Green Drinks with the Virginia Living Museum

Name: Green Drinks with the Virginia Living Museum
Start: 2026-03-18T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-18T20:00:00-04:00
Location: Virginia Living Museum

Schedule

Wed Mar 18 2026 at 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Virginia Living Museum | Newport News, VA

"More than Babies: Breeding as a Conservation Commitment"
Join the Newport News Green Foundation and representatives from the Virginia Living Museum on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the Virginia Living Museum (524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.) as we explore the Ectotherms’ native animal breeding programs and the vital role they play in conservation efforts.
REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/GreenDrinksVLM
This presentation will showcase how breeding initiatives extend far beyond simply producing offspring—representing a long-term commitment to species preservation, genetic diversity, and ecosystem restoration. Learn about the challenges, successes, and ongoing dedication required to maintain viable populations of native species at the Virginia Living Museum.
This Green Drinks event is free and open to the public.
Small bites will be provided. Drinks by purchase.
Members of the Green Foundation get one free drink ticket! Not a member yet? Sign up when you register at the link above!
Presenters:
Carter Thompson, Senior Ectotherm Keeper, Virginia Living Museum
*Carter Thompson (they/them) has been working as an ectotherm keeper at the Virginia Living Museum since 2021 and has been a senior ectotherm keeper since 2025. They specialize in the care of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, or as they like to call it, their “wet and dry bugs”. Carter has a passion for animal husbandry, breeding, and exhibit design for animals both big and small. They hope to spread their love and understanding of bugs to as many people as possible through educating folks and showing them that creepy crawlies are not so scary after all.
Shelby Watson, Ectotherm Keeper, Virginia Living Museum
*Shelby Watson (he/she/they) is an Ectotherm Keeper at the Virginia Living Museum. They have been working at the Museum for two years and specialize in herpetology (study of reptiles and amphibians). They have a B.Sc. in Zoology and experience working with a variety of taxa. They love conservation education and hope to help extend public compassion for wildlife beyond furry and feathery animals.
Marcus Williams, Ectotherm Keeper, Virginia Living Museum
*Marcus is an ectotherm keeper at the Virginia Living Museum, primarily involved in the husbandry of freshwater fish and turtles. He began the position after graduating from Christopher Newport University in December, where he participated in several field research projects in addition to volunteering at the VLM. Some examples of these projects include turtle population and nesting surveys in the eastern and western US, lizard thermoregulation studies in the southwestern US, and investigating variation in the body shape of estuarine fishes.
About the Newport News Green Foundation:
The Green Foundation is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform, preserve, and promote green spaces in the City of Newport News. Visit their website to learn more: nngreen.com.
Green Drinks is a speaker series focused on health, wellness, and the environment.