wildlife habitat and its benefits and have a good knowledge of the native plants at the Complex.
- Time Commitment: Walks will be set up with requesting group at a mutually agreed upon date and time, varying in time from 1 – 2 hours.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
ST (Stewardship) Activities with Culpeper Sports Complex Habitat Development
Habitat Restoration/Invasive Species Removal
ORMN volunteers restore habitat by removing invasive species and installing native plants to create various habitats, including native shrub and tree species along the banks of drainage streams to create riparian buffers. Also plan and install signage for native plants and various habitats.
ORMN volunteers restore habitat by removing invasive species and installing native plants to create various habitats, including native shrub and tree species along the banks of drainage streams to create riparian buffers. Also plan and install signage for native plants and various habitats.
- Location: The Culpeper Sports Complex is located at the corner of Green’s Corner Road (Route 666) and Jonas Road in central Culpeper County, near Eastern View High School. Take Jonas Road to the first left (Competition Drive) – note that the sign for Competition Drive is often missing. Street address: 16358 Competition Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701. Click for directions.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Native plant restoration may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, snakes and insect bites. There is extensive poison ivy throughout the site. Walking over flat to moderate terrain is required.
- Special Requirements: None
- Time Commitment: TBD once the schedule for this activity is developed.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.