Nature belongs to all of us! Please join us for a Zoom panel discussion of three local naturalists about the joys and challenges of their work in the field.

Melody Starya Mobley is the first Black female forester in the U.S. Forest Service, where she worked for 28 years. Her love for animals and nature began as a child and led her to study wildlife management and later forest management. During her career at the Forest Service, she worked in conservation, watershed restoration, and forestry resource plans. Since retiring from the Forest Service, Melody has become an assistant science and math educator and done volunteer work with the American Association for the Advancement of Science's STEM Volunteer Program. She lives in Arlington.

Musa Murawih is a global birder who grew up in Sudan to a Bedouin family. He learned from a young age to identify all living things found during his family's travels. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999 he has travelled to 41 U.S. states in pursuit of birds and other natural wonders. He is a Board Member of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and has co-led a birding and nature program at Upton Hill Regional Park in Arlington.

Yolanda Villacampa was born in Washington, D.C., and began her career in nature as a seasonal park ranger in Arlington, VA, where she was raised. Her parents' origins are from two Spanish-speaking countries, Spain and Ecuador. She is a part-time park naturalist with the Arlington County Nature Centers, and a 10-year Arlington Regional Master naturalist volunteer. Photo credit: James Di Loreto, Smithsonian

Registration required. Zoom login information will be sent to registrants. For more information please contact vdale@arlingtonva.us.

Event recommended for Grade 6+

• Location campus
• Audience:
  • Events for High Schoolers
  • Good for Adults Age 55+
  • Good for Families
  • Good for Parents
• Categories:
  • Games & Recreation
  • Sustainability & Environment
  • Health, Wellness & Food 
  • History