Contacts
- Judy Soule
- Director, Member Relations
- Pat Leighty
- Executive Assistant/Conference Coordinator
QuickLinks
Registration
Please use our online Registration Form to reserve your space.
Conferences & Training
Natural Heritage Methodology Training
- December 8 – 11, 2008
- Arlington, Virginia
Overview
Natural Heritage Methodology Training (NHMT) teaches the fundamentals of all aspects of natural heritage methodology – from data collection to data management and data use. NHMT is recommended for all employees of NatureServe member programs, especially within their first year of employment, and is also open to partner organizations that work closely with natural heritage data.
For more information: Please see Judy Soule 
for more information about topics and Pat Leighty for more information on logistics.
What is NHMT?
NHMT provides a foundation for understanding the different roles and functions of natural heritage programs and to understand how your work fits into the larger picture. You’ll have instructors from NatureServe and from the network of natural heritage programs. You’ll get to know people from other programs and learn from one another. And you’ll form lasting relationships that you can draw on for consultation and renew at future regional and national conferences and workshops.
Who Should Attend?
This training is recommended for all employees of natural heritage programs and conservation data centres. Partners from other agencies and organizations who work closely with natural heritage data and methodology will also benefit greatly from this training and are welcome to attend. It is especially beneficial for people who have been employed from 6 months to 1 year, but it’s never too late! More experienced employees will have opportunities to share their knowledge as well as learn about new methodologies and how things are done in other programs. Classes will include in–class exercises and discussion time.
When Is It?
The training will run four full days – Monday, December 8th through Thursday, December 11th, from 8:45am – 5:00 pm, and will include a half–day field trip on Wednesday. No formal classes are scheduled for Friday, but if you have a particular interest in working with or meeting with staff, please let us know and we’ll try to help you arrange it.
What Will it Cover?
The curriculum will include:
- Day 1: Element Methodology – species and ecological data
- Day 2: Element Occurrence Methodology (includes introduction to Biotics)
- Day 3: Viability and Integrity (Element Occurrence Ranking) Methodology; Future Directions in Conservation Biology – a discussion with NatureServe’s president, Mary Klein; and a field trip (stay tuned for details).
- Day 4: Electives including: In–depth topics in Ecology, Botany, Zoology, and Data Management, Element Distribution Modeling, Handling Sensitive Data, and data applications such as Environmental Review & Conservation Planning.
Hands–On Biotics training will not be offered in conjunction with Natural Heritage Methodology Training as there is inadequate time to fully cover the material. Basic Biotics training is offered via recorded sessions, which include 3 sessions (6 hours) of Mapper training and 3 sessions (7 hours) of Tracker training. This allows the trainee to participate in the training on their own time schedule, jump to more advanced sessions of the training, and review the material as often as needed. The recorded training sessions are available on the Biotics Training & Clinics web page. Any questions that arise as a result of the training should be submitted to the Biotics Help Desk.
We encourage trainees to schedule one–on–one time with the Biotics Support Team on Friday if they would like additional instruction or would like to discuss any aspect of Biotics. If multiple individuals from a single program will be attending, we recommend they attend the one–on–one session together. Please contact Whitney Weber , 703–908–1875, to schedule a session.
Registration Fee
- NatureServe Members: $500
- NatureServe Members: $400 (Leadership Level — first attendee must register at the $500 level)
- Nonmembers: $800
Accomodations
- Best Western Iwo Jima
- 1501 Arlington Blvd.
- Arlington, VA 22209
- 703–524–5000
NatureServe has reserved a block of rooms from Sunday, December 7 (check–in time 3:00 PM) through Thursday, December 11 (check–out time 11:00 AM) at the Best Western Iwo Jima. The negotiated group room rate is $109.00 per night for single or double occupancy excluding tax.
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations. Please call the Best Western Iwo Jima at 703–524–5000 and indicate that you wish to make a reservation within the “NatureServe” room block, specify room option, and name of roommate if applicable. All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card, which will also guarantee that the room will be held for late arrival. All major credit cards are accepted. If you would like to share a room but have not located a roommate, please complete the appropriate information on the online registration form.
In order to ensure room availability at the group rate, please make your hotel reservation on or before Friday, November 7, 2008. After November 7, rooms are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed the discounted rate. It is highly suggested that you secure lodging by November 7 even if you have not received final travel clearance. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours prior to arrival.
Travel
The Washington area is serviced by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore–Washington International Airport (BWI), For travel within the metro DC area, use of the subway system (Metro) is the most efficient way to get around.
While DCA is without a doubt the most conveniently located airport, you may find somewhat less expensive and more numerous flight options into BWI and IAD. The trade–off with IAD or BWI is travel time to Arlington.
