Outreach & Events
Current & Past Events
Educational Pop-Ups
We sometimes pop up at different locations, including stores, parks, trailheads, and community events. Our next event is Central Virginia YMCA's Community Health Fair on February 12, 2025. If you see us, stop by our interactive learning table to learn how to identify a tick, safely remove a tick if/when bitten, and proper prevention behaviors.
Training & Education
We provide training, professional development, and learning opportunities for educators, employers, employees, and healthcare providers. In May, 2025, Dr. Hall will present a Nuts & Bolts session for the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association, and she has led training for employees at Lynchburg Parks & Recreation & Lynchburg Public Works Departments and a professional learning opportunity with elementary teachers at Lynchburg City Schools. Contact jenny@ticksinvirginia.com if you are interested in offering training, professional development, or other learning opportunity.
International Presentations
Highlights have included the 16th International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-borne Diseases Conference in Amsterdam, the 23rd International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society Conference in Orlando, and the 3rd International Symposium to Advance Total Worker Health at the National Institutes of Health.
Tick Identification, Surveillance & Prevention Workshops
We offer workshops on tick identification, surveillance, and prevention. Highlights have included workshops with Master Naturalists and Governor's School high school students. Participants learn how to identify various types of ticks at different stages of life and conduct tick surveillance through tick dragging, and prevention behaviors, including tick spraying, tick checking, and tick removal. Participants leave more confident in their ability to prevent a tick bite and what to do if they get bitten. To schedule a workshop, contact jenny@ticksinvirginia.com
Local Presentations
Presentations are available for university and community members. Results from studies, experiences from conducting outreach, and testimonials from people who experience tick-borne diseases are shared. Presentations can be tailored to your audience and needs.
Virginia Public Health Association Conference
In 2024, Dr. Hall presented "Partnering to Prevent Tick-borne Diseases in Virginia: From Research to Practice" and highlighted her multisectoral projects. In 2023, Dr. Hall presented an MPH student mentee project on "Knowledge and Prevention Behaviors of Tick-borne Diseases Among Caregivers in Buckingham County, Virginia." The project highlighted results from a survey of area caregivers and surveillance at 13 locations, including schools, parks, and other recreational areas.
Hokie Bugfest
Join us in October 2025. We love this event and participated in both 2023 and 2024. Come and learn about the different tick species and tick-borne diseases in Virginia through interactive activities, including a tick removal simulation, spin-the-wheel trivia, and tick identification and prevention games. Learn more at www.hokiebugfest.org
Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Conference
Drs. Hall and Bowman presented and piloted a tick-borne disease prevention curriculum to health and physical educators in Virginia. One session focused on curricular activities for health teachers and the other on physical education teachers. Learn more about this work here.
STEAM Day
On November 15th, 2024, Dr. Hall and colleagues from Radford University Carilion's Department of Public Health & Healthcare Leadership will facilitate tick-borne disease education activities with middle school and high school students during STEAM Day. Last year, the event was on October 20th, 2023, and over 100 middle and high school students participated.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!
Ticks in Virginia provides education and outreach activities throughout the year, but also in May to bring additional awareness to Lyme Disease. In the past, Ticks in Virginia partnered with the Central Virginia Health Department (CVHD) to raise awareness this month for National Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Social media posts were shared in local social media groups and pages and an informational column was included in the health department's bimonthly newsletter. Sign up for the CVHD's bimonthly newsletter here. Stay safe by being informed and practicing proper prevention tick safety and tick-borne disease prevention behaviors!
Lyme Disease Patient Experience Panel
May 1, 2023
Claytor Nature Center
Bedford, VA
Tick Identification, Surveillance & Prevention Workshops
May 1, 2023
Claytor Nature Center
Bedford, VA
Alpha-gal Syndrome Presentation & Patient Experience Panel
May 2, 2023
Claytor Nature Center
Bedford, VA
Bedford County Employee Health Fair
April 19, 2023
We will be at the Bedford County Gym, where over 300 Bedford County employees are expected to attend. Stop by and talk with us about your experiences and/or to learn more about tick safety and tick-borne diseases. We will have a variety of interactive activities for you to learn how to identify and remove a tick.
Lynchburg Community Market
April 22, 2023
Kick off the Week of the Green at Lynchburg's Saturday Community Market. Stop by between 8:00 am-12:00 pm to learn more about tick safety and tick-borne diseases. We will have a variety of interactive activities for you to learn how to prevent tick-bites, identify ticks, and remove a tick.