Dr. Jenny Hall, associate professor in the health promotion and Master of Public Health programs at the University of Lynchburg and founder of Ticks in Virginia, will lead a series of presentations, panels, and workshops on tick-borne diseases for Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
The events will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, May 1, and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Claytor Nature Center. Registration is required and space is limited. To register and to view a full schedule of events, please visit the Ticks in Virginia events page. The cost to attend is $20.
Hall’s “tick talks” focus on the dangers of ticks in Central Virginia, proper tick safety and identification, and personal experiences from local residents.
Ticks In Virginia aims to raise awareness about the dangers of ticks and tick-borne diseases, particularly for residents, health care providers, and visitors to Virginia.
As a professor, Hall also uses her knowledge and resources to educate students, partnering with the University of Lynchburg’s Master of Public Health program to do tick drags, a method of dragging cloth to harvest wild ticks for study in the lab, and other tick-related research.
Hall received her doctorate in community health education, specializing in environmental health, from the University of Northern Iowa in 2010, and has been a credentialed Master Certified Health Education Specialist since 2013.
For more information, visit Ticks in Virginia or email Hall at hall_jl1@lynchburg.edu.
Claytor Nature Center was given to the University to serve as an education and research center for environmental study. Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Center encompasses freshwater streams, woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, rare plants, wildlife, and a portion of the Big Otter River. A hiking trail system, small-group campground, and amphitheater are other features of the property. Claytor offers year-round educational, art, and wellness activities for visitors of all ages. In addition, Claytor also hosts weddings at the Cloverlea Farmhouse.
