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VMS FAQs
VMS FAQs
I attended a volunteer orientation, are those VH or AT?
They are AT. Log them as:
AT: Volunteer Training to support Partners or Projects
Date:
Hours:
Description: Volunteer Orientation at list organization
Can I count my travel time?
If it is an AT opportunity, NO.
If it is a volunteer opportunity, YES.
What if I show up early to help set-up?
BPTMN: Administrative Work
Date:
Hours:
Subcategory: Chapter Meetings or Training Class
Description: set-up and preparation for chapter meeting or training class #____
Is a BioBlitz AT or VH?
iNaturalist BioBlitzes are VH. Log them as:
BPTMN: Blackland Prairie iNaturalist Project: TMN Field Research
Date: date of event
Hours: time at event, travel time, and time to upload pics to app
Description: BioBlitz observations at add location
What about identifying iNat observations?
These are also VH. Log them as:
BPTMN: Blackland Prairie iNaturalist Project: Species ID & Curation
Date: date you ID'd species in iNat
Hours: time you spent
Description: Identified species observations in iNaturalist
How do I log community outreach events?
Opportunity: BPTMN: Public Outreach
Date:
Hours: time at event + travel time
Description: community engagement event at list location and group/host
General information on using VMS
General information on using VMS
Not sure if an activity is pre-approved VHAT?
Not sure if an activity is pre-approved VHAT?
How to log Initial Training: Classes
How to log Initial Training: Classes
Opportunity: Init Training-Orientation
Date: February 2, 2025
Hours: 2.0
Description: Class Orientation
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 01
Date: February 5, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Ecological Concepts with Sam Kieschnick
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 02
Date: February 12, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Geology with Heather Fell
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 03 - will be rescheduled as optional class, date TBD
Date: February 19, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Herpetology with Ryan Blankenship
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 04
Date: February 26, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Mammalogy with Bryon Clark
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 05
Date: March 5, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Ornithology with Sam Crowe
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 06
Date: March 12, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Botany with Dr. George DIggs
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 07
Date: March 19, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Laws & Ethics ZOOM with Mike Mitchell
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 08
Date: March 26, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Weather with Dr. David Baker
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 09
Date: April 2, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Entomology ZOOM with Molly Keck
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 10
Date: April 9, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Volunteers as Teachers with Chris Ulch
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 11
Date: April 16, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Aquatic Systems ZOOM with Dr. Fouad Jaber
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 12
Date: April 23, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Prairie Ecology with Brandon Belcher and Soil Science with Lorelei Stierlen
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 13
Date: April 30, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Forest Ecology with Rick Travis
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 14
Date: May 7, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Project presentations by class members
How to log Initial Training: Field Trips
How to log Initial Training: Field Trips
Log your FIELD TRIP attendance in VMS :
NOTE: Log as follows:
the FIRST field trip you attend as Initial Training: Field Trip (A),
the SECOND one you attend as Initial Training: Field Trip (B)
and the THIRD one you attend as Initial Training: Field Trip (C)
any others you attend as AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-Approved Training (Description: additional Training Class Field Trip to <list location>)
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A)
Date: February 22, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Connemara
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR Initial Training: Field Trip (B)
Date: March 1, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: March 8, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to John Bunker Sands Wetlands #1
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: March 30, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Hagerman NWR
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: April 4, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Holifield Outdoor Learning Center
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: April 11, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to John Bunker Sands Wetlands #2
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: April 12, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Hagerman NWR #2
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: April 17, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Chalk Hill Farm
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: April 19, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to LLELA
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: May 1, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Clymer Meadow #1
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: May 4, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Field Trip to Clymer Meadow #2
Opportunity: Initial Training: Field Trip (A) OR (B) OR (C) depending on whether this is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd field trip
Date: May 10, 2025
Hours: 2.5
Description: Parkhill Prairie
How to log Advanced Training (AT) Hours
How to log Advanced Training (AT) Hours
If you attended the FEBRUARY Chapter Meeting Tuesday evening (either in person or online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting
Date: February 11, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: First Aid with Liz Tipps and Scott Aldrich
If you attended the LIVE February TMN Tuesday at noon (online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: February 11, 2025
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: The Greater Roadrunner with Tanya Homayoun
If you watched a RECORDING of the February TMN Tuesday here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: enter date you actually watched the recording
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: watched 2/11/25 recording of The Greater Roadrunner with Tanya Homayoun
If you attended the webinar: "All About the Great Backyard Bird Count" here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: Other Pre-approved Training
