For my study area I have chosen Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve (BRNP) located in Leesburg, Virginia (Loudoun County). I was first introduced to BRNP when I participated in the Virginia Master Naturalist (VMN) course in 2018-19. The Loudoun Chapter is also known as the Banshee Reeks Chapter, as the preserve is where lectures and fieldwork are conducted. I immediately fell in love with the park - it’s a beautiful piece of land, well maintained by the park staff, and walking around in the woods/nature is one of my favorite things to do so naturally I was excited to have a new spot to explore. I enjoyed the park and the people running it so much that once the VMN course was completed, I applied for and was given a part-time job as a Facility Supervisor. I worked there for the better part of 2019, helping out full-time staff with various projects, events, and maintenance, while periodically manning the Visitor’s Center, talking with guests about trails and what the place has to offer. Working at the park and participating in VMN made me realize how passionate I am about our natural spaces, and is ultimately what motivated me to pursue a Masters degree in this program. BRNP has significant personal meaning to me, and is also one of very few extensive managed natural areas left in Loudoun County. I am interested to learn more about the biodiversity of the area, what challenges it faces, and what can be done to potentially make it better.
Commentaires