Ryan Klopf, Ph.D.

Natural Areas Association Board Member
Regional Supervisor
Virginia Natural Heritage Program

Ryan Klopf is the Regional Supervisor for the Mountain and Shenandoah Valley Regions of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program; he has worked for this Program since 2011. Ryan works to protect and restore rare species and natural communities within the Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont regions of Virginia. He earned a B.S. in Biology at William and Mary, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University.

Michael Lott

Northern Region Steward / Regional Supervisor
DCR - Division of Natural Heritage

Michael Lott is the Regional Supervisor for the Northern Region of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program which he joined in 2012.  Michael works to protect rare species, natural communities and monitor ecological resources at the preserves in the Northern Region, particularly those found at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve.  Prior to moving to Virginia, Michael spent 8 years working on a variety of research projects in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. He has a B.A in Geography/Ecosystems from the University of California, Los Angeles and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Florida Atlantic University.

Rick Myers, Ph.D.

Natural Areas Stewardship Manager
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Division of Natural Heritage

Natural Areas Stewardship Manager with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Natural Heritage Program; 1998 to present. Rick earned his BS, Masters and PhD in Forestry and Forest Ecology from Clemson University. His doctoral research focused on the ecological roles of fire and hurricanes in the southeastern U.S. He has worked as Extension/Research Forester at Purdue University and as Consulting Fire Ecologist with The Nature Conservancy. For the last 24 years with DCR in Virginia he has overseen all aspects of managing the State Natural Area Preserve System, which currently consists of 66 preserves protecting nearly 60,000 acres of the Commonwealth's most biologically diverse lands. He supervises 20 full-time positions, located in seven field offices statewide, whose primary duties are to maintain habitats for rare species, restore natural communities and provide compatible opportunities for public recreation. Outside of work, Rick's interests include acoustic music & guitars, dogs, fishing, boating, gardening and parenting boy-girl twins born in August 2001.

Wes Paulos

Mountain Operations Steward
Virginia Natural Heritage Program

Wes Paulos has worked with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage for 10 years as the Mountain Region Operations Steward. Duties for this position include prescribed fire management, invasive plant management, recreation planning and development and overall site management. Prior to working in Virginia, Wes was a park ranger and assistant park manager  in Colorado and Florida State Parks. Wes obtained degrees from Augusta University and the University of Georgia in Criminal Justice and Recreation. He also has graduate credits from the University of Florida in Natural Resource Recreation.

Claiborne Woodall

Regional Supervisor / Western Fire Manager
Virginia Natural Heritage Program

Claiborne Woodall has worked managing state Natural Area Preserves for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program since 1999. He specializes in habitat restoration, prescribed fire planning and implementation, invasive species control, conservation planning, and public access management. Prior to Virginia Natural Heritage, he worked for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey and Florida. He earned a B.S. in Natural Resources from Sewanee: The University of The South and a M.S. in Forestry from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Joe Villari

Preserve Manager
Virginia Outdoors Foundation

Joe Villari currently manages VOF‘s Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve in Northern Virginia, which is VOF‘s largest and most-visited reserve. His focus there is on implementing science-based management practices that balance the conservation needs of the property, while maximizing its scientific and educational potential. Before coming to VOF, Joe received his MS in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University and worked for the Smithsonian Institution‘s National Museum of Natural History. He is a passionate advocate for habitat conservation, field and specimen-based scientific research, and making science more accessible to the general public.

• This workshop has limited in-person capacity and is by invitation only.
• Please know that we will be monitoring the CDC guidelines for in-person events, and that the workshop will be limited to vaccinated individuals - including presenters, participants, and staff. 
• Registration includes access to a modern meeting facility, guided site visits to two locations for hands-on experience, and two night's accommodations in a semi-private cabin.
• Meals to include:
  • Breakfast each day
  • Picnic lunch at field sites each day
  • Dinner and camp fire Wednesday evening

This event has concluded.

photos by VADCR

• Temperatures at the Summit is 8 to 10 degrees cooler than Basecamp
• Cars should arrive in Claytor Lake with full gas tanks.
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels.

photo by VADCR

Claytor Lake Webcam 

Watch the Claytor Lake Marina live!

Please know that we will be monitoring the CDC guidelines for in-person events, and that the workshop will be limited to only vaccinated individuals - including presenters, participants, and staff. 

Workshop participants will be sharing cabins. If this is a concern, participants are welcome to secure hotel rooms in nearby Dublin, VA. 

Twelve two-bedroom cabins and three three-bedroom cabins have been reserved for Tuesday, September 28 and Wednesday, September 29. 

• Cabin Information
• Cabin Video Walkthrough
• Cabin Photos
• Claytor Lake Photos 

Cabin Details

• Cabin check-in is 4 p.m., check-out is 10 a.m.
• Cell phone service is available in most of the park.
• Bedrooms: nightstands, clock radios.
  • No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels.
  • One bedroom has a queen sized bed. 
  • In cabins 1-9, the second bedroom has two bunk beds. In cabins 10-12, the second bedroom has two twin-sized beds.
  • Twin mattresses are slightly oversized. We recommend twin xl-sized linen.
  • Pillows are provided.

Directions

• Google Maps
• Weather
• Phone : 540-643-2500
• Email: ClaytorLake@dcr.virginia.gov

From I-81, take Exit 101 (Claytor Lake) to State Park Road (State Route 660).

State Park Road ends at the park's entrance.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 5 hours; Richmond, 4 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 5 hours; Roanoke, 1 hour

Workshop presentations, meal service and back-up space for inclement weather will be hosted in the Claytor Lake Conference Center, a modern, fully functioning meeting facility that features an auditorium, deck space and a kitchen space. 

The Channels Natural Area Preserve contains a significant high elevation forest, rock outcrop and cliff communities. Following a 3.5-mile hike to the 4,208 ft. summit of Middle Knob, workshop participants will enter a maze-like system of sandstone crevices and boulders which gives the Channels its name and makes the site popular for outdoor recreation. During our visit site managers will lead discussions about the unique natural history and stewardship of the Preserve and the surrounding 4,836-acre State Forest.

As of June 10, 2020, the parking area is limited to 10 vehicles. If the parking area is full when you arrive, please come back another time. Parking along Highway 80 is not permitted, and violators will be ticketed. Please take this capacity into consideration when arranging carpooling for the workshop. 

Learn More

Directions:

Latitude/Longitude:
36 49’ 40.9, 81 57’ 43.5

The Channels State Forest is located on the south slope of Clinch Mountain, situated primarily in Washington County, approximately 8 miles due north of Abingdon. The property lies just north of Route 689 (Brumley Gap Road) and west of Route 80. A small portion of the forest (30 acres), extends over the top of Clinch Mountain into Russell County; north and east of Middle Knob.

Parking/Access: Access from Route 689, and Route 80. There are three parking areas along the North-South Road and a parking area along Route 80 at the trailhead that is the most common hiking route to the Channels. A small parking area adjacent to Route 80 near the Washington and Russell County Line can accommodate 10 cars, with an additional parking area north of Route 689 across from Fletcher’s Chapel.

As of June 10, 2020, the parking area is limited to 10 vehicles. If the parking area is full when you arrive, please come back another time. Parking along Highway 80 is not permitted, and violators will be ticketed.