Date: February 6, 2025 OR February 12, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: Webinar: "All About the Great Backyard Bird Count"
If you attended the Deep Dive: "Time to Restore Project" here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN: Chapter Deep Dive
Date: February 25, 2025
Hours: 1.5
Description: USA NPN, Time to Restore Project, David Gwin
If you attended the webinar: "Time to Restore Project Training" here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-Approved Training
Date: February 27, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: Time to Restore, Nature's Notebook Site Set-up Training, add speaker's name
If you attended the MARCH Chapter Meeting Tuesday evening (either in person or online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting
Date: March 11, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: Dragonflies with Brent Franklin
If you attended the LIVE MARCH TMN Tuesday at noon (online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: March 18, 2025
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: Stewards and Statutes with Benjamin Anderson
If you watched a RECORDING of the MARCH TMN Tuesday here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: enter date you actually watched the recording
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: watched 3/18/25 recording of Stewards and Statutes with Benjamin Anderson
If you attended the APRIL Deep Dive from 7:00-8:00 (Zoom only) enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Deep Dive
Date: April 1, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: Opossum: The Misunderstood Marsupial with Ren Dowhaniuk
If you attended the APRIL Chapter Meeting Tuesday evening (either in person or online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting
Date: April 8, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: The Joy of Flies with Laura Kimberly
If you attended the LIVE APRIL TMN Tuesday at noon (online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: April 8, 2025
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: Virtual Volunteer Fair with Michelle Haggerty, Mary Pearl Meuth & Hannah Ferguson
If you watched a RECORDING of the APRIL TMN Tuesday here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: enter date you actually watched the recording
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: watched 4/8/25 recording of Virtual Volunteer Fair
If you attended the MAY Chapter Meeting Tuesday evening (either in person or online)
here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting
Date: May 13, 2025
Hours: 1.0
Description: Nature and Mental Health with Cali Bakker and Peter Williams
If you attended the LIVE MAY TMN Tuesday at noon (online) here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: May 13, 2025
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: TBA
If you watched a RECORDING of the MAY TMN Tuesday here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: TMN Tuesday
Date: enter date you actually watched the recording
Hours: 1.0 hour
Description: watched 5/13/25 recording of TBA
If you attended the MAY Deep Dive from TBD (Zoom only) enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Chapter Deep Dive
Date: TBD
Hours: 0.5
Description: Lichens with Zane Liston
How to log Volunteer Service (VH) Hours
How to log Volunteer Service (VH) Hours
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT: Feb 13-16
Opportunity: Cornell: Great Backyard Bird Count TMN Field Research Hours
Date: February 13, 2025 (or February 14, or 15, or 16 RECORD EACH DAY SEPARATELY)
Hours: actual hours spent each day, to the nearest 0.25 hours (VH hours include your drive time, if any)
Description: describe your activity. Here are some examples:
Sat in my backyard and recorded birds
OR Took a walk around my neighborhood and observed birds; entered the data into eBird
OR Took a walk at Bonnie Wenk park and observed birds with Merlin Bird app
OR Drove to LLELA and sat in the pavilion and counted birds; entered the date into eBird
iNaturalist Pod Hosted Bioblitzes:
iNaturalist Pod Hosted Bioblitzes:
If you attend one (or more) of the iNaturalist Outings, enter your Volunteer Service Hours in VMS, including travel time, and time spent entering your data. Enter each day as a separate entry.
Opportunity: Blackland Prairie iNaturalist project: Field Research Hours
Date: be sure to put the date you collected the observations
Hours: include time spent at the outing, travel time, and time spent entering your data
Description: (location); collected data on local flora and fauna; edited pictures and entered my data
example: Arbor Hills park; collected data on local flora and fauna; edited pictures and entered my data.
iNaturalist Outings on your own
iNaturalist Outings on your own
Opportunity: : Blackland Prairie iNaturalist project: Field Research Hours
Date: (Enter only one date. Even though there are places to enter start and end dates, do not combine days. Start and end date must be the same.)
Hours: You should count your time at the park, plus travel time. If you spend additional time at home editing your pictures and entering your observations, you should include that as well.
Description: (place) in ( town or county.) ex. Cottonwood Creek Park in Frisco; (ALWAYS start your description with the place of your data collection.) Took pictures and made observations for entry into iNaturalist. (add more details if you like, but start with the location)
Note about iNaturalist outings on your own:
To qualify for Volunteer Service Hours, your outing does not have to be with a group. However, it does need to be a "dedicated" outing for the purpose of collecting data/observations. Examples:
You take an evening walk and take a half dozen or so observations and enter them into iNaturalist. This is great, and the observations will be entered into the class and chapter projects. However, you should not count this as Volunteer Service Hours.
You go to a park with the express purpose of collecting iNaturalist observations. You take many pictures, come home and edit them and enter them into iNaturalist with identifications to the best of your ability. You would count this as Volunteer Service Hours, including the travel time, and time spent editing photos and entering the data.
You take your children (or grandchildren) to the park and make iNaturalist observations whenever you get the chance. Maybe you even try to interest these kiddos in using Seek (the children's version of iNaturalist.) These are great, worthwhile activities which we strongly encourage! However, you should not count this time as Volunteer Service Hours.
These are fairly clear-cut examples, and there are many times where it may be more of a gray area. Use your best judgment in these cases. The best rule of thumb is to make an iNaturalist outings a planned, intentional activity where collecting data is your objective. Of course, you will also be learning a great deal, getting some exercise, and getting the benefits of being outdoors. There are many rewards to using iNaturalist, whether or not you earn VH!
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