If you have never been to Washington, DC before, or even if you have but still want to explore the city, plan to spend the weekend here prior to or following the training. The training week is quite intensive, and while most attendees get downtown several nights during the week, many of the most popular tourist attractions are closed by then.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Dulles International Airport
- Baltimore–Washington International Airport
- Union Station (Amtrak, MARC and Metro Station)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Best Western Iwo Jima:
- By Metro: The airport is conveniently connected to the Metro platform. Take the BLUE line in the direction of Largo. Get off the train at the Rosslyn station. After exiting the station to the rear, turn left on Fort Myer Drive, then bear right onto Fairfax Drive. The hotel is ahead on the right – a long block ahead.
- By taxi: Cab fare should run $20–25.
Dulles International Airport to Best Western Iwo Jima:
- By Metrobus 5A: Buses run seven days/week from 6:30 AM to around 11:30 PM. The trip takes 40 minutes, and costs $3.00. Once in Rosslyn, proceed to the rear of the Metro station, turn left on Fort Myer Drive, then bear right onto Fairfax Drive. The hotel is ahead on the right. See schedules and further details (PDF).
- By Washington Flyer Coach Service: Washington Flyer runs an express connection transfer bus service from Dulles to the closest Metro station, West Falls Church. On weekends the bus departs Dulles every 30 minutes from 7:45 AM to 10:15 PM and costs $8 one–way or $14 round trip. Once at the West Falls Church Metro station, take the ORANGE line toward New Carrolton. Get off the train at the Rosslyn station. After exiting the station to the rear, turn left on Fort Myer Drive, then bear right onto Fairfax Drive. The hotel is ahead on the right ? a long block ahead.
- See www.metwashairports.com for further details, additional options, and possible updated ground transportation schedules from IAD.
Baltimore–Washington International Airport to Best Western Iwo Jima:
- Take the free BWI bus marked “AMTRAK” to the BWI rail station. Then take either the MARC commuter train (limited hours, mostly during commuting hours, but only $6) or an AMTRAK train ($18) to Washington’s Union Station. See directions below to the Best Western from Union Station.
- Another slightly less expensive option is to take the BWI Express/B30 Metro bus to the Greenbelt metro station. The bus runs every 40 minutes from 9:40 AM–10:50 PM at a cost of $3.00 (estimated). Then follow the station map directions to Rosslyn station. After exiting the station to the rear, turn left on Fort Myer Drive, proceed for ¼ mile, then bear right onto Fairfax Drive. The hotel is on the right – a long block ahead.
- See www.bwiairport.com for further details, additional options, and possible updated ground transportation schedules from BWI.
Union Station to Best Western Iwo Jima:
- By Metro: Follow signs to the Union Station Metro station. Take the RED line toward Shady Grove. Get off the train at the Metro Center station. Transfer to the ORANGE line in the direction of Vienna or the BLUE line in the direction of Franconia–Springfield. Get off the train at the Rosslyn station. After exiting the station to the rear, turn left on Fort Myer Drive then bear right onto Fairfax Drive. The hotel is ahead on the right – a long block ahead.
Meals
You will be on your own for all meals (see exceptions below). There are many convenient restaurants in the Ballston, Clarendon and Rosslyn areas (all on the Orange line). The Best Western Iwo Jima has a full service restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will offer a limited break service during training. On Monday afternoon after training, we will hold a reception for all trainees, available trainers, and NatureServe staff at the NatureServe Arlington Office. For Thursday lunch, we will provide pizza and drinks at NatureServe. Explore www.washington.org to learn more about Washington’s restaurants, as well as other cultural offerings and tourist attractions. The Federal per diem rate for meals and incidentals in the DC Metro area is $64/day.
Field Trip
We are working on arranging a half–day field trip on Wednesday afternoon for all trainees. More information will follow as it becomes available.
Training Materials
Upon arrival at TNC headquarters on the first morning of class, you will receive a packet containing several informational brochures, including a DC Visitors Guide, Metro Pocket Guide, Rosslyn street map and a list of NatureServe’s favorite restaurants along with a training folder containing a CD and a small number of printed materials. We request you bring a laptop in order to view the training materials on the CD during the training week. However, if you are unable to bring a laptop, please notify Pat Leighty – a limited number may be available for student use or you may share with another student.
Training Locations
The majority of the training will be held at The Nature Conservancy’s Office, in Ballston. In order to get there from the Best Western Iwo Jima, take the Orange line from the Rosslyn metro towards Vienna (lower level) to the Ballston Metro. At the top of the escalators make a U–turn and the street in front of you will be North Fairfax Drive. At the light cross the street and the Nature Conservancy’s Office will be on your left.
- The Nature Conservancy
- 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Conference Room 1B – lobby level
- Arlington, VA 22203
The Monday reception and the classes on Thursday will take place at the NatureServe Arlington Office. From the Rosslyn metro station, exit to the front, turning right onto North Moore Street. At the intersection with Wilson Boulevard, turn left and proceed down the hill. Once you reach the entrance to 1101 Wilson Boulevard, proceed straight ahead to the elevators and go up to the Mall level. Proceed around to the rear side of the elevators and to a second set of elevators leading to the Tower Suites. Proceed to the 15th floor.
- NatureServe
- 1101 Wilson Blvd. 15th floor
- Arlington, VA 22209