
For general information about the Alleghany Highlands Chapter or questions about the upcoming session, please contact the Chapter Advisor:
Beth Hawse
Chief Ranger of Interpretation and Education
Douthat State Park
14239 Douthat State Park Road
Millboro, Virginia 24460
540-862-8117
Please send a completed application form to the address above, along with a check for the $100 course fee, payable to the Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalists. Applications are due February 13.
Alleghany Highlands Application Form (MS Word format)
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is a statewide volunteer training program that will positively impact natural resource education and conservation across
At the state level, the Virginia Master Naturalist program is sponsored jointly by Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History. At the local level,
The program consists of a network of Virginia Master Naturalist chapters across the state. Each chapter is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers and for working with partners to create and coordinate volunteer service opportunities. The training consists of a minimum of 40 hours classroom and field time covering a core set of curriculum objectives. The objectives focus on ecology, natural resource management, basic natural history of the animals and plants of
This program benefits
This is a draft syllabus, subject to change.
Feb. 19 - Keith Carson and Beth Hawse, Class Representatives
Beth Hawse Welcome
Denise Hayes 5:30 6:00 Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Keith Carson 6:00 6:45 American Naturalists
Steve Adams 7:00 8:30 Ecological Concepts (and Nature of Naming)
Feb. 26 - David Kirk, Class Representative
TBA 5:30 6:15 Weather and Climate
Wil Orndorff 6:30 8:30 Virginia Biogeography & Geology and Soil Sciences
Zenah Orndorff
Mar. 5 - Deirdre Marriner Roden, Class Representative
Kent Ford 5:30 8:30 Aquatic Ecology and Management
Mar. 12 - Catherine Gardner, Class Representative
TBA 5:30 8:30 Ornithology
Mar. 19 - Linda Reyns, Class Representative
Steve Adams 5:30 6:45 Botany
Steve Adams 7:00 8:30 Dendrology
Mar. 28 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
Field Trip
Barrie Wolfe 8:00 4:30 Geology & Hydrology
Dan Foster
Apr. 2 - Martin DiLeggi, Class Representative
Paul Bugas 5:30 6:45 Ichthyology
Jason Hallacher
Aaron Coffman
Edie Kretsch 7:00 8:30 Entomology
Apr. 16 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
John Pagels 5:30 8:30 Mammalogy
Apr. 23 - Laura Neale, Class Representative
Mike Hayslett 5:30 8:30 Herpetology
Apr. 25 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
Field Trip
Mike Hayslett 8:00 12:00 Herpetology
Gary Robinson 12:30 4:30 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Apr. 30 - David Kirk, Class Representative
John Wright 5:30 6:45 Forest Ecology and Management
Lou Verner 7:00 8:30 Urban and Suburban Systems
May 7 - Beth Hawse, Christine Hodges, and Sara Bell, Class Representatives
Beth Hawse 5:30 6:30 Interpretation and Teaching Skills
Christine Hodges 6:30 7:00 Risk Management and Working with Youth
Sara Bell 7:15 8:15 Citizen Science and Research
Beth Hawse 8:15 8:30 Distribution of Written Test and Instructions*
May 16 - Keith Carson, Luanne Osborne and Christine Hodges, Class Representatives
Field Trip
Terry Flaherty 7:30 4:00 Ornithology, Dendrology and Botany
Keith Carson
Luanne Osborne
Christine Hodges
May 21 - Beth Hawse, Class Representative
Beth Hawse 5:30 8:30 Return Test, Take Practical
*Written test will be take-home and open book.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Chapter Advisor, Beth Hawse at 540-862-8117 (TDD number 1-800-828-1120) during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.
Virginia Master Naturalist programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
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